Pondering: Singapore

(Absolutely everyone who's been to both cities compares Hong Kong to Singapore, there are a million articles out there that already does it.. This is just my personal two cents, from what I had observed during my short weekend trip there.) 

We were in Singapore for less than 48 hours. It was a superficial glimpse, at most, of the city state (mostly of restaurants, streets, mrt and hotel), and maybe it's the "greener grass" mindset, but there is quite a few things that I think) lthe Singaporeans  do better than Hong Kongers - at least in terms of city planning, urban development and heritage preservation. We did walk a lot (between restaurants), and noticed that there is much more greenery pretty much everywhere, even in the city centre. Most streets are lined with trees, grass or shrub boxes, and highways had greens crawling up its columns. Streets are also cleaner too, less crowded, has less traffic.

Orchard Road, supposedly the most popular shopping street in Singapore, was spacious, clean, wasn't crowded, and wasn't noisy with human or vehicular traffic.

There are still a lot of old colonial buildings and the old style Asian shophouses lining its streets, except for in the CBD. I don't know why but I love old architecture. Even just the shutters and the different colours of the shophouses. Makes me feel nostalgic for a generation I never really knew. But it made walking around Singapore (which we did a lot) quite pleasant, as the shophouses offered shade from the sun and rain. Even walking on the pavements was pleasant without needing to squeeze through gushing waves of human traffic (actually there was hardly any on the streets...Singaporeans don't walk?) or risk getting butchered by cars as a result of narrow pavements and being pushed out by the gushing waves of human traffic.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about Singapore is its hawker centres. There might be a few "cooked food centres" and foodcourts in Hong Kong but Singapore has a lot more hawker centres and the variety and quality of food is, I think, much better than what you get in Hong Kong, and much cheaper too.

And even though there isn't an awful lot to do apart from eat, Singapore at least TRIES to offer something for you to do in between meals - such as the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari, Gardens by the Bay (which we went to - was quite interesting. But COLD), Universal Studios...

Having said all that, I'm not in a hurry to move to Singapore. It probably would be quite pleasant to live here for about half a year or so. Then I'd probably get bored. (Basically after I've tried most of the hawker centre and reputable eating houses).

Gardens by the bay, with Marina Bay Sands as the backdrop. 

Farewells and thank yous and cupcakes

It was a long list of recipients in my goodbye email. I actually really liked how I got to work with so many people, despite only having worked in one department and one team over the last 3 years. But it's been an amazing 3 years. I've travelled like I've never done before. I've learned a whole lot about a lot of stuff. I've made some really genuine and longlasting friendships. I'm really gonna miss this place. I'm really gonna miss the people. Thankfully, I'm still in the industry, I won't be far, and I'll probably be seeing some of these guys soon in Japan anyway.

Thank you, cx. You ARE the best airline in the world. Cos you have the best people running the show.

Those winning smiles

Clay pot rice - a dinner for winners

Ps. I gave out cupcakes (from Kisses Cupcakes) as my farewell cakes - they went down well and we didn't have any leftovers. Win. So much win.

The Finale

IT'S HERE.

Tomorrow is my last day of work at CX. Three years and two and a half months. And tomorrow is the end. 

Of course I've learned a lot, experienced a lot, travelled a lot, met a lot of weirdly wonderful and wonderfully weird people, and hopefully grown a bit. 

I constantly wonder (and occasionally worry) if this next move is a good move, a right move. I also wonder if I'm ready for the next step, if I'm competent enough, if I'm mature and experienced enough. The days of wondering are getting shorter. Reality is creeping up fast like a comet, and it's going to hit this clueless soul and I'll either burn or shine. Let's hope I survive.

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. - Hebrews 4:16

The countdown

6 more working days left at CX.

How did this happen??

Tomorrow we're going on our first and last batch trip to Singapore. I hope we all get on the flight. I need my kaya toast and teh tarik and nasi lamek and kuey teow and a new mustafa watch.

One more set of FOCs.... What to do with them? Will I even have time to use them?

... Am I ready for all this change?

The feed of gold and death

If one were to tally up how much time I spend on Facebook each day, versus how much time I spend talking to family, or reading the (real) news, or even eating, it should be reason enough to give the damn thing up.

But how else am I going to share my photographs and travel experiences with people, or know about other people's relationship/engagement/job/life/baby updates?

But then again, comparing the amount of "useful" (?) information versus utter crap that people post (links to "the 15 ugliest sleeping cats faces", or "18 ways to waste your time even more before you die") (and the worst, "this guy just proposed to his gf, you won't believe what his gf did next"..."how this cat pissed his owner off real bad" etc), not to mention the "too much information" status updates by some of those Facebook friends... I think the quit-Facebook camp is gaining ground.

I also don't like the air of "deception" that hangs around everything about Facebook like a faint but unmistakable smog.. I'm not sure if I can call some of these people "friends" when I've never actually spoken to or even met them. Often people only post the positives, the pretty pictures, the dishes that turned out well, the good news, the good moods... It paints a false picture that life is all good with them. Facebook gives you a feeling of faux human connection.

