Additions and corrections

Wow, time flies when you're not sitting still.

People ask what's new, and honestly I have to say, not much. I have settled into the routine I think, at least as routine as it can be. Singapore is probably the fastest any new place has felt like home. As I have said to a few people, I think part of that is the contrast. After a week or so on the road in some of the less prosperous centres I visit, or perhaps just more crowded, with foreign language all around, landing at Changi Airport can give me that sense of "ahhhh" that in some cities I have lived has taken much longer to develop. My current theory is it's a sense of comfort when everyone speaks a version of the same language, and the streets are way less crowded. Being a tiny little nation makes it easy to get around as well, and I really do think that all adds up to feeling like "home"

That's not to say that certain things don't still surprise me, but Singapore doesn't shock me much anymore. Most of the time anyway.

I would be remiss if I didn't continue to share some of the oddities I see. There are a few things I actually have gotten used to over the last little why, things I would never have thought "acceptable" have become the new normal in some places. You just roll with it.

Street food is one of them. Here in Singapore they don't allow the traditional food carts you see in many countries, instead they have taken the concept under cover, what the call a "Hawker" centre. Here they have rows and rows of stands, usually sorted haphazardly by ethnicity. It's a little like a traditional food court, but the stalls are usually independent and usually I have no idea what they sell. I took a page from my brothers handbook, and just point and hold up a couple fingers. I don't think I have been disappointed yet. Of course the other key is to follow the line. Always line up in the longest line.

There are many delicacies I will never learn to love, but I no longer do a double take when I am served my lunch on a banana leaf (much more environmentally friendly than a paper plate). I've also learned to pay attention to the neighbourhood as I approach an eatery, you never know when you'll meet the chef in the street, preparing the vegetables.

This is far more common than you'd expect, and again, something I have just kind of gotten used too. If you've been following on Facebook since I went to Thailand in 2010 you may remember this guy peeling fruit.

You may recall we talked about Toilets recently, and I was remiss on a couple shots. One - public urinal at a beer festival, you can image they got a lot of use. Anyway, I suppose it also speaks to the lack of personal space and general sense of privacy here in Asia.

This is not in a separate tent, or cordoned off area. There was no sign specifically calling it a mens area, but I understand from the ladies there was no where to hang a purse so they opted for the more traditional facilities. Speaking of urinals, there was one other picture I had missed. I have no explanation why, but this particular manufacturer makes a number of styles of receptacles with their trademark glazed onto the porcelain. 

Not only can I not imagine the meeting where they all sat around suggesting things to make their units stand out but imagine the various levels of approval they went through before green lighting a FLY just above the screen. Makes perfect sense to me. I was going to take a few pictures so you could see the impact of a dozen urinals all with a fly in the same spot, but I got some strange looks when I pulled out the camera in the pissior, so you will just have to imagine it.

I have been asked a lot about what I miss, and aside from the usual family, friends, and chicken wings from chickens larger thanpigeons, I really don't long for much. We have already discussed the Asia interpretation of Canadian cuisine, but I do have a couple secret spots now, when i really need a hit from home.

I was amazed that they could perfect the undercooked, over priced Canadian pizza. And they deliver. 

Beyond that, there are things that do occasionally spark a wave of nostalgia. Do you remember these?

And I still enjoy the things that are lost in translation. Be it a business I don't quite understand the need for, the size of some of the things made in Asia or an item that doesn't seem that appealing.

Well, that's about it from the Lion City. Not sure you know but the national symbol is a Merlion, - half fish, half lion. History says there likely was never a lion here in Singapore, but a half gecko, half fish probably wouldn't have been as dramatic at the Lego store. It would have been easier to walk. 

Same Same - but different

Ok, getting around to the questions, and the answers.

First Place Question  -   What's the biggest difference?
Some variation of this one is certainly the question I hear the most. To be honest, it's tough to narrow it down so I'll give you the top 10 (ish)

Snakes

Not that there aren't snakes where you live, but how many can kill you? Of the 61 various ones we have, I don't know how many can, or even want to take me down, and I really have no desire to investigate further. I do know that I no longer run before sunrise. I like to see what the stick on the trail is before I get close.

Ikea sells Booze

Yes the cocktails require assembly but none of them require an allen key.

The view 

While I admit this isn't the view from my piece of paradise, it is on the coast of Singapore, it is perfectly accessible, and has wifi.

The Cost Of Living

The next time you're down at your local IGA - check out the cost of strawberries. If it's cheaper than $ 15 a pint, you have found a bargain my friend. And while that's only about $ 12 CDN or USD, I guarantee you're not paying those prices when you shop in the summer. The thing I've learned here is that NOTHING is a "product of singapore" - we have very little farm land, so everything is imported. And with import comes import duty and taxes and transportation. Certainly some things are relatively inexpensive, most things are not. 

Public Toilets

Admittedly not all public facilities are "squatters" - most malls have both available, the first time you step in to read the paper, you will do a double take. It's a cultural thing for sure and various countries that I travel in have their nuances, but you learn to keep your wits about you when the need arises. 

 While we are talking about the facilities - (the one above just struck me as odd - since it's supposed to be an emergency exit) I don't want you to think it's all nasty over here, what with no hot water in the kitchen, and no where to rest your book when you're squatting, I did want to share the progress they have made on the #1 argument among married people within 3 tables at the bar last night, the toilet seat. 

That's an AUTOMATIC seat people!

No need to bend, lift, or lower after, it detects motion, lifts the lid, and or seat, has buttons to rinse, dry and floss, and then whisks it all off to the drinking water factory without you ever having to touch a thing. Of course you don't see them everywhere, but when you do, it's usually a fantastic facility.

