"We're young, so we won't get jet lag..."

subtitle:  Mmmhmmm.  Why don't you sleep on the plane anyway, just to humor me?  

It has been a smooth and yet frustrating start here in Singapore.  Smooth because the plane ride over went as well as could be expected.  I highly recommend Singapore Air Business Class to all my friends who have a couple $k lying around waiting for the chance to upgrade your seat.  I spent a lot of time wondering how many miles I'd have to spend to upgrade to business class for the wedding trip next summer.  The short layover in Moscow also went smoothly.  (If I can figure out how to do it, I'll upload pics.  If not, you'll have to see them on FB.)

Arrival in Singapore also went smoothly.  The place where we're staying (The Orchard Scotts) is about as professionally run as anything I've ever seen.  Their driver met us at the airport and took care of our bags.  A manager was on duty to walk us from the car to our apartment where we checked in (at our own dining room table).  There was a welcome packet with several excellent books (what more could a homeschooling Mom ask for?!?) on Singapore including one of those extremely detailed map/notebook thingies, and a book that I paid for last fall on my first trip here detailing where to find goods and services.  (Oh well, this one is updated for 2011.)
Breakfast also went smoothly.  (Finding food the kids would eat was a worry.)  It is included with the apartment, although I can envision the kids quickly becoming tired of the limited choices.  However, the choices were 99% western, so the kids were not freaked out by the food right off the bat.
Everyone was tired, but we decided to knock a few things off the to-do list.  We got new cell phone sim cards, and mrt cards (subway).  We walked around the "rat maze" of underground mall/subway station that is Orchard Rd.  Then we got some lunch.  H. started complaining that we wouldn't let her go to Subway for lunch.  We ended up getting some Korean 'meat-on-a-stick' and I think everyone had something they liked.  We let the kids pick out a dessert at Bread Society (ok, I had a brownie), and then we took the mrt back.
The kids took a short dip in the pool, played on the playground, and then came back inside.  All 5 of us have really been struggling to stay awake since that point (about 3 p.m.).  Once, I woke up and all of us had been asleep for who knows how long.  I had to play the meanie and wake everyone up.  A. REALLY had a hard time.  He was basically sobbing as we forced them to go out for a walk.  The idea was to walk to a place for supper, but A was so upset that he was about to make himself vomit (he was just that tired/sleepy).  We got him calmed down enough to come back and play on the playground a little 'till dark.  I'm the only one who ended up getting any supper.  No one else was hungry.
Which brings me to the frustrating part.....
WHY did I have to go and break my stupid toe last Saturday?!?!?  It is sooo not fun to hobble around on these long walks!  My plan was to take the kids to do some "cool" things the first couple of days we were here, but now I just don't feel like it.  Hopefully that's MY jet lag talking.  (I do have an appointment with a dr. on Mon.  Probably the outcome of that will be a recommendation for a surgeon.)  I feel like the kids had a bad first day here.  (I resisted the temptation to say 'got off on the wrong foot' - well, almost.) Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

Mom, Russian food is not that great.  (Clearly the boy doesn't appreciate the value of a free meal.)

Yeah, but there's free wi-fi in the business lounge!

Had to prove we were there.  We had one of those "this is what it feels like to be illiterate" discussions.

Master bedroom

Den.  2 are watching t.v., One has his eyes closed. Suitcases mostly unpacked.  Shoes piled near the door a la Asia.  (Is it Wrong to use a French phrase there?)

Kitchen.  The tall cabinet is washer/dryer (woo-hoo!)

dining area/pile of misc. maps and papers.  We haven't attempted to actually eat in the apt. yet.  That would require bringing food back here, preparing it, and washing up.  The 5 of us ate lunch for under $12 at the mall.....

This little switch does not provide hot air.  It is outside the bathroom door and provides hot water.  If you don't know that, you can stand in the shower for a Looooong time wondering if the tap is backwards ("Maybe the hot water is on the right here.....Let's give it some time......No..... Maybe I didn't give it enough time on the left........" etc.) before you give up and take an icy shower.