Is this really my life?  Wow!  What an adventurous ride the last 18 months have been.  I recently got an opportunity to go back to one of my favorite places in the World, Maui, HI., and all in the name of work (I love my husband's job lol!), I'm just trailing remember!

I have been to the Islands of Aloha a number of times over the years (lucky me), a couple of times to Maui.  Each time I hear about Mama's Fish House, a restaurant that everyone seems to know about.  On past visits I have never made it to Mama's, so on this occasion I was determined to go.  The Conference we were attending allowed for a day to ourselves, so hubby and I rented a car and took a nice leisurely drive around the Island to Mama's.  It also happened to be my husband's birthday that week so a perfect excuse to go.

Way back in June this year (I know, sorry, life has been hectic!), I was sitting having coffee with a group of friends.  We got to talking (we women are pretty good at that!) about some of the interesting things we should do during our time in Singapore.  A lot of the ladies in my circle are ex-pats, most of whom will be on a short "stint" in Singapore as their husbands jobs dictate.  Some will have been in Singapore longer than others, so for the newbies it is always a great way to find out about unique things to see and do.
 
On this particular day someone mentioned The Joss Stick man, Mr. Tay, who has been making traditional style joss sticks (which are burnt in temples as offering to the Chinese Gods, during religious festivals), since he was a boy.  Both he and his brother following in the trade of his Father and his Father before him.

The art of making Joss sticks, and it is an art, has dwindled over the years such that Mr Tay and his brother are now the only joss stick makers left in Singapore, using natural material and traditional methods. Needless to say I was interested to find out more about this craft, which we were told will soon be lost.  A friend had ordered some figurines from Mr. Tay which he makes to supplement his Joss stick business, so when she got the call that they were ready for collection, a group of us decided to head to his shop to see for ourselves.