Networking, visits, preps 4 Chinese New Year and BBQ

This past week and a half I have been doing nothing but networking, updating profiles, answering emails etc etc. We got a nice break though hanging out with friends Pierre and Johan on their express visit to Singapore, showing them to Chomp Chomp, Lau Pa Sat and the Quays amongst others. Thank you guys and hope to see you soon!

 

 One of the evening of course started up at 1-Altitude around 18.00 looking DOWN on Marina Bay Sands; I always feel a little bit special thinking about that..

 ..and at around 19.00 the sun started setting over the 'Sail' and the other scrapers..

 ..until it was almost down. After this there were no photos for good reasons. But it was nothing less than epic.

Since the western New Years up until now, Singapore has really gone through a gradual change. For someone like me who's never experienced Chinese New Year I was quite amazed. There is red red and yellow signs, ornaments, bling-bling stuff everywhere. I thought the Indian Deepavali was quite extensive, but something tells me I haven't seen half of it yet. 

 Our local food store looks like a crazy lottery. I'm still a bit taken by the 'no limits' approach here in Asia, but frankly, after Tokyo I seldom get shocked here. However this might change by next weekend.

 And there's stuff everywhere with mostly Kanji texts that you don't understand or Romanji names like 'Natural Chow Phong Duts'. Yeah, I know, we have them in Gothenburg too. Seriously helpful. Yay.

 Who knew that Ferrero Rocher chocolate had dragon brands? In front of the toilet paper. Next to the beer. The combo is practical I guess.

 I think these are alike or the same as the 'century eggs' = fermented = rotten eggs. I'm sure they are utterly tasty, but we'll actually skip them this year.

 Typical Romanji explanation, which at first glance looks like a pudding; it's of course also highly reassuring, considering the are 'Premiuin Traditional Chin Chow'. However, googling on 'chin chow' gives 'boiled leaves and stalk of the herb Mesona Chinesis'. Sounds great. Still have no idea what it is.

Or this: if you search for 'Pearl Jumbu' online, it shows you results for 'Jambu'. This is however gives Wiki's 'Syzygium fruit', where the 'Samarangense' kind looks like the ones in the pic and belongs to the 'Myrtaceae'. Jesus. I just went with oranges.

These look like pear potatoes, but something tells me they aren't. I left it for another visit.

 So, this is a dragon made out of sushi. In your face.

 Who hasn't always dreamt about getting their own zodiac snack holder? Yes, yes, do start to collect them already today! Sometimes I wonder how brain dead they think the general public really is.

 And this is Chinese Dragon Fanta. 

We also had a smashing BBQ over at our friends' place with a really fantastic surrounding and heaps of glorious food. The night that was supposed to finish early ended up at the 38th floor, relentlessly doing Bollywood karaoke dance until 03.00. Thank you Vincent and Yuuri for having us!

 Jonas in the midst of the boys' eating fest. BTW never trust an Indian person who says 'No, no, not very spicy' and does the Indian head bob (tilt it from side to side with a broad smile). Just run.

 The beautiful hostess by the grill with the signature Japanese gesture.

 I was expecting an Indian mini version of Winnie the Pooh and Piglet to come rushing in at any minute.

 A constantly moving Chinese/Japanese child. He was very fast.

 Then some decided it was time for a swim. With the clothes on.

The ever so practical Japanese head band fashioned by Mr. Miyagi and styled by Toshi-san. You Karl Lagerfeld there, you..

Next report will no doubt be with proper pics from the Chinese New Year and I'm highly anticipating dragon suites with many people in them, fire crackers and drums. God fortsattning alla (Good continuing on the New Year everyone)!

1st New Years in Singapore

As the sun went down over the last day of 2011 in Singapore, I became slightly poetic. I've lately been thinking a lot about what we had been through the last 12 months. I never could have guessed when I was welcoming 2011 on our balcony in Tokyo last New Years Eve with my family, that we’d end up here. At that point, I seriously only thought of the opening scene in the (then) latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie if someone said ‘Singapore’. I didn't even know if it was country or a city, who ruled or what Singaporeans looked like.

