birthday

So it was my birthday last week. With G & V looked after at home, I kept M out of preschool and we went with O to his office. M and I walked around the atmospheric boat quay, I had coffee she had cake and then we met up with O again to head to China town. It was great to get out of our little expat enclave, I have barely been in Central Singapore at all. China town is much cooler and more interesting then I had expected. There are the requisite cheesy shops, but also some very authentic businesses, selling things like calligraphy brushes, Chinese herbs, rice crackers - all housed in the old style Singapore shop houses. ( which I had yet to see very much of ) There is also a mosque and a Hindu temple right in the middle of it all. We made a preplanned visit to a reputable jade shop ...with beautiful jade bangles ... Then found a great place for lunch moments before it filled up. Later that night,

( Photo courtesy of Halia restaurant )

had a beautiful dinner, champagne and all, on the terrace of the Halia restaurant right in the center of the botanical gardens. A sweet happy day with much to celebrate.