Singapore and Angkor Wat!

So the big news is this: We are going to Singapore and Cambodia at the end of this year! Seven days in Singapore and a three days excursion to Siem Reap in Cambodia to see the famed Angkor Wat. We are very excited! We can't wait to have Zoe meet her other grandfather, Dennis has been wanting to see Singapore, and Angkor Wat is one of those places I have always wanted to see.

We conceived of the plan only a few days ago, after my brother and I decided to hold mom's 70th surprise birthday bash in Singapore (instead of Japan, as originally suggested). In fact, going to Siem Reap was not so much by design as by serendipity. We decided to fly by Singapore Airlines because it offers a confirmed wall-mounted bassinet large enough for Zoe. (United cannot guarantee a bassinet that Zoe can sleep in; in fact, I was told that the chances of my getting it is pretty slim, notwithstanding the fact that both airlines charge 10% of the price of the adult ticket). And, as it turns out, with Singapore Airlines, if one is just a little clever with the planning, one can fly to another destination within Asia for either less money or the same money. So, why not?

Anyhow, I'm already working hard on the travel arrangements: checking out and booking hotels in Siem Reap, finding out about vaccinations and such. Then, there is also the research to be done for mom's birthday bash. All very exciting!

Dennis said the other day that if not because the era of the travel agent is over, I would make a very good one. I suppose! After all I have travel agency blood in me. That was Dad's first business. Way back in the 1960s, Dad founded a travel agency that became, for a while, one of Asia's most prominent.

Anyhow, I think this would be a nice little vacation. I wish it can be longer - I would like to properly visit Cambodia or Vietnam one day - but we take what we can. Besides, even though Cambodia is now pretty safe to visit - I take the number of Singaporeans who visit as verity of its safety; Singaporeans, generally, have little tolerance for any kind of danger, real or imagined - it is best to stick to the well worn paths of Siem Reap. Besides, given Zoe's tender age, I would not want her at any place with less than reliable facilities.

Well, that's it for now. Looking forward to putting a few thousand miles on Zoe's frequent flyer plan.

Pictures of Angkor Wat

Trying to Crawl

This video was taken last week. It shows Zoe trying to crawl but not getting it.

Family Picture

This was the last and only picture we have of us all together and without our backpack. I love this picture of us.

First Camping Trip - Zion National Park

We just returned from a wonderful weekend at Zion National Park. We got back a day earlier so that we can rest, recharge and reset. Holidaying can be tiring affairs! It worked out perfectly anyway as we covered all the hikes we wanted to do. We simply drove home yesterday afternoon instead of today. But, back to the trip, we had a great time and all in all, Zoe weathered the complete disruption of her routine well. She took to the backpack carrier well too, even though we took her on longer hikes. She was curious, looked around and slept when she got tired - though never long enough for us.

She did less well on the camping part, however. We were hoping she would fall asleep without fuss in the tent. Unfortunately, on the first night, she cried quite heartedly at first and twice in the middle of the night. Luckily, she managed to fall asleep soon after. Still, that first night of camping was a little rougher than we liked. Dennis and I took turns worrying about Zoe. First we were worried that she might not be warm enough, then we worried that she might be too hot under the layers (five) we have on her. Then, Dennis did not sleep well (the new and thicker mattress notwithstanding). I think he worried for Zoe, whereas I slept soundly once I was sure Zoe was fine temperature wise.

That's the long way of saying we decided to decamp to the Holiday Inn Express for the next night! I think, until we invest in car camping equipment (which affords more comfort and room than the lightweight backpacking stuff we have now), we will be putting up in hotels/cabins/lodges for our holidays. Zoe has no problem sleeping in the hotel cribs - no fuss at all! I guess she takes after her father - he too sleeps more soundly in hotel beds. As for me, can't say I find the upgrade disagreeable!

Day 1 (Friday):

Day 1: Zoe getting her solids at our campsite

We got to Zion National Park early Friday morning to try to snag one of the 127 first-come-first-served campsites at the South Campground in the park. After some confusion and frantic scrambling, we got us a nice campsite, set up tent, had brunch before setting out to see the "Weeping Rock" and hike the Hidden Canyon Trail. Notice that I say "see" since the Weeping Rock was hardly a trail. I don't believe it is even the 1/4 mile one way hike the park service claims it to be for we got there in less than five minutes. Still, it was quite a pretty little alcove.

Day 1: At the "Weeping Rock"

The Hidden Canyon was more interesting a hike. Situated on the east side of the main canyon, the trail wends its way up, crossing a few ravines, to arrive at the mouth of Hidden Canyon. We enjoyed it though the trail was a paved trail, which I think is more "touristy" and harder on the knees.

