I'm the only member of Team Hiemstra who isn't having a birthday while we're in Singapore. Heck, even Digby had a birthday while we were apart! Sigh.
Tom has decided he wants a custom-made suit which is one of the "things to do" here in Singapore. He already bought five shirts from this one tailor who came highly recommended and happens to be literally around the corner from Tom's office. The shirts fit pretty darn nice, too. His present isn't much of a surprise this year as I had to send him to get measured for the jacket, but I have other tricks up my sleeve about which he doesn't know. Tee hee!
So today, I headed down to the tailor at Raffles Place. What a cool thing to do! I picked out the material and lining and the style - though, in truth - Tom dictated what he wanted. Like I said, there's not much of a surprise this year. I'd love a dress made, but not until I remake my physique a bit first which means if we don't move back here, I won't be getting a custom dress. I forgot to take pictures of the place, but will when I pick up the suit.
I got to Raffles Place a bit early and meandered over to The Fullerton Bay Hotel, one of Singapore's newest additions on the Marina Bay. In fact, it sits directly across from the Marina Sands and the hotel rooftop pool has a pretty incredible view. The inside is quite special, too. I particularly liked a counter made out of old luggage.
Since I still had time to kill, I decided to grab some coffee at this Indian place in the basement of one of the buildings. Most basements have great places to eat here. Anyway, I saw this other woman buying something kind of cool looking so I got it, too. I needed it like a hole in the head, but I love trying new things and I've been kind of slack the past few days. It was called a "string hopper" which was kind of weird, but yummy. At first glance, it looks like a white, super flat funnel cake with a bunch of strings about the size of yarn all intertwined to make a pancake. The strings are made out of rice and it's served cold. Then the guy sprinkled orange sugar and coconut on top. Yum! My coffee? Hot ginger coffee which was absolutely delicious!
I learned more about the mooncake festival today, too. The mooncakes you want to eat aren't the cheapie ones we got last night 5 for S$2. Nope. The ones you want are custom made by the top restaurants in the city.
Vendors from each top spot were lined up at Raffles Place, each with different kinds of mooncakes to hawk. They come in these gorgeous boxes.
Some are about the size of the palm of your hand. Others are maybe the size of a silver dollar. All have really beautiful designs on them. I had grand plans to bring some back for everybody, but the good ones only last a week. The colorful ones are smaller and are called snowskin. They come in flavors like banana passion fruit and get this... 8 cost S$60! Some cost that much for just 4!!! I'm thinking maybe I just need to go to a nice restaurant and order one. They really are beautiful though.
All this whilie my kids were at school. Oh my gosh. How I love both kids being in school! I can be a person again! The best part? No tears from Hudson today! And Maisie's teacher sent pictures of her at school last week. She apparently had the starring role as Little Bo Peep.
Of course, after school, they're still crazy nutcases. I actually bought them "Kung Fu Panda" thinking that they might like it because we're going to see both Kung Fu and panda bears on our upcoming vacation in China. Oh they liked it alright - and kept practicing Kung Fu on each other all afternoon. Lucky mommy! Swimming was our only out. Both kids love it and both kids hate to stop. I was as ready for bed as they were - and I only had them half a day!