Everyday Singapore

Follow the Redins

2010-03-30T09:02:00.005+08:00

This isn't exactly about Singapore, but it isn't exactly not about Singapore, either. One of the things we want to do with this blog is encourage families with small children to be adventurous. For us, that meant an international move and lots of travel. Here is a video of last year's summer vacation. We hope this inspires you to go on your own adventure. . . if not to Iceland, then at least get out and explore a nearby park =)

Follow the Redins - Europe 2009 from Joshua Redin on Vimeo.

Cheap Eats

2010-02-15T11:07:00.004+08:00

I think I may have mentioned this before, but some things are worth repeating. . .

For delicious and affordable food, you've gotta check out Al Azhar's on Upper Bukit Timah Road (opposite Beauty World).

If you're a bit intimidated by the extensive menu, here are a few of our very favorites: plain naan, chicken satay, butter chicken, and ice blended mango lassi. =)

Okay, that ought to keep your taste buds busy for now.

Being Pregnant in Singapore

2010-02-05T08:13:00.003+08:00

I already posted a series about healthcare (Part I, Part II, Part III and Part IV). The series isn't a scientific and comprehensive look at the medical care available here, but it is true to MY experience, which has been great.

Since I've continued to get questions regarding being pregnant, giving birth, and caring for an infant, I thought I'd do another series of posts to answer some of these FAQ's. If you're new to Singapore, planning to move here soon, or just plain curious about what life is like here, I hope you find this helpful!

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Q: What is the bathroom situation like in Singapore (since we pregnant women are CONSTANTLY needing to use the restroom)?

A: Overall, great! There are tons of public restrooms available, and for the most part, they are very clean and accessible. That's not to say you won't find some nasty ones, but I would say 8 out of 10 are "good," and 5 out of 10 are "great." There are malls everywhere, and the restroom facilities in the malls are generally excellent. The one thing you will find is that not all restaurants have public restrooms. And, unless it's a nice quality restaurant or chain (like McDonalds, Coffee Bean, etc), the facilities can be a bit questionable. Chances are, if you're in need of a public toilet (as they call them here), you'll be able to find a clean one nearby.

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Q: Will I be able to find maternity clothes?

A: The answer to that question is tricky. Yes and No. You can find maternity clothes, but they are (in my opinion) either unstylish or outrageously priced. I opted to bring most of my maternity clothes from the US and I am glad I did. If money is no obstacle, then you can definitely find very attractive maternity clothes here. However, if $100 for a maternity shirt sounds a bit pricey, you may want to consider bringing clothes with you (or having a good friend ship them to you).

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Q: Can I get quality prenatal vitamins in Singapore, or should I bring them with me from my home country?

A: When I moved here with an nursing infant (and was still taking prenatal vitamins), I brought a supply of my favorite prenatal vitamins. I ran out just about the time I found out I was pregnant with our second child. We found out she was coming while we in the US, but I opted not to bring back vitamins. Instead, my doctor here gave me prescription vitamins. For me, that was a good option because our medical insurance covers all prescriptions, including vitamins. If you don't have a medical plan that covers vitamins, you can find OTC vitamins here that are excellent. I asked my doctor about some recommended OTC brands and she suggested either Blackmore's (available at almost any Watson's or Guardian--two of the largest drugstore chains here) or GNC (they have numerous outlets here).

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Q: What if I am a high risk pregnancy?

A: Not being a high risk pregnancy, I wasn't sure about the answer to this question, so I talked with my OB at my last appointment and asked her what options are available for women in this situation. This was her answer:

Most private doctors and hospitals will handle high risks pregnancies. If, for instance, you are diabetic, you would see your OBGYN as well as an endocrinologist at whatever hospital you choose. They would work together to manage your care and, assuming you were relatively healthy, you could deliver at the private hospital. Private hospitals are equipped to handle emergency C-sections and newborns/pre-term babies requiring extra care.

For extreme or unmanageable cases, the private doctor my refer you to a OB specialist at another hospital, perhaps private or public. In cases where the complication will result in a premature delivery, you would definitely be sent to one here with Level 3 NICUs (there are several). The most well-equipped hospital for handling extreme cases is KK Women's and Children's Hospital. It is a publicly funded hospital (though as an expat, you would not receive the subsidized pricing scheme). You may not get the doctor of your choice or the luxurious surroundings of some of the private hospitals, but you could expect to receive excellent care.

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If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave a comment. I'd be happy to try to answer whatever questions arise. I am in the process of researching some answers to questions I've received regarding caring for your baby once it arrives. Stay tuned!

Garam Masala: A review

2009-12-06T21:48:00.005+08:00

Yesterday was my best friend's last day of a two-week visit. We wanted to take her somewhere nice for her last dinner here in Singapore. We had planned a trip to Lau Pasat, but a heavy rain forced us to change our plans at the last minute. Since we were already headed into the City, we thought we'd check out a stretch of restaurants at Boat Quay. We've walked by them several times and admired the beautiful view of the city lights reflected on the peaceful water of the Singapore River. We finally settled on a nice looking Indian restaurant toward the end of the strip.

Unfortunately, the river view was the ONLY thing Garam Masala had going for it. We ordered Butter Chicken and Naan, our favorite Northern Indian dish. What we got were a few chunks of chicken smothered in what seemed to be a cross between tomato soup and ketchup and a stack of dry, thin bread discs. And, all for about 4 times as much as we pay at the Indian restaurant down the road from our house.

The madness didn't end there. . . we also ordered Chicken Fried Rice for the kids and a bowl of Hot and Sour Soup (they had a Chinese menu as well as an Indian). For $18, we got a small plate of absolutely flavorless fried rice swimming in oil. The peas were hard little pellets and the chicken was so fatty I couldn't find any decent pieces to give the kids. The soup was equally horrible. . . so much so that we sent it back and refused to pay for it.

If you're ever in Singapore, I'd encourage you to enjoy a nice evening overlooking the City skyline and sparkling river at Boat Quay. Just don't plan on eating!

A Dozen Eggs (minus 2)

2009-05-11T14:29:00.003+08:00

I've lived here for TWO YEARS and I just realized that the "dozen eggs" I've been buying is actually not a dozen. It's ten. All the eggs here are sold in 10-packs. And, the worst part is that I wasn't even the one that realized it. . . Josh told me.

Pretty lame, huh (me, not the fact that the eggs are sold in 10's)!?!

Street Names

2009-04-24T09:23:00.005+08:00

If you were to go to maps.google.com and type in "Toh Tuck, Singapore" you would find you have a lot of options. There is Toh Tuck Ave, Toh Tuck Close, Toh Tuck Crecent, Toh Tuck Drive, Toh Tuck Link, Toh Tuck Place, Toh Tuck Rise, Toh Tuck Road, Toh Tuck Terrace and Toh Tuck Walk. That's pretty confusing if you ask me. Doubly confusing is that all these streets are in the same neighborhood. Doubly, doubly confusing is that right next to all these Toh Tucks are all the Old Toh Tucks. Extra doubly, doubly confusing is that some of the names are used for multiple streets that are near each other but not touching. So you might take a left on Toh Tuck Rise, turn right on Toh Tuck Place, curve around onto Toh Tuck Terrace and then take a right onto Toh Tuck Rise (not the Toh Tuck Rise you were originally on, though).

And, the Toh Tucks aren't the only ones. It's a trend in Singaporean street naming. There are all the West Coasts and the Thomsons and the Tai Huans and the Tai Sengs and the Sunsets and the. . . you get the idea.

I'm sure there is some reason they chose to do it this way. I'm still trying to figure out what that might be. So far, I haven't come up with much.

An Evening at Clark Quay: Water Meets Skyline

2009-02-27T20:50:00.003+08:00

An Evening at Clark Quay: Child's Play

2009-02-27T20:06:00.003+08:00

We're sorry, but not THAT sorry

2009-01-26T15:23:00.003+08:00

Sign posted on the door of a prominent coffee outlet:
Once was enough. Don't ask us to apologize again.

Idyllic. . .

2009-01-21T07:41:00.004+08:00

. . .that's what Singapore's weather has been like this month. It's been amazing! Balmy, breezy, sunny, and dry. Man, I love January!!

For all you readers who actually live here: fling your windows open wide and let that awesome, refreshing breeze in, go sit by the pool and enjoy breakfast (and lunch and dinner while you're at it), take a walk and revel in the fact that you can get farther than 10 steps before you're sweating, stare up at that big blue sky and those white puffy clouds and memorize the feeling. . . it won't last long.

Christmas on Orchard Raod

2008-12-17T09:17:00.004+08:00

Every year for the last 25 years, Orchard Road, Singapore's designer shopping district, transforms at Christmas into a magical world of lights and 50-foot trees (well, one 50-foot tree and several others well past the 30-foot mark). It feels so Christmassy, except that instead of mittens and scarves, almost everyone is in shorts and tanktops!

Here are a few pictures. . . I hope you enjoy them =)

A Winter Wonderland--2007

Josh and Caleb in front of Tangs

An icy effect. . . but I mean that in a good way.

A Sweet Christmas--2008
Caleb admires his new basketball; Annabelle admires the lights =)

This arc is about 4 lanes wide!

This is one of about 5 displays telling the Christmas Story.
The REAL Christmas Story.

Merry Christmas to all!!

Team blogging

2008-12-01T08:25:00.003+08:00

The last two posts were by Josh, but for some reason, Blogger attributed them to me. Not that I wouldn't be willing to take credit for them, but since they weren't mine, I figured I better set things straight.

Recent Trips (part 2): Phuket, Thailand

2008-11-30T20:50:00.005+08:00

Thailand is a must-visit for anyone traveling in Southeast Asia... why? ... because the beaches are beautiful, the rock formations are amazing, the water is blue, the food is great (mostly), and the people are friendly. Hence, our 3rd visit to Thailand in less than 2 years. I'm opting to embed a slide-show for this post since (I think) the picture quality will be better.

Recent Trips (part 1): Hong Kong, Macau

2008-11-30T19:56:00.021+08:00

One of the (many) beauties of living in Singapore is the fact that it's a major hub in Southeast Asia...translation: it's really easy to travel to many different countries. There's always the caveat of vacation time & funds to make the traveling possible, but teaching has opened up more time than my previous jobs, and inexpensive flights make the funding a bit more affordable.

Even though Singapore is a great place to live or visit, it's always a treat to leave Singapore and escape the heat/humidity for a little while.

