Christmas!

I knew before I left for my travels that I might find missing Christmas in England quite difficult. I love the preparations for Christmas. I love the markets in November, tempting you with handmade gifts and attractive Christmas decorations. I love surprising my class on the nearest school day to December 1st by sprucing up the classroom with nativity sets and lights, and seeing their faces when they come in. I love decorating my own tree with the ornaments that I have collected around the world. I love walking round Cambridge after work when the Christmas lights illuminate the town. I love visiting the local garden centres and admiring the seasonal scenes. I love the feeling of driving up to my parents house, knowing that it’s the holidays, and that I can watch trashy Christmas tv and see the Nativity in the marketplace. I love these traditions and the people I share them with.

I actually didn’t think I would see any evidence of Christmas at all, but I seem to have done surprisingly well.

It got off to a poor start; there was no evidence of Christmas in Vietnam or Cambodia- possibly as it was still October! Nothing in Laos – just lots of Buddhas!

Then that first purchase of a decoration at a stall in Thailand followed by the first experience of Christmas in a shopping centre in Bangkok. And things got going, giving me Christmas carols, trees and festive sights and even a children’s Nativity play.

The highlight for me and my stand-in Christmas day, was seeing the Super Trees in the Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, all lit up. The magic was added to by the fake snow blown through blizzard machines and the timing of the lights to Christmas music

Christmas Day itself on Orchard Road, Singapore was a bit of an anti climax. Yes it was Christmassy but all the shops were open, which felt very strange.