After three and a half weeks I've made it back to Singapore after being in Visalia with family since mid December. That's a long time and lot has happened- some good and some not so good, some very happy times and some very sad times as well including Christmas and New Year's, my sister and her husband's wedding anniverary, seeing my niece and watching her behaviour transfrom from eating so much sugar over the course of three weeks, finding out I'll be an uncle by summertime, seeing all my aunts and uncles, cousin and grandfather, my dad's birthday and for those of you who follow his blog you will know what else I'm talking about. Most of all it was good to spend time with so much family- I don't even know how long it's been since we were able to spend so much time together with everyone there.
Visalia is a lot smaller and quieter than Singapore and after being away for three and half weeks I'm feeling a little overwhelmed at being back in this crowded, noisy city. I took a walk tonight to get dinner and there really are people just all over the place. I was also surprised to feel a little uncomfortable or consious about being caucasian surrounded by asians. I think these were feelings I had after first moving here and they should go away again quickly after I get used to this city life.
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Family. Show all posts
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Singaporean Staples?
One of my duties while John was visiting SE Asia was to get him to try durian-the king of fruits. The only thing that everyone agrees on is that the smell of the fruit is strong. Whether it's a foul, putrid stench or a sweet, delicious aroma is where opinions mostly differ. To be honest, John's reaction was really boring. Maybe it was I who had follied by building it up too much so as to ensure an anticlimactic finish. He ate a few pieces but neither conceded to hate it nor love it as most people do, either spitting it out, vomiting or rubbing it all over their bodies in delight accordingly (I've never actually seen anyone do that last one... but the first two- yes!), and while he didn't hate it, he only wanted to eat a few pieces- not a whole one to himself. Actually, maybe not unexpectedly, his reaction was pretty much the same as mine. I never spat it out like some do and ate a few pieces the first time I tried it but didn't want more. Then every other time I tried it I enjoyed it more and more until now I love it and even crave it at times.
Don't let his reluctant look fool you, John didn't hate the durian!
Despite the rumors that consuming durian and alcohol together will result in sure death we decided to risk it and try one of what is surely Singapore's most ordered drinks (by tourists): the Singapore Sling. And what other place to have it than the supposed location of it's origin- the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel where some also claim the last tiger in Singapore was shot dead.
Raffles Hotel at night
John and the the Singapore Slings. The recipe now served at Raffles is acknowledged to differ from the original recipe which didn't include grenadine, pineapple and citrus juice but the exact recipe is either unknown or debated. What is agreed on is that the drink at it's core is a Gin based drink. (not surprisingly since Singapore was a British Colony after all)
We survived the Durian and Singapore Slings though the price of the drinks nearly killed us- over $51SGD for the two drinks!
Okay, in seriousness, the Singapore Sling is not a staple for the average Singaporean and neither is durian- some Singaporean don't even like durian or alcohol, but for many, they are both undeniably enjoyable to consume...just not at the same time though!!
Another debatable Singaporean Staple though a food enjoyed by many is Chili Crab. Whether it's a staple or whether it's an official, unofficial or just a famous Singaporean dish, many people will recommend you try it while visiting...so of course I felt obligated to take John to try. Many places serve this dish, along with other types of crab like butter, pepper or garlic crab, and everyone has their favorite restaurant. We decided to have it at a place with outdoor seating along the Singapore River and had both chili and pepper crabs along with a few other seafood dishes. Maybe it's not the best place for either dish but the location is hard to beat, with the skyscrapers of Singapore's central business district rising up just along the river walkway in the background.
