new books, not yet reports

I bought some books today. Two were books I though were even banned in Singapore since I hadn't been able to find them. Anywhere. For like 4 months. Today I spent some time in a very big book store here called Kinokuniya and found the elusive books. So it just turns out all the other stores I had looked at were just poorly stocked and the books wern't banned at all! My faith in Singapore is renewed!

One is called Asiaddict - a graphic novel by a man called Matz!? . You can also view the asiaddict blog here- composed by him and inspired by his book- not the other way around. Living and traveling (or wanting to) around SE Asia, I was interested in his interpretation.

The second is also a graphic novel called Pyongyang (a journey in north Korea) by Guy Delisle. I had read an excerpt of this from The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2006 - an anthology I've been ready each year since it began with the 2002 compilation. Somewhat related, I watched a documentary a few days ago called A State of Mind about two N. Korean girls training in Pyongyang for the Mass Games- the ultimate symbol of communism, emphasizing the group dynamic over individual performance. These performances are amazing... thousands of people are training every day for a chance to honor their nation by being chosen to perform in the games. The devotion these athletes have for their country is really amazing for me when considering how negatively N. Korea is portrayed in western media. The book is somewhat about the author experiencing this blind devotion from the locals while working in Pyongyang for a few months. There are a few links from the wikipedia page to videos of previous games. North Korea is currently the only country that regularly hold Mass Games. There is also another film called The Game of Their Lives I would like to see (the site linked is a little old so bear with it).

The third is called The Shock Doctrine. On the site there is also a short film you can view which pretty much summarizes the content.

german potato salad

For some reason I thought pork belly is the same thing as bacon, but I found out today it's not. Pork belly looks like bacon- Like one really thick piece of bacon, so I bought it for the german potato salad I'm making since it's oktoberfest time (actually it should be over by this time of october but they are still celebrating it here in Singapore). As soon as I sliced up all the belly and fried it up I knew there was definitely a difference between it and bacon. Bacon is made from pork belly but it doesn't taste like it at all. Bacon is smoked. Bacon is much better and while many people believe that adding bacon will make anything taste better, I think few would say the say the same for pork belly. So the hot german potato salad did not come out that well. It's a good thing I was just making a test batch today to try out some of the ingredients I had to sub in since I couldn't find all the correct ones here. Okay, actually the only thing I couldn't find were Yukon Gold potatoes so I had to use Russet.

The dressing. Wheat beer, cider vinegar, mustard, sugar, salt, pepper and pork belly fat. No bacon fat, lor. The pork belly seemed surprisingly lean when I cooked it despite all the fat that's in it. There was really no grease left over like you get when you cook bacon.

the final product

It turned out okay. I need to use bacon when I make it next week though.

more rain

It really rained today. It rained yesterday and there was a thunder and lightning storm right in the city, too. I enjoy the lighting here since it's so rare back in San Diego. I don't know why I was surprised by the rain today. Actually, I really wasn't surprised at all which is more the point of this post.

I left the house this morning with sunglass because it was so bright, was in the office until after noon, took the lift down to the ground floor and only when I walked outside did I find it absolutely pouring outside. Like monsoon rain. yep. I remember thinking it strange that I wasn't surprised at all by it though, so I guess that means I've become acclimatized used to the weather. I remember the first month I was here I absolutely dreaded leaving the apartment if it was raining and now it's not a big deal at all...as long as I have an umbrella. I've bought 3 umbrellas since I've been here and I only remember ever buying two other my entire life (one in Tokyo and the other in Budapest...none in California). Getting used to all this rain is a big step because what it means is that when I eventually leave Singapore there's hope that I could survive somewhere other than San Diego where the weather is always perfect. I thought nine years of living in San Diego had made me soft but I've already gotten used to the heat again and now rain also can... I just don't know if I could deal with the cold somewhere though.


It also rained the first day back from the California trip at end of August. It wasn't that big of a surprise though.

Want, ah?

Some things I just don't get. Still half asleep this morning, I walked downstairs and across the street to buy some eggs at the grocery store. Walking up to the door I noticed a nice road bike sitting there unlocked then noticed the rider (I'm assuming) just inside at the bakery counter continuously peering nervously out from the counter as he was waiting for his order. First, I found it odd that he was on a ride alone in the middle of the city so late in the morning, and second I thought it was weird that he was buying the cheap breads and pasties they sell at the bakeries here while he was on a ride. They're pretty much just sugar and white flour bundles of empty calories...but they're cheap. I'm almost at the door, still trying to resolve the strange scene, still walking in a half daze when this old uncle scares the hell out of me holding some kind of black bird (smaller than a pigeon), still alive, by the wings. Holding it out to me, I think he says something like "Want, ah?!" ... What the hell? This is just some kind of bird he caught? where? how? did he want me to eat it? or keep it as a pet? was he selling it? how did he catch it?--maybe it was sick? maybe it had bird flu? was it sick? was he sick? what a freak. He looked very pleased with himself. This was at a grocery store in the middle of the city, not in a wet market or out in some village. I couldn't respond. Giving him a confused look I continued walking into the store and safety. I definitely did not want ah. Looking back, he was hanging out there at the entrance for a few minutes offering it to others with a smile of satisfaction. Maybe it was just a dream.

more vacation in Thailand

Here's a few other videos from bangkok and phuket.

