Around the World: Day 58 - 61

Singapore was great for the short time I was there and then all to soon it was time to move on. After leaving Singapore I headed to Bangladesh for a few days. If I'm honest, by the time I left Singapore I was ready to be done traveling. I also had mixed feelings about going to Bangladesh. 

Those feelings weren't because of the possibility of political instability or danger. I was going to meet my sponsored child and her family. I think I was more worried about making a connection with them. What happened if it was really awkward? Would we be able to make a connection? Is my sponsored child going to be shy and scared or excited? 

I had a total of three full days there, 

Day 1: security briefing at the international office in Dhaka and then drive all day (7 hours for 250 km) out to Barishal a city close to her village

Day 2: The Meeting -
I really didn't have much to worry about, when I met them for the first time it was great. My little girl was very excited and so eventually we started playing games and laughing together. It was actually lots of fun! It was a fabulous experience and so someday I'm already wishing that I could go back. 

Day 3: drive all day back to Dhaka, we left Barishal at 8 a.m. and returned to Dhaka at 5 p.m. Later that night (at 12:30 in the morning) I headed to the airport to make my way home. 

It was quick and there really wasn't time to relax much, but I did notice the people of Bangladesh are friendly and the country is beautiful. 

After spending a very long time sitting in planes I finally made it back to the states on July 23rd. My sister-in-law picked me up from the airport and then I spent the night with her and my brother at their place. 

The next day, we headed up north and I surprised my youngest sister on her birthday. She didn't know that I was coming home and so she was really shocked to see me which was great! I think it was one of the best reactions I've had to coming home. :)

Around the World: Day 54 -57

After leaving Japan I stopped in Shanghai for a couple hours and waited for my next plane with a destination of Singapore. I arrived in Singapore, and made my way through customs (this time without any excitement). 

After customs I had 2 options...I could pay for an airport shuttle to my hotel, or I could take the subway to the closest stop and then walk. I decided to ask about the shuttle service and it was going to take almost 2 hours. First, I would have to wait until the shuttle would leave and then the drive with drop off's at other hotels along the way. It was already 10pm and that makes a very late night. 

I opted for the subway...I could start right away and also possibly arrive sooner. I purchased my ticket, got on the train and went to my stop...then it turned into somewhat of an interesting adventure. I looked at the map and had directions, but I was turned around when I first came out of the subway so needless to say I walked the wrong direction. I didn't get far before I realized what happened and so I turned around. 

I was finally on the right road but then I missed a street sign so I walked to far and had to turn around, again...it would have been so bad if I wasn't carrying all my stuff with me. With the humid temperature even though it was after dark I was drenched in sweat by the time I arrived. Even though I was dripping in sweat they still checked me in and gave me the key to my room (which has AC). I'm in a really cute little boutique hotel (Hotel Kai), that I absolutely love.

My bed...I actually have a wind too...apparently not all the rooms have a window

It's a studio room and so space is limited...but they have used space in interesting ways

For example...the phone is tucked away in this little space, but if you pull down the wall

you end up with a desk... :) 

The next morning I walked around for a little bit, before jumping on the city sightseeing bus. Here are some of the things I saw. 

The Singapore Flyer (which I wanted to ride)

At the gardens by the bay

One of the many, many place you can find food...I think I've seen places for just about every ethnicity  

Around the streets

The three pillars are a very large and expensive resort

The Merloin

Around the streets

At the botanical gardens

Someone offered to take my picture for me...and this is it

I was able to ride the flyer after dark

Singapore at night

Another shot of Singapore at night

One thing that I wanted to do was take a ride the Singapore Flyer at night to see the city. I'm so glad that I did...but there is a story behind it. As I was riding the city sightseeing bus earlier in the day an older couple and I kept crossing paths. At one point, they asked if I had ridden the flyer or if I wanted to ride it. I told them I hadn't ridden it, but that I wanted to and so they said 'here, we have 2 tickets but won't use them so you take them and have fun.' I did! I was hoping that I would be able to find some random person that wanted to use the second ticket so I didn't waste it, but unfortunately that didn't happen. 

There are so many street venders to malls here that I find I want to go shopping. I have done a little bit of shopping but have kept in very tight control. That's pretty much what I did this morning. I meandered through one of the many malls. Soon it will be time to start re-packing some and leave again tomorrow. It's hard to believe that my trip is coming to an end and soon I'll be back in my own country. 

Around the World: Day 46 - 53

The week that I have spent here has gone by really quickly! Now it is almost time to leave and I realize that I never shared my story that I was going to. 

