Special delivery

When Boel visited Singapore she came with this great painting! Our wonderful friends commissioned a kiwi painter in Brunei to paint this special piece for us as a leaving gift.

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and water village:



I love the very customised detail - Can you see all of us on the boat?



We are still looking for our apartment so haven't found a wall to hang this piece yet but I'm sure it will be displayed on a special wall. To remind us of good memories of Brunei. Thank you again - we love it!!

Getting easier each time

Traveling with my boys alone is getting easier and easier. I decided I like stopping over somewhere rather than having one long flight. So we stopped in HK again this time. Nice to stretch our legs and look at shops :) Luca doesn't complain at all - he just sits in the buggy and looks around. Oliver is so good walking and carrying his bags. He can be well entertained just sitting by the window watching all the planes. I guess they have been well trained since they were in my tummy!

By the wing

On the way back to Japan (yes, we are back in Japan again! how lucky!!) Oliver had a window seat. We normally get a bassinet row but since it was full we got this wonderful seat - by the wing.
I don't normally like this row as it blocks too much of the view. But for Oliver this was perfect!

He was very fascinated about the noise and the movement the wing was making during take off and landing (hmmmm...? where does he get that from?)

Just too many what questions for mummy at one time tho - "What's that noise mummy?" "What is it doing?" "What is that mummy?"

Reunited

The answer to Oliver's endless question finally arrived. Since we moved from Brunei everyday Oliver was asking me "Where is my Lucas and Linnea?"

He was so anxious walking up and down in the hotel lobby - waiting for his Lucas and Linnea.







Finally, there they are!



My Lucas!



The Watsons were visiting Singapore seeing Boel's parents off for a few days.
We had some lunch together and explored a little bit. We went by shuttle bus to our condo (it was easier to take the shuttle bus than figuring out which public bus to catch to the nearest MRT station). We didn't have much time there but I was happy they could see where we live now.

Once we got to the train station we took a train and a taxi ride to IKEA! (you can see more photos in Boel's blog).



Oliver didn't really care what we did, he was just happy being with Lucas and Linnea for the day :)

We were lucky to meet up again. This time Matthew had a day off so all of us went out for lunch together. We were on a tight schedule but Boel, Luca and I managed to do some power shopping whist the daddies took the older kids home to our apartment.

They enjoyed watching a movie (like they used to do together in Brunei) cuddled up together:



Boel and I so enjoyed seeing each other.



It has been only a month or so since we said goodbye to them leaving Brunei but it was such a great feeling catching up with them again. Needless to say Oliver was devastated to find out they don't live in Singapore and had to leave - poor little man...

But it won't be long before we see them In Brunei! We will be there very soon!!

Bayshore park please

Oliver is adapting to the lifestyle in Singapore. Whenever he gets into a taxi he says to the taxi driver - "Bayshore Park please" (It is the condo name where we live at the moment). So cute.

Water fun

The perfect way to end a hot afternoon at the zoo - water park!



Before we knew it the boys were at full speed running and splashing.
Nothing could stop them - scream! giggle giggle!











Ding ding ding!! Water bucket is full!



Vladimir took Luca under the water tunnel:





Diego was very gentle with Luca:







It was such a lovely day. Great fun with wonderful friends. We haven't seen each other over a year but now we live in Singapore we will be seeing them more often for sure! Oliver thought Diego is living in Singapore as well and was asking to see him at the zoo the next day too - bless him.

We must keep in touch! See you very soon :)

More friends from Brunei

We are certainly in the right spot to catch up with our friends from Brunei. This time we met up with the Caicedo family (they now live in Jakarta, Indonesia). Rather meeting up in a cafe, we met up at the zoo.

Instead of walking with the toddlers we got an easy option this time - trolly! It was hard work for the daddies but they loved the ride:







We started from a different spot than we normally do. It was fantastic! We encountered animals we haven't seen on previous visits.

Like this crocodile/gharial, we have never seen this river part. Oliver was so excited.



Proboscis monkeys - they so remind us of Brunei...





Luca was very interested in all the animals this time:





It didn't take long for Diego and Oliver to reunite and be friends again.



Daddy swap is always fun :)



Oliver's recent favourite - Rhinoceros:





Giraffe:





Elephant:



White tiger:





More monkeys...







She? was very cute!



Luca checking out D'mirna's tattoo from Little India:



D'mirna and Vladimir :)



It was so nice to see them again. Oliver just loved having his friend to spend a whole day with. Thank you for a wonderful day!

Cruise - Day 4 on the sea

On the last day of the cruise we spent all day at the swimming pools. The cruise we took wasn't that full and there weren't many kids on board - lucky us!

At the kiddy pool:













Mummies enjoyed it too!





We pretty much had the whole pool to ourselves. Oliver and Helen had a blast going down the slides, over and over again!













Oliver and Matthew went for pretend fishing off the boat:



By the swimming pool there was a little kiddy activity area. Helen was amazing climbing the wall by herself.







The bigger pool had this awesome slide but we were told children under 6 cannot use it even accompanied by their parents - Booooo somehow we convinced them and managed to take them 3 times in total!

One part of the slide was transparent and was hanging out over the sea! So much fun!!!











Group photo time :)