In October, we visited Hong Kong...second time for me (Josh), but first time for our family. It's amazing how much you can cram into a short vacation of 3 full days. Here's a quick picture-synopsis...

who likes airplanes?

disneyland hotel

disney mtr

whoopin' it up at starbucks

elements

two international finance center

view from the peak

peak terrace

praia grande (portugese restaurant)

a-ma temple

macau tower

ruins of st. paul's

lovin' it

disneyland hollywood hotel pool (annabelle's first swim)

disneyland...duh

Busted

2008-11-21T13:30:00.003+08:00

Did you know that drug trafficking in Singapore is a capital offense? I'd seen the signs in the airport, but figured they were probably scare-tactics to make would-be offenders think twice. Apparently not. I recently read this article in the local newspaper. That got me curious about the subject. I read an interesting analysis and then looked at these stats. It turns out that Singapore has one of the highest per-capita execution rates in the world. In case you're not able to read the articles yourself, here is a quote that helps explain the government's position on this issue:

"The basic difference in our approach springs from our traditional Asian value system which places the interests of the community over and above that of the individual. . .In criminal law legislation, our priority is the security and well being of law-abiding citizens rather than the rights of the criminal to be protected from incriminating evidence."
Singapore's Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew

Agree or disagree, you can't argue with the fact that Singapore has done an amazing job of maintaining a low crime rate.

The Best Burger in Town

2008-11-21T10:47:00.009+08:00

Okay, I know this is risky because not all taste buds were created equal, but I am pretty confident that I have found the best burger in town (Carl's Junior doesn't count since it's technically fast food. One could make a pretty good case for their burgers, though).

The Bacon Mushroom Cheese Burger at BlooiE's Roadhouse at the Rail Mall on Upper Bukit Timah Road is awesome. Seriously. I'm married to a burger fan and we've tried burgers all over the island. This burger is amazing. I don't normally like mushrooms on my burgers, but this is different. They must have cast a yummy spell on these mushrooms because I just can't get enough of them!

If you're really not in the mood for mushrooms and you refuse to take my word on it that you'll feel differently after you've tasted the Bacon Mushroom Cheese Burger (which wouldn't make sense --why would you go at all if you didn't want to take my word for it), then I suppose you can opt for the Chilli Burger. It's pretty awesome, too.

(I'm not too good at photographing food, but even so, doesn't this Bacon Mushroom Cheese Burger look yummy?)

Go try it. Even if you don't think it's THE best burger, I am certain you'll agree that it's way up there!

Health Care in Singapore--Part V

2008-11-06T16:48:00.006+08:00

(Click the links to read Parts I, II, III and IV.)

This will (most likely) be my last installment in the Health Care series. Of course, there is more to say and I've only scratched the surface, both of my own experiences and of the entire topic, but yesterday was my "last" appointment in this prenatal/labor&delivery/postpartum saga so I think it is a good time to end this series.

I don't know if this last post is a informative piece. . . I think it would be more apropos to call it a tribute to a very good doctor.

A Doctor Who Remembers My Name

Searching for health care in a new country is kind of scary. There are so many questions and everything is so unfamiliar. And, it's not like you're looking to get your car serviced. You're dealing with the most precious possessions you have--your life and health, and the life and health of those you love. When you do find a skilled doctor who seems to genuinely care, it's a huge blessing.

Dr. Lee
(my apologies to Annabelle who was awoken from a nap for this snapshot)

I don't know how Dr. Lee does it, but she knows who I am. She knows my name, my husband's name, my kids' names. She remembers and asks about things I've mentioned at previous appointments. Things like how my sister-in-law enjoyed her visit and how Josh's teaching is going. And the most impressive. . . she remembered that I ran into her in passing two months ago.

I would expect to remember her details. . . after all, I only have one doctor. But, she has hundreds of patients; that fact that she knows me is much more impressive. So, in addition to her medical expertise, I was greatly impressed with her people skills. . . skills that made me feel like a real person and not a number in a chart.

She's a great doctor and if you're planning to have a baby here in Singapore, I'd highly recommend her!

Health Care in Singapore--Part IV

2008-10-24T16:28:00.004+08:00

The ER
(Click here for Parts I, II, and III)
Thankfully, I haven't had any personal experience with Singapore's emergency rooms, however that leaves me shorthanded on giving you any sort of assessment of the ER service here. So, instead of breaking a bone or contracting a sudden illness, I did the next best thing-- I stole the following entry my friend regarding her recent visit to the ER. If you're interested in another take on Singapore, I'd recommend you to Gina's blog. She's always full of entertaining anecdotes.
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The Cost of Peace of Mind

When your daughter has had a fever for three days and suddenly starts complaining that her neck hurts a lot, the wise doctors on the web say "Go to the hospital immediately!" So I did.

I suspected it might just have been stiffness from lack of activity, or too much movie watching (she's been a pretty tired little girl) but it was 7 p.m. and I didn't want to wait until midnight, realize I really should have taken her in, and then spent a miserable night in the ER, or worse yet, have a really sick little girl.

Thankfully Lisa the maid could stay with Ethan, so Megan grabbed her pink bear for comfort and we went. The ER at the KK Children's Hospital here is a slick operation. S$80 will cover everything you do during your visit. We got in to see the doctor quickly, and she ordered a blood test to rule out meningitis. We had to wait what they said would be 40-60 minutes but which turned into more like 90 for the results. You know what's cute for about 5 seconds? Those squeaky shoes people put on their toddlers. You know what's not cute after 90 minutes? Yeah.

I did get a chance to be entertained by watching I Survived a Japanese Game Show for the first and hopefully only time. Don't get me wrong - I laughed, but watching that level of shame and pettiness is something I can skip. Where do they get the people for reality shows? One of the great mysteries of life.

Before the blood test, the doctor said she didn't suspect it was meningitis, but wanted to be sure. I called Ethan because I knew he would be worried. Somewhere in his life he developed a deep fear of illness - is it post traumatic syndrome from living through SARS? I don't know. He told me he'd been very worried, and Lisa told him to read his Bible. Man, I love this woman. He said, "So I went to Lego Bible and then played a few games and felt better."
One of these days I need to convince my son that Lego Bible is not the same as the other Bible.

After all was said and done, the doctor said she just has a viral fever and it can run its course. I have to say, a Singaporean accent is sometimes hard for me to understand. But a Singaporean accent in a hospital full of screaming babies, when spoken through a surgical mask, might as well be another language. But she got the job done and we were back home by 9:30 p.m.

Going to an emergency room at 7 p.m. in Singapore: S$80. Finding out that your daughter just has yet another tropical mystery illness and NOT meningitis: Priceless.

Friends (part 2)

2008-10-21T14:51:00.004+08:00

The only problem with visits from friends is that they have to end.

After two fun-filled weeks with Yvette, we had to send her back to California on Saturday. If only she could have stayed another week or two (or three or four).

A Weekend in Bali

2008-10-14T07:53:00.010+08:00

Since Yvette is here for a visit, we decided last Thursday to take a last minute weekend trip to Bali. (I know I've mentioned it before, but one of the most awesome things about living in Singapore is its close proximity to really cool places, like India, Thailand, and Bali. It's super cool to be able to grab a cheap last-minute ticket for a 2-hour plane ride and end up at some exotic tropical destination. Even if that were Singapore's ONLY perk, it would be a very significant one. Anyway, back to Bali. . . )

We stayed in a beautiful private villa in Seminyak, a small town on the south side of the island. I forgot to get pictures of the inside of the villa, but here are a couple pictures of the outside:

Every morning, a butler came in to cook us breakfast and clean up the villa and a driver was available to us for day trips. On Saturday, we drove to a popular beach about 30 minutes from Seminyak and enjoyed a few hours on the beach. The waves were awesome and the water stayed shallow for a long distance, so Caleb enjoyed splashing in the surf.

The Beach Babe

Saturday evening, we went to Ku De Ta, a chic restaurant right on the beach. It was highly recommended by all of the travel sites and so we were really wanting to check it out. We called for reservations, but were told that nothing was available. We decided to just show up and see if we could get a table. And, sure enough, they found us something. The food was awesome (though a bit pricey) and, if you're ever in Bali, you should definitely go.

Sunday, we took a scenic trip to Katamani Volcano. We passed through several small villages and enjoyed the stunning beauty of the mountainous rice paddies.

We were scheduled to return home Sunday evening, but were having so much fun, we decided to extend our stay. Josh had to be back for work on Monday morning, but he insisted that Yvette and I stay an extra day and enjoy our mini-vacation. His suggestion was met with nothing but enthusiasm on our part =) We spent the last day walking around the shopping district of Seminyak and talking with the locals. We dedided that Seminyak is the Santa Cruz (California) of Bali. Everyone is super laid back and surfer-ish in an Indonesian sort of way. It was fun to talk with a few people and learn more about what life is like when you live on Paradise Island. We finished out a trip with one last swim in the pool in our villa and headed to the airport, thankful for a wonderful weekend.

Friends

2008-09-27T20:17:00.003+08:00

(taken in Thailand, Oct 2007)

One week from today, Yvette will be arriving for her SECOND visit. I am really looking forward to seeing her and hanging out. Skype is awesome and it has definitely made living 1/2 a world away from all our friends and family a lot easier but there "ain't nothin' like the real thing, baby."

Health Care in Singapore--Part III

2008-09-26T08:54:00.004+08:00

(Please recall that all of my comments are based on experience. . . if you live in Singapore and have had a different experience, please leave a comment and let me know what health care has been like for you.)

The Doctor's Office
In Part I, I gave an brief overview of my "credentials" for reviewing the Singapore health system. In Part II, I talked about walk-in clinics. Today, I want to talk about the Doctor's Office. No, not the whole building, the doctor's actual office. The one you rarely see if you're a patient in the US.

For those that haven't experienced health care in America, here is a brief description of what to expect at an ordinary appointment. You check in with a receptionist and wait in a common waiting room until a nurse opens a door to the "back office" and calls your name. She then escorts you from the central waiting room to a generic exam room. When you arrive in the room, she takes your stats and finds out why you're there. She then (depending on the reason for your visit) tells you to strip down and dress in a paper gown, sit your buns on the cold examining table and wait for the doctor to come in. At that point, she disappears and you're left to undress, peruse the lame magazines, take your seat on the exam table and wait. And wait. And wait. Then, after you've finished reading all of the lame magazines and even a few of the brochures entitled things like "Facts about Nicotine" and "10 Signs You're at Risk for a Stroke", you hear a polite knock on the door and it opens before you have a chance to say "come in." The doctor gets right down to business. He goes over your symptoms, completes the exam, fills out a prescription and then asks if you have any more questions. But before you have a chance to formulate a reply, he is out the door again, leaving you to dress and show yourself out. This is, I will admit, a very efficient system for seeing a large number of patients in as little time possible. But, it isn't very personable.

