Tomorrow I leave my cocoon.
You may ask how I’ve made it through nearly fourteen days of confinement. It helps to have been assigned to the hotel known in this Straits Times article as winning the quarantine lottery. Also, regular chats with Tom, now that we’re not separated by a 15 hour time difference, and iMessage and WhatsApp to stay connected with the kids and friends.
An unexpected delight has been Happy Hour with balcony friends, Steve, and Karl and Basma. Steve has lived in Singapore for 18 years, while Karl and Basma are relocating from Saudi Arabia; turns out we have friends in common through the “it’s a small world and getting smaller” network. Steve has an extensive wine collection, which he’s generously shared. As Basma said one evening, “God sent us Steve.” Amen.
I also joined the American Women’s Association, just as my mother Dorothy (who would have been 89 today) did on many of their overseas assignments. Yesterday I enjoyed my first event, a virtual talk on the colonial black & white homes, one of Singapore’s signature architectural sites. And I’ve spent countless hours on the balcony watching the shipping and boating traffic on the Straits of Malacca, one of the busiest water passages in the world.
Two days ago I had my COVID swab test in the lobby. I dressed up for the occasion. Yesterday I received the negative results and departure instructions. Hooray!
I leave you with photos, video with early morning bird notes, and links to my favorite yoga sessions, courtesy of Shangri La’s “Home Away from Home” quarantine FB page.
In 26 hours, it will be Hello, Singapore!
If you like what you read, subscribe HERE.