So then,Singapore almost 3 months in. I assume that as you did not delete this email then you are prepared for the diatribe that will follow.
When Amanda and I first arrived we were staying in a serviced apartment in an area called Robertson Quay. It’s a bar and restaurant area, mainly for expats and while fun for a little while, not an ideal long term place. Going for a walk along the river in the evenings was nice - man it’s hot here. The running joke is that if asked, the weather is 27-32 with a chance of rain. It’s the same every day. Get it? Funny stuff (they're calling me Little TG I am sure).
First task was looking for an apartment. We were not keen to try and emulate Sydney, having just left the most amazingly designed and built mansion in Balmain. There is no place like Sydney so we were looking for local flavour.
On our original look-see we had visited an apartment complex that we quite liked and we have ended up back in that place. It’s called City Square and is smack bang in the middle of Little India. Singapore as about 4 million people, 1 million of whom are foreigners. Of that, the bulk are migrant workers from India, Bangladesh and other loser countries (please see The Simpsons for that classic Moe quote - before you sick Harry Connick Jr on me).
Around the corner is the greatest shopping centre on earth. The Mustafa Centre. Push through the incredible number of moustaches (why do Indians love moustaches? I keep asking how to sponsor then for prostate cancer research!) It is 24 hours and sells everything. Absolutely everything. If you have a 3am hankering for diamonds - Mustafa. Want an am/fm radio at midday Mustafa. Cabbage and cumin. Must..... Well - you understand.
I picked up my suit pants from the tailor today. All this food is putting generations of Indian tailor's children through IT college. luckily with the heat (27-32, chance of rain), suits are incredibly rare and it’s usually shorts and thongs in the office.
I set the business up in a serviced office on the river in Singapore's CBD. I picked the office with the prettiest girls - thank you Regus. Servcorp - lift you game. You are letting Australia down. Close to the MRT, close to all the clients I have (or will have....one day....was that a tumbleweed?) and close to the bars for some Friday night beers and complaining about:
1. The locals; or
2. The heat; or
3. The help; or
4. All of the above.
Good healthy expat conversation that reaffirms that we are better than everyone else. On that note, about half a rugby team of the Shanghai Hairy Crabs are here. 2 others with serious neck injuries and the rest are just too old. There are too many large foreigners here to risk playing rugby. We were great when the opposition weighed the same as Amanda.
Travel-wise we have been diving in Malaysia (KK - average) eating in Malaysia (Penang barely left poolside) off to Tokyo to watch the Wallabies smash the All Blacks at the end of the month. we have some other exciting trips planned but will wait and see if they happen yet.
Amanda is travelling a lot so it’s just me and my moustachioed friends many nights. The food is unbelievable. Right then - on to food.
Obviously the Indian around here is great. Northern, Southern, Punjabi, Bengali, Kashmiri, Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Halal, vegetarian, Chetendaadian and Burger King.
There are quite a few hawker centres around - Hainan chicken rice, Teocheow food, Malay, the good old emperor of china - Nasi Goreng and a little chilli crab here and there. Several wet-markets close by, including one where I go some pretty good prawns. No coffin bay oysters to be seen though.
Singapore is a funny place. Very sophisticated, great infrastructure, well educated people however when you scratch the surface, it’s not that dissimilar to China. People are very obedient and do not stray from the rules. This can be great in some ways as you know where you stand, however when it is ridiculous, then there is no way to negotiate around it. In China there is always a way around however in Singapore you must fit into the expected pattern of behaviour or you cannot achieve what you need to.
I am finding that business is very causal with what we would consider very unprofessional behaviour. The front desk of major MNC's will answer the phone with "yes" and then patch me through to the MD even though I am cold-calling. I have called up several competitors and asked how many project managers they have. Only once did I run into trouble when I was transferred to HR - but as Amanda can confirm, I can wrap HR women around my little finger.
RATING (1-10)
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 5
Value for money: 6
Ambience: 7.5
Singapore airline hostess: 9.5
P
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