As is typical in farewell dinners involving gifts (and alcohol), the clowning often begins soon after the speeches. Mike and Lin chucking about an inside goggle joke.... 

On my last Saturday night in Singapore, I was happy to have a nice meal among friends. From left to right, bottom row: Bill the Brit, me with swim goggles (a departing gift), Dave the Australian, Rose the Singaporean, (top row) Linda and Mike from England, and Jesus from Spain. A wonderfully diverse little dinner party!! 

Lawrence became my invaluable Right Hand Man at the office, making me look good at every turn (except the one shown in this photo!) This was my last day in the Singapore office, and since it was a Saturday, there was only a small contingency of folks on site. This was a good thing, otherwise I would have gotten all mushy saying goodbyes.  

This is an older photo from late September that proves my kitchen was used on occasion. On this night, Frode began cooking before we all left the office. Anita, Bill, and I came in to a nearly complete meal and a few bottles of wine. This was delicious! 

This is my friend Shirazal, off his normal concierge duty, but I am glad he came by on my last day in Singapore to wish me farewell. 

Departure from Singapore. This was a sad day, but I was lucky that my friends Andy and Sharizal at Lanson Place were able to stop by for a visit and a farewell! This is Andy, multilingual doorman extraordinaire.  

My sunset beach on Koh Samui, Thailand. 

Big Buddha statue, Koh Samui, Thailand. 

Reclining Buddha. 

Here is a bigger photo of the Buddha's footprint (more on that below). 

My numerology fortune by Buddha...I got lucky number 11. Not even sure if this is legible... 

At the Big Buddha temple complex on Koh Samui, Thailand, you can read your numerology horoscope via Buddha. First, you have to find the Buddha of your day. There is a different Buddha pose for each day of the week. This is the Sunday Buddha, which is apparently hard to find....I have been looking for one for some time, but as they say, you can't just go shopping for a Buddha, it has to find you. I did find three Sunday Buddhas, but two were only an inch tall, and the one about 10 inches tall had previously been in pieces and glued back together. So, I have yet to be found by my Sunday Buddha. So, this is the Sunday Buddha. You put a coin in the slot, and whatever number lights up is the number fortune card that you must find. 

Front of temple. 

Temple entrance. 

Golden Buddha, Koh Samui, Thailand.