The last sunset of 2011, 1 degree from the equator in our new home Singapore

Everything sort of took a spin when my husband was asked to relocate to that far away port during the following spring. And then the 9.2 Tohoku earthquake hit Japan on Friday the 11th of March just before 15.00. We left for Singapore when the power plant in Fukushima started exploding, roughly 4 days later, for a ‘vacation’. I wrote a text about it for a non-profit magazine not too long ago and also had to explain the whole situation for a dear friend just recently. I have not understood until now how much those last few months in Tokyo has really affected me and I will not forget it for as long as I live. Then we went back to Japan, said goodbye to our dear friends and the city itself, sold as much as possible, donated all of worth to the earthquake victims and tried helping out with what we could to relieve them. We then left the most magical place I have been to to date.

Coming to Singapore was like being able to breathe again and up until now I haven’t really had the proper time to think about our stay in Japan, since it’s been quite a turbulent six months. We also had to explain to many of you in Sweden why we didn’t go back to Gothenburg, but looking at our decision in retrospect, I really think we did the right thing. It was however quite scary, not knowing if we’d feel at home in Singapore, how we would be able to tackle the heat (because God Almighty, it’s seriously warm here) or if we’d find a good place to live.

I also had to adjust to being a house wife, which is the weirdest challenge than I’ve ever had. You have all the freedom in the world, but that still comes with responsibility for how you treat it. I think every person needs to be needed in one way or another or your time become quite meaningless. Not going to work every day means that you need to create your own activities with people who need you and not only rely on your significant other. I put into creating a home and a social network and today I can see I made good ground work.

All of this sort of vanished in the complete shock waves of the massacre in Norway. Since we were so far away from Sweden, it happening in Norway was almost like it had unravelled in our own country. It was terribly hard to grasp, once locating everyone we know who were in Norway at the time, making sure they were OK. At the same time I had to start sending out applications, since we were expecting quite a few visits from Sweden the coming few months. It was really quite hard to focus at that point.

Then we guided family and friends trough the Singapore we'd gotten to know, which is really inspiring for yourself actually. You have to think about how you'd like to present your every day and your new country, but also make it a pleasant and relaxed environment for your visitors. And you really get a run through what you like and don't, which is quite interesting. The heat was another factor which was slightly interesting for all visitors, since averaging 35 degrees C and a humidity of 95% DP is almost like the outer room of a Swedish sauna..

I'll always be very grateful for this time, since I’ve had the chance to think about what I really want to do, and I know this sort of 'free' time will not present itself very often. However, now I’m very thankful and ready to move on ;)
Welcome 2012!

 

We strolled around in our hood all day on the 31st, went for SPA, headed to the movies to see one of our latest exports to Hollywood (Noomi Rapace) and picked up ingredients for a proper bouillabaisse. Well, OK, as Gordon would probably put it: ‘It’s not a f***ing bouillabaisse if it hasn’t f***ing been cooked days in advance, you f***ing f*** face’. However, and slightly on that note, we never cease to be amazed of the outstanding brand names you stumble across when you least expect it (‘phiten’ sort of means ‘the dick’ in Swedish)


Our tree looked marvelous in the evening dusk and I’m so happy for it!
 

 

Then we went home and started off with oysters and an ice cold cava on our terrace, soon watching the fireworks over the marina
 

Mmmmm… They are from New Zeeland, very fresh and huge
 

Who can go wrong with sea bass, shark, green mussles, saffron and pearl tomatoes amongst others.. (maybe I should just call it a fish soup, so I don’t endanger myself of being in the trigger scope of the $%&*@#^ brilliant Englishman’s wrath)
 

And it became awesome..
 

 

..accompanied by some garlic bread (tthat you can make in a frying pan if there's no oven btw) and really dry white wine
 

For dessert we had just sweet honey pineapple as it is and it was great; we were asleep by 01.30. Glorious!

My New Year resolutions included more travelling in the region for better education on our new Pacific area and more exercise. I have by now booked one weekend trip to KL and one get away to Koh Samui; we're also hoping for a live-aboard diving trip during the spring off the coast of Malaysia. In addition, I've again started the training strategy I swore by in Tokyo and the only one I know actually works: early evenings, early mornings, half a cup of coffee, varying exercise 40 mins, sturdy breakfast + lunch, afternoon fruit and proper sallad dinner at least six days a week. The first goal is to keep it up throughout January so am off to Little India tomorrow for good legumes and vegetables. Happy New Years everyone!

