Chandra's version of the word "human" in Chinese

Learning Chinese Calligraphy

Today I spent about 1 hour with a wonderful calligraphy teacher in Chinatown.  His name is James Koh and he is a master painter and Chinese calligrapher.  He began our lesson by explaining to me the importance of the bamboo brush with camel hair.  The art of calligraphy is learned over decades and is dependent …

Prada Sculptures - Orchard Road

Sleepy in Singapore

After an epic travel day of 31+ hours the lack of sleep finally caught up with me. I woke up today (Sunday morning) at 6:30AM after only 2.5 hours of sleep. I decided I was going to “will” myself back to sleep for two more hours and then get up and going for a free …

singaporeloc

Singapore, At Last!

Upon leaving Raleigh on Friday morning I started my iphone’s stop-watch feature to see exactly how long it would take me to get from RDU International airport to the M Hotel I am staying at in Singapore. (BTW, this is a trick I learned from my awesome husband, Eric) When I opened the door to …

What's on the Menu?

Hong Kong International

The eagle has landed. My 15 hour and 32 minute flight concluded without incident. I was able to pass the time mostly by listening to an audio booked entitled “Summer Rental” and with about four hours of sleep. My iPad never ceases to amaze me. I started listening to my audio book just shortly after …

Carolina Belle - Blues and BBQ Cruise

All-American Fourth of July

Eric and I have spent the last 3 night in the quintessential American city of Charleston, South Carolina.  I was fortunate enough to learn several weeks back about a Charleston Harbor cruise that included live Blues music and pit-cooked BBQ.  I bought advance tickets online and tonight we spent our holiday aboard the Carolina Belle …

Jamon Hanging for Sale

Jamon, Manchengo and Olives

Dinner time in Spain is quite surprisingly late.  Most restaurants do not open for service until 9PM with peak eating hours running from 10PM to Midnight.  In Spain the afternoon “siesta” is very much alive.  Spaniards are on a schedule all there own.  They get started late in the morning,  have lunch around 2PM and …

Parque del Retiro

Madrid Walking Tour Part 2

While visiting the Royal Palace, Maria pointed out the statues along the roof line and then down into the gardens.  These statutes are representations of previous saints and kings.  King Charles III ordered the placement of these statues as a symbol of class and future kings followed in the tradition. Just past the Palacio Real …

Gran Via - Busiest Street in Madrid

Madrid Walking Tour Part 1

I arrived in Madrid, Spain this morning at around 8AM after an overnight and overseas flight of 7.5 hours.  I’ve been reading up on the “must-see” and “must-do” lists available on the internet over the last few weeks.  This afternoon I had the very fortunate pleasure of a private travel guide.  Her name was Maria …

Gare du Nord Station Paris

From London to Paris by Rail

Today we traveled by rail on the Eurostar from London to Paris. Passing under the English Channel in less than 20 minutes. We purchased “Standard Premier” class seats which offered us two, opposing seats with a table between them. We were served breakfast, tea, juice and coffee at our seats on the train. We were …

The Tower of London

The Tower of London

Today was our trip to the Tower of London. It started out beautiful! Sunny with white, puffy clouds in the sky. We took the London Underground (please mind the gap) to the tower. We arrived just in time to join a free tour guide as he walked a group of about 50 people around the …