No so in Singapore. In Singapore, the nurse calls your name and takes you in to the doctor's office. The doctor is seated at his desk and invites you to have a seat across from him. He asks a few questions and reviews your file. Then (depending on the reason for your visit) you step behind a curtain and undress, put on a covering and sit on the exam table. The doctor completes the exam, returns to his desk and waits for you to dress and return to your chair. After you've returned and he has explained his findings, he asks if there is anything else you want to discuss. At that point, he's at your mercy. Since you're the one who has to get up to leave, you hold the power. The appointment isn't over until you decide to get up and leave. It's a much different feeling. In a way, it's weird.

It's like meeting the Queen of England, and not standing when she enters the room. You definitely feel like you're breaking protocol. At my first appointment here, after the doctor asked if I had any questions (which I didn't), I just sat there, completely unsure of what I was supposed to do. I felt weird "dismissing" the doctor so I sat there, hoping the doctor would eventually kick me out. Finally, after a long and awkward pause, the doctor politely told me that whenever I was ready, I could go back out to the receptionist to schedule another appointment.

Granted, it isn't the most efficient system, but since doctors here in Singapore carry a much lighter patient load than in the US, it works. And, I, for one, am a fan! I love seeing the doctor in his natural habitat (the books and family pictures and stacks of papers). I love having to decide when the appointment is over. I feel like I'm in a Normal Rockwell Painting. . . only the doctor is Asian =)

Health Care in Singapore--Part II

2008-09-18T15:52:00.004+08:00

(Click Here for Part I)

Hawker Doctors
One of the most convenient things about health care in Singapore are the numerous walk-in health clinics (aka Hawker Doctors because they are usually located in all the local shopping areas along with the food hawkers and mom-n-pop shops selling every sort of random item imaginable). These clinics aren't fancy, but they are reasonably reputable (for the most part) and cheap beyond all get-0ut. A visit to a GP will only set you back S$10-20 (US$6-15), including a prescription or two!

I don't prefer to use these hawker doctors but in a few instances, they have been an huge blessing. For things like sudden high fevers, ear aches, a bee sting reaction, and a horrible heat rash, the extended hours and the fact that we were able to walk in without an appointment made hawker doctors the perfect alternative. Not to mention, they are everywhere so the farthest we had to travel with our sick kid was only a bus stop or two.

Like I said, I wouldn't recommend going to just any hawker doctor, especially for important issues, but for most of those everyday illnesses where you already know what is wrong and just need a doctor to prescribe some meds, they are totally great.

Just be sure you find one whose Singlish is understandable.

Up next in the series: The Doctor's Office

Health Care in Singapore--Part I

2008-09-16T18:28:00.005+08:00

While I am certainly not an expert on Singapore's health care system (check out this article, or if you're really interested, read this book, to find out what the experts have to say), I do have a few observations based on my experiences over the last year--normal well-baby and not-so-well baby visits for Caleb over the last year, "shopping" for the right OB doctor to oversee my prenatal care, and giving birth to Annabelle.

One of the reasons I was open to moving to Singapore was the statistic I had read that Singapore had one of the lowest infant mortality rates in the world (update: as of 2008, it has THE lowest), much lower, in fact, that the US. So, while I didn't know much about Singapore, I was guessing that the medical care here was at least comparable, if not superior, to the care I could get in California. I have not been disappointed.

Singapore has a very healthy (pardon the pun) and extensive public health care system, however, because we have private insurance through our employer, we have not needed to access the public health care system. My observations are limited to the private health care system and a few visits to Hawker Doctors, which I will talk about next.

(To be continued. . . )

An Entrepreneur's Dream

2008-09-15T08:45:00.002+08:00

Interested in small business? If so, check out this article. I was surprised to find that Singapore was sitting at #1 and the USA at #3.

Camping -- Singapore Style

2008-09-15T07:32:00.002+08:00

I am still working on a post about the medical care here in Singapore, but in the mean time. . .

I thought you'd enjoy this picture of the campsites at East Coast Park. Notice the expressway in the background, as well as the high-rise apartment building. IF I were going to camp (which won't be any time soon), I think I'd at least want to camp somewhere where I wasn't listening to the drone of cars all night long. I guess the upside of camping Singapore style is that McDonalds, home of the S$.60 ice cream cone, is only a 3 minute walk from your tent's front door =)

Bougainvillea

2008-08-14T16:30:00.003+08:00

Another thing I like about living in Singapore. . .

Time Zones

2008-08-09T09:31:00.002+08:00

One perk about living in Singapore is the fact that we are in the same time-zone as China. Most of the time, this isn't a huge advantage, but when it comes to the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympics, it is. Josh and I were able to watch the Ceremonies LIVE last night, but in order to watch them live in CA we would have had to get up at 5AM (which means, we wouldn't have watched them!).

If you didn't get a chance to watch the Ceremonies, you missed out. They were amazing. The choreography was stunning. There were over 4000 dancers/drummers/etc. . . and as far as I could tell, every single one of them carried out a flawless performance. As far as I am concerned, Beijing takes the gold medal for Best Opening Ceremonies.

Leash Your Dog Poop?

2008-08-08T16:27:00.001+08:00

A Visit from Family

2008-07-11T08:35:00.003+08:00

Yesterday, Josh's family arrived. We three have mushroomed into 13 (and two more arriving this weekend)! We'll be keeping busy the next 10 days.

I'll post updates as I can, but this picture will give you a taste of the pandemonium that has ensued =)

A Cheap Way to Spend a Summer Day

2008-06-27T22:06:00.005+08:00

(. . .or a Winter Day since there are no seasons in Singapore)

Where: Sentosa Island
Cost: $3/adult (kids free)
What: Pack a picnic lunch and hang out on the beach, enjoying the only significant breeze in Singapore. Hike the Jungle Trail. Play in the cool water feature near Siloso Beach.

A Tropical Shower

2008-05-26T12:26:00.004+08:00

For those of you who have never lived in a tropical zone, I thought you might enjoy a sample of typical weather conditions here in Singapore. I think the following sufficiently demonstrates why I never bother to check the weather forecast:

Today's Weather :

10:00-Sunny, Hot & Humid
10:15-Overcast, Thundering, Hot & Humid
10:20-Sunny, Hot & Humid
10:30-Raining, Thundering, Cool and Windy
10:45-Sunny, Hotter and more Humid

NOTE: The sound quality on this video does not capture the window-rattling, earth shaking thunder that accompanies these downpours.

India

2008-05-06T06:59:00.003+08:00

One of the wonderful things about living in Southeast Asia is the fact that we can travel to some really cool places. This last weekend, we took a short trip to India. I'll probably post more about my thoughts on that amazing country, but for now, I hope you enjoy the video.

Morning Walk

2008-04-16T07:06:00.005+08:00

Two days ago, Caleb and I were walking home from the grocery store. The wind was blowing (a storm was looming) and each time a gust of wind passed, leaves fluttered to the ground around us. During one such gust, I heard a large leaf hit the stroller . . . probably a leaf attached to a twig, I thought. I had my eye on the bus stop ahead, hurrying toward the shelter in hopes to get there before the rain started.

All of a sudden, I had this "feeling". . . you know, the feeling you get when you just KNOW someone (or something in this case) is staring at you. I glanced down toward the stroller and saw a pair of beady eyes staring straight at me. YIKES!!! There, about 3-inches away from my hands was a bright green, 18-inch lizard perched atop the stroller, his tail hanging down into the stroller, just missing Caleb's head! Now for the record, I'm not afraid of lizards, but there is something unnerving about having one drop from the trees above you and join you for your morning walk unexpectedly.

The lizard seemed quite content to sit on the stroller, so after I composed myself, I gently pulled Caleb out so that he could get a look at our little friend. We were able to get quite a good look at him. He had a very long tail, a lime green body, and a spikey, bluish ridge on his head. He was pretty cool looking, once the initial shock wore off.

After about a minute, he grew bored with us and leaped into some nearby bushes and disappeared. We said our goodbyes and continued on with our walk, as if nothing had happened.

Image from www.wildsingapore.per.sg

I didn't have my camera (after all, I was only going to the grocery store) but I was able to find a site that shows all the lizard species of Southeast Asia. The Green Crested Lizard description fit our pal perfectly. I think were lucky to catch a glimpse of one, since they have nearly gone extinct on the island thanks to the introduction of another species called the Changeable Lizard. Anyway, here is the link . . . check it out. There are several good pictures.

Why School Uniforms Aren't ALWAYS a Good Idea

2008-04-15T10:24:00.006+08:00

The following conversation occurred just a few mornings ago. All I can say is, only in Singapore!

(Approaching the bus stop)
Josh: I wonder why those two little girls have their heads shaved.
Rebecca: Which two?
Josh: The two little girls sitting there. . . the ones in the pink school uniform.
Rebecca: Hmmm, maybe they had head lice or something.
Josh: Yeah, probably.
(Pause in conversation as we arrive at the bus stop.) Josh: Uh. . .wait a sec. Are those girls or boys?
Rebecca: I dont' know! I was just thinking the same thing. They sure look like boys, but the pink gingham is throwing me off.
Josh: They've gotta be girls. No one would let a boy wear that.
Rebecca: Yeah, I've seen some nasty school uniforms, like that Muslim school down the street with the pale purple and teal. But pink gingham with a big ruffled collar? It's gotta be a girl's kindergarten.
Josh: Yeah. It's gotta be.
Rebecca: I'm sure they just had lice or something.
Josh: Yeah, head lice or cancer or something.
(Pause)
Josh: I don't know. They really look like boys.
Rebecca: Yeah, they do, but it's hard to tell with their heads shaved. They'd probably look like girls if they had hair.
(The bus approaches. The two kindergarten students and their mother line up to board the bus. We line up behind them.)
Mother: C'mon boys. Get on the bus.

