Singapore Zoo Signs

Went to the zoo this weekend. Got up at the crack of dawn to avoid the heat. Caught a train; then caught a bus. Got there around 9:45am, just in time to see the polar bear feeding. Yes, they have polar bears in Singapore - heavily air conditioned dens!

The zoo is amazing and beautifully laid out. Got lots of cool animal pics, but it was the signs at the zoo that cracked me up.

MRT Signs

Unlike everything else in Singapore, these illustrations don't try to be multi-cultural.

They're just funny.

Carrie Bradshaw

Sarah Jessica Parker adding a little fabulousness to the Singaporean streets.

As you can see, there's no Diet Coke here. Only Coke light.

On a separate note, I heard the Ministry edited 10 minutes of SATC: the movie when it was released here this summer. Hmmm...

Singapore Flyer

A couple weeks ago I took a ride on the Singapore Flyer - the tallest observation wheel in the world (541 ft)... for now. Until Dubai and then Beijing both surpass it.

The flyer, like every indoor space in Singapore, is air conditioned, and gives you a pretty cool look of the island. I work in the central business district on the right.

On the left, you can see new parts of the island. Sand imported from Indonesia to make land for a new casino - just what every city needs.

Asian Civilisation Museum

Had the awesome opportunity to take a private tour today of the Asian Civilisation Museum (yellow bldg in the picture). My VP's husband is a tour guide there. His energy and passion alone made me excited to learn more about Hindu myths and Buddha's life.

They have a special exhibit on Vietnam this month, and it further increased my desire to travel there.

Some quick facts I learned:
1) Hinduism is the world's oldest religion

2) Buddha is from India

3) "Amok" as in "running amok" is a Malay word used to describe a sudden violent frenzy which usually ends in death

4) You can tell Arabic inventions by the prefix "al." Algebra, algorithm, almanac...etc

5) Singapore was/is the most logical trading post between China and India; hence, the reason for its rapid development as an international port city.

Dinner

Met up with some other Amex New Yorkers tonight and headed to the Golden Mile Food Center to try the famous Indian mutton bone marrow. It's messy stuff and to get the marrow you can either use a straw or you can do it the fun way...bang it against your plate and suck it straight out of the bone.

It's damn good. You use toasted bread to soak up the sauce and then wash it all down with a nice pint of sugar cane juice with sour plum. Yum!

Dali in Singapore

This statue is located across the street from my office.

Entitled "Homage to Newton," the hollow torso and head represent an open mind and open heart.

Kind of sweet, in a freaky surrealist way.

Cinnamon

Did you know cinnamon grows on trees? I didn't. But I saw a marked cinnamon tree a few weeks ago...pretty cool.

I took this pic while I was at Istana - the grounds of the prime minister. It opens for public viewing once a year.

OMG, I see litter!

Believe it or not, there is litter. The government will heavily fine any offender and did so a reportedly 23,000 times last year. Clearly, the culprit responsible for this pictured juice box got away.

But, for 4.5 million people crowding an island of this size, Singapore is shockingly, and some say disturbingly, very clean.

My Hood

My apartment is the last door on the left. Unit S6 rocks!

My back "yard"

My front "yard"

The front gates

Lor Melayu. That's my street, yo!!

Pumping Iron

Here's a stunning view of the city from my gym. What I've observed so far:

1. It is commonplace for men to wear short shorts while working out. And when I say short, I mean, these shorts are one degree from being called underwear.

2. A preference for machines and aerobics has left the free weight areas woefully underserved.

3. Whey protein is priced like its f%#&in' gold dust. A regular container will cost you $100.

4. 80% of the clientele wear uniforms. The gym offers them for free each time you work out. Of course, I immediately ask if I have to wear them. Thankfully, the answer was no.

7-Eleven is the New Bodega

They're everywhere. You can't walk a couple blocks without seeing one. I took both of these pictures from the same street corner; after taking the first shot, I just turned around and what do you know, there was another one!

I did some research - turns out there are 419 of them on this tiny island. 7-Elevens are to Singapore what the bodegas are to NYC.

"We're surprised you ordered that!"

I stopped by the Hari Raya celebration in Malay Village this weekend. It's just down the street from my apartment and happens throughout September until the end of Ramadan. It kicks off at night when the Muslims break their daily fasting. Lots of food, shopping, and drink to be had.

I tried some Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza), and probably won't try it again. Then I went to the drink stand and as I often do here, asked to have what the person in front of me ordered. I must have looked funny when I took my first sip because 3 women beside me asked how I liked it. It's good, I said. Pause. What am I drinking, I asked. Turns out it was Chin Chow, a traditional cooling drink in SE Asia. We're surprised you ordered that, they said

How to make Chin Chow:
Dump brown sugar, grass jelly, & red beans into a cup. Add soy milk.

Durian Madness

They call it the "King of Fruits." Hmnnn....it looks like a human organ, is covered in a thin outer skin and has the consistency of custard. The smell reeks and its onion-y aftertaste is reason enough to fall in love with Listerine.

But to Singaporeans, durian rocks and they're proud of their "stinky fruit." So much so, their performing arts complex is essentially two metallic durians. I just went to a Puccini opera there last weekend and the building was stunning.

Getting around: Singapore MRT vs. NYC Subway

1. Singapore charges you based on the distance you are traveling. NYC wants $2 no matter what. Advantage: Singapore

2. Singaporeans don't move out of the way to let people off the train. They just stand there and you have to go right through them. New Yorkers have a little more courtesy in this regard mostly because they know they risk getting knocked down or insulted. In Singapore, people just quietly collide into each other Advantage: NYC

3. The other day, I saw a teenager get on the subway with an ice cream cone and he proceeded to shield his ice cream from view with one hand. Getting caught eating or drinking on the MRT is a $500 fine. I often have to stand up on the NYC subways because a sticky residue of dried orange soda coats the subway seats. Advantage: Singapore

4. New Yorkers walk. Singaporeans ride no matter what. The result: the MRT is always packed. Advantage: NYC

5. The MRT comes without fail every 2 min. during peak hours and every 5-6 min. during off-peak hours. Let's just say that in New York, there's no subway schedule. Advantage: Singapore

6. Singapore has cell phone reception in the subway. In NYC, if your phone rings on the train, everyone stares at you in jealous shock as if to say, "Why are you getting calls down here? What service do you have?" Advantage: Singapore

7. Stepping onto a NYC subway, you never know what you are going to get - homeless soliciting you for money, a fight, kids selling candy, Mexicans playing guitars, breakdancers doing backflips to Michael Jackson oldies...etc. In Singapore, nothing happens. Maybe NYC is more spontaneous and lively in this regard, but after 4 yrs, it gets old. Advantage: Singapore

8. One of the absurdly famous laws in Singapore is a ban on the sale of chewing gum. And say what you will, at least the sidewalks and subway stations aren't decorated with multi-colored dots of hardened gum. Instead, the floors are polished. Advantage: Singapore

9. After my first few weeks in NYC, I remember staring at the subway map with all of its colored lines and being proud that I "got it" and knew how to navigate the underground maze. A five-year old can master the Singapore MRT map with its three lines (red, purple, green). In this regard, there's something to be said for complexity. Advantage: NYC

Little Red Dot

Welcome to b-rug's blog. A running commentary on my experiences in Singapore, or as some call it - Little Red Dot.

"Little Red Dot" is an epithet for Singapore, describing the way its islands are marked on many world maps. Originally, it was used in a disparaging manner by former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie (though this was denied by him), but has come to be used by Singaporeans with pride and a sense of the nation's success despite its small size.