I think he liked it, he said something like it was like the Asian version of ribs (comparing to U.S. bar-b-que style ribs)... uh, kind of- both are messy for sure but even so John would not accept a plastic bib to protect my shirt he was wearing*. I still think it's a lot of work to eat these crabs but actually it is pretty good. John liked the pepper crab more... in retrospect this is kind of surprising since he said he doesn't really like spicy food so much... (something that became really (painfully) obvious and a source of immense humor when I convinced him to try a Thai green chili with dinner a few days later in Bangkok... I think he seriously cried after eating it. Not nice since I had accidentally ate one about ten minutes before and it was way too much for me. Generally they can be anywhere from about 6 to 40 times hotter than a Jalapeño pepper which might be more familiar to you)
Of course Singapore has a lot more to offer than these "staples" and the time with John here really passed quickly. I think he was able to get a pretty good idea about what Singapore has to offer as I tried to show him around different parts of the island to get a range of experiences. John also did a lot during the days and took what sound like some good tours of different neighborhoods. I think I'll have to go check them out too.
*That's right, I found John wearing one of my shirts when we met for dinner that night. Hmm... I did offer though since all the other clothes he brought on the trip were some type of synthetic polyester sports blend. I guess it does make sense for travel in such a hot and humid region.
Don't let his reluctant look fool you, John didn't hate the durian!
Despite the rumors that consuming durian and alcohol together will result in sure death we decided to risk it and try one of what is surely Singapore's most ordered drinks (by tourists): the Singapore Sling. And what other place to have it than the supposed location of it's origin- the Long Bar at Raffles Hotel where some also claim the last tiger in Singapore was shot dead.
Raffles Hotel at night
John and the the Singapore Slings. The recipe now served at Raffles is acknowledged to differ from the original recipe which didn't include grenadine, pineapple and citrus juice but the exact recipe is either unknown or debated. What is agreed on is that the drink at it's core is a Gin based drink. (not surprisingly since Singapore was a British Colony after all) We survived the Durian and Singapore Slings though the price of the drinks nearly killed us- over $51SGD for the two drinks!
Okay, in seriousness, the Singapore Sling is not a staple for the average Singaporean and neither is durian- some Singaporean don't even like durian or alcohol, but for many, they are both undeniably enjoyable to consume...just not at the same time though!!
Another debatable Singaporean Staple though a food enjoyed by many is Chili Crab. Whether it's a staple or whether it's an official, unofficial or just a famous Singaporean dish, many people will recommend you try it while visiting...so of course I felt obligated to take John to try. Many places serve this dish, along with other types of crab like butter, pepper or garlic crab, and everyone has their favorite restaurant. We decided to have it at a place with outdoor seating along the Singapore River and had both chili and pepper crabs along with a few other seafood dishes. Maybe it's not the best place for either dish but the location is hard to beat, with the skyscrapers of Singapore's central business district rising up just along the river walkway in the background.
I think he liked it, he said something like it was like the Asian version of ribs (comparing to U.S. bar-b-que style ribs)... uh, kind of- both are messy for sure but even so John would not accept a plastic bib to protect my shirt he was wearing*. I still think it's a lot of work to eat these crabs but actually it is pretty good. John liked the pepper crab more... in retrospect this is kind of surprising since he said he doesn't really like spicy food so much... (something that became really (painfully) obvious and a source of immense humor when I convinced him to try a Thai green chili with dinner a few days later in Bangkok... I think he seriously cried after eating it. Not nice since I had accidentally ate one about ten minutes before and it was way too much for me. Generally they can be anywhere from about 6 to 40 times hotter than a Jalapeño pepper which might be more familiar to you)Of course Singapore has a lot more to offer than these "staples" and the time with John here really passed quickly. I think he was able to get a pretty good idea about what Singapore has to offer as I tried to show him around different parts of the island to get a range of experiences. John also did a lot during the days and took what sound like some good tours of different neighborhoods. I think I'll have to go check them out too.
