Getting used to Singapore
Took me a long time to get back here!
It’s been over 8 months here in Singapore. Sometimes I wonder why I ever left London, still get the pangs when I think of it. The crisp cold air, the pet dogs, the traditions and heritage, the parks, the cute gardens people maintain (I wasn’t one of them!). I know it was just 4 years there but most of them were spent really trying to understand and explore the place so it carries that much more attachment.
I’m guilty of not having done that so far in Singapore. But I hope that would change soon, starting yesterday! After watching a delightful movie, Cars2; I took the long way around, up Fort Canning park with a lovely canopy of grand old trees, then down past Clarke Quay and the esplanade park ending up at Raffles Hotel for …you guessed it…Singapore slings! One of the rare days where the weather has inspired me to remain outdoors. The slings by the way are slightly too sweet, but well at least it’s one item ticked off the checklist! The nice long girly conversation over the slings was a great way to spend the evening!
I remember another place I liked in Singapore – the MacRitchie Reservoir. Again it was good weather when I went so it’s a nice walk along the waterside. Maybe when I build up my stamina Ill go back for a nice healthy run.
I’m also developing a slow appreciation of the sheer variety of asian cuisines in food courts. I guess travelling to those locations also helps! E.g. I like the Pho’ now – light and healthy. The one I had in Hoi An was much better, of course. That reminds me – the sheer proximity and ease of travelling to neighbouring countries is just so useful! Yup London was much loved for the same reason!
I should feel proud – staying in a luxurious condominium, which can boast not just 1 50 m pool but 2 other 25m pools, a gym, a Jacuzzi, a scenic walk along the marina, and a spacious apartment – I finally have a spare room to dump all my crap! It’s about time to be living comfortably. For who knows how long…depending on how well I do at work!
I got used to the idiot proofing in the UK. Buying an ingredient at the supermarket was easier because it came with an instruction on how to use it! But after a hiatus of 6 months, my cooking instincts are slowly kicking back in! Am no where close to trying the local recipes yet, but who knows, maybe I’ll get there!
Getting home to Mom n Dad should be easier but just haven’t done it so far. Been using up my free time to travel around –short weekend breaks! And those have been so great. Details in another post!
That reminds me – I didn’t do my travelogue for 2010. It was eventful – Mom had finally come to stay with me, so we took my damaged back and her busted ankle off to traipse around Belfast, Bushmills and Londonderry in Northern Ireland for a week. Lovely warm people, beautiful scenery, good food! The Giant’s Causeway was quite fascinating – I wonder how nature could have produced such symmetric blocks! Derry was less idyllic-too many scars; but they’re trying to hard to move on. Another good memory from the trip was the complete giggling fit mom and I had over some stupid toilet brush joke. Between our wheezing coughs and the uncontrollable giggles, it leaves me with a smile every time I think about it! Another time we managed to catch a play at Stratford Upon Avon and luckily Shakespeare’s b’day celebration parade. That was the highlight, because the play was a yawwnnnnn! Took her to Bath as well, easy sightseeing in the open top bus. An unconventional destination of holiday to Jersey later in the year turned out great – cycling, seafood and yea I finally made it to the Gerald Durrell Conservation Park! Lovely island, so tempted to take a non-ambitious job role there and live!
Another item off the London checklist was catching bit of the Wimbledon action, so glad I did that, little knowing Id be leaving end of the year! Leaving London came with its pluses – I took long walks taking photos, visited so many new places and old favourites, buying souvenirs. I promised I would be back to live sometime – I hope I can keep that promise.
It’s been over 8 months here in Singapore. Sometimes I wonder why I ever left London, still get the pangs when I think of it. The crisp cold air, the pet dogs, the traditions and heritage, the parks, the cute gardens people maintain (I wasn’t one of them!). I know it was just 4 years there but most of them were spent really trying to understand and explore the place so it carries that much more attachment.
I’m guilty of not having done that so far in Singapore. But I hope that would change soon, starting yesterday! After watching a delightful movie, Cars2; I took the long way around, up Fort Canning park with a lovely canopy of grand old trees, then down past Clarke Quay and the esplanade park ending up at Raffles Hotel for …you guessed it…Singapore slings! One of the rare days where the weather has inspired me to remain outdoors. The slings by the way are slightly too sweet, but well at least it’s one item ticked off the checklist! The nice long girly conversation over the slings was a great way to spend the evening!
I remember another place I liked in Singapore – the MacRitchie Reservoir. Again it was good weather when I went so it’s a nice walk along the waterside. Maybe when I build up my stamina Ill go back for a nice healthy run.
I’m also developing a slow appreciation of the sheer variety of asian cuisines in food courts. I guess travelling to those locations also helps! E.g. I like the Pho’ now – light and healthy. The one I had in Hoi An was much better, of course. That reminds me – the sheer proximity and ease of travelling to neighbouring countries is just so useful! Yup London was much loved for the same reason!
I should feel proud – staying in a luxurious condominium, which can boast not just 1 50 m pool but 2 other 25m pools, a gym, a Jacuzzi, a scenic walk along the marina, and a spacious apartment – I finally have a spare room to dump all my crap! It’s about time to be living comfortably. For who knows how long…depending on how well I do at work!
I got used to the idiot proofing in the UK. Buying an ingredient at the supermarket was easier because it came with an instruction on how to use it! But after a hiatus of 6 months, my cooking instincts are slowly kicking back in! Am no where close to trying the local recipes yet, but who knows, maybe I’ll get there!
Getting home to Mom n Dad should be easier but just haven’t done it so far. Been using up my free time to travel around –short weekend breaks! And those have been so great. Details in another post!
That reminds me – I didn’t do my travelogue for 2010. It was eventful – Mom had finally come to stay with me, so we took my damaged back and her busted ankle off to traipse around Belfast, Bushmills and Londonderry in Northern Ireland for a week. Lovely warm people, beautiful scenery, good food! The Giant’s Causeway was quite fascinating – I wonder how nature could have produced such symmetric blocks! Derry was less idyllic-too many scars; but they’re trying to hard to move on. Another good memory from the trip was the complete giggling fit mom and I had over some stupid toilet brush joke. Between our wheezing coughs and the uncontrollable giggles, it leaves me with a smile every time I think about it! Another time we managed to catch a play at Stratford Upon Avon and luckily Shakespeare’s b’day celebration parade. That was the highlight, because the play was a yawwnnnnn! Took her to Bath as well, easy sightseeing in the open top bus. An unconventional destination of holiday to Jersey later in the year turned out great – cycling, seafood and yea I finally made it to the Gerald Durrell Conservation Park! Lovely island, so tempted to take a non-ambitious job role there and live!
Another item off the London checklist was catching bit of the Wimbledon action, so glad I did that, little knowing Id be leaving end of the year! Leaving London came with its pluses – I took long walks taking photos, visited so many new places and old favourites, buying souvenirs. I promised I would be back to live sometime – I hope I can keep that promise.
posted by Deepsea @ 12:45 PM
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