Hey guys, it’s been awhile since my last update. I recently tried upgrading my WordPress version manually, and it caused some massive malfunction with the site – super slow, and I was unable to upload any new posts. And I JUST fixed it not more than 15 mins ago..

To answer most of your questions – life here ain’t too bad. It’s what I’ve wanted for awhile I guess – the chance to experience independent life abroad, and getting out of my comfort zone. It’s just a bitch that I had to start JUST as the global economy collapsed…

Culturally, there isn’t all that much of a difference from life back in Malaysia. To sum up my experience during my first month here:-

• Chores are a P in the A. I absolutely detest laundry and ironing haha (1 hour standing in front of the ironing board.. GAH!).
• Doing the dishes is bearable – until you realize that you’re washing for the 1,001th time.
• No home cooked meals (3-4 course chinese dishes with rice and soup) *sobs*
• NO CAR. Public transport IS very convenient where I am, but it doesn’t beat having 4 wheels under me to fetch my friends around and staying out as late as I want. But then again, I guess my carbon footprint is a lot smaller now.
• There are LOTS of foreigners over here. Most of the time, you won’t know they aren’t local until you start speaking to them. Which makes talking to strangers a little difficult.
• I might have my own place, but my social life is far from where it used to be. The Singaporeans I know generally keep to themselves, and most of the people I’ve met so far are Malaysians working here anyway..
• I’m a whole lot more $$ conscious also – I still do automatic conversions to RM for most of the stuff I buy (which works out to things being really expensive here!)..
• There’s sooo many old people everywhere!
• Singaporeans are a frank bunch. They speak their mind – which is a refreshing change.
• Still trying to adapt to the general fluency of Mandarin with large spattering of Hokkien in their slang here.
• WORK! I don’t know if its just the economy, or cause I’m a foreigner – but here, I’m pretty much expected to really ‘earn my pay’. At least its not as bad as some of the horror stories I’ve heard about the work culture in MNCs.. But its good stress.
• Singapore’s a REALLY DUSTY place. 2 weeks, dust settles over everything in my room. And I keep my windows closed. They say dust is mostly made up of dead human skin.. and Singapore has the 2nd highest population density per square km in the world. Go figure.. (eugh)..

Probably have lots more to say, but my mind’s a little stuck for now. Here are some photos taken over the last few weeks..

Roy & Steph’s First Visit

It was fantastic timing cause they came on the first weekend in which I was settling down. I drove down with my parents, and thus had the car for the weekend too. Drove over to a place called Dempsey Hill (no public transport there), to try a popular cakes and drinks place called P.S. Cafe.

L-R: Jacq, Niki, FoOie, Steph & Roy

iPhone 3G!

My very first ‘indulgence’ in Singapore – the iPhone 3G! Subscribed to a separate broadband package exclusively for it, providing me with virtually 100% connection to the net wherever I was (in Singapore at least). It’s not the perfect phone, but it sure comes close…

Terence’s Wedding

I went back to KL for a very brief visit on one of the weekends to attend one of my old time buddy’s wedding. My bus actually broke down on the way back, and the whole trip took about 8 hours! It was quite an experience, stranded at the side of the highway in the middle of nowhere, waiting for a mechanic to drive to our location from Johor.

When he finally came and fixed up the engine, the bus couldn’t start as the bus ventilation and lights were left on. All the guys had to come out and push the bus so that the driver could jump start it..

Had about 2 hours of sleep before I had to wake up and drive to Cheras to attend the ‘break door down’ ceremony.

Ran around some more to finish up some business with my hand phone bills, bank, etc before rushing to the church for the exchange of vows, then a short rest followed by dinner at PJ Hilton..

L-R: Ang, Ash, Roy, Steph & FoOie

It was good seeing all of the guys together again..

(Still waiting for wedding photos from Terence!!)

Yuri & Dennis

L-R: Gary, FoOie, Dennis, Yuri & Airin

Yuri came down to Singapore for a performance with Dennis over at Paragon, and we met up over at China One in Clarke Quay..

Jey Sern & Vin

Finally boardgames again! Jey Sern was in town to visit his gf Vin who was working here. Introduced a new game to them, Zooloretto – which we played till 4am..

Crabbie Jey Sern and his gf Vin Lee

Yummy dinner!

Zooloretto!

Haha don’t ask us what we were doing.

Dinner at Nihon Mura the next day.. 99 cents per plate of sushi! (look at our color coordinated stack on the right).

Jared & Kennes

Me & Jared

Kennes & Stacey

Kennes & Jared are ex-ex-ex colleagues way back from my very first job who are now married (and I was there to see them get together! ). Stacey’s Kennes’s ex colleague who’s just started working in Singapore as well for about a month..

Alvin Yap & Jessica

FoOie & Alvin Yap

Alvin’s the dude I met when the bus broke down during my first trip back to KL. Friendly chap, been here 3 months working as an engineer – thinks Singapore gets really boring after awhile (I tend to agree). Hopefully we can go and chill together more

Jessica & FoOie

Jessica’s an old acquaintance who happened to be in town looking for a job.

We went to check out Cafe Del Mar over in Sentosa cause Alvin had a car. It was definitely a nice place – facing the beach, with a poolside bar, playing chillout and house. Not quite our luck that night though, cause it was raining, and we arrived while Jack Daniels was throwing a private function. They built up a stage, and hired a noisy (and pretty lousy) rock band to perform. The crowd was mediocre despite there being some bikini girls frolicking in the cold pool.

Side note: Drinks and finger food are relatively cheap, and I’ll definitely return for more next time..

William & Alvin

William & Alvin

A different Alvin here , they both came down to run in the Singapore Marathon over the weekends.. met up with them, all sunburnt and aching after their 42km madness.

At first wanted to check out The Clinic over in Clarke Quay, but they didn’t have any available wheelchair seats. So we settled for drinks over at this place called Yello Jello Retrobar instead.

So who’s coming to visit next?