We're safe in Singapore

So there were a couple large earthquakes (8.6 and 82.) that hit in Indonesia a couple hours ago. We're safe in Singapore according to our new friend Cheryl Chan and our cab driver. We are fairly close to where the earthquakes hit but didn't feel it (I think we were on the top of the Marina Bay Sands, a 50-some story hotel, when it hit), and we're in the tsunami alert area, but they say Singapore is protected in its location tucked just under Malaysia. No hills or mountains that I've seen in Singpore but lots of highrises. I'm on the 19th floor and feeling good about that. Called my Mom the news junkie to ensure she wasn't worried and texted my sister. And sent B&V security back in KC a note letting them know where we are and and that we're aware of what's happening. We're staying in tonight so I'll be watching a lot of CNN. We're 13 hours ahead of KC in Singapore.

Now for the fun update. Monday night we went to a restaurant called Cabbages & Condoms (sorry, Mom) with my friend Kelly's relative Jamie McDermott who is married to B&V professional Mark McDermott. Mark couldn't join us. The restaurant is all about safe sex and has lamps and statues made of colorful condoms, and they give them away instead of mints when you leave. Here's a shot of me and Jamie with Tiger Woods and one of his lady friends. The sign says "Do you use them, Tiger?" Jamie was totally fun and I feel like she's one of my buddies now. I didn't each much due to stomach turbulence (Delhi belly they call it in India) but the dim sum was good.

Tuesday we left the hotel about 5:45 a.m. to head to the Bangkok Airport. We sailed right through and waited around for a couple hours for our flight. We had some Bangkok Bhat still to spend so I got my great nephew Dre a little stuffed elephant at a gift shop. The flight was smooth and not full so I got to stretch out, and we got in on time again. No issues with customs and the camera equipment in Singapore. We have letters now from office managers so of course now we're not getting hassled. Murphy's law.

Each country is incredibly different. Singapore, which was called Overland Park with Palm Trees by the McDermotts, is quiet and incredibly clean and modern compared to India and Thailand. Tons of high rises and great architecture. We went to the Marina Bay Sands for dinner last night. I thought it was a hotel but it's so much more -- a casino, convention center, shopping mall. It's huge and really cool. It has a ship on the top of it! Ate at Mario Batali's pizza place.

Today we went to the office, which is next door to our hotel. We met Cheryl Chan and Keith Morrison, part of the Global Marketing & Communications team. They helped us set up in a conference room and then we did two fun interviews, and then had a yummy Japanese noodle lunch with Cheryl and Keith, talked about video ideas for Singapore International Water Week, and then Cheryl showed us a beautiful water project at Jurong Lake where we saw dragon boat racing practice. Then we walked around the marina to shoot more and headed to the top of Marina Bay Sands to shoot the city from the birds-eye view. Cheryl was an excellent, fun guide and we're excited she'll be coming to visit KC this summer. Here's a look of the hotel with what I'll call Noah's Ark on top:

Tomorrow we'll shoot B roll of professionals and then probably also catch Chinatown, Little India and more markets here. As a treat to ourselves we're going to see the musical "Wicked" at Marina Bay Sands in the evening. Very excited as I've not seen it yet. I think this is Lynne's 4th time to see it.

Thanks to Bethany and Jonathan for immediately sending us texts after the earthquake/tsunami to check on us!