Also let's not even think about the slightly terrifying concept that Facebook actually knows you much better than you think you do, that ads and article recommendations and group posts can sometimes be so tailored to you and your interests/culture.

But I guess the final step, for me, is willpower. That might be a bit hard to muster.

The typing/writing fairy

I mentioned such fairy in my previous post, but since no such creature actually exists (sadly), I guess I'll just have to do it myself - I've resolved to write more and blog more, not just about trips or on special life events such as adopting of pets, but (try to) actually just write about thoughts, miscellaneous quotes or conversations, observations...however random and maybe even meaningless they are. It's 11:41pm, ie way past my bed time but I'm still writing - means I'm determined! (somewhat)

So.. What have I learned or observed or thought about today?

A lot actually. I went to the Vine's first Manna Bites tonight - a one-night only manna-type seminar. Today's was on the biblical responses to Zionism and Modern Israel. It was very enlightening and very interesting. Since reading The Lemon Tree, I've been meaning to learn more about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Took notes, not gonna elaborate now.

Our church is doing a corporate 21-day fast and I've decided to fast Facebook, Instagram, and set aside 20 mins or so each night after dinner for devotionals and reading and prayer, something I really don't do often enough. It basically just means spending time with God, chatting to Him and reading His word. A bit tricky when I go out for dinner and come home late (like tonight).

Facebook - such a time waster, and I actually really want to give that up, but some things keep holding me back. More on why I hate Facebook later.

Too tired to go on.

Should start this earlier tomorrow.

Turkish Delight 2013 - Part 2 - ISTANBUL

Kale Cafe

One of my favourite things about my Turkey travel buddies is they share my love for food. A love so strong that we are willing to travel out of our way to eat good food. And eating good food meant eating where Anthony Bourdain eats. This also meant less research needed.

Kale Cafe

Despite the fact that we only had two days to enjoy whatever we can of Istanbul, our first stop of our first day was to go out of our way for brunch at Kale Cafe, part of AB's Turkish breakfast hunt. It was quite far out and the only realistic way was to go by taxi. We got there after 10 but it was already quite busy, but fortunately managed to grab a table almost immediately. We ordered 2 traditional breakfast sets plus a menemen (eggs-in-skillet thing) and had bottomless tea served by a well-toned and incredibly good-looking "Teaboy" (he does nothing but carry a massive tray of tiny tea cups, zipping around the restaurant in between chairs and tables replacing diner's empty tea cups with fresh cups of steaming hot tea).

Kaymak

This is where I fell in love...with Turkish breakfasts. Not because of Teaboy (honest), but because of the stimulation of the senses - mainly the food. There was a LOT of food - really good food, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, olives, lovely runny honey and kaymak (like clotted cream), jams and butter and other spreads, cheeses, a basked overflowing with all sorts of bread, and bottomless and very sweet turkish tea to wash it all down. We sat outside by the road, taking in the view of the Bosphorus, the hum of other satisfied diners, the buzz of scooters zipping by and the envious glares of hungry diners-to-be waiting to be seated. There was no better way to start the day.

I may have been a bit distracted by them muscular arms (and hunger for food) that I didn't take as many pictures of the food as I usually do. I'll take more next time.

Bosphorus Balloon Bob

After a quick stroll in the neighborhood and realising there really wasn't much there except for admiring the Bosphorus (which we'll save for later), we took a taxi back to Sultenahmet area for the serious stuff of sightseeing.

Ayasofya

Ayasofya

Ayasofya

The Blue Mosque

The Blue Mosque

Basilica Cisterns

Topkapi Palace

Topkapi Palace

I honestly wish I had a little typing-fairy that could type out all my thoughts while I travel because blogging a year after the trip really is not ideal - I can't quite remember the emotions and thoughts and questions and revelations that ran through my mind as my sensory organs downloaded all of these spectacular sights and senses into my brain. 

What I can say is...even though you could say that these sites are the "must-sees", the "typical tourist attractions", the "going through the motions" - there's a reason for it, and that is because these places ARE really really amazing. And I would probably do most of it again. My camera could possibly capture all the different colours inside the Ayasofya, or the cracks in the bricks of the exterior of the Blue Mosque, or the lighting in the Basilica Cisterns,  or the number of rooms in the Topkapi Palkace...but not the weird & unique blend of a Greek Orthodox Church and Islamic mosque of the Ayasofya; the hush of the Mosque visitors trying to keep quiet out of respect for those praying in the other half of the Mosque, the chilling echoes and shadows creeping around in the Cisterns, and the magnificent grandeur of the Palace. There really is no place like Istanbul, and there really is no place that better represents East-meets-West.

In the evening we walked to the Spice Market but found that it was closed. We bought packs of tea from a shop run by a Syrian who (like millions of others) fled his recently-war-torn home country. He also recommended a Turkish restaurant to us - which was conveniently right next to his shop. It was decent, but somehow we were too tired and I didn't even bother taking pictures of food there. I also lost my hat in there somewhere and never found it.

Tomorrow morning - we fly to Cappadocia!