I’ve come to the conclusion that Japan and I have an interesting relationship…the first time  I came it took 3 days to arrive, and then I arrived without any luggage. This time I arrived on-time with my luggage, but they pulled me out at customs and searched my bag. I was taken into a room where everything was pulled out onto the table, and searched. I didn’t have anything to hide so I didn’t mind, but that is the first time that I have ever been singled out and searched. 

 After I was given the all clear and repacked my bags, I made my way to my friends house taking public transport. It really wasn’t that hard…then again, I already knew where I was going and how the transport system works here. 

I didn’t do much the day I arrived because I was so exhausted. 

The next day I took the super express train to Hiroshima and walked around the Peace Park. For lunch, I found myself at an outdoor cafe where I started talking to a waiter. His English was excellent, I found out that he had been working in Australia for the last 2 years and just returned to Japan a month ago. After I was finished walking around in Hiroshima, I took the ferry out to Miyajima Island before heading back to Kobe. 

A-Bomb Dome

There are several water fountains around the Peace Park

Some of the many paper cranes

The Peace Flame

The famous gate on Miyajima Island (it's completely made out of wood and this is the 8th one)

The following day (Friday), I went to Nara and saw the deer. It was a quick trip because I had to make it back in time to meet up with my friend for dinner. While I was waiting for the train in Nara I overheard some other people talking behind me in English and so eventually I joined in on the conversation. 

A girl from China had her map eaten by the deer (who will eat anything) and so she asked another tourist (who was from Spain) if she could follow him back to the train station. That is where I meet them. Anyway, we started talking and the girl from China and I really hit it off and decided that we should meet up on Monday to hang out and sightsee together. 

Deer in Nara Park

More deer!!!

Saturday, my friend and I decided to stay in the Kobe area and went to the Herb Garden. It was something that I did 3 years ago, but really enjoyed and so I went again. We took the cable cars up to the top of the mountain and then walked all the way down. It was a leisurely day, we soaked our feet in the herbal foot bath, and enjoyed some delicious treats. My favorite was the lavender ice cream (I had it 3 years ago and never forgot it!!!) So,  Yummy!!!!

Flower in the herb garden

There were lots of different types of flowers and herbs

The colors were amazing

It's a field of lilies

On the way down we passed several different waterfalls

Sunday morning we went to church, and then went out for coffee with some other people from church. After coffee, we came back played a game then read books and just lounged around for the afternoon. It was fabulous!

Monday morning I went to Kyoto and meet up with my new Chinese friend and checked out some temples and local sights in Kyoto. It was fun to hang out with someone else for the day, I really enjoyed our conversation and time together. 

At the pagoda in Kyoto

The river

Today, I found a place to stay in Singapore (which is where I’m headed tomorrow), before meeting up with my friend and going out to eat. We went to this place where you buy a ticket for the buffet for 2 hours and eat all you want in that time. The best part, they have some salads meats and healthy stuff but most of it is desserts! Ice cream, chocolate fountain, cakes, and so many other options. It’s very filling and absolutely amazing! 

Now it’s time that I start the packing process, again. As much as I love all this traveling I’m ready to stop unpacking and packing all the time. Soon I will be home again, for a little while. 

Around the World: Day 38 - 45

I'll be honest and say that I've fallen behind on my blog, but I'm going to try to bring you up to speed on what I've been doing. During my last week in Switzerland I was able to check out Bern, Lausanne, Luzern, and take a boat from Thun to Interlaken. The other days it was raining and so I didn't venture out very far, but I did enjoy a rainy day in my friends flat reading and catching up on some long overdue emails. 

Now for the pictures...

Bern

Fountains

River Aare: (the river we rafted down)

Clock Tower in the Old City

Another view of the River Aare

At the Rose Garden overlooking the city of Bern

I did find the famous Bern bears

While I was walking around, I saw people walking across the River Aare on tight ropes...so I stopped and watched for awhile. It looks really difficult!!!!

Lausanne

Lausanne Cathedral

Olympic Park

Olympic Flame 

Lake Geneva

Luzern

Bridge

I was there on Saturday morning and enjoyed walking through the local famers market.

Water and Mountains or is it Mountains and Water?

The Lion

Thun to Interlaken

Lake Thun

Lake Thun

There were a bunch of people paragliding in Interlaken

Snow capped mountain

That pretty much sums up the rest of my time in Switzerland. It was great to see my friend and catch up with her while enjoying the natural beauty of Switzerland. 

I have successful made it to Japan, (when I was scheduled to arrive, for those of you who know the story of my last visit.) I will hopefully get some picture loaded and stories posted about my arrival in Japan in the next day or two. I had a completely new experience once I arrived in Japan.