i leave the country and mammoth gets dumped on. 10 feet of snow and it’s still coming down. go figure. i won’t be surprised if the 08/09 season is as bad as 06/07 was. ffs.

- – -

so i set off for singapore on a 90+ day adventure and i’ve been here for about a week. it was the first time flying eva (used singapore air the last time i was here), but i wanted to check out their ‘elite class’ and must say it was well worth it. the seats are much large and there is a good amount of arm room on each side. the recliner is slightly more sophisticated with some control on the leg rest too. 3 movies, a princess of mars, a few asian veggie meals and 18+ hours later i was standing in front of immigration trying to explain why i was going to reside in a country for 90 days without officially working.

yes i left my job. no i don’t know the address of where i’m staying. yes i’m the guy in the photo. no my hair’s not blonde anymore. yes my girlfriend is here already. no i can’t seem to find my return ticket home. yes, that’s really me in the photo.

that and the hour delay on my luggage aside, i’ve had few hiccups since i’ve arrived.

scale model of the island from the ura center.

got to spend the past week settling in (got over the jet lag in a day) and exploring the area. i’m sitting in a 12th floor flat on the west side of the island. great view, amazing cross breeze, and walking distance to the bust stop, mrt, and a few hawker stands. insead is even walkable but takes about 40 mins. a welcome change from sitting in front of a computer all day in a dimly lit room.

here’s the living area where i’ve set up shop.

it’s warm. it’s muggy. it rains off and on most days. and i love it.

looking out from the patio.

i’m right next to the ulu pandan connector which is a long strip of pavement that runs parallel to the canal and invites many-a-person to walk/jog/bike it. although singapore has a reputation for being friendly, i’ve noticed that the locals usually keep to themselves while in public and are less inclined to say hi when you pass them. i’ve gotten most of my ‘morning!’s welcomed only by semi suspicious smiles.

the food is amazing but it’s definitely not the chopped green asian chicken wraps i’m used to. lots of oil. lots of spice. lots of noodles. there’s a good variety if you know where to look but it’s usually a little more expensive than what you’d pay for some chicken rice and a soy milk.

found a great book at the recommendation of david chow called the makansutra and have been using it as a guide to finding some great eats. it’s been pretty spot on so far and i’ll post some more specifics in a bit. oddly i couldn’t find it in the states and had to pick it up when i got here.

sing’s expat foodie bible.

this guy makes some really good milk tea.

lots to see. lots to do. i’ll keep you posted.

Dude, it looks really cool over there. Not at all what I was expecting. Your flat is rad, killer view. It all looks incredible.

That is super funny customs was giving you crap about being worthless…. Hi, I am craig, I am here from America, No I dont have a job, No, I wasnt planning on getting one…… I love it

Keep on keepin’ on. I dont know how you are going to get a portfolio done over there with all that Singapore action all around.

moderate my comment dot com

glad you made it through customs. i think they all try to be the Hot Fuzz of immigration without the brains. something similar happened to me at London Heathrow. now i just find it easier to make up a bogus address (or the first one you see) and make up a story. wtf do they care if you are staying at the local McDonald’s.

it’s funny, the picture of the patio view is almost exactly how i pictured it when you were describing it to me.

let’s see some food pics! =)