Left Behind, a Singapore Adventure

Yesterday we arrived in Singapore after an emotional journey to leave behind our valuables in Texas. Our most precious valuable is Joel, and leaving him has already left a noticeable gap in our existence. From the moment we pulled out of the driveway, we have talked about things we know he would have enjoyed.  Our only consolation is that Joel and Jane will have a daughter daughter adventure later in the summer. 

Leaving the dogs and cat was no easy feat either. While Bacon and Jelly seemed oblivious, Mocha told us with her eyes that she knew what was happening and it disturbed her. 

Monday night was our last night at 11923 Sandbar Hill. While we are all 3 ready to embrace being Michiganders (is that a word?), leaving our home of over 12 years was a challenge. 

We drove to the Goodranch and left behind Jane’s car for the summer  after a familiar lunch at La Marina served by La Grange’s coolest mayor, Jan Dockery, we headed out to the Houston Airport.  Before we left, we discovered we had left Jane’s carryon suitcase behind, so we borrowed from Nana’s collection. The journey was no easy feat, navigating the punctuated misery of Houston traffic. We learned to never turn down a clean Buckees bathroom when it’s available. 

We stayed at the airport Marriott to make our 0515 flight feel a little easier.  After saying our goodbyes to Nana, we unfurled in the room and really dug into the list of things we left behind, which included: all Beth’s socks, Jane’s makeup, Beth’s phone charger, and batteries for my blogging keyboard.  All of this was in the acceptable margin of error for simultaneous moving and traveling, until I realize I had left behind my iPad on our last flight from Michigan to San Antonio.  It shows itself safely located in United’s lost and found at Ohare airport.  After filling out the lost item report, we practiced going to the terminal from the subway that stops at the hotel.  The 7-minute journey bolstered our confidence that we didn’t need to wake up too early.

Ready to approach the terminal at 3:15 in the morning, we learned the subway was broken and the shuttle driver was on a break for the morning. Ready to panic, the valet rescued us and drove us to the gate. We were not late. We learned that the airport counters don’t open until 3:45 AM. That was a surprise to us and the other 200 people waiting in line to drop bags. When the lanes open, everyone was subjected to shouting and criticisms from the grumpy United workers. Despite that and TSA wanting to really consider our roller suitcase full of Bucees snacks, we made our on time flight in plenty of time. 

After a 3 hour stop in the United Club in SFO, we were full and sleepy when we boarded the flight to Singapore. It was 16.5 hours. I’m not sure what to write about that, as the longest flight I’ve ever been on. Let’s just say that after 10 hours, flying another 6.5 hours felt like an eternity. While long, we agreed it was the most comfortable international flight we have been on.

Arriving in Singapore was such a delight!  Not only is the airport a treasure, the no waiting immigration cleared us in seconds with no human interaction. Our bags came out first. The drive through the city stunned us, but we will wait to show you why rather than describe it. 

After sleeping in what we have decreed as the best hotel room we have ever stayed in, we are ready to start exploring this morning. The free breakfast buffet thrilled us both. Asian breakfasts have to cater to a wide variety of dietary preferences which suits us. Jane enjoyed the vegetables, quail eggs, dumplings, and passion fruit. I was impressed with the sauces for omelets. Jane braved the embarrassment to take pictures so we could post them on the blog. 

At the club 

Free club breakfast

Airline food torture

Happy arrival!

A gorgeous drive across town

Our free hotel gift

All smiles at breakfast