Mythbusters Goes Down Under

2008-03-31T09:32:00.011+08:00

The Redin family just got back from a week-long trip to Western Australia where we did a little mythbusting. We entered Australia with quite a few expectations about what life Down Under is like; some were confirmed, others busted. In case you never make it to Australia to do your own mythbusting, here are a few our favorite discoveries:

#1 Kangaroos hop about freely in the Outback.
CONFIRMED. We took a day's drive up into the edge of the Outback, about 4 hours outside of Perth (the largest city in Western Australia). Our drive took us up along the coast and then inland a ways. Signs like ---> were common. But we weren't interested in seeing signs about kangaroos. We wanted to see actual kangaroos frolicking about in the bush. After all, we'd come a long way and felt those kangas practically owed us an appearance. Being the docile, accommodating creatures that they are, just after we began to complain aloud that kangaroos were a myth, four (two separate sightings of two) roos appeared, flashed us winsome smiles, waved (well, sort of) and then hopped back off to their happy, bush-dwelling lives.

In addition to kangaroos, we also spotted several wild emus, quokkas (stuffed animal sized kangaroo), and other various and sundry Australianesque animals. All in all, we were quite happy with our wildlife sightings. So, yes, folks. . . there really are kangaroos in Australia.

#2 The beaches in Australia are awesome.
Confirmed. We spent several afternoons enjoying the gorgeous white-sand beaches near Perth. The water was amazingly clear and colorful. We've seen quite a few beaches around the world, but those in Australia rank up there with the best of the best. And, we didn't even go to the beach-famous part of the Continent. We've heard it said that the beaches on the eastern side of the big island are even better.

#3 The Outback is full of delicious steakhouses.
BUSTED. Sorry, folks, Outback Steakhouse has you fooled. Not only are there no steakhouses in the Outback, there isn't anything (besides kangaroos. . . see above) else out there either! We drove for hours on end and stopped at the one and only restaurant (a little pizza shop) we could find in a tiny town in the middle of next-to-nowhere. We searched high and low in the Perth area for a good old fashioned, Australian-style bbq steak but we never found it. In fact, I did a bit of research on the Outback chain and it turns out they're headquartered in Florida! So, unless all those Australian steakhouses are hiding in other parts of the country, we're going to have call this one a myth!

#4 All Australians say "G'day, mate."
PLAUSIBLE. We can't say for sure that all Australians say it, but we can say for sure that we had several (and I mean several as in quite a few) greet us with this chipper hello. For some reason, Caleb seemed to be the popular target for this greeting, but that could be attributed to the fact that more people say hello to him anyway. So, go ahead. . . when doing your best Australian impersonation, throw a few of these in there for good measure.

#5 Australian Easter Bunnies lay eggs.
BUSTED. Okay, this isn't really a myth at all, but I had to figure out some way to get a few cute pictures up here of Caleb with the bunnies at a petting farm we visited in the Swan Valley. We happened to visit the petting farm Easter Sunday afternoon and, as suspected, not one of the bunnies laid an egg. We did see a few chicken eggs, however.

Singapore Sky

2008-03-18T16:00:00.006+08:00

Coming from Central California, where big puffy clouds are a rarity, Josh and I have been particularly enamored with the stunning, dramatic sky here in Singapore. Although the skyline is littered with high-rise buildings, every now and then, you can find a spot with an unadulterated view.

Psalm 19:1-3
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Pic1: Taken from bus stop on Upper Bukit Timah Road.
Pic 2: Taken at bus stop near Summerset MRT station.
Neither photo is altered any way, except to crop out a few trees at the bottom.

Durian

2008-03-18T15:09:00.004+08:00

I can't remember if I've commented on durian here or not. . . if I have, please forgive me for repeating myself, but there are some things this American just cannot get used to, and durian is one of them.

For those of you who don't know, durian is a tropical fruit that is quite popular in Asia. I has a spikey outer shell and a fleshy orangish-yellow inside.

If only I could somehow figure out a way to make a scratch-and-sniff post, I can nearly guarantee that 100% of my readers would know exactly what I mean when I say durian is definitely the worst smelling fruit in the world.

I know I am not alone in this opinion since the nasty-smelling fruit is banned from nearly every public place here in Singapore. You see signs (like the one at the right) in every train, bus, and mall. How people can get the fruit close enough to their mouth to eat it, I don't know. The smell is overwhelming from even 100 feet away.

Despite its nasty scent, durian is popular here amongst the locals. You can find a wide variety of durian products: durian candy, durian pastries, durian ice cream, fresh durian, dried durian, and durian perfume (just kidding).

I must admit that Singapore is known for its discriminating and refined cusine, but somehow or other, durian slipped under the radar. An amazing feat for such a stinky fruit!

Play Money

2008-03-13T12:17:00.004+08:00

When I have a crisp green linen USD$20 in my wallet, I usually think twice before breaking it. But, give me a brightly colored, papery S$50, I have no trouble parting with it. . . after all, it isn't REAL money.

Good thing I don't see them often!

Kaya Toast

2008-03-05T08:19:00.004+08:00

When Yvette came for a visit in October, she brought with her a travel-guide and a wealth of information about what the "locals" do here in Singapore. One of the things she introduced me to was Kaya Toast (a breakfast treat served at the local coffee shops. . . toasted white bread, a slab of butter and coconut egg jam). I was hooked the first time I tried it!

I just discovered a little coffee shop only a few bus stops down the road (opposite direction from the way I usually go), so Caleb and I went there yesterday to enjoy some hot chocolate, Kaya, and a little reading-time. All for less than $5-Sing.

It was a delightful morning outing and one I plan on repeating soon. . . but not too soon, because Kaya isn't exactly low-calorie!

On a hot day. . .

2008-02-25T10:24:00.004+08:00

For $6 (adults), you can not only enjoy the air conditioned environment of the Singapore Science Center, but you can learn quite a bit of interesting information about science and math and everything else that's cool. And, the best part is, you can actually have a lot of fun doing so.

If you're a tourist and only in Singapore for a few days, I would say there are a lot of other cool things to do (unless you are 1) a huge science fan or 2) don't live anywhere near another hands-on science center). But, if you have more than a week or if you live here, I think you couldn't find a better way to spend a hot afternoon.

The whole center is hands-on, but there is a huge section devoted to little hands. Even Caleb found plenty to do and was enthralled with all the buttons, bells and lights. I had planned for us to stay two hours, but we ended up staying four. . . and we still didn't see half of what there was to see! We will definitely be going back.

Maybe we will see you there.

An Exciting Discovery

2008-02-19T16:15:00.003+08:00

Although we have lived in this condo complex for 7 months now, it was only yesterday that I learned about the mini-mart located in the basement car-park (as they like to call parking lots here) of the clubhouse. Since we don't have a car, I've never had a reason to visit the car-park. But yesterday I heard a rumor that there was a little store right here in our condo complex and after some investigation, the rumor turned out to be true!

It may not look like much to you, but if you could have seen the jig I danced when I discovered this goldmine, you would know how exciting this news is to this convenience-loving American. The best part: they sell ice cream, which I have not been able to buy due to the warm weather, 20-minute bus-ride and 1/2-mile hike home from the regular grocery store. Hooray for convenience stores, ice cream, and basement car-parks!

Chinese New Year: A Visit and some Factoids

2008-02-15T19:47:00.004+08:00

Josh's sisters, Janella (and her husband and 3 kids) and Joanna, came for a visit over Chinese New Year. We said goodbye to them this morning after a fun-filled two weeks. Here are a few favorite pictures from our time together.

Firefly Tour in Desaru, Malaysia

The Pulai Resort, Desaru, Malaysia

Singapore Zoo

Palawan Beach, Sentosa Island, Singapore
(Sign says "Southernmost Point of Asia Continent")

Here are a few interesting things I learned about Chinese New Year:

Taxis charge extra.
If you go to California Pizza Kitchen on Orchard Road, they give you an $18 voucher for your next visit in the traditional Chinese New Year "red envelope"
Chinese New Year is determined by the first new moon of the new year. It starts on the first day of the first lunar month of the new year and ends on the 15th day.
We are now in "The Year of the Rat"
In traditional Chinese culture, if it is your year (the same animal of the year you were born) you are supposed to wear red every single day for the entire year.
On CNY Eve, families gather for a "reunion dinner." Typical dishes include fish and dumplings.
A few superstitions:

Don't sweep your house during CNY or you will sweep away the good luck.
Don't cut your hair during CNY or you will cut away the good luck.
Don't wash your hair on New Years Day or you will wash away the good luck.
Don't cry on New Years Day or you will cry ever day of that year.
Do wear red on New Years Day to ensure a bright and happy future.
Don't lend anything during CNY or you will be lending things all year long.
Do open your windows and let in fresh air. This will blow in the good luck for the New Year.

Prosperity Pizza

2008-01-29T13:28:00.000+08:00

Everyone here in Singapore is getting in on the spirit of next week's big holiday, Chinese New Year. Even Pizza Hut!

The Hover

2008-01-24T15:30:00.000+08:00

There are three types of eating establishments here in Singapore: American-style fast food (Subway, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, and a few local spin-offs), hawkers, and sit-down restaurants. At the fast food restaurants, you order at the counter and pay immediately, just like you would in the United States. At the hawker centers, you order your food at the stall(s) of your choice, tell them your table number and then, pay when the food is delivered. At the sit-down restaurants, the hostess seats you and the waitress takes your order and brings your food. Unlike American restaurants where the waitress "kindly" brings your your bill to remind you that you've been sitting there too long, waitresses here wouldn't dare suggest you pay your bill until you ask for it. You could sit there for 4 hours and the waitress would never even hint about it. But, once you ask for your bill, a very interesting thing happens. I call it "the hover."

In the States, the waitress drops the bill off and leaves. When you're ready to pay, you flag her down and she stops by to pick it up. Here in Singapore, the waitress brings your your bill and then stands right next to you until you get your wallet out and settle the bill. She literally hovers right above your shoulder until you get the cash or card safely into her hands.

At first, the hover was unnerving, annoying. But now that we're used to it, it is kind of nice. It's nice to know that the restaurant is actually interested in meeting our wishes. If we wish to sit and enjoy our meal, they don't rush us off prematurely. If we wish to pay our bill, it's their top priority. That's what I call "good service."

Jet Lag, The Zoo, and Flying Zebras

2008-01-17T10:28:00.001+08:00

Yesterday morning, Josh and I woke up at 4:30, followed shortly thereafter by Caleb. Much to my surprise, the whole house was up and running by 6AM. If you know us, you know that this pre-dawn wakefulness could only be caused by one thing: jet lag.

As annoying as jet lag is, I decided to make the most of the early start and take Caleb to the zoo. We were headed to the bus by 7:00 and arrived at the zoo at 8:15 (15 minutes before it opens).

The zoo is beautiful first thing in the morning. The air is cool and fresh, flowers are dripping with dew and the animals are playful. It is quiet, too, except for the twittering birds and chirping cicadas. No noisy school groups to avoid and no obnoxious Americans shouting across exhibits to "hey, come look at this!"

