Black Pepper Crab, Durian Lingers...

And did I mention Durian lingers? Tuesday night we went out for dinner, about 12 of us from the office. It's always nice to go out with the bunch who work here, we laugh easily together and enjoy eachother's company, and the team love the fact that I'll try almost anything, within reason, which leads me to the title of the blog tonight.
Chad suggested we go for black pepper crab, and although the crabs were a bit smaller than usual last night, the taste was incredible. We headed out after work to Joo Chat neighborhood, which was quite quaint with older low rise buildings and deep, deep curbs.
We all piled onto the yellow plastic chairs of this corner instiution and Chad ordered like a pro. We chatted for a bit, but once the food came, it was serious business.
There are actually two popular crab flavors, one is chili crab, which I was not as fond of as the sauce was so spicy you lost the actual flavor of the crab, and then the pepper crab, which was fantastic! I can't wait to have it again.
In spite of absolutely stuffing ourselves with crab, Chad suggested we go across the street to a Durian cafe. Durian is a fruit grown locally that is very popular here. Honestly, it smells so distinctive you could not mistake it for anything else! The flavor is equally as distinctive, and Chad (again, he's such a pro) orders two D24, which is a bitter sweet flavor of durian, and the highest grade. The actual process of chopping open the spiky fruit is quite fascinating, and the fruit grown in little clusters inside a pilth.
How would I describe my first durian experience? I would just say I am glad I tried it. I think it is an acquired taste and if you grew up with the taste and flavor and texture and smell, I can see how it would be missed if you no longer had it around.
I would not make a special trip for it, but I have to thank the gang here for giving me the chance to try.

Trinkets and Trash

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maneki_Neko

After breakfast on Sunday I did a bit of local shopping and then walked over to Chinatown. I had a request from a friend for a Merlion lighter, and the last time I was here I had discovered this great little beachwear store that I wanted to head back to.
Chinatown in Singapore is the land of Trinkets and Trash. Want a Singapore magnet/key chain/bottle opener/t-shirt/ashtray/merlion statue/merlion lighter (ding, ding, ding!!), well, Chinatown is the land of 3 for $10 souvenirs. It's fun to browse and wander through. I stopped into the Buddhist temple for a minute, and was asked several times where I was from. One man commented I was a strange woman to leave my husband at home! I had to laugh at that one.

Another quest was a Happy Cat. The last time I was here, Akshey from the office brought me to Little India, where we had excellent food at Mustard, and then walked around for a bit. There are also many 3 for $10 stores in that area, and when I was with him, I picked up my first Happy Cat, or Maneki Neko, for which the literal translation is Beckoning Cat. At the time I decided that a collection was going to be required, and have committed to picking a different one up whenever I visit Singapore. For the record, my first Maneki Neko was plastic, white, solar powered so her arm waves perpetually. She sits in the window of the study, waving tirelessly at passerby.
So, I was on a bit of a hunt. I saw many Maneki Nekos, but they had to call out to me, to speak to me. Grabbing the nearest cat was not acceptable, it had to be special, and of course they all have to be different, too. Just as I was about to give up for the day, I noticed a window display in a bit more of a fancy shop. They had a whole big bunch, big, small, and although lovely, none had yet to beg me to bring them home, until I discovered this little set::
Tiny little fridge magnets (picture to follow when stupid BlackBerry elects to work again...)
Perfect.

Bejing in 1 hour?

Well yes, here I am, back in Singapore. I wondered if I should blog this time, but as usual, Day 1 and I think: I totally need to blog this...
I am now in the Amara Hotel, where they have upgraded me to a Tropical 6 room, which is on the same floor as the pool and gym, has hardwood floors and high ceilings, but windows start at 7 feet up, and there are no long strings to open the curtains, so i have hardwood floors but no natural light. Upgrades continue to amaze me. The roti man recognized me this morning at the breakfast buffet and made me 2 roti with which I ate my egg and spread my lovely Boursin cheese onto. My friend Chad picked me up last night and then we scooted over to Lau Pha Sat (big food court) to pick me up something to eat, I was starving and dying of thirst. It was so nice to see his kind face at the airport, to be recognized at the hotel and to know my way around a bit. Makes business travel so much more fun.
The main thing I wanted to blog about today, though, was my funny experience at the Beijing Airport yesterday. Chad was convinced I was going to get stuck in China, but no, in spite of my bare minimum 1 hour connection, I did make the flight. (Carry on only, for those who are wondering if my luggage made it...)Transferring in airports is always a bit interesting, as every airport is different. I hear transferring at my home airport in Toronto is, in a word, stupid. I apologize now to all in transit passengers on behalf of my city planners.
When I disembark from the Boeing 777 in front of me is a counter that says "international transfers". Three people are working the desk, but no one is moving. After a few moments, a gentleman shows up who instructs those of us with boarding passes to go straight to our left and then down one level to our gates. Great. Well, around the corner to the left is the immigration hall, which is PACKED with probably close to 1000 people, lined up in at least 10 lines and packed from the "wait at this line" yellow line to the back wall. A solid mass of people. I'm standing there, looking for something that tells me where I am supposed to be. Way at the far end of the hall is a sign that says "International Transfers". Hmmm. And so, in good Canadian form, I make my way through the mass of humans with a "'scuse me, pardon me, 'scuse me..." The seas part, one person at a time. At one point I look behind me and realize that I have some followers. The gentleman looks at me as says, "KEEP GOING!!!". I smile and plow through.
When we are spit out at the other end, a short 10 person line await us for our connecting flights. The man behind me thanks me for blazing the way, and we chat while we wait for the facial recognition technology to process our actual pictures against our passport pictures via immigration (very interesting technology, must research it more...).
Lessons learned:

• When I say excuse me, I want you to move. Having me roll my bag over your feet is your own fault.
• Look far away to find the place you need to be.
• Brush your teeth before you get off a 20 hour flight, just in case a friend surprises you at the other end.

Singapore Slings Chez Raffles with Miss Rosie

Well, I did it. I have officially had a Singapore Sling at the Raffles Hotel. The Raffles Hotel is the landmark property in Singapore; it is named after Sir Stamford Raffles, who landed here in 1819. (actually, let’s be clear, everything is named either Stamford or Raffles in Singapore!) The Long Bar, where the heritage cocktail was supposed to have been originally invented, is upstairs in this sprawling complex of shops and rooms, which looks like it should really be the grand manor house on a cotton plantation. The long bar is famous and as a result has a funky fun band and a crowd of tourists and wedding strays from the various weddings that take place here. My boss and her husband were married here and they entertain quite a few tourists in Singapore, so the hotel courtyard bar, where I had my Sling, and the Long Bar, where I danced the Twist with Bob, are regular haunts for them. I smiled when the bartender referred to my boss as Miss Rosie. I get the impression that to be a regular in Singapore is quite a welcome change for hotel staff who see so many faces in a year that a familiar one is a welcome one.

As for the cocktail, it was OK, but I wouldn’t rush back to have another unless I had a tourist in tow.

Sentosa Rocks

Saturday. Halfway through my trip here, and still so much of Singapore I have not seen. To pick how I want to spend my day today was a challenge, but Garrick and Chad were heading over to Sentosa, and my friend Victoria had mentioned that I should see it, so I decided to tag along with the boys. During the week I had been teasing Chad about making sure he ordered good weather, and he came through for us perefectly. Today the sky was clear and blue, not a cloud to be seen in any direction. He picked us up at the hotel at 11 and indulged my desire to take the cable car over to Senotsa. He dropped us off and told us to text him once we were on the cable car. The views were spectacular, the water a lovely color and the cable car was a small enclosed bubble of glass as hot as a sauna!

Once off on the other end, a wrong turn took us through the cable car museum, the highlight of which was a "VIP" cable car that had plush red leather seats and a radio, followed in coolness factor by the cable car keychains.
We met up with Chad, who drove over, and pausing at to speak to the snake charmer who places a huge snake on people for photo ops for $5, we head over to the beach. I finally see one of Singapore's famous massive Merlions - at last!
We walk along the beach and stop for lunch on a nice patio. The food, as always, is lovely and Garrick's salad is just beautiful. Chad and I had a thin crust Hawaian pizza which was better than any I have had at home. After lunch we complete the beach walk and then drive to the other side of the island.

And here is Paradise:

Tanjong Beach Club

Volleyball courts, a DJ, great drinks, beautiful people, a pool, sand and the sea. What could possibly be better? I think of my friend Len and take their business card so when I come back, I can make reservations for a lounge area for us all. I can just imagine us wasting an entire afternoon and evening chilling by the pool, drinking delish Margaritas and soaking up the "culture".
Tonight I head out to Raffles Hotel for a cocktail (I suppose I should have a Singapore Sling) and then dinner. Cheers!

