悲喜交杂

After twenty odd days of fitting in this tropical country, fumbling through the lorongs, and sending CVs days after days, I finally put my foot into this competitive Public Relations industry. A Skype internet interview, several email swapping and one five minutes interview, I got an offer from this WPP subsidiary PR Company as a graduate trainee. I am so over the moon, at the mean time, I am upset that I won’t be able to go back to Australia any time soon.

Two years are a long time. For career wise, two years in a big company is the best for me, at least I don't need to worry about jobs or money when I go back to Australia. On the other hand, it is a great test on us, we have nothing but believe at this stage. Ai……life.

The Rain in Singapore

Lightings, thunderstorms, heavy rains and gloomy sky, these are a distant memory of mine. Singapore pours the rains down everyday after 3pm; it never grudges its water. I like its rain, very much. You will never feel chilly after the rain, but you get to taste the freshness after the washing of the morning heat from the ground. On the other hand, when the rain comes, it never comes as a few shy rain drops; it streams down from heaven with splash through the wind onto the ground. The feeling of freedom and relief are running from the heart and fly freely with the drops.

St James Power Station

This Saturday was the most eventful day since I arrived in Singapore. I went shopping with J in Marina square, fell in love with Zera fashion brand, ate the most beautiful Green tea and Read bean ice-cream from Hokkaido, and then feast ourselves with 捞鱼生and chili crab in East Coast Seafood center. When the sky put down its curtain of night, the day had not yet finished. We then taxied to Vivo city to continue to shop. I later met up with C and the rest of buddies to go to this fabulous club – St James Power Station. The crowds, the music and the venue is far outweighed MOS. Most importantly, it has a tiny Latin bar where a group of Latinos were singing on the stage to boost up the fervor. In the other room, the Power Room, three DJs were mixing techno and pop music for people to pump out their week-long stress.

Why there are so many good and huge clubs in Singapore? Because Singaporean are stress at work and they need a place for them to take it out. Wo ~~~ true but sad.

The Protégé

唉…… the landlady is paranoid that I am not holding a valid documents to rent her place and started bombarding our agent a couple of days ago. Luckily the agent is not patient with her either and helping me to make her believe what we say. The final decision is, the agent and me will go to the HDB board tomorrow to get a letter to confirm my right to live in her place. To be honest, I don't know whether I can rent HDB or not, but if she keeps quiet without making such noise, we will both be safe and save all these troubles! If I find myself can’t rent her place and receive no reply from the job I went interview earlier, I may decide to take back my bond and one month rent then go travel Malaysia – Indonesia – Thailand and then go back to Sydney.

I am now in the low point of living in this foreign land. If I can bear the situation for a bit longer, I may be happy later on; otherwise, Z will be happy to see me back..

I went to watch The Protégé this afternoon with L. This is a big production film, set in Hong Kong, Thailand and Singapore, to bring forth the ugly face of drug. Hong Kong haven’t had such a good production made since Internal Affair, given this movie is released during CNY time, it has brought a great acclaim in the Singapore media. The story is the old police and thief theme with whom you don't know is good or bad. But the depiction of drug processing, from its raw plant (poppy) extracted to its pure powder, then dissolved and mixed it with other substitutes, finally is sold to junkies, are vividly portrayed right in front of the audience. You feel a shock wave from drug made to people’s life directly and realistically. First cinema experience in Singapore with a good movie – contentment.

Singapore CNY weather

Singapore weather plays quirk in this Chinese New Year. It clouds up its face, and start to rain every afternoon since CNＹeve. Of course, this enhances the already humidity weather. I went to Botanic Garden yesterday and sweated non-stop all the way inside. Today, I went to East Coast beach, the rain suddenly poured down, I became soaked through and still had to walk 20 minutes to the bus stop to go home. Bad experience.

I am so damn bored, all shops close for CNY till Wednesday the earliest. Friends are visiting relatives or taking holidays in islands. I am left in a foreign land, soaking in the humidity and feeling bored.

Chinese New Year

I would have never thought of I would be in Singapore for my horoscope year 12 years earlier. I still remember I was running this question in my mind that “hmm……what will I be when I am 24? Wow~~~ that is very old. Far away leh!” Then I went out with my friends to the CNY market. 12 years is a long cycle. I am not feeling old, doing something outstanding, with no family around but had a good laugh in a friend’s family reunion dinner. There is still a long way ahead; what and where will I be when I am 36?