All in all, it was the perfect time of day to enjoy the zoo. . . except for the swarms of flying zebras: the dengue-carrying, black-and-white striped mosquitoes that seemed to have come out by the thousands to welcome us to the zoo.

No more than five minutes after arriving, we were seated on a bench, watching the gorals eat their breakfast, when suddenly I realized WE were being eaten for breakfast! I looked down to see no fewer than ten mosquitoes circling about my ankles, with two already landed and partaking of the feast. I swatted and kicked and made a complete fool of myself. Thankfully, the gorals, who were looking rather amused, had the decency to refrain from laughing at me out loud.

We were already, supposedly, mosquito-proofed, but I went ahead and applied a double dose. We made a quick stop by the tiger and baboon exhibits, all the while being chased by the flying zebras, and losing confidence in our mosquito repellent. Twenty minutes and seven mosquito bites later, I realized we were fighting a losing battle.

Thankfully, the jet lag is wearing off and we are returning to a normal schedule, so I won't be tempted to take another early-morning trip to the zoo any time soon.

Our Pit-Stop in the Tokyo Airport

2008-01-10T08:10:00.001+08:00

I've always heard the Japanese were the masters of high-tech gadgetry and utilitarian functionality. Our recent layover in the Tokyo (Narita) Airport confirmed this rumor.

In my opinion, nothing reveals a country better than its bathrooms =)

My favorite features: flushing sounds and "powerful deodorizer"

(the instruction manual for the toilet)

The perfect invention! If only every bathroom had a handy place to "store" one's kid while one is utilizing the commode.

And the winner is. . .

2007-12-20T16:30:00.000+08:00

Actually, I took GeeGee's advice and went back to Tay Guan Heng and bought another ornament so we have 2 winners. . .

Congratulations, Christianne, (who will be passing them to Abby's family)! You are the proud owner of the original prize: Hope, Joy and Peace ornaments. Hopefully I can give these to you in person while we're both in CA. =)

And, congratulations, Kirsten! You were the random-draw winner of the bonus prize. I need you to email me your address so I can get this sent off to you ASAP.

An Evening Out

2007-12-20T15:55:00.000+08:00

You know you're in Singapore when. . .

2007-12-18T15:25:00.001+08:00

. . . your can of evaporated milk has a recipe for deep fried squids on the back.

I guess, if you're Singaporean, you might eat your squids whilst talking about stuffs or studying your maths.

Toilet Etiquette 101

2007-12-16T21:59:00.001+08:00

I saw this sign inside the women's restroom at a mall in Chinatown* and thought my readers might find the content helpful (as well as the depiction of improper toilet etiquette as shown by the diagram toward the bottom of the sign)

Five Easy Steps to Better Toilet Etiquette:
1. Wipe the seat.
2. Flush.
3. Wash your hands.
4. Dry your hands.
5. Toss your rubbish into the bin.

With these helpful hints, you will be on your way to becoming the kind of patron any janitor would love to have using his restroom!

* I thought it was quite humorous that this sign appeared in Chinatown since squatty-potties are all you can find in that district, effectively making item #1 of the 5-step program an impossible task.

A Visit to Tay Guan Heng and a Christmas Giveaway

2007-12-14T15:56:00.000+08:00

Upon the referral of a friend here in Singapore, Caleb and I took a trek over to the opposite side of the island today to visit the Tay Guan Heng Workshop. In this quintessential hole-in-the-wall art studio, Mr. Tay (a 3rd generation artisan) sits at his workbench all day long creating art. His medium, a pliable dough created from ground wild cinnamon bark; his utensils, an empty wine bottle (to pound out the dough), a little knife, a pair of scissors, and a few other simple items (like straw and small sticks). The result-- unique and intricate figurines. Mr. Tay is especially fascinated with creating one-of-a-kind Nativity Sets (which were out of my price range) and traditional Chinese figures (like The Slave pictured below).

Mr. Tay

Mr. Tay's Workbench

The Slave

I chatted with Mr. Tay for a bit. He demonstrated how he fashions the figures and how he sets them out to dry for several days before he coats them with a clear varnish. Unfortunately, it's a slow process and rather unprofitable. This ancient art form is dying out and Mr. Tay's shop is one of the last.

So I did my part to support Mr. Tay and that's where the Christmas Giveaway comes in. I bought three Christmas Ornaments (the only items I could afford) with the Chinese characters, Peace, Hope and Joy, inscribed on them. On the back is the authentic Tay Guan Heng Stamp. I thought I'd join the Christmas Giveaway Frenzy (here, here, here and here) and give these little Singaporean souvenirs to one lucky winner. Here are the rules, you must leave a comment on this blog by midnight (Pacific Standard Time) December 20th. In your comment, give me a compelling reason why YOU should be the winner. Depending on the creativeness of the entries, I may or may not resort to pulling a name out of a hat, but it will be fun to hear your reasons nonetheless.

Stroller Friendly

2007-12-13T09:04:00.000+08:00

Singapore isn't exactly a stroller friendly city. Elevators are few and far between (and usually packed to the gills with people). Escalators are everywhere, which is fine since I can maneuver the stroller up the escalator without too much trouble, but often there are anywhere from 5-10 stairs leading up to the escalator platform (why wouldn't they just build a slightly longer escalator??) so that puts me back at square one. Instead of crosswalks, most streets have pedestrian overpasses (a safer, albeit more difficult way to cross the street). And, since we are dependent upon public transit, I am obligated to mention the difficulty of getting a stroller (especially one sporting dangling grocery bags from its handles) on and off the bus (which boasts a few stairs at the entrance and exit) in a timely, much less graceful, manner.

So, although the engineers who are responsible for the infrastructure and transportation here in Singapore do not seem to have much compassion on mothers with prams, the citizens of Singapore make up for it. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have been struggling to get the stroller on the bus only to have a hand swoop in and lift the front for me. Or, the bus driver kindly tell me, "Don't worry. Take your time." Or, two young teens offer to carry the stroller to the top of an overpass for me.

I've waited until now to post this post because I've wanted to be sure that these acts of kindness were actually a cultural phenomenon and not just flukes. But, it has happened enough times now that I feel confident in saying that even though Singapore itself is not stroller friendly, Singaporeans are!

Joyful, All Ye Nations Rise

2007-12-05T19:17:00.001+08:00

Today was The International Baptist Church ESL Christmas Program. Our class sung Hark!, The Herald Angels Sing. I got tears in my eyes as I sang with the students, "Joyful, all ye nations rise!" Though our class only represents 5 of about 200 nations, I couldn't help but think of the day when heaven will be filled with the voices of men and women from every nation on earth. Hopefully, when that day comes, I will hear the familiar voices of my students in that choir!

Because my students are in Level 1, most of the words to this beautiful song were new to them. We spent the last 6 weeks practicing the song and talking about the meaning of each line. We could have mastered the singing with just one or two practice sessions, but it takes a long time for English sounds to form into distinct words, and then for those words to carry meaning. Because the lyrics are essentially poetry, it was difficult to "translate" (can you translate from English into English?) word by word, so I tried to take the meaning of each phrase and convey it in words that they could understand. As I translated, this already-favorite Christmas Hymn became even more precious. Perhaps next year, we'll get to do more than just the first verse.

Hark! The herald angels sing, Look! Listen! The angels with a message are singing. . .
"Glory to the newborn King! Worship the baby--Jesus-- who is the King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild, The King will bring peace and kindness to the world.
God and sinners reconciled." The King will make God and people friends again.
Joyful, all ye nations rise, Happy because of the good news, people from all over the world should stand up and. . .
Join the triumph of the skies. Sing with the angels who are cheering in the sky.
Hark! The herald angels sing, Look! Listen! The angels with a message are singing. . .
"Glory to the newborn King!" Worship the baby--Jesus-- who is the King!

Pancake Recipes

2007-12-04T15:56:00.000+08:00

From Rebecca (America)

Easy Breakfast Pancakes
1. Mix together: 1 cup Better Crocker Pancake Mix, 3/4 cup water, 1 tsp Vanilla, 2 tsps sugar. Mix until batter is no longer lumpy. Do not over mix.
2. Coat pan with a small amount of oil.
3. Pour pancake mix into small circles in the hot pan (about 1/8 cup each circle). When the edges become firm and the center bubbles, turn cake over. Cook until golden brown.
4. Serve immediately with butter and maple syrup.
*********************
From Emiko (Japan)
Okonomiyaki

Pancake Ingredients: 100g flour, 100cc water, 2 eggs, Cabbage
Optional Ingredients: Green Onion, Pork, Octopus/Squid, Prawn
Toppings: Katsuobushi (dried, shredded tuna), Aonori (seaweed), Okonomiyaki sauce, Mayonnaise

1. Chop the cabbage into fine strings.
2. Mix the flour, eggs, water and cabbage strings together. Add *optional* ingredients.
3. Fry the dough like a pancake in a small frying pan. Cover as it cooks.
4. Turn the Okonomiyaki so that both sides are golden brown.
5. When fried well, serve the okonomiyaki, top with toppings and serve.

*********************
From Jin Ju (Korea)
Vegetable Pancake
1. Chop into thin strips: 6 Spring Onion, 1 Onion, 1 Carrot, 1 Squash,
2. Chop into small peices: Mushrooms, Cuttlefish, Prawn, 2 Jalepeno Peppers.
3. Make a paste out of egg, wheat flour, salt and water. Add vegetables.
4. Fry in hot oil.
5. Serve with Spicy Soy Sauce (soy sauce, jalepeno pepper, spring onion, sesame oil and sesame seeds)

*********************
From Yan Shi (Tibet)
Sugared Pancake
1. Cook frozen Roti Paratha (easier than making your own!)
2. Sprinkle pancakes with course white sugar and serve while still warm.

*********************
From Shu Hsien (Taiwan)
Scallion Pancake

1. Combine ingredient:2cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup boiling water,1/2 Cup cold water,1/2 t salt, well and knead into a smooth dough.

2. Rinse scallions well and mince. Knead the dough more smoothly and roll out into a long strips. Then divide the strips into 5 equal portions.

Roll each portion out wide and flat and grease with a layer of cooking oil evenly, then spread with a layer of minced scallion. Roll up into a strip, then roll up from both sides into a cylinder.

3. Press the stuffed dough flat and roll into a flat cake.

Fry in frying pan with a little oil added until golden on both sides.

