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Category: Singapore

Singapore Posted onAugust 2, 2005September 10, 2021

partnership of pain

To kill the best part of an hour at Changi Airport, I went for a foot massage. That, incidentally, is another thing I’ll miss about […] Read More

Singapore Posted onAugust 1, 2005September 9, 2021

goodbye for now, redux

For the past few days, I’ve taken every opportunity to tell people here that I’ve been in their country for close to a year, and […] Read More

Singapore Posted onAugust 1, 2005September 9, 2021

customer service

Soon after I arrived in Singapore last October, the Straits Times ran a series on customer service in Singapore. The paper’s assessment was pretty grim. […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 31, 2005September 9, 2021

hotel transit

I had to check out of Fraser Suites this morning, even though I’m not leaving Singapore until tomorrow. After staying there for nine months (minus […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 30, 2005September 9, 2021

j-girl

She was walking a few steps ahead of me, on the the way back to the hotel from the market on the ground floor. I’d […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 26, 2005September 9, 2021

marwan

I recently went to see a fortune teller named Marwan. Three of my colleagues visited him the week before me, on a referral from our […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 24, 2005September 9, 2021

lazy (not) sunday

You know your work has gone to a bad place when you feel guilty for working only a half day… on a Sunday. Which is […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 6, 2005September 9, 2021

crazy raymond

Raymond Seet, our dive instructor, is the Singapore embodiment of a “dude” – dark-skinned and constantly grinning, with the kind of impressively wild hairstyle that […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 4, 2005September 9, 2021

open water, day one

Last Friday, eleven of us packed ourselves and our dive equipment into Raymond’s small van and headed off to Malaysia for the weekend. Our mission […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJuly 1, 2005September 9, 2021

open water, prologue

A while back, I met a woman named Sharon at a bar. I have to say, I have no memory of what she looks like. […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 28, 2005September 9, 2021

dive buddy

For this weekend’s trip to Malaysia, I’ll be joined by a few of my colleagues and a couple of their girlfriends. That’s a story in […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 13, 2005September 9, 2021

get a life

At the Mexican dinner on Saturday night, I spent some time playing catch with James, the five-year-old son of my colleague Judy. He asked me […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 12, 2005September 9, 2021

smitty’s cantina

My first meal in California after six months in Singapore was Mexican food. So was my next meal, and my next. So, when I was […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 11, 2005September 9, 2021

chopsticks and men who cook

It’s amazing how often I get comments here about my chopsticks technique, or the fact I don’t mind chili sauce. Even my Singaporean colleagues who’ve […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 9, 2005September 9, 2021

more on doors, etc.

A few months ago, my colleague Crystal declared that one of the first things she will do after she returns to the US is go […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJune 6, 2005September 9, 2021

singapore redux

I’m back in Singapore. It’s good to see my incredibly hardworking colleagues, and it’s been nice to begin to reconnect with my Singapore friends. I […] Read More

Singapore Posted onMay 2, 2005September 9, 2021

city of irony

I’ve been back in San Francisco for more than a week now. I’ve mainly been reconnecting with friends, eating a lot of Mexican food and […] Read More

Singapore Posted onApril 21, 2005September 9, 2021

goodbye for now

I’m leaving today. I’ve packed up my humble home of six months, and I’m ready to board my flight back to San Francisco. I have […] Read More

Singapore Posted onApril 9, 2005September 9, 2021

starcrossed saturday

I woke up feeling a little under the weather today. I think it’s mainly a result of working too hard, sleeping too little and exercising […] Read More

Singapore Posted onApril 5, 2005September 9, 2021

local rhythm

Every place has its rhythm. The rhythm of a place is expressed in the pace and density of foot traffic. It’s expressed by the number […] Read More

Singapore Posted onApril 3, 2005September 9, 2021

mummy’s choice

As my Sunday was getting started, I received a text message from a friend asking, “is it u in the papers 2day?” I thought, oh […] Read More

Singapore Posted onApril 2, 2005September 9, 2021

bachelors (redux) and brix

Work has thankfully slowed down a bit… Well, that’s not quite true. There’s just as much work as ever, but I’ve decided to return to […] Read More