Rules and regulations

Another concept that was hard to capture, Singapore is known as a Fine city, because they can fine you for many infractions, smoking, littering, public displays of affection, farting in an elevator, and - not flushing a public toilet - so you can see why they are so motivated to advance the electronic waste disposal units. 

And remember they only post signs when there has been a problem in the past.

Dining and eating are of course the one's I find the hardest differences to get my head around.

Eggs on the shelf

While you're in the groceteria checking out the produce prices for me, check and see where they keep the eggs. Ours are on a shelf beside the coffee. Fortunately the bacon is kept chilled, and I have not yet seen any hatching on the shelf, but they really take a different stance on sanitation and food safety over here. 

Recently I was off to brunch with some friends and was up early. Street sweepers were cleaning up, the delivery guys were making their rounds and as I passed a Thai restaurant, I noticed the day's special, dropped off who knows when, "marinating" in the heat of the day. 

Least you think this be odd, you should be aware of the "wet markets" I spoke of earlier. I'll save much of it for another post, as a Wet Market is an experience unto itself, but the short of it is they hang the meats and sundries from hooks, exposed to the air, and the world. 

Of course you don't hang fish and seafood so they sit on their little tables, flopping in the sun.

And as we know they have a different attitude towards what is edible and what is not. I have that earmarked for a future episode, just waiting for "Fear Factor" to sponsor the blog. I will say that all the hoop-la over Sustainable Seafood has not gone unnoticed over here. Just recently 7 - 11 in one of the neighbouring countries has proposed a ban on Shark Fin products, so this may be one of the last pictures of it in the wild.

Do let me know when you're coming to visit, I'll pop down to the market early and stock up for us. 

Home Sweet Home - Revisited

Another quick update, celebrating the "completion" of the condo. Nothing is ever done, but it's pretty much where I want it and I've had a few requests.

The white sofa got a cover, and some other accessories to soften the starkness.

The fun piece is the rug under the dining table. Yes a cow, complete with a brand.

And who knew I'd go this long in my life without a shoe cabinet. I really need one of the "Flip Flop Parking Only" signs cause that's about all that people wear here. Oh and Croc's - but I just can't bring myself to wear the gator skins.

Of course the crown jewel in the condo was the balcony, and when it's not a god awful 26*C (79*F) or colder I spend my time out there. It turned out quite well I think.

Yes with a sofa at one end and a hammock at the other I am well equipment to sleep away the warm afternoons. I like to refer to them as Port and Starboard Bunks but no one listens anyway.

And finally if it is too hot or cold, there is the bedroom for air conditioned sleep. This shots actually from the balcony through the double doors which stay open most of the time. Surprising to me there are no bugs or crawlies on the 25th store.

But I often am asked (yes I am getting to the FAQ's) what are the big differences in Singapore. Well one of the first ones was Hot Water. Turns out that's a bit of an option in Singapore. As the agent was showing me the features on the day I moved in he bragged about the 2 separate Hot Water tanks, each controlled by a switch on the wall. "You can leave one off if it's just you here" he offered. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose such a basic amenity in the kitchen by turning off the wrong one, and asked "Which one runs the kitchen?" (a fair question I thought). That's when I go the look of 2 heads - "No one has hot water in a kitchen" - rolling his eyes at the same time. Sure enough my highly inaccurate research says no one has HW in a kitchen, and MANY of the locals don't even have it in the bathrooms. Now I know some of you would be aghast at the idea, but take comfort in knowing that a super high efficiency dishwasher could easily replace hand washing anyway, so no big deal. Wrong ! No dishwashers anywhere - the only one I've seen in captivity was imported from Germany and then rewired to run here. Singaporeans don't trust them. All that heat and chemical action unnecessary, good old cold water and a sponge. - lah

Don't worry, I'll buy paper plates if you come visit - or boil the kettle.

The bloggers lament

I think every blog I read at some point has the requisite "sorry I haven't written but I've been busy post" so - here is mine.

A million excuses but today was a good day to stay inside and work on a few things. Yesterday would have been a better day, but I'm not that smart. I went and hiked the "tree top trail" in the rain. Soaked through to the skin, even the monkeys were waterlogged.

Monkeys and snakes were the warning of the day, along with a big sign warning you not to go into the jungle in a thunderstorm. Of course I ignored it all and trekked on. About 10 km on a one way trail, so there was no turning back no matter what. Because of the rain I didn't take the fancy camera so no great shots, but it was pretty cool none the less.

The reason I thought today was a good day to come inside was the temperature drop. All the rain really cut the humidity and mercury - I think it was a high of only 26*C today. I tried to stay outside, even put on a long sleeve shirt, but it's just too cold. Ironic I know.

In other news, had a chance to visit the Marina Bay Sands - Hotel and Casino. That's the weird looking boat thing on top of the 3 towers.

It was an interesting view, Singapore from 57 stories and suprisingly not the highest watering holes in town. It was also the dress rehearsal for the "National Day" celebrations coming up in August - Singapore will be 47 years old.

There is the worlds highest brew pub in the wedge shaped glass building in the bottom pic, and a bar called Altitude at the peak of the highest tower in town, 282 metres off the ground, 63 stories high.

I admit I had a touch of nostalgia this week as all the Calgarians became cowboys for the week and I scrolled through random stampede updates on Facebook. I thought I'd probably seen the last of cowboys for a while, when a dude walked into the bar. Go figure. I didn't see his horse, but I'm sure he's authentic.

Giddy Up pardners!