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at Railay Beach - Thailand https://www.instagram.com/p/B2_ngxOlCTW/?igshid=j82x9fg9ag89

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Globalism in the Age of Trump: Thoughts (but, not super thoughtful)

Well, I continue to amaze and impressed myself with the amount of information (like, basic info!) that I know nothing about. Haha(argh)! Before Foreign Affairs mag realized I subscribed (but never paid) for my subscription, I got a couple issues and happened to read Adam S. Posen’s article (March/April Issue) discussing the effect Trump’s National Security Policy Statement has had on America’s global economic agenda. I knew there was a global economic system out there, but I didn’t realize that the US developed a ‘rules-based’ economic system. The rules-based system keeps the flow of capital, investment, etc. fair and reliable and is purportedly the reason why so many countries have been able to make great gains in wealth and stability. There are a slew of downsides (of course) - like environmental issues, etc., but...how did I not know about this rules-based thing? It’s directly tied to American hegemony (an interest of mine!) as well as foreign policy (also, interesting!)...so...wuz tha dealio. How could I have made it through high school and then college not knowing these things? Moral of this story, I’m pretty excited to find out what else I know nothing of. I mean...the future is bright, right?!

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Week one pics from sunny, rainy, equatorial Singapore. More than anything else, SG is keeping it not-so-real with malls. The ubiquitous box of solidly southeast asian offerings...ahhh....hello again speculative malls!! No more on that later, because it’s just not that interesting. BUT, malls here - while not so great for actual shopping - are pretty sweet if you are looking for weather proof playrooms. Yuma, Sena, and I have already visited three, four spots? - the one here was at I12 Katong and is called...The City! Model rooms where kids can get lost in play acting / fantasy. Yuma clearly prefers his fire fighting with a side of rad hair accessories. Haha! My princess.

Two months post-pregnant life, I’m realizing that stay at home parent-life revolves around a cycle of finding schools that don’t (deeply) disturb you, wearing out toddlers on a twice daily basis (while searching for not dismal schools), and getting used to feeling exhausted/(((bored)))/guilty/repentant, etc. Parenting is insane. 

On a non-kid note, I’m happy to report a more than fledgling arts scene here focusing on local and regional artists. FINALLY, I can see and not just read up on SEA peeps. So far we’ve visited Gillman Barracks, a colonial complex of galleries on the west side of the island, which was great. Loved the Pearl Lam show and all the others on that block. Had lunch at a legit biker bar, where actual bikers go to have lunch. Haha! We also visited a National Gallery show called (Re)Collect. I’ll for sure see it again when I’m not stressing about a toddler ripping through and not understanding ‘don’t touch’. SAM looks promising, as does a nearby non-profit spot run by curators featuring local peeps. A total bonus, and very SG, there are usually dedicated or rotating kid-specific exhibitions. Imagine?! Progress!

Other things of note - will be going back to pure veg soon. Japan spoiled me for clean, reliable food and I’ve been feeling ILL every time i have to handle or see raw meat. It smells and feels awful. There are so many products that somehow make it onto the shelves here - how? why?! where are the regulations!!!??? So far it seems there is a real correlation between cost and quality, which is not the case in JPN. Japan has a super high lowest bar, so to speak. Even the cheapest stuff is good. Talk about hard transitions. It’s finally time to start that herb and veg garden on the balcony.... 

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MOoooooRE maps please!!! 

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Short overnight trip to Takasaki, Gunma - the cave of the 33 Kannons and the big Kannon were totally, wonderfully awesome. SUPER stoked to see all the ladies showin’ up, haha! Takasaki city itself is not SO worth a stay, but if you are not traveling pregnant and with a very active 2year old in tow - planning to do day trips and overnights throughout the region would have been ideal. Ikaho is not far and is worth a couple days for sure - the onsen, steps, etc...Oh, Hara Museum outpost. Nice. Anyhow, keep in mind the only area food specialty is dango. Not super exciting! 

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First sit-alone haircut, whooohooo!!

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One month in Thailand, bluest sea, sweetest fruits, youngest coconuts!

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Early morning walk in Senzoku

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First bday party shenanigans at spring valley brewery in Daikanyama

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Unibrow Shadow, 2016. Best shadow ever.

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Lang Kawi, Malaysia / Koh Lipe, Thailand

We took a week to explore the Malaysian archipelago of Lang Kawi - decided we needed to do one last thing before the baby comes in September. Great island, but take note intrepid travelers, life outside of your typical five-star, all-inclusive resort is definitely a little rough around the edges. 

The upside - great food, an island filled with sweet people, and a lovely ocean. The downside - Lang Kawai is seriously blighted by speculative development, which in their abandoned or half-built state, have become dump sites for all the municipal trash the town either refuses to pick up or doesn’t have the capacity/technology to process. A state-of-the-art incinerator was built in 2011, tested in 2012, yet still continues to languish. My guess - lack of training for staff, inconsistent collection, mismanaged sorting...take your pick.

At any rate, we took a day trip to the nearby Thai island of Koh Lipe. After what seemed like hours getting visas at the port, we arrived for a short (too short) day in PARADISE.  This tiny island had so many layers of tourist patina - so charming and so chill - the we felt we could surely find a way to live here forever and ever. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be and the last boat left at 4:00pm. Short story short - when i n Lan Kawi, find your way to Ko Lipe ;) xo!

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Mongolia, Dalandzadgad - 2010 / Honeymoon

Did you know that the thirteenth largest city in Mongolia is Dalanzadgad? I know...who cares about the thirteenth largest city in ANY country?! Well, luckily I do and I happened to fact check that number, because I had mistakenly thought the lovely, windswept ‘city’ of Dalanzadgad was the second largest in the country, but I was oh. so. wrong.

Aside from it being not so huge, Dalanzadgad was a convenient gateway to the Gobi Desert. It's just a bit under 600 miles south of Ulan Bator, which puts the flight at maybe an hour and a half. We flew a delightful airline called 'Ezniz' ((kind of amusing, but not nearly as much as 'Asian Wings'. I saw several planes in Myanmar a couple months ago with 'Asian Wings' plasted all over the place - so awesome.)) 

Standout memories of this town include:

Our first goat (or maybe camel) milk tea. It's salty and sometimes butter or fat is added. I think the milk comes from any available animal - horse, camel, cow, goat...etc. Almost everything we ate in the desert was goat. Camel, which we had at a Mongolian resto in Hong Kong, was not ever served  - I think they love camel, so eating it is not really a great (real?) option. 

Dinosaur Museum. Oh man...this place!!!! It was beyond. Just...yes. I badly wanted to: ask for a flashlight, and to give them all of the money in my pocket. I think this place was built in the 1940's...or something. It's called the South Gobi Museum and is universally panned on the web. Unironically, there is no website for this museum and the FB page is...barely alive. Further proof that they have no operating budget, further reason that you must go if you are in town. It's pretty wonderful.

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Ghost in the shell!!! Look at that blip in the system!!! LINE sticker fail. So....amazing.

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Crazy baby cuteness

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Last of the shogatsu pix, osechi from the Hyatt regency that includes a Japanese, western and Chinese box, Tokyo style ozoni (mmmmm), chopsticks for three, and shonan beach walk snaps of the fam. Lovely day, happy happy new year - xoxoxo