Who Gets To Fly A 737 On Their Birthday?!

Yes, you heard it!!  I got to fly a Boeing 737 in a Flight Simulator in Singapore.  Paul really outdid himself with his plan.  He wouldn’t tell me anything except that what I was getting for my birthday is only available in Singapore and Australia (well, really, it happened to include Hong Kong and Dubai).  He also told me that the “activity” would take an hour and then we would go to dinner at 8:30.  I had NO idea what I was in for!!!

The name of the Company is Flight Experience.  Pilots actually come here to practice flying sometimes because there are so few of these simulators in Southeast Asia!

 

Paul really had me going right to the end because the simulator is at the Singapore Flyer – that’s where I thought we were going!  He was pretty crafty this time…hmmm…

So, the whole 60 minutes were burned to a DVD; I took a short video of the DVD just to give you a taste of the experience. 

Peter, my copilot, guided me through all of the instructions; there was a lot to take in!  He was great because he would just repeat the instructions or say, “Whenever you’re ready, go ahead and .…”  He never got upset or anything and probably just corrected the mistakes I made anyway. LOL

 

For a 60-minute experience you get to take off and land in usually 4 different airports (depending on how fast you are).  So, I decided to start off at Fairbanks, Alaska; then moved onto New York and landed at La Guardia; and finally got to do two approaches at the old Hong Kong airport – the scary one!

Paul sat in the cockpit just behind Peter and watched the whole thing; he’s so cool to think of something like this for a birthday present!  He did mention my landings were unusual – ha!  That means when we finally touched down, I had to control the direction of the airplane with my feet and the controls are very touchy!!   

 

So, it was a little like “Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride” (Disneyland Reference) when we got to that part, unfortunately, on every landing!!!! Smile!

When we finished up we got into a Taxi and Paul said that the theme for the Night was “Head in the Clouds.”  He asked, where do you think we’re having dinner?”  I replied, “Marina Bay Sands Resort.”  (Rooftop restaurants…).  But, it actually was the Equinox!  Very cool!  It’s on the 70^th floor of the Samford Hotel.  I have only been there for Brunch not for dinner – it’s beautiful at the night with the lights of the city – amazing!

Some of the food was on the exotic side and they were really pushing the Foie Gras last night – Paul nor I are fans – the Chef sent out a complimentary appetizer of Spinach and Foie Gras Spring Roll in a sauce I think that was made from Blood.  It just tasted like Iron to me…didn’t eat that…  But, we did have a very nice dinner - we shared Lobster Steamed Gyozas for an Appetizer and I had Halibut with a Leek and Mussel Sauce (very nice) and Paul had the Steak.  We passed on dessert but there was a small dish, to cleanse the palate, called Coriander Slush and that was yummy!  It was just crushed ice with pureed Coriander Leaves and a bit of Lime.  I definitely want that again!

Thank you, Honey, for a beautiful night – you are my only love!

 

Early Birthday Celebration (Mar. 5)

Thanks for K, B, M and Paul for a great Saturday night!  Since my birthday is on a “school night” it was suggested that for the group celebration, we have some fun on the weekend!  What a great idea and what a great night!

We all enjoy The Screening Room!  So, we started out on the first floor restaurant and had a fantastic dinner.  I actually had pork!  Can you believe it?!  It was delicious.  And, the Prosecco was flowing – yum!

Then, we headed upstairs for “Pope Joan.”  It’s a movie based on the idea that, at one time, there had been a female Pope.  I was quite intrigued by the story and it reminded me of Lentil – ha! (Inside Joke) – Yentl!  Smile…

Again, thank you, K, for the Nigella Cookbooks – can’t wait to dig into them!  You’re awesome!  Paul has something planned for the official day, but you and I will just have to wait and see what happens!  I’m very excited!

Gratefulness…Let Me Explain (Mar. 3)

I went to one of my favorite haunts the other day, Dempsey Hill.  Jones and Culina are the destination for me – smile.  March 3 was like any other day (it rained and rained and rained)…but when I initially got there I had my favorite, Smoked Salmon Sandwich, and read.  It was so peaceful!  Of course, it started raining just has I was finishing lunch, so I bought my stuff at Jones and then headed across the street to Culina.  So, I finished there and, yes, it was pouring again!!! 

You cannot get a taxi in Singapore when it’s raining!

So, I decided to treat myself to a chocolate treat and a glass of Champagne!  Now, we actually get to the point of the story – the Server.  I met Jay – he was twenty-something and when he introduced himself he said he was from China.  Right away, he asked me where I was from.  To me, it always seems obvious that I’m from the U.S. but many here think I’m Australian.  The only reason for that is that there are more Aussies than Americans, I think…

Anyway, he started right in on how the one thing he wished for most in life was going to a NBA game in the U.S.  I just sat there talking to this boy realizing that so many young people have very simple dreams and it just made me even more grateful for this experience.

He was chatty and I enjoyed getting to know him and how expects he’ll probably have to go back to China to start in a company and just slowly work his way up.  I wonder if he’ll ever get to reach his dream?!

He intrigued me so much that I got his email address and then he asked something of me (I started to wonder – uh oh) but only he wanted was if I ever went to a game could I send him a picture – that’s it!  I wanted to start crying right then and there.  His wishes were so simple and pure.  He said he’s showed the picture to everyone!

So, since Tavia will be here soon, I ordered a Carmelo Anthony jersey and I’m going to surprise him with it when I head back to Dempsey Hill – and as his boss said of him, “He’s so cheerful.”  Meeting him and getting know his dreams really made me think about the daily struggles and simple, potentially never realized, dreams of others.  I am truly grateful for the experience.

Valentine’s Day Class (Feb. 14)

We love Valentine’s Day – it’s also our Engagement Anniversary, so it’s special.  We had a great time at a special Hands-on Cooking Class at Coriander Leaf.  The menu was FANTASTIC!  Take a look:

Roasted Eggplant & Pomegranate Salad

Tomato Soup Scented with Cumin

Lime & Chili Sorbet

Miso Gratinated Salmon with Buttered Asparagus

Black Pepper Crusted Beef Fillet with Confit of Sarawak Pineapple
(uh oh - no picture of the beef, but it was good!)

Lava Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

What a great experience!  Samia has a good thing going here - good instruction, good fun and good food!  Paul and I really enjoyed the atmosphere; we tried to guess out of the six other couples who were married, dating or if it was a first date.  Some really worked well together and others, not so much.  But, that was the fun of it!  The scrambling around - the frenzy and finally when Samia, Nick and her team put the finishing touches on our prepared meals, the satisfaction of eating a romantic meal that you made together.  

Really Sexy Aprons!

Samia had a numbered system so that each couple had a number and all of your food was "marked" so that you actually ate what you prepared.  Then, while we all enjoyed Champagne at our coupled tables, we were served our yummy dinners.

Samia was in the V-Day spirit with her red shoes - love it!

Our cakes turned out great, though we had a little help with the whipping of the eggs - you really have to go for it!!!  By the way, I did pick up some Valrhona Chocolate at Tott's the other day, so I'm going to make these for Tavia and her family (they get here soon - yeah!).

So, here are some other "atmosphere" pictures; it was a fantastic night - something we'll never forget!!