I realize I become maturer and more introverted when I was on the MOS dance floor. The images of my sick days kept popping up, and I would prefer to sit quietly by the river bank than immersing myself in the roaring music. The sickness is like the shot mark on my arm, will always stamp on my heart and could not be wiped out. Instead of going clubbing, Karaoke, or shopping, I would choose to sit quietly to write to myself, to read, or just to learn onto Z. These simple wishes pose such big contrasts to my ambitious career goal!

Today I took a long trip to my friends place; I took the MRT via the far north side of Singapore, where the nature reserves are. As I got on at Orchard road, it was such a big difference with mass greens lay out outside the window, instead of tall buildings, big shopping malls and crowded people. I never expected to see that many green lands in such a small city state.

The next three days I will be bored to death, every business will stop operating because of CNY. No shops will open and no more interviews; friends will be busy visiting relatives. I will be left to explore Singapore myself. Hopefully there are things for me to explore after two weeks here.

Sentosa

Singapore really is a small place, one week, without much trying, I have already been to all the major shopping centers and tourist hot spots. If I can’t find a job soon, I will be bored to death – everywhere is shopping shopping with me have no money to spend.

This morning when I woke up, clouds were swarming on the sky. I was so worried that it would rain today as I was going to visit Sentosa. Luckily, the sky cleared up later with mild wind cooling you from the hot sun. J accompanied for the whole afternoon to visit this “city beach island”. There are three transports to reach the island: monorail, cable car, or ferry. We took the cheapest and quickest one – the monorail. It is said that Singapore bought sands from overseas to cover the Sentosa beach, because tourist will only see dark sands there otherwise. What I saw was white sands, green water, and small waves in all its beaches; big container ships are part of the picture as well. This island is that famous is due to is closeness to the city, and at least, it is a beach!

We then went up to this infamous Merlion statue, taking the Sentosa panorama view from the mouth of this giant mammal. I knew lately that this one was not the origin one; the one has water coming from the mouth is located in Raffles place, the financial center of Singapore, which we visited after Sentosa.

Overall, Sentosa is an overrated small island to me. Yet with all the luxury resorts and clean beaches near the city, Singaporean should have nothing to complain about it.

Suntec City

Sutec City is one of the largest shopping centers in Singapore, composed with four towers and countless shops. I went to Karaoke in the afternoon, then shopping, then dinner. It is assessable to everything. I am not much a shopping freak as I first arrived; I want to buy the best worth for money. Given that I still unemployed, I should learn how to resist the urge from buying. Still, window shopping made me happy.

I stayed home for the whole day, sending out a whole bunches of job applications. My eyes are blurring and brain is dead at the end of the day. I then went out for a walk and dropping by local community centers. Even though I am living in a HDB flat, the surrounding has facilities are ones expect to find – children’s playgrounds, vegetation batches, hawker centers, a grocery / food market, schools and community centers. It is so unlike Hong Kong or Guangzhou, where buildings are crammed into each other, you feel inhibition and living in a stone city. Here, after the sunset when the weather cools down, you can go out for a stroll, enjoyed the slowing down transition of a busy day.

The nearby community centers provide you with cheap dance class. The people here are really in to Western line dancing. I watched them perform downstairs last night; it was so fascinated. I think I am going to put off my Ballroom dancing till I get back to Australia, and pick up this hot and no partner dance style.

Chinatown night Safari

Tonight is Saturday night, after suppressing myself in my room with no internet access, I finally got a reward to go Chinatown night market at night. People in Singapore started to celebrate Chinese New Year one month ago. Huge crowd of people squeezed with each other, sweating, on the narrow streets. Pig can be seen everywhere, even the usual Money Cat becomes a Money Pig. This is the only place in Singapore you can litter without being fined. So candy papers, coconut shells, plastic cups, etc. are seen from people’s hands to the floor.

This experience is unique, very different from China. First, we won’t sweat in Chinese New Year, it is winter time. Second, there are not that many different languages surrounding you, English, Singlish, Mandarin, Cantonese, Malay … you name it they speak it.

I may feel lonely on New Year’s Eve though. While everyone else is having the big Chinese banquet (tuan yuan fan), I might be eating instant noodle at home. Never mind, these are part of the experience. I know what to treasure more after all these.

Shoes

Ok, three new shoes in two days maybe a bit shoecoholic, yet given that Melbourne shoes are expensive and out of fashion, it is worth it to buy more here than suffering from shoe scrapes when I am back to Australia.