*That's right, I found John wearing one of my shirts when we met for dinner that night. Hmm... I did offer though since all the other clothes he brought on the trip were some type of synthetic polyester sports blend. I guess it does make sense for travel in such a hot and humid region.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
change is the only constant
Being away from Singapore for three weeks was a long time, and it seems longer than I expected it would. I never really thought about it before but change can happen very quickly- and sometimes unless you're away and comeback you might not even notice it. Besides seeing a few new floors completed on the condo being built next door I noticed some other changes as well. Also the price of cabs surprised me as well even though the fares had increased before I left- having arrived after midnight, I had to pay the 50% surcharge and the $3 airport surcharge. The total taxi bill came out to $24 which seems very expensive, but then again it's very cheap compared to most other cities. Walking around town yesterday I saw a lot more graffiti than I ever remember and it was mostly right out in the open. I also saw two apparently homeless bums sleeping on the side walks, also something that I recall seeing maybe once over the last year I’ve been here. Is Singapore really changing or am I just being more observant of things around me?
And then, some things stayed the same. The noise from those two construction sites next door to my apartment is still very loud. The taxi driver from the airport thought I was from Italy or France and couldn't believe I was from California. For some reason this happens a lot- people think I'm German, Swiss, French and god forbid even Australian. I don't know why. one person even thought my accent sounded South African! no one else agreed with that though. Also, the conniving taxi drivers have not changed here either. The one I took yesterday ripped me off, taking me though a separate toll area for no reason as it wasn't a short cut and it was not even the route I told him. Its times like that when their English skills suddenly deteriorate very quickly...I guess it's the best way to disarm a verbal conflict. The escaped terrorist Mas Selamat bin Kastari has still not been captured after having escaped from prison before I left for San Diego. There's really not much news about it anymore. I guess people will forget about it soon. An official report being carried out on how the escape happened, estimated to take one month, should be out soon though I doubt it will actually be released.
Overall it feels good to be back in Singapore, in my own apartment and sleeping in my own bed again. I just need to get some food for the fridge because I’m starving.
This made me try to think about what had been different in San Diego since it had been 6 months since the last time I was there. Actually nothing really jumped out at me as different which is strange. A lot of the construction on the highways that plagued my morning and evening commutes was finished and one of the bars I liked that made really good cocktails has deteriorated in quality- the Old-Fashioned I used to like there was now horrible (actually the same thing had happened in Singapore at a new bar that had opened just around the corner from my place. When it opened, the bartenders were great and they made really nice cocktails, they really knew what they were doing which I think is extra nice here in Singapore since you’re paying about $10USD for a drink. I've almost giving up on ordering mixed drinks anywhere here because either the carbonation is flat in the mixer or it's some super sweet juice mixed in with the carefully measured amt of liquor. The last time I went there, the bar staff had been replaced literally by idiots, a conclusion I based on an experience while ordering a drink. I had ordered and easy drink which was even on their bar list- Cuba Libre- nothing fancy right, and he didn’t know how to make it. After asking the other bartender who told him to look it up since he was bartender too. I ended up having to tell him how to make it and he still messed it up, dumping in an outrageous amount of lime juice instead of just a dash.) I don't know, maybe it's hard to say since the time went so fast there and I didn't really see much of the city. I’m not sure this paragraph makes much sense either. In conclusion, In San Diego it was great to see old friends and catch up.
Anyway, don't get me wrong, it's not a big rant I'm on about Singapore or change on about how things were 'back in the day.' Besides, I read The Secret while in Sedona and now I'm only thinking positive thoughts so only positive outcomes will be attracted to me. Sure, it sounds crazy but it's working. I experienced several otherwise improbable occurrences which I'm attributing to my positive thinking. I won't get in to all of them but here's just one example- when I flew from Phoenix to
Portland it was a late flight scheduled to arrive around 11pm and I didn't want to be wasting a lot of time at the airport. So I was really trying to imagine my luggage being off the belt first so I could get out to the rental car and on the road. You know, ‘using the secret.’ I was also hoping for a Mustang convertible for the car but actually not so much for the convertible since I knew it would be cold in Oregon and I probably wouldn't get to put the top down. So what do you know? once the baggage starts up, mine is the third bag on it which has never happened. Thanks very much. Picked it and went out to get my rental car which had been assigned as a Mercury Grand Marquee. Obviously that wasn’t going to work. So I walked back to the desk and the guy there said I could have a Mustang (hardtop) for the same rate. One of the most important parts to the Secret is being thankful for everything you have and really spending time to acknowledge that thanks. Regardless of all the other talk about the Secret or Law of Attraction I think this is important just for living a happy and fulfilled life.
