Today i experienced my first mega downpour. I walked outside, to what i thought was a standard rain shower, but in fact not even my umbrella could protect me. By the time I got the bus stop, I had to laugh at myself.
So last week at work was good. I got home at a reasonable hour most days. The journey to work is great, bus stops right outside my apartment, and drops me off a 3 minute walk from work. Door to door, about 35 mins of air conditioned bliss. People don't tend to sit next to me on the bus. Either I smell, or people are scared because I am white. Its kind of like being picked last for a team every time... Its ok though, I like to take up two seats anyway ;-)
So last week on Friday I went to the mock up hotel room for the Marriott which was good. Always nice to see things go on site from work. On Friday night I went to an Irish bar with some people, to watch one of them sing which was fun. Then on Saturday night I went to Duxton Hill for dinner with some other people, followed by cocktails at Indochine (a chain of bars here). Today, I have been out for lunch, and ice cream - The most amazing ice cream shop where they whack the ice cream on a frozen table, and mix your ingredients in in front of you (Dad, this is one for you!) I had vanilla ice cream, with fudge, Oreos and peanut butter. YUM.
It is National day on Tuesday. From what I gather, that basically means sleeping for the most part of the day, followed by meeting friends for dinner, drinks, fireworks and a parade. They have been rehearsing the fireworks for this for three weeks. Yes, you hear me correctly. A bit odd i know. A day off mid week sounds good to me though! When I have been here a bit longer, I think I will have to integrate these national days into long weekends to go and see other areas in Asia. Heard amazing stories about Hong Kong and Thailand especially.
Hx
Sunday 7 August 2011
Sunday 31 July 2011
Sunday 31st July 2011
Friday night I moved into my new apartment on the East Coast Road. It took me a while to remember why I moved this far out of town.... Its making things difficult at weekends as I am now a further ride from social destinations and a more expensive taxi ride home after a night out. However, the reasons came flooding back to me when I went for a run along the coast this evening. It is beautiful. People cycling, roller blading and walking along the sea, families picnicing on the sand, and palm trees lining the side walk. Especially on a clear evening like tonight - stunning. I did return a rather unattractive shade of tomato which didn't even subside after a freezing shower. Tomorrows journey to work will give me the final answer as to wether moving here was a good idea.
Went to a Hed Kandi beach party in Sentosa on Saturday night which was also awesome. Kind of like ibiza/vegas in Asia. Due to that and a busy weekend of moving, I am shattered!
Hx
p.s. I wish people would stop staring at me....im Caucasian, not Alien green!!
Went to a Hed Kandi beach party in Sentosa on Saturday night which was also awesome. Kind of like ibiza/vegas in Asia. Due to that and a busy weekend of moving, I am shattered!
Hx
p.s. I wish people would stop staring at me....im Caucasian, not Alien green!!
Monday 25 July 2011
Monday 25th July 2011
I have a home!! I move in on Friday so watch this space for my address for you all to send housewarming gifts, flowers and kittens to :-)
Hx
Hx
Saturday 23 July 2011
Saturday 23rd July 2011
Having completed a whole week of work (and a Saturday of work) I still feel like i arrived yesterday, I am still homeless - The only thing that has changed is I now have a few friends... actually since I have been here, I have been approached by more people to go out for drinks, shopping, cinema or dinner than I think has ever happened in my life! Friends of friends seem to be emerging out of the woodwork and people at work at highly social and lovely. I am very much enjoying be a minority here too. People will pay many camels for me...
So a few points I have discovered since being here. Shoes are cheap as chips. Granted the cheap ones are plastic..... but still! Clothes are also mega cheap which is good, as I have next to no practical clothes for this kind of heat. The only things you can wear here are thin tops and long floaty or short, non-existent skirts (I do already have lots of these.....) I see a lot of people running here which is cool, but the only place to run is along the coast as there is a small breeze. I have also discovered that although taxis don't stop in the streets because there are taxi bays everywhere, they do stop if you just walk in front of them waving like a looney white woman. (Don't worry Mum, im still in one piece)
Hx
So a few points I have discovered since being here. Shoes are cheap as chips. Granted the cheap ones are plastic..... but still! Clothes are also mega cheap which is good, as I have next to no practical clothes for this kind of heat. The only things you can wear here are thin tops and long floaty or short, non-existent skirts (I do already have lots of these.....) I see a lot of people running here which is cool, but the only place to run is along the coast as there is a small breeze. I have also discovered that although taxis don't stop in the streets because there are taxi bays everywhere, they do stop if you just walk in front of them waving like a looney white woman. (Don't worry Mum, im still in one piece)
Hx
Monday 18 July 2011
Monday 18th July 2011
First day at the office. I have come home with actual swollen feet. Turns out I did NOT bring any heat-appropriate shoes... I received my outline of company policies this afternoon which had some madness on it! So if you are a 'legally married couple' you are entitled to more 'childcare' and maternity leave days than if you are a single mother. I wonder if thats an Asia thing or just my company... If you are sick you have to sit in a hospital to wait to see an emergency doctor and get a note, otherwise pay will be deducted for your leave, even if its just a bad cold! The office shuts down between Christmas and New Year though which is lovely.
