Mole-B-Gone!

Not an adventure in Asia per se, but I did have one recently as I had a mole removed! Why would I blog about this you ask? Honestly, I don't know and it is 100% odd. HOWEVER, in an effort to raise awareness (yeah!) of melanoma and other potentially life threatening disease, I feel it's my duty to share my own struggle such that you, too, Avid Reader, will get yourself checked out as well. (Damn, I'm GOOD!)

After years of worry, I finally went in for a full body check right before I left for Asia. Thanks to my dear mother, I'm a someone mole-y guy, but my ability to tan rivals the Italians (so I'm adopted; hard to know). With four specific moles of concern, I pointed out each one, described why I thought it was an issue and got the doctor to nod politely, but say, 'we'll keep a watch on that one'. However, when he saw the one below my left arm-pit, he didn't let me describe but cutting me off: "I don't like that one." It's not something you want to hear while you're getting checked for cancerous moles. lso what one doesn't want to hear? "Can you spread your butt cheeks for me now?".

In sum, we removed the mole this past week and I'm stitched up and healing nicely, awaiting results from the lab which should arrive sometime next week after they slice and dice the dime-sized, three-time thick chunck of flesh removed from my torso. Good times, really. And good times for you, Avid Reader, who know you should get checked and haven't -- or won't.

Take my advice: Grin. Spread. Relax. Any order you choose!

SUPER SMALL WORLD!

While out on the town today with my friend Justin, we went to the Raffles Hotel to see some of the true colonial architecture as well as to hit the Long Bar and enjoy Singapore Slings where the drink was born. In so doing, I ran into a familiar face from the Seattle volleyball community who had moved from Seattle nearly five years ago!

As I searched for the bathroom, I passed her once, twice (found it!), and on the third pass, broke the ice: "Excuse me. I think I know you. From Seattle? Played on SuperFriends? Tina, right?" Brilliant! She's just starting a two-month trek through SE Asia. Crazy enough, I only knew Tina from the volleyball court -- as an awesome player on one of the best teams @JetCity (and our biggest rival) -- but with the craziness of seeing her today, it was like we were old friends reconnecting after years apart. Awesome. Just awesome.

After seeing Sarah McGovern randomly in a restaurant I walked by in Hong Kong, seeing Cheryl Lee from the UW MBA Class of 2001 in the lobby of the Microsoft Singapore office, and then seeing Tina Churchill at the Raffles Hotel, I have officially decided (again) that the World is Small.

And I love that!

Cheers from Singapore!

Night Safari

Our Forced Fun activity (morale event) @ the Regional Kick-Off Event was an adventure at Singapore’s Night Safari. The first night safari in the world, we enjoyed catching some of the world’s most amazing creatures in their natural habitats and when they’re likely to be awake!

We Happy Hour'd with rare African cattle. I saw my first rhinoceros, first tapirs (the butt of one which was patted by my Japanese colleague!), and more types of deer than I thought possible – and all of which I inadvertently imagined shoulder-mounted in my parents cabin (Don’t judge; them’s my roots.).

Before the safari, we enjoyed an incredible meal, and some local entertainment, including traditional Singaporean and Indian dancers. They were awesome to watch – and invited photography after. One guess as to who was first up!

Our tour guide then guided us to our trams and we were immediately thrown into habitat after habitat – sometimes in the midst of a habitat that was “fenced” by cattle guards. My favorite habitat was that of the hyena on one side of the hill, with a deer (assortment X) habitat on the lower, seemingly separated only by the tram road. Hello Temptation Island!

I didn’t get many great photos as I’m still camera illiterate for the most part. But the images and adventure will be forever cemented in my mind. And the photo captions there will read: “AWESOME.”

Todd Moore 1. Snake Phobia 0.

As cool as Night Safari was, the big news of the evening was my amazing effort to thwart a phobia – of snakes! As part of our private party, we were “treated” to close encounters with a stunning owl as well as boa constrictor. Literally, as we stood on a patio next to the herd of African cattle, Justin says to me, I hear there might be animals making their way to the party. “Cool!", I say. "I want it to be a tiger!”

