Botanic Gardens, Botanic Opera!

I spent today at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a nature reserve lush with exotic plants and garden arrangements rival any.  By the time I arrived at the heart of the park, rain began and then it really began.  Quite quickly the opacity of the trees faded in my gaze as a haze dimmed as I reached the rain forest part of the park.  Then suddenly, torrential rains unloaded from above and soon the paths seemed to turn to rivers. It just kept falling and falling and with it thunder and lightening with such intensity, frequency, noise, and earth shaking magnitude, I thought, this must be what it is like to sit the a bombing campaign during a war.  Yet all the explosive rain and power was fittingly right for the rain forest.

As time went on and the rains let up somewhat, I wandered out from the shelter beneath which I had taken shelter and headed deep into the rain forest of the park.  It is amazing to see the haze, smell the odours of the wet and rich soil and earth, to hear ever rain drop crackle of the massive leafs, and gaze upon mysterious vegetation the seemingly leap miles from earth into the sky. 




As I passed onto other areas of these botanic gardens, I wound my way through other amazing garden arrangements as well including a bonsai collection, sundial garden and a ginger garden.  Although hiking around through this giant park in the rain made for a fatiguing day, it could not stop me from remaining to see a once a summer spectacular to be shown at that park that night - the summer opera in the park, and it was everything it was billed to be, even if there was a little rain.  There was Puccini, Dvorak, Mozart, and others - a two-hour collection of highlights from various operas of the composer choice.  The scene and sounds were perfectly produced, and the performance perfect.

I finished the night eating at my favorite hawker center on the bay, watching a live band and enjoying the lights as always.

Singapore fun fact day 19: the botanic gardens were founded in 1859 as a pleasure garden

As part of the previous blog - View from up top

cheers!

Work and Play

My housing situation is still in limbo.  Now I am having problems with my hostel which is in general mayhem.  The Internet isn't working, there are no keys or door locks, service is suspect and cancellation has been difficult too. 

But that aside all is well here in Singapore.  Work wise I am very excited about the work we are doing.  Most promotions materials are complete or nearing completion.  The booth design proposal is in, and I am quite happy with how everything looks there.  As for the opening we are working on, today we had an on site meeting with one of two potential event companies which will be putting on the event.  This meeting was followed by a media meeting which included the heads, sponsors, and media folks.  Naturally, it was quite neat to be part of both meetings.  Are big task now is to focus in on the grand opening moment.  Are key idea main idea concept was shot down today because it too closely resembles another idea to be used at a near date in the future.  But that's alright, they say if you are batting 300 you are doing well.  So getting shot down once isn't so bad.  If anything we know have the chance to do more creation.

Last night Henry, Meghan, and I returned to Marina Bay, and the hawker center with such great food.  Henry and I split on-the-spot-made crab balls with mee goreng, a spicy pasta with sea food in it.  I capped with off with a coconut while we watched the lights over the bay.  Finally, because it was Thursday and on Thursday you can get to the top of some buildings for a view, we did just that, went up 70 stories to have a night view panorama of the bay.  A nice series of events to end the day.

Wednesday's meal

the hawker center by the bay

last night's meal

me and my coconut

Sometimes in Singapore...

Today I cut my hand on some sort of object in the MRT subway although I didn't realize it until my hang was soaked in blood.  I figured there is probably a fine for bleeding in public - maybe they would even think I cut it on the prickly shell of a durian, which is also illegal to transport on the MRT and carries a s$500 fine.  With this in mind I headed for the nearest restroom to wash off my bludgeoned fingers.  Luckily for me in spite of this inconvenience I caught my connecting bus to work because the driver was late.  Unluckily for me she drove like a maniac and so just as I was approaching a new record score in pinball on my phone the turbulence of the bus ride ended my killer pinball effort.

