Paradise. Lost.

Sitting in the Singapore Airlines lounge in Singapore now, awaiting our flight to Hong Kong, the last leg of this trip. Not feeling peppy today. Mostly because I lost my camera in a taxi yesterday, which contained all of the pictures from the amazing week. Sunrise in Langkawi. Mangrove forests. The bat caves. The Petronas Towers. All gone. Inconsolable (unconsolable?) right now...

That said, Singapore was amazing. So much yummy food here. Hawker centres. Chicken rice. Soy milk drinks. Fried "ham chin bing". Durian pancakes. Pork jerky. So yummy. Wish I wasn't so bummed about everything else.

Langkawi: Pregnant lady, limestone eagles, and monkey sex

Today is our third day in paradise, aka Langkawi. We finally got off our lazy asses and left the resort for once! We arranged for a boat tour of nearby islands (did you know that the group of islands that make up Langkawi used to be a haven for pirates?). Our first stop was this freshwater lake that was completely enclosed on this one island. Legend has it that anyone wishing for a child can just bathe in it and she'll become pregnant because the lake is blessed. The island also has the profile of a reclining prenant woman--hence being called The Lake of the Pregnant Lady.

Also about to be pregnant are the crazy (read: scary) monkeys that roam the trail leading to the lake. Some of the monkeys were definitely getting it on in broad daylight. Yes, it was really as disturbing as it sounds.

So why "Langkawi"? As our tour guide explained, about 70% of Langkawi's islands are made of limestone. There are also lots of eagles on the island. Combine the words for "eagle" and "limestone" in Malay and you get Langkawi.

And with that, it's time for another meal. Tomorrow we hit up the mangrove forests, bat caves and depart for Kuala Lumpur.

Popeye's, Starbucks and Chanel united

Where else in the world can you have those three places within 100 ft of each other? Have you ever perused Tiffany's jewels at the crack of dawn? Welcome to Hong Kong's international airport. Earlier this morning, I was treated to a ridiculous sight of a woman trying on diamonds at 7am. (No it wasn't me.) I knew I must have been in HK. Anyway, I guess thy don't call it a shopper's paradise for nothing. After a quick stopover, I've now arrived in Singapore. 8,444 miles flown....580 more to go. What's 6 more hours when it's already been 18, right?

Philly -- take 3

In town again for the third time in just as many months. Feeling pretty quiet today. Lots of reflection (and nap) time on the plane. Not really sure where anything's going anymore. Everything that I was so "sure" of is now uncertain, and even my type A planning alter-ego has taken a beating and is not really sure what to do. Can I go home now?

He's crazier than I am...

This guy is on a quest to visit every Starbucks in the world. Link

(Regina and I hit up every Starbucks in Beijing while we were there in 2001...but there were only 23 there back in the day!)

Phuket is to Thailand as Langkawi is to...

...Malaysia! So there was this whole coup thing in Thailand, which forced us to move our upcoming trip from Bangkok and Phuket to some other tropical destination. After much thought, we've now decided to go to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Langkawi. So what's in Langkawi, you ask? Well, it's a tropical island paradise, not unlike Phuket--in fact, they're on the same sea, just a few hundred kilometres apart. And of course, it helps that there's a Four Seasons there, too. :-)