Visit from Stockholm!

Between Christmas and New Years, one of my best friends, Anna, from good old Stockholm landed in Singapore with her man Jimmy. We had a fantastic few days before they were jetting off to KL!

First things first: replacing the fridge!
 

Anna and I started off with one man in a conference call with the States and another jet lagged out of his witts = we headed for Brewerkz Microbrewery by Riverside Point
 

Then we ended up in Clarke Quay and that’s all I have to say about that
 

After a walk in our hood, with lunch at our local hawker, stroll back trough Braddell Heights, some time by the pool and everyone changing into dress coded alternatives for the evening, it was time for the Marina and then dinner at Lau Pa Sat. Unfortunately 1 Altitude was closed, but Ku De Ta at Marina Bay Sands Skypark was a good substitute
 

 

The next day, a quick pit stop at Orchard Road was also required and photos were taken and filed
 

After doing a short and late lunch at Chijmes, we headed for Raffles Hotel
 

Then it was of course Long Bar on the schedule and Singapore Slings; they look slightly slimy, but are actually really good. And you get to throw peanuts on the floor; I mean, what can go wrong?
 

After that it was foot reflexology and chili crab at Jumbo Seafood; commotion broke out though, as a river boat caught fire and a full load of people had to jump ship just below our table

On the way back we passed by the big clock counting down to New Years 

 Welcome back our dear friends and we miss you already!

Christmas Day champagne brunch at Mandarin Oriental

Slightly tired from the nite before, we headed for The Mandarin Oriental for champagne brunch on Christmas Day. It’s one of the fanciest hotels in Singapore and their brunch was seriously to die for..

Coming into one of the lobby rooms in the stunning reception, from all the commotion outside is truly magical.

The reception desk; the kid in pink had just been sliding on imaginary ice skates over the floor, almost knocking over two of the staff, as she was 'scooring' goals against Ronaldo.. Good imagination. Very good.
 

Another lobby room; must have caputured Speedy Gonzales Asian cousin.
 

People seem to always get married everywhere in Singapore; sneaking a photo of a very happy couple on the other side of the curtains.
 

The view upwards is quite spectacular and reminds sort of an onion without the smell; would however have had to lie down in the pool to get the full pic and had had way little champagne for that going in.
 

The main fountain/pool inside surrounding the six glass elevators shooting you up to your floor.
 

Happy but tired husband in one of the private champagne rooms with our other friends; some people even had to sit down before others and most likely blamed it on the Swedish Christmas snaps the day before.
 

And the champagne was very good. And flowing!
 

All of a sudden Father Christmas popped in to say hello; nothing gives you that holiday spirit like a huge man in a red PJ with fake white hair and beard. I've never really understood the whole 'ho, ho, ho' (~ 'whore, whore, whore') though; I'm looping the same ideas around 'Ivanhoe' (~'Ivanwhore'), which is dreadfully slow movie that is aired every Christmas/New Years in Sweden, about a guy that's supposed to be the hero, but lies coughing the whole movie through and makes the worst choice in women ever. It's good though that Jesus' lover Maria Magdalena get some attention around Christmas too, but it's sort of crude.
 

And the food just disappeared from the revolving tray; it was really delish. We ordered pretty much everything from the menu.
 

But the desserts were brutal (and just as I discovered with the high tea, maybe I should just have champagne and desserts the next time)..
 

..and you could try them all.
 

We then decided to go for an after party with a view like this; I actually understand why our Tokyo friends decided on this flat, since it almost looks a little bit like Tokyo in this direction. If you tilt your head and squint. And have had quite a lot of champagne. I like Singsing a lot, but I do miss Tokyo now.
 

Looking down on the roof pools and roof garages of others; high rise building are really cool in Asia. For comparison, the cyliner parking building in the pic, is about the same height as our 9 floor apartment house in Gothenburg. This one is however also placed on a deck, so that the part of the tennis court you see in the below left corner, is even a few floors below the deck. We are quite far up.

 
We were then off to an international goodbye potluck dinner for another friend leaving Singapore, so what would be more suitable to change into, than the Swedish football sweater? Well..

Thank you all for yet a lovely day and hope to do it again soon!