Singapore Posted onMarch 14, 2005September 9, 2021

bachelor bail-out

I was supposed to go for my Bachelors Finale “fitting” tonight, to try on the “sporty” wardrobe and learn how to walk the catwalk. I […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 26, 2005September 9, 2021

lime juice and sugar

I met D for lunch and a movie today. We’ve been exchanging phone calls, but I hadn’t actually seen her in about two months. I […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 18, 2005September 9, 2021

the briefing

I had to report to CLEO’s offices today for an “image consultation” and briefing about the “bachelors finale”. I came straight from a meeting in […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 17, 2005September 9, 2021

folding

I saw a dance performance tonight at the Esplanade by Shen Wei, a Chinese choreographer now based in New York. The first piece was called […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 15, 2005September 9, 2021

back “home”

I’m back in the little lion city state after a week in San Francisco. In the end, I was able to get one night of […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 14, 2005September 9, 2021

Signs you’ve been in Singapore too long

A funny spam from my boss. Probably nothing new to Singaporeans, but as Homer Simpson might say, “It’s funny cuz it’s true!” The following signs […] Read More

Singapore Posted onFebruary 1, 2005September 9, 2021

doors

WARNING: I’ve hardly posted anything these last two weeks. I’ve been working long long days for a difficult client. So, there hasn’t been a whole […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJanuary 28, 2005September 9, 2021

final fifty

So there’s a bit of news I’ve been too embarassed to share until now, but I might as well get it out… I’ve been named […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJanuary 23, 2005September 9, 2021

trees without tops and cats without tails

I spent yesterday cycling around (the island of) Pulau Ubin with Tracy, Crystal and Jimmy. It’s an easy day trip from the center of Singapore, […] Read More

eating, Laos, Singapore Posted onJanuary 20, 2005September 9, 2021

fish head noodles and songbirds on a stick

The other day in our food court at Singapore Airlines, I bought lunch at a stall called Fish Head Noodles. That’s not such a notable […] Read More

Singapore Posted onJanuary 8, 2005September 9, 2021

“home”

Well, I’ve returned “home” to Singapore, and it’s going to take a bit of time for me to readjust – especially to Singapore prices. I […] Read More

Singapore, Thailand Posted onDecember 31, 2004September 9, 2021

Thanks again, my good friends!

I just checked my work email for the first time in a week, and I was very moved by all the emails you sent me, […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 30, 2004September 9, 2021

shortlisted!

I just received word that I have been shortlisted for the 50 most eligible bachelors of Singapore issue of cleo! I’ll have to cut this […] Read More

Bali, Singapore, Thailand Posted onDecember 27, 2004September 9, 2021

south asian earthquake and tsunamis

I’m too far inland to have felt anything myself, but two of my colleagues are travelling in southern Thailand. Thankfully, I heard from Tracy last […] Read More

Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam Posted onDecember 23, 2004September 9, 2021

see y’all next year

Well, I’m off to Thailand, Laos and Vietnam until 9 January. I had been planning to buy a motorcycle in Hanoi for my trip down […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 22, 2004September 9, 2021

bean town girl

I called Thavy tonight to see if she was up for having dinner before I depart. She was game, and we met at one of […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 21, 2004September 9, 2021

seeing ravens

I have a few butterflies about my trip. It’s been a while since I was a solo tourist with complete control over my itinerary. I’ve […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 21, 2004September 9, 2021

dreaming of a wet christmas

Despite the fact that it’s the rainy season here, Christmas seems to be very popular in Singapore. It makes sense. Singapore revolves around shopping. Christmas […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 19, 2004September 9, 2021

mile high club

Friday night I went with D and some of her cabin crew friends to a club called Thumper. There were seven of us in all, […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 18, 2004September 9, 2021

singapore idol, or: “Wah lao eh, why you so chao ah beng one?”

