Yes, that is Nate feeding an Aldabra giant tortoise at the Singapore Zoo. We spent about half a day there on Tuesday, and got to see all sorts of animals including bats and snakes, which made Nate very happy. I don't think he was so sure about the giant tortoises, but I thought they were lovely. Their keeper told me that they will actually seek out human contact, and enjoyed being scratched on the neck or patted on the head. Somehow I never really thought of tortoises as social/affectionate types. Who knew?
This morning we took Nate to the beach, something we've been promising him for quite a few days now. It's just been too hot the last few days and no one has felt much like being at the beach under the sun. To that end, we left first thing this morning when it was only 29 degrees! I think Nate has a love hate relationship with water. He never seems very sure of it when he gets up close and personal with it. It takes him awhile to warm up to the idea of getting wet. He always excited to go to the pool, but usually spends the first 10 minutes or so just sitting on the first step with his ankles in the water. It was the same at the beach this morning, but he eventually settled in and really enjoyed himself.
As for food, we are working our way through it. My brother brought curry puffs over on Monday, a deep fried pastry filled with chicken and potato curry. Patty and I used to make these when I first moved to Vancouver, but it has been quite awhile since we've made any. Eating them here though might just change that. They really are very good, and I wish there was an equivalent back in Canada.
Finally, some nasi lemak. Rice cooked in coconut cream and usually served with a small fried fish, egg, chili sauce and a slice of cucumber. I remember it as breakfast food, but this is Singapore and you can pretty much eat it any time of day you like. When I was a kid, there were always boys cycling around our neighbourhood with packets of nasi lemak in baskets attached to their bikes. You only had to walk down the driveway and hail one of them to get a great meal.