Crossing the street in Bangkok. Cars won't stop so you just have to cross when you can

Pad Thai noodles on the street

Tourists storming MaYa beach. This beach was used in the film The Beach and now it's become part of the many speed boat tours of Phi Phi Leh and Phi Phi Don run out of Phuket and Krabi. In the movie it's depicted as a pristine beach where a utopian society is formed by a group of backpackers. In reality, it's become overrun with tourists and all their accompanying trash. I was on this same tour a few years ago about a month after the tsunami and at that time the beach was almost empty because tourism had dropped to almost nothing. On this trip we were about the 3rd boat into the bay but with half hour there were literally 25 other speed boats unloading literally hundreds of people. From the video you can see how crowded it was.


The floating markets gets pretty crowded. Despite being an obvious tourist trap, it was still a lot of fun.

Bangkok and Phuket

Finally I'm getting around to posting on the Bangkok/Phuket trip I took with Joe way back in August while he was out here visiting. I think I said before, but it turned out to be easy enough to get into Bangkok with a one way ticket even though it's posted that you need one (technically I think you don't need the return ticket if you can show sufficient funds allowing you to get out of the country... I think $300 USD). This again goes to show how easy travel is with a US passport. I had a Chinese friend travel to Bangkok just a few days after I returned and even though she had a return ticket, the immigration still hassled her and wanted her to show she had enough money to leave. Apparently traveling with a Chinese passport is very difficult, though I've heard and Indonesian passport makes it even more difficult. Once we arrived in Bangkok and figured out what we wanted to see we bought flights into Phuket and return tickets back to Singapore.

Bangkok was a lot of fun, and there's a lot to see. The last time I was there I was only on Khao San Road near the grand palace so I didn't get to see much of the city at all. I was impressed by how modern it was.... I was also surprised by how bad the traffic was. I think one day we made the mistake of taking a cab back to the hotel which was only about 9km but it took almost one hour. The skytrain and subway are a much better way to get around the city and they're just as nice as Singapore's. Also, Joe has a pretty distant relative there and we were able to meet up with him and his family a few times.

Some Photos!

A kitten! Stray cats in Asia seems to be everywhere you go

Some Squid!?

The Grand Palace




Khao San Road - backpacker central
eating some street food. pad thai noodles for 20 bhat... that's like 60 cents!

I guess Joe likes it?...

This seems more like the "street food" Joe likes...


We took a day tour of the floating market. It's famous and it actually ended up being much more fun than I expected

"The Target"
I think Joe must have been targeted by almost every vendor on the floating market. He must have that 'high roller' look so people knew he was ready to spend. He's finally successful in getting this one to stop selling by saying "Haha. Ask him. Ask him, over there!" pointing to me of all people!! I must have looked poor though because no one was hassling me... I only bought some grilled bananas and a coconut.

Joe demonstrates some bargaining skills while buying some souvenirs. The calculator is a very useful tool when you have no idea how to speak the language

"That's crap! Here's my final offer, just let me type it into this calculator here, he-he..."
"Wow, she accepted it. Sucker! I must be such a good bargainer... all those years of selling cars, he-he. What else do you have there, miss?"
"Yes, I need that folding hat as well..." Unfortunatly, Joe later found out he had bargained the lady all the way down to the starting price of the same things at the gift shop just off the floating market.

He's at it again...

100% business

Me w/ some grilled bananas

The Jim Thomson House

Chatuchak Weekend Market

I usually feel okay eating street food but I dared not eat this. I think it's pork, held at room temp until the momement you order- at which point he chops it up and serves it to you. I guess it's safe because this one was busy

Before we knew it the time in Bangkok was over and we were on our way to Phuket. I took the blank look to mean that he was adjusted well to Thailand (never mind it's a Vietnamese hat)

Phuket

This seems like a really typical scene of Thailand. I think it's the verticle neon flourescent tubes... I always associate this with Thailand for some reason

Patong Beach city limits, and a dog

BangLa street. very famous in Phuket

Some good Thai food

The famous MaYa Beach used in the film "the beach"

I'm on MaYa beach

It get's to be way too crowded as all the other tour boats arrive.

Thai beaches do have some other nice views though...

expat living

I'm an expat now. This term seems to be unfamiliar with many who haven't lived overseas recently. It's short for expatriate, and contrary to many people's beliefs, I'm living in Singapore, not China. While this seemed to be a big point of contention while I was back in California during the end of August, there is really no debating it. Singapore is a country until itself which has in less than 100 years changed from a small fishing village and sailor's stop over to become Uniquely Singapore - one of the most densely populated 1st world nations on earth. And as such, it has, amongst other things, its own magazine called Expat Living.
On Monday, Chris, my coworker who is also an 'expat' here and also on contract from the San Diego office, and I went for coffee like we normally do mid-morning. As we were waiting for the barristas to make our drinks-americanos, his with an extra shot of espresso since he wishes he were Italian, we started flipping though the magazines laid out on the bar as we normally do. I was reading Expat Living Singapore. After flipping though the pages showing all the posh restaurant reviews, interviews with hedge fund managers and their wives, and luxury watch ads, I commented to Chris, "I definitely do NOT think I'm living the 'expat lifestyle.'" He agreed without a second thought. I continued to scan the pages, then just a minute later as flipped past a page I immediately turned back it. "Hey, that's me!" "yeah, that's you. You're very photogenic." It was a picture of me and friends at a one year anniversary party of a bar I like in the "society" section. Hmm... "I guess I am living the expat life."
It's easy to let life fly by unappreciated, always looking for something more exciting. I've had mixed feelings about living here in Singapore for the past 9 months, never really feeling like it was home and that it was just temporary, like my life was on hold for 3 years until I got back to San Diego. However, after being back in California this last time I found myself surprised how ready I was to get back to Singapore. California and San Diego did not feel like home anymore and I definitely felt like I was just visiting and that my home was in Singapore. For all the frustrating things about the people and government here it felt good to get back to my own apartment and my own bed where I could relax. The concept of home has really changed.