Green Grass Tennis, Irish Castles & the Heat of Southeast Asia
We've been on the move!
Where are the grass courts in Charleston?
After my accident on the tennis court in Charleston a few family members whispered the question as to whether I would get back on the court or not. Not only did I return but we joined a local Dublin Lawn Tennis Club. Donnybrook LTC is a 125 year old club that peaked our curiosity. Between hosting some very cool local dignitaries to having a few courts that could convert to an indoor facility for the winter, Donnybrook became our choice.
We are loving these simulated grass courts especially when you get a little drizzle and we can continue to play on. I’ve found it a mystery that no one has built a similar court for the public in Charleston! @Michael Richardson - here is your next development idea!
Clontarf Castle
Earlier this summer we learned that our next door neighbors in Charleston, Furman & Nancy Cullum were coming to Ireland for a tour of all the castles. We had a chance to meet up with them at Clontarf Castle before they got started.
Clontarf has a rich history dating back to 1172. Over time it has served as bar, a cabaret venue and is a luxury hotel today. It is definitely a place to visit when you come to Dublin.
It was great to catch up and hear about all their travels as well as getting a good report on the neighborhood. We didn’t get to stay long because we headed off to our next adventure to Southeast Asia.
Singapore - The Lion City
One of the great things about working for a global consultancy is the fact that we have lots of offices in different countries and clients that want to see us. I’ve been trying to get back to Singapore since 2019 but the pandemic really shut down the travel in Southeast Asia.
They say Singapore is like a miniature version of all of Asia. It has an incredible history and is one of the safest cities we’ve ever visited. The public transportation is first class and was our primary mode of getting around. We stayed in the center of the financial district, close to my office.
The Food!
In between all the meetings we were able to explore the city and enjoy the variety of dining options. Debbie said she’d never seen so many restaurants in one square block in her life…and they were all busy!
The variety of cultures created so many options for eating but the most well known dish unique to Singapore was also on Debbie’s wish list. The ginormous “Chili Crab”!
You can’t come to Singapore and not experience the Singapore Sling. We visited the original Raffles Hotel and the Long Bar - where the Singapore Sling was invented.
The Views and Botanic Gardens!
We lucked out with the weather as it rained just a little everyday to help keep the temperatures under 100. It was a stark reminder of our summers in Charleston. Even the humidity was just like home. This weather however created the perfect environment for gorgeous flora.
God Save the King
During our journey we learned of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. The British influence in Singapore is still quite strong even after turning over the country in 1959 and there were reminders everywhere. Some of our friends at work are members of the British Club and invited us to visit.
On the move!
We know this post was longer that normal. We’ve been busy and it doesn’t show signs of slowing down. Our next adventure takes us to Oktoberfest in Munich! I bet you can’t wait to see pics of me in lederhosen!
Until next time,
Sláinte!
Ken & Debbie
Wow great update. Food and pics look amazing. Super jealous!
Jordan and I have talked about visiting Singapore one day.