Lunch was once again a score.  I chowed down on food from a vegetarian stand - spring rolls, greens, and a mystery veggie.  Add a coke to that and s$2.70 bought me a great lunch. Back in the office while working away as usual, I was also trying to handle my potential housing situation with a potential lady.
We had an agreement by which I would move in on the 2nd of June.  I confirmed this in email a week before arriving stating "I wish to confirm the date of our agreement, that I will be arriving June 2nd," to which she said, "OK."  So when I emailed here the day before to see what time I might drop by, she informed me the previous tenant was still there and didn't know how long he would be there.  A day later I was told I would be able to move in the 5th.  Yet, once again she changed that date to the 12th of June this time.  So naturally I booked a room elsewhere until the 12th. 

Here is where is gets good...yesterday, she informs me that the room is ready and that I should move in immediately.  I promptly informed her that the terms of our agreement had changed and that I would now only be willing to pay a reduced rate and deposit to which she apparently had no choice but to agree to.  Of course she wanted me to send the deposit over before actually seeing the place or signing a contract and set a date for doing so, 12 hours later without consulting my availability.  Yeah.  So I nixed that idea and am waiting for a response.

To sign or not to sign, that is the question.

Singapore fun fact day 17: in Singapore, the Garden City, there more than 300 parks

More about what we are working on

What are events are we working towards? 

Singapore International Water Week

http://www.siww.com.sg/

We are working on designing the booth and promotional materials for the Singapore-Delft Water Alliance at this convention.

Grand opening of the Aquatic Science Center at Pandan

This center will serve to provide understanding of urban water systems in order to help develop adequate and cost-effective water improvement measures.  Specific research objectives will include research to provide understanding of fundamental processes underlying fresh water system functioning, and to generate knowledge and improve water quality and quantity, ecological and appearance of urban water bodies.  There will also be an interactive component for the public.

Singapore fun fact day 17: Singapore is 13 hours ahead of the Wisconsin, USA where I am from

Nights on the Bay

For now I am back at my perch on Marina Bay, and life couldn't be better.  I have a new colonial look (for the Colonial District), a very spiffy mustache, and my energy level and desire to get out on the town is at a high.  So the previous few evenings I have been strolling about the bay area, and this is what I saw...

Last night Daniel and his girlfriend Stacy, joined Meghan, Henry and I, and took us to a fabulous hawker center with a plethora of seafood choices.  We ate...stingray, yes, I said stingray - grilled BBQ style, with a nice spicy kick.  I can honestly say it was one of the best things I have ever eaten.  On the side we ate a spicy pasta with seafood which included mussels and shrimp.  Both were served on banana leafs.  Will I be going back tonight for more?  You know it!



My housing situation seems to be shifting once again.  After playing a little hard ball with my potential landlord, I negotiated down the price and deposit so I may not be staying in the Marina Bay area forever...but one thing I know, until I move, I am certainly enjoying my time living on the bay.

Singapore fun fact day 16: Marina Bay is actually a fresh water resevoir

The best eats of Singapore, and done dirt cheap!

My daily budget is s$40 per day.  Depending on exchange rates that's a bit over $30 USD.   That makes about s$20 for a roof over the head, and s$20 for food, transportation, and everything else.  That might not sound like a lot, but by traveling and budgeting wisely you can really make it stretch.  Of course, it always helps when the best stuff its cheap or free.

Take food, for which I have about s$10 per day.  Singapore is known for great food and a wide variety.  Of course this is true of fancy and touristy areas.  But the Singapore gem, hawker centers - local food hubs with dozens of little stands that serve dozens of dishes from a variety of ethnicities.  My favorites have been the spicy Indian dishes - great stuff!

Here is a sampling:

Mangosteen fruit! so sweet, but the outer-purple part stains, be careful

Dried-peppered beef, greens, eggplant, curry, and rice

Fried desserts including fried plantain!

The infamous durians - no way to describe the smell and taste, someday, you will just have to try it

Chicken, cabbage and rice

L

Lamb, chicken, and rice boiled in leaves

Indian - mutton, veggies of some type and curry and rice

A chicken and shrimp combo with rice

Does anyone notice a commonality here?  Recall, the Asian Civilization Museum blog?  Yes, rice is definitely a staple food here!

Singapore fun fact day 15 - the Esplande Performing Arts Center is called the Durian by locals because of its design and local popularity of the fruit