Day 1: Hidden Canyon Trail

Day 1: Up the Hidden Canyon Trail

Day 2 (Saturday):

The highlight of the day was Angels Landing, which is a classic Zion hike. Even though it is graded as "strenuous" and described as "harrowing," "exhilarating," and "not for the faint of heart," plenty of people young and old make their way up this fin like mountain formation that juts out to the center of the main canyon. I should emphasize the "plenty of people." It was a crowded trail! Luckily, it was a very pretty trail too (I suppose that is why it is so popular). We followed the Virgin River and then made our way up the Refrigerator Canyon and then onto the ridge.

Day 2: At the start of the Angels Landing Trail

We got to Scott's Lookout just in time for a lovely lunch break. From there, we had a good view of the final half mile leading to Angels Landing and of the canyon. The final half mile is actually the "exhilarating" part, with many exposed sections. We decided to skip the final half mile. Even though it is completely doable, we didn't want to risk it. Have to be more careful now that we have baby on our back! Besides, the narrow trail looked too crowded for our liking. We could see a line of people making up the trail slowly.

Day 2: Walter's Wiggles

So we turned around after we had our lunch. The hike down was just as lovely, though, again, because the trail was paved, hard on the knees and joints. When we got back down, we went back to our campsite to collect our tent and stuff. Thereafter, we made our way to the Holiday Inn Express (where we stayed on Thursday evening). It was so nice to have a hot shower and to have a crib to put Zoe into. Our little one was such a trooper. She laughed and giggled and played. No crying that night!

Day 2: At the hotel and happy!

Day 3 (Sunday):

Sunday morning, we checked out of the Holiday Inn and headed north to the Kolob Canyons part of the Zion National Park to hike the Taylor Creek trail. Kolob Canyons is in the Northwest part of the park. This turned out to be my favorite hike. The trail followed Taylor Creek and took us through a very lush, verdant canyon that was simply magnificent. The sky was mostly cloudy with spots of blue, the birds sang, and the leaves danced with the wind. And our baby babbled her baby babble most of the way in. We were happy!

Day 3: On Taylor Creek Trail

Day 3: Our baby sleeping

Day 3: At the Double Arch Alcove

Well, this is the account of our holiday. Looking forward to our next!

Art Walk

Dennis, Zoe and I went to Solana Beach last Thursday for their monthly "Art Walk." We enjoyed it much even though there wasn't a whole lot of art to be seem - more merchandise really. We strolled around with Zoe, had a few sips of wine (freebie offered at the stores), nibbled at crackers and were just glad to be out and about.

Maps!

"Hmm, I think I would like to go there!"

High Five!!

Zoe seems so delighted by the game of Peek-A-Boo - she initiates a game of it whenever she has a handkerchief or blanket in hand - that we are keen to show her more games. Here, we are showing her "High Five."

Got Teeth?

Zoe's third tooth finally broke through today - or at least I felt it for the first time today. Just a little white thing on her upper left jaw. I think she weathered this teething process quite well. Aside from the torrential drool, she didn't seem to suffer too badly from it.

The Oops Hairdo

I gave Zoe a little hair cut today. I call it the oops hairdo as I cut her bang a lot shorter than I intended to. It was very hard as she would not stay still for the cut. I think I did a much better job the first time - a couple of weeks ago, when I sniped off a little hair on her sides and back. Oh well. I think she still looks cute.

I am putting a picture I took of her yesterday here for comparison.

New Favorite Picture of Dennis

Happy Baby

We get lots of comments about how Zoe is such a happy baby. We agree! She is a happy baby. But there are times when she is not. Shown here is a picture of baby after I refused to give her my glasses. We fear what is to come when she hits the "terrible two" age!

"I love mommy's glasses! And I will scream till I get it!"

Zoe reached for my glasses this morning. Actually, it would be more accurate to say she grabbed for them. It's not the first time, but she was most determined to have her way this morning. I let her have them at first, but decided that it was too risky. The glasses are just a couple months old, and until the latest order arrives, I have no contact lenses, which means I cannot afford to have her break them. Luckily, I remembered that I still have the old one lying in the bathroom basket. After a nice wash with soap - with Zoe yelling in the background for glasses - we arrived at a happy ending. She was most possessive of it too at first. She practically growled when I tried to reach for it!

Playtime

Peek-A-Boo!

Somehow or other, Zoe learned the game of Peek-A-Boo and loves it. She plays Peek-A-Boo by herself (she uses her blanket and entertains herself with the mobile) and with us this morning. It's her new thing. I think it shows a level of sophistication when she can understand a concept and adopts it in various settings.

'O World, I cannot hold thee close enough!'

At long last, we are finally at the stage where we - or I, principally - can contemplate a long trip and know that it is not just some fancy that is in truth an impossibility. I have been busy at it too. Checking with United about flights and rewards travel and such. Checking websites about traveling with toddlers. Reading about possible destinations.