Work itself was ups and downs. I was seriously bored (usual first day stuff) and people really do look at you like you committed a crime if you get up to leave on time! Its also hard being in an office full of people speaking Singlish which I don't understand a word of. On the other hand, I have already met some lovely people and I really like my team, which basically consists of me and another young designer (a couple of years more experienced than me) and then we share a design assistant which is great. Not used to having someone help me! Both of the girls are from California. I had Thai food for lunch with a local girl and a girl from Bangkok and then THE most amazing fruit salad from a random stall. I should be hitting Bali soon too as I am currently working on a hotel there.
Fingers crossed the long hours will get easier once I get over this jetlag, and tiredness and get used to the heat which is still almost unbearable right now. Oh, and figure out what 'sensible footwear' is...Tomorrow I need to go to the hospital to get a medical check up which I need in order to get my work pass.
Hx
First day at the office. I have come home with actual swollen feet. Turns out I did NOT bring any heat-appropriate shoes... I received my outline of company policies this afternoon which had some madness on it! So if you are a 'legally married couple' you are entitled to more 'childcare' and maternity leave days than if you are a single mother. I wonder if thats an Asia thing or just my company... If you are sick you have to sit in a hospital to wait to see an emergency doctor and get a note, otherwise pay will be deducted for your leave, even if its just a bad cold! The office shuts down between Christmas and New Year though which is lovely.
Work itself was ups and downs. I was seriously bored (usual first day stuff) and people really do look at you like you committed a crime if you get up to leave on time! Its also hard being in an office full of people speaking Singlish which I don't understand a word of. On the other hand, I have already met some lovely people and I really like my team, which basically consists of me and another young designer (a couple of years more experienced than me) and then we share a design assistant which is great. Not used to having someone help me! Both of the girls are from California. I had Thai food for lunch with a local girl and a girl from Bangkok and then THE most amazing fruit salad from a random stall. I should be hitting Bali soon too as I am currently working on a hotel there.
Fingers crossed the long hours will get easier once I get over this jetlag, and tiredness and get used to the heat which is still almost unbearable right now. Oh, and figure out what 'sensible footwear' is...Tomorrow I need to go to the hospital to get a medical check up which I need in order to get my work pass.
Hx
Sunday 17 July 2011
Sunday 17th July 2011
For the past four days I have had two thoughts running through my head..... 'Im lost' and 'It is BOILING!'
Singapore is beautiful. I have never seen anywhere when a beach turns into a rain forest like it does here, or where every condo block is like a hotel resort. Yesterday I viewed a flat which actually had an aqua gym - yes, treadmills under water! I am staying in Robertson Quay which is basically a community running around a river. You walk down the river any time of day or night and find amazing food, locals and tourists and are serenaded by music the whole way down.
Went for coffee this afternoon with an American girl, a girl from the UK and an Aussie and learnt a lot about the area which was great. First day at work tomorrow - looking forward to it but imagine I am going to spend most of the day at the ministry of manpower waiting for my work pass. I picked up my 'Oyster' equivalent for the MTR today so feel like I am finally getting the hang of public transport! Cant believe it is only going to cost me 91c to get to work (50p ish) a nice change from London prices. The other thing that is different to London, but in a greater sense, is the living arrangements. When renting a room, there don't seem to be any kind of formal tenancy agreements, just a 'lead tenant' who rents an apartment, and then lets the other rooms to other random people. There also doesn't seem to be much of a social sense amongst house sharing. I think my next move is to find someone I would like to live with, and then look for two available rooms in the same apartment.
I have explored the East coast a little bit, which is really lovely, as well as Holland village and Orchard Road. Yes, my feet hurt a lot.
Hx
Singapore is beautiful. I have never seen anywhere when a beach turns into a rain forest like it does here, or where every condo block is like a hotel resort. Yesterday I viewed a flat which actually had an aqua gym - yes, treadmills under water! I am staying in Robertson Quay which is basically a community running around a river. You walk down the river any time of day or night and find amazing food, locals and tourists and are serenaded by music the whole way down.
Went for coffee this afternoon with an American girl, a girl from the UK and an Aussie and learnt a lot about the area which was great. First day at work tomorrow - looking forward to it but imagine I am going to spend most of the day at the ministry of manpower waiting for my work pass. I picked up my 'Oyster' equivalent for the MTR today so feel like I am finally getting the hang of public transport! Cant believe it is only going to cost me 91c to get to work (50p ish) a nice change from London prices. The other thing that is different to London, but in a greater sense, is the living arrangements. When renting a room, there don't seem to be any kind of formal tenancy agreements, just a 'lead tenant' who rents an apartment, and then lets the other rooms to other random people. There also doesn't seem to be much of a social sense amongst house sharing. I think my next move is to find someone I would like to live with, and then look for two available rooms in the same apartment.
I have explored the East coast a little bit, which is really lovely, as well as Holland village and Orchard Road. Yes, my feet hurt a lot.
Hx
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