My first time to hang clothes outside the 20th floor window using a thin stick. Singapore has no backyards and land space is scared. The only way to get your clothes to dry is to put them outside your window; at least they still have plenty of space between buildings.

Life with no internet is SUPER boring. I am going to set up my internet by Monday, regardless I use others IC to sign up M1’S plan or buy the expensive cable modem from Starhub - I’ve gotta having it!

A full on day

After calling up all the recruitment agencies in the morning, I took the afternoon shopping along Bugis Junction. I bought two pairs of nice shoes for work and causal wearing. The most amazing was their dance shoes are so damn cheap. Australia is triple the price of what is selling in Singapore.

Later in the afternoon, I had a drama with the HSBC bank card. I had to run from one branch to another one in order to get the money out to pay for the rent. How can a bank close its counter service by 3.30pm! To reward my hard leg work, the Vivo city shopping centre in Harbor Front MRT station, where a HSBC branch locates, is right opposite Sentosa Island. I got the first glimpse of the infamous lion statue, remotely.

After all the labourly carrying and running up and down, I finally move into my own room. It has a great view and big and clean, yet, I don't feel attached to it. Z is missing. His memory is around; I don't feel home if he is not here.

Later at night C bought me out to a Salsa dance club. I did not expect salsa dance in Singapore has such a high standards of dancers. They even have live brand after 1.00am. If I was not that tired, I would definitely ask those swanky guys for a dance. This was also my first time to know Bachata dance, a very intimate and sexy dance. I am not intended to learn, but just by listening to its music and watching couples dancing were already satisfied enough

万家灯火

On the second day in Singapore, I fond a great place to stay – it is right on top of Braddell MRT station and it is on the top floor (20th floor). And most importantly, it has a jaw dropping view of North West Singapore. You immediately have the view from the top feeling. The room is cheap but large with a huge TV set, the landlady is motherhood likeness and the area is safe. Even though this is the second place I inspected, from my experience in Australia, it is quite a good bargain. Now, half of the worries are solved, I am going to settle down and get a job! I am like a warrior, working my way to wards a luminous dream.

The impression of Singapore to me is familiar yet strange. Since I haven’t been back to Asia for three years, but I was born and grew up there. The culture is interesting but not fascinated. I think I can survive, but not for long. At least that is what I think at this stage.

I cried myself to sleep last night. It is really hard to leave him and come here, especially after six months of living together. Every daily routine I do has his memory, and my tears drop whenever I think of him. However, at this stage of life, it is the best option for us to work on our career to get a better future together, instead of accepting what it is when we become old. We are not rich, we can’t take parents’ fortune as a given. Yet, as long as we stay happy together, what more do we want?

I feel blessing that Jenny has these fantastic friends in Singapore. If it is not them, I will get lost and could not find an accommodation so soon. I will work hard so I won’t let them down.

Farewell

What is waiting in front of me is unknown; aAn one-way flight ticket, three days of hostel accommodation and a few unseen friends of friends are the only confirmations on my days in a foreign land. Am I strong enough to take this? Maybe. But, if I don’t take this chance now, I will waste my youth on a disconsolate and oppressed low-level job. It is sad, really sad, to say good-bye to my friends and family. Hope these all worth it.

Farewell Melbourne Tram! Farewell Victoria Market! Farewell Park Hyatt Friday night dancing! Farewell four seasons in a day!

Sports Media

I am never a ball game fan, yet I still like to participate in some world cup ball games fever. I went to watch Australian Open tennis man’s final on Federation Square on Sunday. A few hundred people were gathering under the big screen to watch this annual beloved sport’s event, while a few hundred more were in the Rod Laver to watch them play live. Last month was cricket, while wind back a couple of months, similar amount of people got gather again to celebrate AFL grant final. And not long ago, there were mobs of people standing in the cold on Lygon Street to watch World Cup Soccer. Melbourne has sport’s event all year round; you’d got to love sport to love Melbourne.

After getting frustrated with Melbourne city roads, we finally got on to West Gate Bridge FWY to drive to Hepburn Spring. This was a relaxation day spa trip before I leave, we have limited budget and unlimited prospects. We spent 45 minutes in this mini tree top spa tub before cruising into this outdoor Sauna and spa pool. After a whole afternoon of pounding and thumbing by water and sweating in the Sauna room, my muscle is now loosened while my skin feels like breathing in freshness in every second. This is good for my wellbeing and I would love to do more if I could.