Food, Friends and Sting Ray

I have been remiss in posting over the last few days, partly because I have been busy, but partly because I have been busy eating, and eating and eating. It seems that good food in always just around the corner in Singapore. Although the first few days in the office, I think the team were trying to be gentle on us foreigners and ordered Sandwiches for lunch, I soon laid down the law - No More Sandwiches. No KFC. No Pizza.
Tuesday night I headed out to a little Mexican restaurant I have previously mentioned - Piedra Negra. Seriously some of the most authentic, best Mexican I have had outside of Mexico. After a round of reposado, the margarita was cold and refreshing and perfect. We ordered "for the table" though through no explicit agreement, and it was just right. We served each other albondigas, papas, aranchera, flautas and chile rellenos all the while chatting about Mexico and Peru and vacations and beaches. A perfect evening.
At breakfast every morning the Sri Lankan cook makes me hot roti. There is quite a method to roti, the pulling and stretching of a sticky dough, the flattening of the small patti onto the hot grill. He enjoys ensuring I have hot roti in the morning, to the point where he had a hot one sent to my table yesterday so I did not have to stand and wait for it. He makes sure he has an egg fresh off the grill for me, and tomorrow he wants me to try a roti with cheese. I am already looking forward to breakfast. Maybe I am a little in love with Mr. Roti.
Last night after work, Sharon organized our dinner outing to Glutton's Bay. Glutton's Bay has some of the best Hawker food in Singapore. Hawker food ranges in price from between $3 and $6, and is usually Chinese, Thai, Korean, Malay or IndianThey have a stand quality rating system (based on cleanliness) that ranges from A to D, A being the highest quality. Hawker stands generally post their ratings where they are easily visible, and last night we had a feast at A and B rated stands! Fried chicken, noodles, "cereal" shrimp, king crab, calamari that tasted like candy, and the highlight was sting ray, which was nicely BBQed and then topped with a chili paste. It was a feast, and Chad got us dessert - shaved ice with various fruit puree and jellies and red beans. Mmmm!

Tonight Garrick and I stopped at a hawker stall across from the hotel on our way back from a way-cool outdoor bar on the 17th floor of a hotel, pictured here. The bar is called Fabric and the service was "interesting", but they had a ladies night promotion so if I gave them my buisness card, I got three coupons for Lycee Martinis for Tuesday nights. Whooo Hooo! Sorry, back to the food. After eating great veggies and liver and sliced BBQ Pork over rice, we tried Honey Cake, which tasted a bit like a date or raisin christmas cake. Garrick suggested that a few seconds in the microwave and a bit of warm custard would really make it just perfect. How am I to disagree with such sound logic?

In the land of shutters...

Today was a day of soaking it all up. Well rested and having done my immediate shopping in the early morning, I headed out to take the metro and discover a bit of this town. I decided to head over to the Muslim area of town, known as Kampong Glam. Kampong just means village, and the area certainly has a very neighborhoody feel overall. I enjoyed walking the local streets and as I was not in the market for a new Persian rug (I swear these stores are all money laundering establishments worldwide - who do you know who has one of these rugs at their place??) nor was I going to pick up yards of fabric for a Sari, I enjoyed the colors and the smells of this neat little spot. Much to my glee, I found a mexican restaurant - Piedra Negra, which is on my list to try in the next two weeks.

As I headed toward the Mosque, I realized I was so thirsty and I could use a bit of a break, but the closest thing was the Swedish Cafe, which was full of white folk with tour books taking pictures of their big slices of cake. Not exactly what I had in mind. I sidestepped the gaggle of Germans and walked up the next block, where I found a slightly more authentic sidewalk cafe. I order an iced tea and a mineral water. This is my iced tea. Here I was, looking at cans of iced tea, and this milky concoction is what the pretty lady behind the cash hands me. It is a strong tea with milk and sugar already in it, warm, which is then served over ice. Voila! Iced tea! It was excellent, and hit the spot perfectly.

I head up the road to the Mosque, which I am not sure I am going to be able to enter as I have capris on and though I am bare armed, I do have a scarf for covering my arms. I need not have worried, when I get there I am told it is closed, only to reopen at 2 in the afternoon. As always, I am a bit disappointed when a house of God is actually closed, but I snap a few pictures nonetheless.

I head over to Burgis Street for a bit more visual stimulation. Burgis is a shopping area built in the 60s that has a bit of a flea market feel to it. Good fun, some very silly things for sale (you know the little cats with the one swinging arm? Yup, those...) and lots of people watching. I stop to read my horescope, which is hysterical. It basically tells me my year is going to suck, but I should stay calm. Nice.

On that uplifting note, I grab a cab to Dempsey Hill and meet up with some of the gang from work for lunch. I'll certainly have to go back to Dempsey, it was a cool palce with tons of restaurants and shops, great for milling about and wasting away an afternoon.

What I have really enjoyed so far is the different architecture of Singapore. From the funky highrises to the small shuttered shops, the mix feels like an interesting blend of Europe, Asia and a touch of what I guess is Malay.