And then, some things stayed the same. The noise from those two construction sites next door to my apartment is still very loud. The taxi driver from the airport thought I was from Italy or France and couldn't believe I was from California. For some reason this happens a lot- people think I'm German, Swiss, French and god forbid even Australian. I don't know why. one person even thought my accent sounded South African! no one else agreed with that though. Also, the conniving taxi drivers have not changed here either. The one I took yesterday ripped me off, taking me though a separate toll area for no reason as it wasn't a short cut and it was not even the route I told him. Its times like that when their English skills suddenly deteriorate very quickly...I guess it's the best way to disarm a verbal conflict. The escaped terrorist Mas Selamat bin Kastari has still not been captured after having escaped from prison before I left for San Diego. There's really not much news about it anymore. I guess people will forget about it soon. An official report being carried out on how the escape happened, estimated to take one month, should be out soon though I doubt it will actually be released.
Overall it feels good to be back in Singapore, in my own apartment and sleeping in my own bed again. I just need to get some food for the fridge because I’m starving.
This made me try to think about what had been different in San Diego since it had been 6 months since the last time I was there. Actually nothing really jumped out at me as different which is strange. A lot of the construction on the highways that plagued my morning and evening commutes was finished and one of the bars I liked that made really good cocktails has deteriorated in quality- the Old-Fashioned I used to like there was now horrible (actually the same thing had happened in Singapore at a new bar that had opened just around the corner from my place. When it opened, the bartenders were great and they made really nice cocktails, they really knew what they were doing which I think is extra nice here in Singapore since you’re paying about $10USD for a drink. I've almost giving up on ordering mixed drinks anywhere here because either the carbonation is flat in the mixer or it's some super sweet juice mixed in with the carefully measured amt of liquor. The last time I went there, the bar staff had been replaced literally by idiots, a conclusion I based on an experience while ordering a drink. I had ordered and easy drink which was even on their bar list- Cuba Libre- nothing fancy right, and he didn’t know how to make it. After asking the other bartender who told him to look it up since he was bartender too. I ended up having to tell him how to make it and he still messed it up, dumping in an outrageous amount of lime juice instead of just a dash.) I don't know, maybe it's hard to say since the time went so fast there and I didn't really see much of the city. I’m not sure this paragraph makes much sense either. In conclusion, In San Diego it was great to see old friends and catch up.
Anyway, don't get me wrong, it's not a big rant I'm on about Singapore or change on about how things were 'back in the day.' Besides, I read The Secret while in Sedona and now I'm only thinking positive thoughts so only positive outcomes will be attracted to me. Sure, it sounds crazy but it's working. I experienced several otherwise improbable occurrences which I'm attributing to my positive thinking. I won't get in to all of them but here's just one example- when I flew from Phoenix to
Portland it was a late flight scheduled to arrive around 11pm and I didn't want to be wasting a lot of time at the airport. So I was really trying to imagine my luggage being off the belt first so I could get out to the rental car and on the road. You know, ‘using the secret.’ I was also hoping for a Mustang convertible for the car but actually not so much for the convertible since I knew it would be cold in Oregon and I probably wouldn't get to put the top down. So what do you know? once the baggage starts up, mine is the third bag on it which has never happened. Thanks very much. Picked it and went out to get my rental car which had been assigned as a Mercury Grand Marquee. Obviously that wasn’t going to work. So I walked back to the desk and the guy there said I could have a Mustang (hardtop) for the same rate. One of the most important parts to the Secret is being thankful for everything you have and really spending time to acknowledge that thanks. Regardless of all the other talk about the Secret or Law of Attraction I think this is important just for living a happy and fulfilled life.