May 26, 2024
Catching up with the Nestor's!
Got to spend a nice afternoon and evening catching up with fellow Yank, Elizabeth Nestor and her husband Kevin who moved back to his hometown of Mayo Abbey, after 20+ years in the states. I worked with Elizabeth on and off, over the last 30 years, in Philadelphia. We stay in touch thru a group text, Heard Immunity
with about 10 others, all with the common denominator of Turner Construction. Elizabeth and Kevin have been married 20 years, and I found out that Kevin knew my relations the Keane's, back when we first met. In fact, his cousins live right next door to them and his brother does business with them regularly! Such a small world! Kevin & Elizabeth moved to Mayo Abbey right before Covid and have been busy renovating their home and settling in. It was great to catch up, share the gossip on all those we know in common and give them the details of my ship and the upcoming adventure. I hope they can truly join me for some segment in the future!
I have wanted to see the famed Singapore Changi Airport for years to see the world's largest indoor waterfall. Turns out the waterfall is in a part of the airport, outside the Departure Terminals, so I still have yet to see it! The Terminal does have some interesting architecture and houses a huge shopping mall, with some very high end stores and Christmas decorations are up everywhere, the day after Halloween ( which sadly, they don't celebrate here ).
While I was in Singapore this time I was on a mission, downsize my belongs and pack my life into hopefully four or less 50 # suitcases! The only time I took a break, was for meals and thankfully we were in a new area of town, for me, so I got to see some of Joo Chiats charm as we walked to restaurants. The area is Signapore's first heritage town known for it's vibrant Peranakan culture, pastel hued shop fronts and diverse food scene. Built in the early 1900's by Chinese families, they blend Chinese, Malay and colonial influences that reflect that area's rich multicultural roots. The land was once owned by Chew Joo Chiat , the King of Katong.
Sihanoukville, Cambodia is a city I will long remember! On first look, you really wonder what is going on here. There are over 350 unfinished "ghost" buildings in the skyline and another 170 completed, but empty structures and it's not that big a place - so you really wonder! Apparently there has been a mass exodus of Chinese Real Estate and Casino investors. Back in 2019 the Cambodian Government banned online gaming and this collapsed the City's casino driven economy. Then Covid hit and the resulting slump in China's Real Estate funding stream has hit this coastal town hard. You would never know the hard times from the people. They are friendly, energetic and so happy to help.