Funny thing is, now that it is actually something that can happen, I am at lost about the destination. The problem is not a lack of imagination or desire; rather, it is the opposite. There are just so many places I can think of and want to go to. But given the reality of having a young child and limited resources, the fact that the day and age of cheap travel will certainly be over soon (on account of the predicted $200 per barrel of oil by 2009), and the fact that air travel is not exactly an environmental thing to do, we might well be limited to travels within North America soon. In short, this might be our last chance. This might well be a momentous decision!

I suppose I am being a little melodramatic about this here. But really, I am very excited about our upcoming trip. We think it would be Peru (to see Machu Picchu) or Argentina (to see Buenos Aires and Patagonia). I should clarify that there is nothing imminent about "upcoming" here. The plan is to go somewhere in April or May 2009. Why plan so far ahead? Because I plan to use the last of my miles I have with United for this trip and one needs to plan way, way ahead when it comes to redeeming miles. Besides, half the fun is the planning anyway. For now, for me, begins the trip to that faraway place! What would it be like now that we have Zoe? Would she be a sturdy and inquisitive traveler? Would she be awed by the sights? Would she embrace the winds, the sun, the skies, blue, grey or starry?

God's World

O world, I cannot hold thee close enough!
Thy winds, thy wide grey skies!
Thy mists, that roll and rise!
Thy woods, this autumn day, that ache and sag
And all but cry with colour! That gaunt crag
To crush! To lift the lean of that black bluff!
World, World, I cannot get thee close enough!

Long have I known a glory in it all,
But never knew I this;
Here such a passion is
As stretcheth me apart, -- Lord, I do fear
Thou'st made the world too beautiful this year;
My soul is all but out of me, -- let fall
No burning leaf; prithee, let no bird call.

Edna St. Vincent Millay

Update on Diet and Eczema

Zoe's skin has been, on the whole, looking good the last couple of weeks. There were one or two small outbreaks, but they cleared up after I washed her skin with soap followed by a good application of Aquaphor. Both times, I can trace the outbreak to contact with detergent. One day, it happened very swiftly after I wiped her face with a restaurant napkin. The other, I can link it to a cover that was last wash a long time ago and last washed in detergent too. Can I take these incidences plus the fact that her face is now generally clear and that she no longer seem to be allergic to everything we give her as evidence that her eczema was caused entirely by detergent?

I'm not going to be complacent though. It was so challenging - emotionally and mentally - when Zoe had the eczema, I don't want to be in that situation ever again if I can help it!

Anyhow, the following is a list of food we have introduced to her:

Food that is safe:
Avocado
Chicken
Banana
Butternut Squash
Corn
Oatmeal
Papaya
Prunes
Sweet Potato
Winter Squash

Food that is still under observation (i.e was introduced recently or not in big enough quantity yet to know for sure):
Apple
Mango
Plum
Rice

Food on hold because of suspected allergy (though not proven completely unsafe):
Flaxseed Oil

Food that I look forward to introducing to baby in the next few weeks:
Broccoli
Beef
Egg York (highly recommended, but is known to be a high probability allergenic food too. Egg white is not recommended till after one year old)
Lentil
Peach
Spinach

Bernardo Mountain Finally!

We finally made it to the peak of Bernardo Mountain today. We made an attempt a couple of months ago when Zoe was around five months old (I think she was five months old). We didn't get too far that day as she fussed angrily not long into the hike and we turned around. All went well today. Zoe did very little fussing before falling asleep in the pack. And she was mostly very cheery. We started at 8 am and got to the peak at 9:40 am. Did I mention that it was an easy hike? About 6 miles round trip, if that. It was lovely hike too. The trail was flanked by lots of lots of wildflowers - and the peak offered a wonderful view of Lake Hodges, the valley of Escondido, and distant mountain ranges. So much reward for so little work!

Our Sweetheart

"I have so much to say!"

Toothbrush!!

Zoe: "I must and I will learn to use this thing even if I don't like the taste of it!!"

New Toy

Perhaps it is my imagination, I feel that Zoe's current stash of toys are no longer exciting her. She plays with them, but they are the same things, cookie boxes and oatmeal containers included, she manipulates over and over again. It is time to find something new.

So, this morning, I took Zoe to Right Start to see if I can find a toy or two that might interest her. We came home with two. So far, she is very pleased with one of them. We'll probably only give her the second toy two or three weeks later, after she has explored all the bells and whistles of the new toy.

Talk about bells and whistles, I was very tempted and am still tempted to get her a little piano. Not an electronic one, but one made of wood. I saw one two weeks ago and the little red piano has stuck in my head. I nearly got it too, thinking that it would provide Zoe with hours of fun banging on the 24 notes keyboard. Then, at the store, I found out that it is made in China. A silly consideration of course, since I'm pretty sure her two new toys are made in China too. The only difference being that the piano is made of wood and and covered in a lovely red paint. Now, whether the paint is safe is the question.