Remove and cut into sections. Serve.
(If desired, fry an egg and then place the pancake on top of the fried egg and finish cooking them together.)

Pancake Day

2007-12-01T21:29:00.001+08:00

During last week's class session, my ESL students and I took over the church kitchen and made pancakes. The students brought all the ingredients necessary to make their country's traditional pancake. We had a wonderful time doing mini-cooking demonstrations and taste testing each other's pancakes. We were able to sample traditional pancakes from Taiwan, Tibet, Korean, Japan, and America. The students wrote up their recipes for me (in English) and I will post them as I have a chance.

Thanksgiving in Singapore

2007-11-29T15:07:00.001+08:00

Since Thanksgiving Day, for both Josh and me, is usually celebrated with extended family, we weren't sure what to do with our first Thanksgiving-sans-relatives. We talked about trying to make our own Thanksgiving meal (feasible, thanks to the high-end grocery store nearby that caters to Americans and was carrying items like Stovetop stuffing, Libby's canned pumpkin, and Butterball turkeys), but decided that preparing a feast for just the three of us would result in lots of wasted food. We also considered joining a group of teachers from Josh's school who were getting together to celebrate, but since our calendar had been packed the last 2 months, a just-our-family-day sounded like a treat. So. . . we called up one of the nice hotels that was advertising a "Traditional Thanksgiving Buffet" and made a reservation.

(photo from concierge.com)

The Fullerton Hotel, located on the Singapore River, near the Esplanade and Merlion, is absolutely gorgeous. No doubt, it is one of the top two hotels in Singapore (the #1 spot being held by Raffles Hotel). It is the kind of hotel where the valet spends most of the day parking luxury Italian cars like Lamborghinis, Porches and Ferraris (if teaching doesn't work out, don't be surprised if you hear that Josh has taken a job as a valet!) In fact, when we arrived for Thanksgiving dinner, the front entrance of the hotel was temporarily cordoned off and the staff was laying out a beautiful red velvet carpet--turns out that top diplomats from all over the SE Asia were soon to be arriving at the hotel for some sort of international summit.

The buffet was gorgeous, but it was no where close to "traditional". The only traditional items being served were turkey and cranberry sauce. No mashed potatoes, no gravy, no green bean casserole, no buttermilk biscuits, no Jello salad, no sparkling cider, no apple or pumpkin pie. But, if you were in the market for fresh tropical fruit, or sushi, or oyster, or black pepper stir-fry, or bruschetta, or creme brulee, or chocolate torte, you would not have been lacking in options!

Us, in front of one of the dessert tables.

In a way, I'm glad it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving meal because it wasn't a typical Thanksgiving Day. It is nice to know that the giving of thanks isn't dependent on cool weather, cozy foods, and even good family fellowship. I Thes 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

Viva La Comida Mexicana!

2007-11-27T15:14:00.000+08:00

As I have already lamented, Mexican food is scare here in Singapore. There are few Mexican restaurants and even fewer grocery stores that carry Mexican food ingredients at a price that won't break the bank. For example, one can of refried beans (forget trying to find whole pinto beans. . . they don't sell them here!) runs around $4.50. A package of 8 flour tortillas (forget about trying to find corn tortillas. . . they don't sell them here!) will cost you about $7.00. A small jar of salsa (forget about trying to find fresh salsa. . . they don't sell that here!) comes in at a whopping $8.00. An 8-oz package of cheddar cheese (forget about trying to find Mexican cheese. . . they don't sell that here!) will set you back almost $10.00!

So, as you can guess, when a surprise package arrived from my friend, Sarah Stranske, loaded with Mexican food supplies, Josh and I literally leaped for joy. Dustin and Yvette had brought us a Costco-sized jug of salsa (thanks, guys!), so combined with Sarah's items and $40 worth of beans, sour cream, cheese, lettuce, and ground beef, we were able to feast on Mexican food for 3 days straight! Freshly fried tacos. . . mmmmmmm! Tostadas loaded with tons of goodness. . . . delicious! Enchiladas for breakfast. . . why not!? Even Caleb enjoyed eating at our "Taqueria a la Singapora," and filled his tummy (and nose and hair and thigh-rolls) with beans and Mexican rice.

The stash!

Look at that "sonrisa"
("smile" for those of you that don't speak Spanish)

Beans, beans, the magical fruit. . .

If any of you are dying to send us a care package, here are a few items that would be a hit:

Corn tortillas
Plain tortilla chips (we can only get nacho-cheese chips here)
Green enchilada sauce
Chalula
Green taco sauce
Whole pinto or black beans
Anything else necessary for a home-grown Mexican meal!

Thanks Sarah, Dustin and Yvette for making our Fiesta possible!

Time for a new profile picture

2007-11-12T17:54:00.000+08:00

Caleb is getting bigger by the minute so I wanted to use a more recent picture for my profile. This was taken in Bintan, Indonesia. . . just a 45-minute ferry ride from Singapore. It's a nice little resort island where the jungle meets the sea and the sky is big (no sky here in Singapore!).

My Students

2007-11-12T13:14:00.000+08:00

We moved to Singapore with the expectation that Josh would be "the teacher" in our family. Little did I guess that God would open up the door for me to teach as well. But, the door was not only unlocked, it was wide open.

The church we have been attending, International Baptist Church, sponsors an ESL (English as a Second Language) ministry that reaches over 250 women in the community. The first week we attended a Sunday service at IBC, there was an announcement from the pulpit that the ESL ministry was in dire need of teachers. . . immediately. Josh nudged me and whispered in my ear, "I think you should check into that," which was exactly what the Holy Spirit was whispering in my other ear. It seemed as though God had prepared me for this ministry years ago, before I ever would have imagined being in this place at this time. My undergraduate studies were in Education and I was required to take several TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) classes. Not only that, but one of my part-time jobs during college was as a private tutor for a Korean-run tutoring center where I had the opportunity to tutor non-English-speakers. And, most importantly, God had been preparing my heart through prayer as Josh and I asked God to provide an opportunity for us to serve the community here. Less than a week after the announcement was made, I was sitting in an orientation class for new teachers!

Top Row(L-R): SoYoung, Tomo, JinJu, Chie, Miki, Joyce, Janet
Bottom Row: JongHwa, Emiko, YanShi, Me, ShuHsien

I have 16 students (though, as you can see from the picture, attendance usually hovers around 12). We meet once each week for about 2 hours and spend the first portion of our time going over basic English skills. The last part of the class is dedicated to Bible study. Many of my students (most, in fact) are not Christians, nor are they even familiar with Christianity. We went over the Creation Story and several of them had never heard it before. . . same goes for Noah's Ark, The Exodus, and The 10 Commandments.

Pray that God would help me be an effective ESL teacher (if they aren't learning English, they won't be motivated to come to class). Pray that God would allow me to present the truth of Christianity to them in an easy to understand way (this is a Beginner class and most of my students have very limited English skills). Most importantly, pray that God would soften the hearts of these women toward the truth of His gospel.

Phuket, Thailand

2007-11-10T20:55:00.000+08:00

Thai Food Poisoning

2007-11-07T08:20:00.000+08:00

Thai food is good. Thai food poisoning, on the other hand, is not. Josh and Caleb found this out first-hand on our trip to Phuket, Thailand this past weekend. We still aren't sure exactly what it was that they ate that caused them 24-hours of misery, but we're thinking it was the watermelon slices they ate on our day-tour of the Phi Phi Islands (Yvette wrote an interesting post about these islands. . . check it out here). Josh got hit really hard, but thankfully, Caleb didn't suffer quite as much. He did, however, administer the "True Test of Motherhood" on me and I am proud to say I passed =)

As a result of the 24-hours of misery and grossness, I spent all day yesterday doing laundry. Caleb is still extra-clingy right now (another side-effect of being ill) so posting anything that takes longer than 5-minutes to write is out. However, Yvette has been doing a great job journaling about her visit here so if you want to see what we've been up to, hop on over to her blog.

Guests!

2007-10-28T22:09:00.000+08:00

This evening we welcomed our first visitors from the US: Dustin and Yvette. They were both planning to visit and, as it turned out, they were able to book their tickets on the same flight (even though the reservations were made months apart).

They came heavy-laden with gifts and hard-to-find favorites (like Lucky Charms cereal and Crystal Light Lemonade).

We have a busy two weeks planned, but I will try to post some pictures along the way.

Right now, I'm just enjoying having a few friendly, familiar faces around! =)

Good Advice (Part 2)

2007-10-22T10:34:00.001+08:00

Remember this sign? My brother, Dan, sent me a response that I thought was post-worthy. He took this picture while in Scotland last year.

I had a good chuckle. Thanks, Dan!

Survey says. . .

2007-10-16T15:41:00.000+08:00

As I mentioned in the post below, we just returned from a 5-day trip to Thailand. What I didn't mention is that we are heading back there in a few weeks for another 3-day trip.

This time, I landed in Thailand with a general sense that Thai food is good. But, when it comes to Thai cuisine, I'm a novice. I've only tried two dishes: Pad Thai and Thai Green Curry (both of which I love).

When it comes to vacations and food, I'm kind of a stickler. . . I like to know that what I'm ordering is going to be good. I don't like playing double roulette. As a tourist, one is already taking a risk on the restaurant; no sense doubling the risk by ordering an unknown, potentially gross item. After all, isn't one of the best parts about "vacationing" the guilt-free, delicious food? So, Josh and I usually stick to the crowded restaurants (usually a good indicator that the food is decent) and familiar menu items.

I happen to know that several of my regular readers are Thai Cuisine fanatics and I am hoping that said readers can help me out. When we return to Thailand in a few weeks, I want to approach the dinner menu with confidence. I want to branch out (this trip, I had green curry three times!).

So, here's the question: What is your favorite Thai dish? (You can give me runners-up, too, if you can't narrow it down to just one)

picture taken from theskinnycook.com

I'm feeling Krabi!

2007-10-16T15:21:00.001+08:00

We just got home from a 5-day vacation in to Krabi, Thailand. We didn't know what to expect when we booked the tickets. All we knew was 1) Thailand is only a 1.5 hour plane flight away from Singapore, 2) Vacations to Thailand are cheap, and 3) Thai food is good. We were happily surprised to find that in addition to those three things, Thailand also boasts some of the friendliest (albeit, not very proficient in English) customer service around, the absolute cheapest massages you can find anywhere ($3USD for 1 hour!), amazing weather, and some of the most beautiful coastal scenery you can find in the world. Here are a few highlights from our trip.