Last month, Singapore Idol was the talk of the town. In the week leading up to the final episode, I couldn’t get into a lift […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 14, 2004September 9, 2021

northward bound

I visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Embassy today to apply for my visa. Last week I bought my plane ticket to Bangkok, and yesterday […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 11, 2004September 9, 2021

caveat emptor

Doh! Today I went to buy extra memory sticks for my camera, so I can take lots of pictures when I head north to Thailand, […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 11, 2004September 9, 2021

high bar

I left Thavy a voicemail on Thursday night, not knowing she’s in Japan until next week. By coincidence, her friend Shelly called me Friday to […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 9, 2004September 9, 2021

a day in the life, part one: radio singapore

I set an alarm clock here every day. My morning hasn’t been dictated by an alarm clock since I was a schoolboy. Someone – I’m […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 8, 2004September 9, 2021

the bubble of american supremacy

In the Straits Times today, there was an unusual amount of attention paid to the US, and an unusual amount of it was unusually unflattering. […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 7, 2004September 9, 2021

here they just call ’em girls

You hear people talk about the concept of an identity crisis. Every once in a while I have what you might call a geography crisis. […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 5, 2004September 9, 2021

singlish lah

Nearly everyone in Singapore speaks more than one language. Many speak three or four. The “official national” language is Malay, but there are three other […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 4, 2004September 9, 2021

a few facts about singapore

From the CIA World Factbook Land Area: Slightly more than 3.5 times the size of Washington D.C. Arable Land: 1.64% Permanent Crops: 0 Population: 4.3 […] Read More

Singapore Posted onDecember 3, 2004September 9, 2021

sick and tired

I’ve missed a couple days of posts because I came down with my first cold since I’ve been here. Thavy and Shelly called Wednesday night […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 30, 2004September 9, 2021

uk english

You may have noticed I’ve been using UK English lately. I’m not trying to affect a sophisticated, globe-trotter persona. It’s just that on the Singapore […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 24, 2004September 9, 2021

food courts and hawker centers or, congee – it’s not just for breakfast anymore

In Singapore, food courts and hawker centers are where the locals eat. They’re where you go to get good food cheap. A food court is […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 16, 2004September 9, 2021

istana open house

Yesterday, for the Hari Raya holiday, the Istana (“palace” in Malay), the official residence of the President of the Republic of Singapore, was open to […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 14, 2004September 9, 2021

hari raya in geylang serai

So, shopping and more shopping. The Hari Raya celebration, too, was all about shopping. Geylang Serai last night was basically a big clearance sale. It […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 13, 2004September 9, 2021

living in caucasia

On the subject of incredible customer service… This is a potentially delicate topic, but it makes a difference that I’m caucasian. It seemed to make […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 12, 2004September 9, 2021

deepavali and hari raya

It’s time to revisit my earlier first impressions of Singapore. I mentioned its reputation as a “boringly sterile” land of laws. I left that quote […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 12, 2004September 9, 2021

L8r conrad

Here’s one last look at my view from the 30th floor of the Conrad: Yesterday, I moved ino the serviced apartments at Fraser Suites. The […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 5, 2004September 9, 2021

dave the tailor, parts I and II

Last week, the team pitched in to get me a tailor-made shirt for my birthday. Skip and Darrell took me to Dave the tailor for […] Read More

Singapore Posted onNovember 1, 2004September 9, 2021

halloween birthday in a chinese temple

One advantage of being on this side of the dateline is that my birthday went on for 42 hours. I got lots of in-person birthday […] Read More

Singapore Posted onOctober 30, 2004September 9, 2021

cancer sticks and pottie pie

Singapore, of course, is notorious for being being a boringly sterile land of laws. I’ll have to get back to you on that, but in […] Read More

Singapore Posted onOctober 28, 2004September 9, 2021

livin’ large

So, everything they say about Singapore Airlines is true. The level of in-flight service was far beyond anything I’ve experienced. The food was excellent, the […] Read More

getting there, Singapore Posted onOctober 27, 2004September 9, 2021

(far) eastward bound

For some reason we can’t remember, we decided to fly Singapore Airlines out of LAX instead of SFO, which meant we had to create our […] Read More

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