Hiking in Singapore...

Trying to get outside and get some hiking in... Singapore has some great outdoor parks! Here are some pictures:

Leaving the downtown area and heading to Fort Canning Park

Old fort 

No monkeys today..

The right side view - just trees 

The left side view - includes the buildings 

The view is the city from the hike

Cheering on Team USA....

One of my favorite things is cheering on Team USA. And getting an opportunity to go to another Olympics with my peeps was just amazing. Summer games are fun but love the winter games. So much fun!

Mike, Mitch, Destry, Erin, and I are traveled to Sochi to cheer on our athletes. We went to hockey, curling, skiing moguls, cross country skiing, speed skating, ski jumping, and my favorite the medal ceremony as we got front row tickets for being star fans at the mogul event. And we got to see two of our athletes receive medals including a gold medal which meant we got to hear our National Anthem (made me tear up!) Each event was amazing and getting to cheer on Team USA was a highlight. There wasn't many Americans present. We met some of the Americans who had kids representing our country - we always tried to assist them with travel and getting around. And we met some other families like us just in Sochi to cheer on Team USA. Great times! We were getting interviewed (7 times) and being asked to take pictures with Russians. Many people say Russians don't like Americans but our experience was they loved us. Always wanted pictures with our large USA flags and asked for our small flags. When we were at the Today Show, we were asked for more pictures then Matt Lauer! We loved being loved :) 

I know there was lots of discussions around the safety and readiness of Russia but we really were fortunate. The security was high - police and soldiers everywhere. We went through security at least 5 times a day. But we didn't mind... Well except Mike who tried to bring a large suitcase on the train. That is not allowed and Russian security took him and Destry away. We didn't know at the time but we found them and they just had to walk to the cruise ship. So all was well... Did I mention we stayed on a cruise ship? What a great idea cause hotels were not available and not ready so a cruise ship was perfect. Well for Erin, Destry, and I as somehow they gave away the room for Mike and Mitch. They had stay with the media at one of the hotels you saw on the news with no sheets or pillows. But eventfully they got on a cruise ship. 

So logistics were at times hard- patience needed in Russia especially with little English and not everything was ready - things got better as the week went on as they got more signs up and able to assist people. But we had a rule to ask at least 3 people before we did something to ensure we were going the right way. Especially when we were up in the mountain cluster where travel included a train, bus, gondola, and chair lift to get to events. But the mountain cluster is a beautiful setting! And only place that served beer - did I mention Russia banned beer in stadiums before the Olympics? Wow curling without beer is not so fun...but we had fun as nothing is as amazing as the Olympics. Can't wait for the next one - yep we are always planning on PC Korea 2018. 

What a great trip with great friends and Americans. Wish our athletes the best! And happy that the spirit of the Games is prevailing. Go Team USA! 

Some highlights - see us with our Olympic Gold medalist Jamie Anderson!

Destry, me, Mitch, and Erin in Olympic Park

At the Women Moguls - got to see Hannah win a bronze. And met lots of friends 

The crew! 

At the Today Show

One of our interviews - on the jumbotron! 

At cross country - what a fun event!

With the Sochi mascots

At the Olympic Rings

Visiting PC Korea 2018 venue- we will be there!

Love the Go USA mittens - thanks Mom and Erin 

Curling!

Celebrating Chinese New Year in Bali...

Bali is always a favorite! Love to spend time there. For Chinese New Year Brian and I traveled to Bali for some fun times. We stayed in Nusa Dua at the Westin. Lovely hotel. The first day we got up at 1:30am to travel out to hike the volcano at sunrise. It's always a fun thing to do. We had a great hike. We also met up with Rachel and Garth for dinner in Kuta. Had a great time. Some of co workers were also at the same hotel so got to have some fun time on the waterslide with the little one. Here are some pictures:

Brian and I at the too of the volcano

At the top

Sunrise hike

At the top

Brian hiking down..

Monkeys on the hike

Just beautiful

Our resort is lovely

Beach time

Pool time

Dinner at our favorite seafood place

Beach was beautiful

Beautiful walk along the beach...

Love bintang 

Girls weekend in Phuket!

Beth, Gia, and I took a quick trip to Phuket Thailand to enjoy the weekend On the beach and by the pool. Fun girl weekend. We spent time at the pool, beach, shopping at Jim Thompson and enjoying the yummy Thai food. Of course we had to enjoy a foot massage :)

Here are some pictures

Gia, Beth, and I 

Pool side 

Sunset at the Hilton

Hilton loves us

Beautiful beach

Beth and Gia in the pool

A weekend in Singapore...

As many of you know, I don't spend a lot of time in Singapore. But this weekend I was in town. Mostly I caught up on sleep and worked but also got some time with friends and running. I captured some pictures of my favorites in Singapore! 

Merlion at dusk - only 82 degrees today so many people out enjoying the mild temps

View of Singapore - apartment to the center left

Beautiful gardens by the bay - a lovely park

View from the park

The city. Apartment is the last building on the left

Singapore getting ready for the biggest holiday - Chinese New Year

Famous Fullerton Hotel and Merlion 

Chinese New Year laterns - famous decorations 

The city at dusk

Ringing in 2014 in Hawaii...

I always love Hawaii! And this year to ring in 2014 with my peeps was the best! Cindy, Mitch, Mike, and I skipped a year of hiking in cold weather to top of some mountain and headed to Kona, the Big Island! Mary and Lena joined us. As well as Michael and Robyn from New York. What a blast! We went kayaking and snorkeling. This included some huge waves as we tried to get back to the beach! Hiked the Volcano National Park - always fun to hike through lava! Then we tackled zip lining - this was fun though I think Cindy would have done without it haha! We also enjoyed some whale watching where we got to see a young whale show off some of his moves! We also enjoyed some pool time as well as time together cooking / grilling meals and meeting new friends. So lucky to have such great friends! I can't wait to tackle more adventures when I return to America later this year.

Here are some pictures from the amazing trip:

The crew at the luau

Hilton Hawaiian village - lovely

Kayaking and snorkeling 

Just beautiful 

Mary and I

Lena and I

The ladies hiking

Volcano National Park

Zip lining

Cindy, Michael, Lena and I

Celebrating the New Year

Kona brewery 

Whale watching

Mary and Cindy on the boat to see some whales

Hanging with our turtle friend

Mitch, Mary, Cindy and I at the luau

Just beautiful sunset

This place is amazing

Sunset view

Cindy and I on our last day

Last beers at sunset