Elephant Trekking in the jungles of Thailand
(How many of you can say you have heard an elephant burp?
Imagine a 30-second long, rumbling noise that feels like a mini-earthquake!)

A Few More International Night Photos

2007-10-09T14:12:00.001+08:00

The Korean Fan Dance
This was a very graceful dance performed by about 10 students.
The traditional costumes were gorgeous!

The Bhangra Dance

This high energy Northern Indian dance was amazing! The group danced to a fun, techno version of "If You're Happy and You Know It . . ." There were three ICS-ers on the dance team as well as 2 Punjab community members. I thought I caught this performance on video, but ended up with a still-shot instead. Oh well!!
( I did a search on YouTube to see if I could find any good examples. This performance is the closest match in terms of choreography and energy to the one at our school, though I think the one we saw was more fun because of the music =)

International Night

2007-10-09T09:10:00.001+08:00

Last Friday, ICS (the school for which Josh teaches) hosted it's biggest event of the year: International Night. The school invites all of the students and their families, as well as the entire staff and their families to enjoy an evening in celebration of the many countries represented at our school. The different ethnic groups organize to bring traditional food from their nation. Many students and staff dress in traditional costume. The highlight of the evening is the traditional music and dance presentations.

This year, Josh was recruited to dance on the Filipino Dance Team. They performed the Tininkling Dance--a traditional dance where dancers dance in and out of bamboo poles.

Although Caleb is not Chinese, we decided to dress him in a Chinese costume which we recently found in Chinatown. He left the hat on the whole evening! I am not sure, but I think he may have stolen several girl's hearts that night!

Some Good Advice

2007-10-04T09:47:00.000+08:00

. . . and your mother.

Chinese Lantern Festival

2007-10-01T09:42:00.000+08:00

Yesterday marked the end of the Mid-Autumn Autumn Festival (also known as the Chinese Lantern Festival or the Moon Festival or the Mooncake Festival) here in Singapore. Actually, not just here in Singapore, but everywhere in Asia. Next to the Chinese New Year, this is the biggest holiday in the Asian Calendar.

Above is a picture of a mooncake (which was "borrowed" from taipeitravel.net because I couldn't afford to buy one of my own to take a picture of because they run in the upwards of $30 for one 4-inch cake). These dense lotus paste cakes are traditional gifts during Mid-Autumn Festival, as are Pomelos (those huge grapefruit-like fruits).

Not being Chinese, we weren't sure how to celebrate the holiday. So, we headed to Chinatown on Moon Day (Sept 25th this year) and figured that we'd celebrate in our own way by eating delicious Chinese dumplings at Zhou Handmade Noodle Hawker.

After a tasty dinner, we wandered around Chinatown. Prior to sunset, Chinatown was a little deserted and we thought perhaps we had the wrong day. Then, the sun set and the crowds came out, and we discovered why it is called the Lantern Festival.

During Lantern Festival, all the Chinese children are given small paper lanterns with a little candle inside to "play lantern". Caleb isn't Chinese but he got a lantern, too.

We enjoyed the beautiful lanterns handmade by a master Chinese lantern maker. There were about 12 large displays. Some of our favorites were the replica of the Taj Mahal and the 40-foot-long peacock with colorful plumage.

Josh and Caleb in front of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
(we didn't go in because we don't have a huge interest in Buddhism nor dentistry so there wasn't much of a draw)

If only. . .

2007-09-24T10:04:00.000+08:00

If only they could figure out a way to install these on diapers.

Monkey Business

2007-09-21T15:45:00.001+08:00

Caleb and I were stuck here at home today (we have been having an ongoing problem with our air conditioner and I have to be home to let the contractor in). We decided to have some fun with some recent footage we shot from our 4th floor flat. Hope you enjoy. . .

P.S.- Those of you who check our other blog have probably noticed my recent fascination with home movies. All I have to say about that is, "Blame it on Apple."

Anyone for a Banana Spirit?

2007-09-20T19:42:00.000+08:00

We were invited one evening to a yummy Indian hawker, which has become our Sunday after-church-meal-spot. On the dessert menu, you have your typical Milo variations and of course your banana spirit...wait a second, does that say Banana SPIRIT?

If anyone has watched "A Christmas Story", you'll remember the family eating a Christmas meal at a Chinese restaurant, and the waiters singing, "Deck the hars with boughs of hawry, fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra". So apparently there is some difficulty in Asia pronouncing the "L" sound, resulting in the "R" sound.

Back to what we know as the "Banana Split" ... if you replace the "L" in Split with an "R", you get "Banana Sprit". Now, throw in a little accent and the result is "Banana Spirit".
Makes perfect sense. Quite humorous nonetheless.

p.s. No offense to any Asians reading this blog. I love Asians...I am Asian (half Asian anyway)

Bean Burrito-no red, no onion

2007-09-20T10:53:00.000+08:00

Ever since I was a kid, my standard order at Taco Bell has been "one bean burrito--no red, no onion--, a regular nacho, and a small Mountain Dew." With a few rare exceptions, I have ordered this same meal for about 20 years. I don't eat at Taco Bell often, but when I do, that's what I get. And, I have a special way of eating it, too. I eat the chips plain and use the nacho sauce as a dip for my burrito. Mmmmm. . . so good!

I have have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. . .you can find just about anything you're looking for in Singapore. In this case, what we found was Taco Bell! Josh heard that there was a 3-in-1 KFC (a KFC branch that serves KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell items) at Shaw House on Orchard Road. Under "normal" circumstances, we wouldn't go out of our way to eat Taco Bell, but life here isn't exactly "normal." So, last night we made the long trek across the Island to see if the rumor was true.

Sure enough! On the 5th floor of Shaw House we found a sight for sore Californian eyes. . . the Taco Bell logo. Though the menu was VERY limited (there were only 5-6 Taco Bell menu items) I was able to get a bean burrito and a side of nacho cheese (no nacho chips on the menu). It had the delicious taste of familiarity; it tasted just like every other bean burrito dipped in nacho cheese sauce I've consumed in the last 20 years. =)

It took us over an hour to get there, and an hour and a half to get home, but I must admit, the familiar taste was worth every minute!

Now, if only we could find an In-n-Out. . .

Fogging

2007-09-14T12:34:00.000+08:00

I am sure this is an effective method for killing the dengue-carrying mosquitoes, but it makes you wonder what it does to the humans?

Multiple Choice Quiz

2007-09-04T14:55:00.001+08:00

What is Singapore's National Pastime?
A) Shopping
B) Riding Escalators
C) Both of the Above

p.s.-this was another of my I'm-proud-of-this-photo photos =)

Singlish 101

2007-09-04T12:19:00.000+08:00

The primary language in Singapore is English. For most Singaporeans, that means that English is their first language. However, that doesn't mean that they actually SPEAK English; they speak Singlish (English with a Singaporean twist). And, sometimes, Singlish is absolutely unintelligible for us American English Speakers.

We have recently been having problems with our air conditioner. The head of the maintenance crew they sent began explain to me what the problem was and what they were doing to fix it. I stood there, completely dazed. I knew that the words he was using were English words, but somehow, I couldn't understand anything he was saying! Try as he might and concentrate as I might, I never did figure out what he meant. Singlish at it's worst!

Thankfully, Singaporeans have a sense of humor and know that their English is "unique." Those two qualities combined result in some very funny Singlish jokes.

On our walk last night, we passed this new advertisement and had a good chuckle. Kudos to those of you who can actually decipher what the first guy is trying to say!

Dragonfly

2007-08-30T16:04:00.000+08:00

I surprised myself by taking this fairly-decent photo while we were walking around the Lily Pond at the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Having a photograph turn out reminds me how much I wish I knew more about photography!

Grocery Shopping

2007-08-29T10:15:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, Caleb and I ventured out in the pouring rain to meet a friend at Suntec City Mall for lunch.

*side note: Getting out and about in Singapore is a whole different ball game. Gone are the days when I could just hop in the car parked in our garage and go. Never again will I complain about all the time it takes to buckle in a carseat! Our trip included a 1/2 mile walk to the bus stop where we waited 20 minutes to catch a bus, a 10-minute bus ride, another 1/2 mile walk to the MRT station (Singapore's equivalent to an above ground Subway system), a quick trip on the North-South Line and then a transfer to the East-West Line for a 30 minute train ride. Whew!! . . . an hour and a half, and 10-miles later, we arrived!

Kazumi (my Japanese friend who was born in Japan, raised in Hawaii and married a Singaporean) and I agreed that we were in the mood for a Subway sandwich. We walked from the MRT station to Suntec and proceeded to get lost looking for Subway. We were dead-set on finding it though, so after about 40 minutes of wandering aimlessly, we finally located it nestled next to the carpark (a nod to Singapore's ties to Britain) in the basement level. Our search was well worth the effort! When we got up to order, we found out they were offering a promotion. . . buy a 6-in sub sandwich and get a med drink and two cookies for free. The offer is good until September 4th, so I plan to go back at least twice between now and then! =)

After lunch, we got down to business and headed to Carrefour (a French grocery/super store). Normally, I have to walk a mile to the grocery store, carrying the stroller (with my 20 lb son in it) down 4 flights of stairs carved into the side of a hill, and then up and down two more flights of stairs to cross the pedestrian overpass. Getting there isn't the problem . . . it is getting home with all my groceries! When I heard that Carrefour delivers (for free!) any non-perishable items purchased at the store, I was ecstatic. Kazumi and Caleb were troopers. Kazumi pushed the overloaded cart and entertained Caleb whilst I perused the aisles buying everything from laundry detergent to olive oil to root beer. All in all, I came out with a very well-stocked pantry and enough cleaning supplies to take care of this place for the next few months. I dropped my purchases off to the delivery center, scheduled a delivery for today, and headed off to the MRT happy as a lark.

Caleb and the Carrefour Loot.

I've heard of mosquito repellent. . .

2007-08-29T10:09:00.000+08:00

I've heard of mosquito repellent, but lizard repellent is a new one!

Point Taken

2007-08-27T10:32:00.000+08:00

Perhaps it is the $500 fine and 3-months in jail (for first time offenders!) that discourages people from jaywalking in Singapore. Or. . .

perhaps it is the signs.

Why Monkeys like the Chinese Ghost Festival

2007-08-27T09:01:00.000+08:00

The 7th Lunar Month (in 2007, that falls during the month of August) is the Chinese Ghost Festival. There is a very good overview of the festival here, but basically, during this month, the doors of heaven and hell are opened and the spirits of the deceased are free to roam. The Chinese (mostly Buddhist) make offerings of fruit, cakes and other treats to appease the tormented. They also burn incense and hell money to pay homage to their roaming ancestors. We have seen these altars all month throughout the City.