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is on Thursday but you'd hardly know it since it's not a celebrated holiday here. I guess the English must have made it pretty clear that they would not appreciate the locals celebrating the survival of the original colonists in the Americas. Or maybe if there were a winter here in Singapore it would have been more of a challenge for the colonists to survive through-giving them something to be thankful for. Did the original colonists here just take the easy life in the tropics for granted?...hmmm.... maybe if their first year here was particularly bad for Dengue fever some kind of thanks-giving holiday related to that would have been invented. Actually none of that even really make sense, never mind. It's true origins shrouded in mystery and controversy, thanksgiving is celebrated in the US and Canada and means three things: turkey, football, and the start of the Christmas shopping season. Oh, yes, and also Family. Here's one history of the holiday
Walking home from the supermarket today, carrying a frozen turkey through the rain, I realized two things. The first was how absurd it seemed to be walking home in the tropics during a rain storm rain with a frozen turkey. Ice cream melts so fast here but I figured it takes a really long time for a turkey to thaw out so I didn't worry too much. The second thing I realized was that this would be the first thanksgiving away from my parents. Since my brothers and sisters are now grown, some starting their own families, we haven’t all been together for every holiday but I was thinking- I think I've been there for every one.
So instead, this year I'm going to host a dinner at my place with some friends, but it will be on Saturday instead of Thursday since we don't get a day off work which is one thing I will not get to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I actually wasn't very excited about it this year but some friends convinced me to host a dinner at my place, the main reason being that I have not one but two ovens! which seem to be a rarity in kitchens here. And in these modern times it's so easy to plan a party: Just a few emails, a few phone calls or maybe text messages and you're done! Anyone can do it, like my grandpa here, talking to his peeps planning out the next Thanksgiving no doubt!
Walking home from the supermarket today, carrying a frozen turkey through the rain, I realized two things. The first was how absurd it seemed to be walking home in the tropics during a rain storm rain with a frozen turkey. Ice cream melts so fast here but I figured it takes a really long time for a turkey to thaw out so I didn't worry too much. The second thing I realized was that this would be the first thanksgiving away from my parents. Since my brothers and sisters are now grown, some starting their own families, we haven’t all been together for every holiday but I was thinking- I think I've been there for every one.
So instead, this year I'm going to host a dinner at my place with some friends, but it will be on Saturday instead of Thursday since we don't get a day off work which is one thing I will not get to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. I actually wasn't very excited about it this year but some friends convinced me to host a dinner at my place, the main reason being that I have not one but two ovens! which seem to be a rarity in kitchens here. And in these modern times it's so easy to plan a party: Just a few emails, a few phone calls or maybe text messages and you're done! Anyone can do it, like my grandpa here, talking to his peeps planning out the next Thanksgiving no doubt!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Uncle
Well, I'm an uncle as of May 6th! Congratulations, Nathan and Michelle!
I don't technically have all the details yet and I don't want to intrude too much into their private lives, but in tribute I'm posting a few pictues so they can remember their peaceful days w/o B.
I don't technically have all the details yet and I don't want to intrude too much into their private lives, but in tribute I'm posting a few pictues so they can remember their peaceful days w/o B.
Easter 2006 ... trendy in black...
The night before Nathan's 30th birthday party. Ouch!...Look at those sparks fly. That's some heat! Ah, Youth!
Thanksgiving 2006. This is when the big announcement was made; however, even before Nathan broke the news to everyone I had a strong feeling I knew what was coming. If you look closely at Michelle's glass you'll notice that's soda instead of wine like in Nathan's. When someone's not drinking at a family gathering you know they must be expecting.
Seriously though, congratulations, Nathan and Michelle! I wish I could be there to see you both and my niece in person but I'm sure your hands will be full enough for a while without having to host me at your house any more than you have over the past few years. Thanks!
Oh, Mom... we don't really drink that much at family gatherings. I was just kind of joking.
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