Cui Mei & JR reside in Singapore, nestled 41 stories in the clouds. Their modest 2 bedroom condo can barely contain, the two monkeys running around. Yet somehow, by the end of the day, dishes are washed, clothes are reasonably clean and somewhat folded.
Joey is evolving from an angelic smiley baby to a witty boy who knows how to get what he wants, leveraging on his two most redeeming qualities: quickness to smile and uncanny ability to charm anyone he meets. His number 1 trick is to give you the sweetest smile and pose to distract you from the fact that he did not put away his toys, leaving you with the mess at the end of the day!
Meanwhile, Sawyer has fallen in love with a variety of things: dancing like an enchanted ice princess, she loves swimming despite the fact she sinks like a stone and Saturday morning cartoons. Hopefully after some new piano lessons there'll be a budding musician in the family. The siblings continue their love-hate relationship - as they are permeant roommates and can disturb each other into the wee hours of the night. Joey is starting to outweigh Sawyer, which doesn't bode well for the elder sister. JR continues his second year of consulting work, and thoroughly enjoys the challenges that it brings. Being able to help several companies has been an interesting ride.
Inspired by the Disney cruise experience 3 years ago, Cui Mei moved from the hotel team to the cruise team within Singapore Tourism Board. This growing industry is keeping her busy, with much to learn and always on the lookout for good cruises for the next Hickman holiday!
The family is on the perpetual lookout for the next fun activity. If they can slot it in between a meal and nap times they are game to try it. 2020 goals include swimming and piano lessons, family cooking time, watching cartoons, continue helping grandpa Joe mess up his kitchen drawers and finding time to go on a short holiday on more cruise ships.
Joe continues to travel around Asia Pacific for his job. When not on the road, he still enjoys working on the website, spends way too much time on social media posting his travel pictures on Instagram and Facebook (SingaporeJoe is his handle on both sites), to do so he continues using his camera to capture memorable sights and happenings where ever travel takes him.
This coming May will mark the 35th year that Joe has lived in Asia. Three and half decades ago Joe dragged his family halfway round the world to Malaysia on what was supposed to be a 2-year contract to open the Shangri-La Hotel in Kuala Lumpur... 2 years turned to 4, 4 to 8 to 16 years and so on. Asia has been home for more than three and a half decades. Malaysia, Philippines, Hong Kong &, for the past 25 years, Singapore. Joe, JR, Cui Mei, Sawyer and Joey still live in Singapore, while Alexis, Adam and Margot live & work in Fremont, California.
Joe purchased a second home in La Quinta, California. The home is located in Rancho La Quinta, twenty miles east of Palm Springs, California. A great place, on a golf course, with incredible views of the Santa Rosa Mountains. It is great for holidays and I am thinking it will eventually be a great place to retire. The only concern is that summers in the desert are now more humid than Singapore!
The purpose of this website is to give you a glimpse at what's going on in their lives; important events, simple moments and times they simply laugh at themselves. Here they share their stories, photos, adventures and experiences when traveling the world.
In loving memory, Gerri Hickman
Dedicated to the life and memories of Geraldine Lynn (Sprout) Hickman. Loving wife, mother, sister, daughter and teacher. Gerri was only 52 years old when she lost her 4 year battle with breast cancer on 9 April 2005. We miss her!
Alexis & Adam
Drs. Adam & Alexis Bateman have live in Fremont, California with their two children, Margot & Clark.
The Batemans keep busy! Margot started Pre-K, and is mastering swimming and bike riding. Clark started walking then immediately started running (away) and is beginning to talk up a storm. Adam continues to work as a product engineer for Lam Research and doing interesting and fast paced work.
Alexis has been fortunate to continue her work remotely as a Research Scientist with MIT, with occasional trips back to Boston to return to “HQ”. While she misses working on site, a few visits during the Boston winter make her eager to get back to California weather.
In 2019, The Batemans had fun travels to Orange County, San Diego, El Capitan State Beach, Yosemite, Boston and ended the year with a trip to Thailand and Singapore to visit family. They spent the first week roughing it; lounging by the pool in their two-bedroom private pool villa at the Anantara Vacation Club Mai Khao Phuket, splashing in the ocean, and napping frequently.
JR, Cui Mei, Sawyer, Joey and Grandpa Joe joined them in Phuket for the weekend before Christmas. The Batemans and Hickmans rang in 2020 in Singapore by toasting a glass of champagne and heading to bed early. With four kids under 5-years old, late nights are a thing of the past!
They are thankful for a wonderful 2019 and look forward to what 2020 brings them. 2020 is already kicking off as a promising year with a busy schedule, a few trips on the agenda, and a whole lot more fun.