Oh, no , Avid Reader. It was a snake. At first glance, I bolted. Visceral and rapid, I was outta there. But then I thought to myself, “Self, life is about adventures. What a better story it would make to actually touch that strangling monster.”. And so, I started to make efforts to that end.

Amazingly, Avid Reader, my body and mind were not in sync. The closer I would get to the handler, the faster my heart would beat, the faster I lost my breath, the faster I sweat through my shirt. I literally *couldn’t* do it and I would have to step away saying, ‘this is not rational; this is totally irrational’. But I suppose that is what a phobia is and does. And I decided that I was going to control it.

So, I kept going back. Abetted by any number of folks watching this sh*t show, I was able to touch that serpent three times, before actually 'petting' its underside (much better; felt like shoe vs. scaly nastiness). Bottomline, I may have sweat through my shirt and acted the complete fool, but I was able to defeat my phobia in at least one small way. Best, I feel great. Better, stronger, faster.

Yep, Todd 1. Snake 0.

Singapore

Not much to write about from Singapore after having arrived to the hotel after 1AM last night. I thought you might enjoy some shots of the city from of my hotel room. One thing I will note is that some Formula One event (just the world-famous Singapore Grand Prix) is scheduled for next week in Singapore and this entire city is becoming a race track! You heard it – they are turning city roads into the track so barriers are going up all throughout the city. Without this knowledge, I might have easily assumed I was entering MadMax as the cabbie drove me in to the city. It’s something to see!

That said, I’m definitely excited to explore a country I’ve never visited before, to see old colleagues from around the world (I love the Aussies!), and head into the tail leg of this Asian Adventure altogether!

Las Vegas of China

(photos to come)

After a brief night out in Central Friday night (drinks on the harbor with colleague Nancy Willis; dinner in mid-levels), my colleague Justin and I got up early and took a hydrofoil to Macau – the Las Vegas of China! The Gateway to China! The Portuguese of China!

Like Vegas, arriving was quite the sight – complete with an Epcot Center-like wharf representing locales from all over the world. Like Vegas, casinos like Wynn and MGM beckoned.

Unlike Vegas, we were on Chinese soil. Unlike Vegas, it was historically Portuguese. Unlike Vegas, I gambled with $100 chips (HKD, of course, or ~$13 USD). Unfortunately – and unlike Vegas – I left Macau with fewer HKD than at which I started.

Literally dripping with sweat, Justin and I found a recommended city hike, so took to the hills to check out some of the famous sites, including the fort, the façade of the thing, and the heart of the chinese shopping market. It was SO humid, Avid Reader, that we had to take “let’s dry our backs and ass cracks” breaks in various businesses with AC… couched in our own coded language:

“Check out those shoes! Can’t get those back home!”
“I’d really love to see what the fuss is about in that jewelry store.”
“Oh! Magnets! Let’s see the different styles!”

Needless to say, Justin is an incredible travel partner. After bit more blackjack at the MGM, we caught the ferry back to Hong Kong and joined Doug & Kenwyn and Stephen & Melanie for an amazing dinner at Hee Kee Crab – where we got to select the crabs from the aquariums to enjoy. Delicious. Darts after were ceremoniously won by Stephen, Kenwyn and Justin. I let them win; can’t be in every photo after all!

Recent Adventures

Avid Reader, I am quite behind on updates here. I apologize. It's been a busy few days, and even more tired nights. That said, I owe you updates on the following, and perhaps even the subject will now pique your interest:

* Macau!
* Singapore!
* Night Safari!

Also of import is the fact that it's Monday night here in Singapore and another day has come to a close on this Asian adventure. What this means is that I'm getting oh so much closer to a Copper reunion! For those keeping track at home, she is getting oh so big and I'm getting reports of outstanding -- though puppy-like behavior -- from John & Amy!

More to come. Stay tuned!