Last night, someone must have made an offering just outside our building because as I was sitting here at the computer this morning, I saw several of the trees on the hill behind our flat shaking violently. No. . . it wasn't the ghosts shaking the trees. It was monkeys. A lot of monkeys. Though I am certain that Satan and his devilish horde have been enjoying all this ritualistic idolatry, the beneficiaries of last night's offering was none other than the mischievous little gang of miniature primates.

There were at least 10, maybe closer to 15 monkeys swinging from the trees, chasing each other with fistfuls of fruit and cake. Every now and then, when their supplies ran low (and when the coast was clear) they would scamper down to the sidewalk and snatch up a few more treasures.

The sight of these playful, mischievous monkeys made me laugh. However, despite the antics of the wild monkeys, this month is a somber month. It is a constant reminder of the spiritual slavery in which many Singaporeans live. Pray that the Chinese here in Singapore would encounter the only Ghost worthy of worship, the Holy Ghost!

Sheets!

2007-08-24T11:25:00.000+08:00

I decided to make this post thematic. . . so I have listed every type of sheet I can think of. If you think of others, send me a comment and I'll see what I can scrounge up =)

Bed Sheets
In the USA, a bed is (typically) made with a fitted sheet and a flat sheet. Not so in Singapore (and many other places around the world). A flat sheet is a rarity in Singapore. Everyone here sleeps with a fitted sheet and a duvet cover. But, in my thinking, there are two reasons to use flat sheets:

Have you ever wrestled with a comforter as you are trying to put on a duvet? It's a pain in the neck! The less I have to wash the duvet cover, the better.
Electricity in Singapore is expensive. A flat sheet takes up less room than a duvet cover and therefore washing a flat sheet instead of a duvet cover costs less money.

We went on a search for a flat sheet only to discover that IF you can find a flat sheet, it is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Most stores do not carry them, but there are a few hi-end stores that cater to the ex patriot crowd that do. We took an average of several stores' flat sheet prices and found that you can expect to pay around US$100 (or about 150 Sing Dollars) for a queen-sized flat sheet (not a set, mind you, just the flat sheet)! We didn't buy one. . . we decided wait until Yvette can bring them with her when she comes for a visit in October.

Dryer Sheets
First of all, most Singaporeans don't use dryers. They clamp their laundry to bamboo poles which they then stick out their windows (imagine walking on the sidewalk below a 30-story housing unit and getting hit with a wet sock that fell 300 feet!). That method works well except for one thing. . . see "Sheets of Rain" below.

Due to the location of our building and the fact that our unit is on the fourth floor (which is considered a low floor. The lower the floor, the less the breeze.), we purchased a small dryer. I tried hanging our clothes the first week, but it took 3 days to get them dry and they smelled sour by then.

Anyway, back to dryer sheets. They are few and far between. The local stores (meaning the stores the locals shop at) don't carry them. There is a grocery chain that stocks a lot of American/British items, dryer sheets being one of those items. However, they are pricey. So, Yvette now has two things to pack in her suitcase for her visit in October. . . flat sheets and dryer sheets!

Cookie Sheets
I am pleased to announce that they sell cookie sheets here and that they are affordable! They are smaller than typical cookie sheets in the US, but that's okay. Ovens here are smaller (actually, most flats don't have ovens built in) so the sheets are smaller. The sheet I bought fits 9 cookies instead of 12. So, I guess that just means that I'll have to start eating more of the cookie dough! =)

Sheets of Rain
Singapore gets an average of over 90 inches of rainfall each year. Compare that to the 9 inches (on a good year) that we were used to in California. When it rains here, it really rains. I took a video of a recent downpour, but don't have the capability of uploading it to YouTube yet (the file is too large so I need Josh to help me convert it). I will post it soon. In the meantime, imagine the loudest, longest thunder you've ever heard (Josh grew up in Ohio and he said the thunder in the Mid-West doesn't even compare to the thunder here!), flashes of lightening so bright that you wonder someone just flashed a camera in your eye, and sheets of rain so thick that you can't see through them. Now, imagine that happening at least once or twice a day! I've heard that this is the "dry" season . . . I am really starting to wonder what the rainy season will be like!

Sheets of Paper
Paper here is a different shape. Instead of 8 1/2 x 11 letter-sized paper, the standard here is A4 paper, which is about 8.3 x 11.7. Longer and narrower. For some reason, it makes me feel smarter to use A4 paper. It's kind of the same idea as speaking with a British accent. =)

Switches

2007-08-16T10:58:00.001+08:00

One of the first things I had to adjust to regarding Singapore living was the placement of the bathroom light switches. For whatever reason, bathroom light switches are placed OUTSIDE the bathroom door. For those of you with prankster-ish tendencies, I don't think I need to explain why this creates a Prankster's Paradise.

And, while I'm on the topic of switches, I may as well bring up a few other points of interest. If you look closely at the above picture, you'll notice there are three switches, one of which is glowing red. That's the water-heater switch. There is one outside of each bathroom and one in the kitchen. I haven't figured out yet if there are three individual heaters or one main heater. I've tried to experiment by turning on the one in the kitchen and then trying to get hot water in the back bathroom, and vice versa. So far my "scientific method" approach isn't working. . . every time I try my experiment, the results come out differently! Sometimes I get hot water and sometimes I don't. But, I always get hot water (eventually) if I turn on the switch corresponding to the faucet I am going to use, so at least that much is reliable. But, I am having to learn to think ahead. In the States, if you want scalding hot water, you don't have to think. . . you just turn on the faucet and, VOILA!, instant hot water. Aside from the planning ahead part, I think the idea is a good one since it means we only heat the water we are actually going to use.

One confusing thing about electrical switches here is the fact that up is "off" and down is "on." It's very contra-intuitive to this American mind. I am constantly turning off things I mean to leave on, and turning on things that I want off. Someday I'll adjust.

Last but not least, are the switches that are on every electrical outlet. In my mind, this is a wonderful feature, especially with a curious baby who is still learning not to touch electrical outlets. It saves me from having to buy those annoying plastic outlet covers.

El Patio: Best Mexican Food in Singapore

2007-08-14T13:06:00.001+08:00

Being from Central California, the Mexican Food Lover's Paradise, one of the first things Josh and I did was stake out potential replacements for our favorite Mexican Restaurants. The choices were slim! As far as we can tell, there are only THREE Mexican Restaurants in this bustling city-state of over 2.5 million people. So far, I have tried two of the three. Our search for great, familiar-tasting food may be able to stop there because the second restaurant we tried, El Patio, was everything we like in a Mexican Restaurant: good service, an outdoor patio, decent prices, free chips and salsa, and delicious food. So, if you're ever in Singapore and in need of a Mexican food fix, give us a ring and we will gladly let you treat us to a chimichanga and a burrito supreme!

*update: we found out that there are actually a few more than three. Not many more, but a few. We have tried two of those and still agree that El Patio is the best.

Here we are. . . We are here!

2007-07-22T21:27:00.000+08:00

Well, we (and all our bags) arrived in Singapore safe and sound. Caleb did GREAT on the flight, considering it was over 7000 miles! We are getting settled in and working on getting our work/dependent visas finalized so we can get our own internet access. For now, we're paying by the minute at a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (they have almost every store imaginable here!) It is a balmy, breezy night here and we are sitting out on the patio. The weather couldn't be nicer. We're thankful that God had us arrive during a summer storm because the normally hot and humid weather hasn't reared it's ugly head yet.

I'll be posting more once we get up on the internet, but I just wanted to let you all know we made it. Thanks for your prayers.

Wednesday is the Day

2007-07-17T11:21:00.000+08:00

We leave California on Wednesday and head out to Singapore. If you think of it, please pray for us. It's a long trip to make with a 9-month-old (especially one cutting two teeth).

I've had limited access to the internet for the last few weeks, but hopefully we'll get set up with the internet quickly as soon as we arrive. I'm sure there will be much to report!

Going Away Party

2007-06-21T06:57:00.000+08:00

Our good friend, Yvette, hosted a going away party for us this last weekend. She went all out. . . delicious BBQ'd skewers, fruit kebabs, a fresh green salad, corn-on-the-cob, iced tea served with little umbrella straws, croquet, and about 30 of our closest friends here in town. Here are a few photos from the evening. The last one (yet another example of Yvette's creativity!) was my favorite party decoration.

We're going to be living in SIN CITY.

2007-06-08T05:23:00.001+08:00

Did you know that the airport code for Singapore's International Airport, Changi, is SIN? A dream-come-true for a pun-loving girl like myself. =)

We have a place to live!

2007-06-01T02:27:00.000+08:00

After being denied for the apartment that we really wanted because we have an infant, I was starting to get nervous about the housing situation. But God changed the heart of the landlord and upon second request (with a little sweet talking from our contact in Singapore), he agreed to rent to us! Here is a picture of the apartment.
Turns out, most apartments in Singapore come partially furnished. That will be a blessing for us (provided the furniture isn't nasty) since we don't really want to purchase much while we're there, since we're only going to be there two years.

The Monkey Dilemma

2007-05-23T23:58:00.000+08:00

Our contact in Singapore emailed me this morning and said that he may have located a nice apartment for us, but that there was one drawback. . . it is near the nature reserve and some of the tenants complain about. . . MONKEYS.

I've complained about stray cats before, but so far I haven't had many run-ins with stray monkeys! I guess that might be changing.

Why we are choosing to live abroad

2007-05-23T02:19:00.000+08:00

Yvette gets it.

"Living abroad is a great experience that really does enhance your life in ways that living in America for your entire life would not. Not to mention all of the wonderful memories you will have... even the not-so-wonderful ones will provide great stories in the future."

Welcome to Everyday Singapore

2007-05-23T01:18:00.000+08:00

This blog is our attempt to capture what life is like for an American family living in Singapore. We are planning to move to Singapore in about 2 months and have been trying to find information about life in Singapore. So far, we have found very little. . . .at least, very little of the kind of information we are looking for. We have found information about weather conditions and the best restaurants, but what I want to know is whether or not I will be able to buy Cheerios and Ziplock Bags.

Both my husband and I have lived abroad before, I in England and he in Israel. What we realized is that it is the everyday stuff that really matters. Sure, the big stuff is important, too, but in order to really get a feel for a country, you've got to observe the insignificant. So. . . welcome to the world of insignificant, everyday Singapore. We hope you find it helpful and informative.