Life in Singapore

I've been back in Singapore for more than 2 weeks already. Besides attending to the matters regarding my property and spending time with my family, I have been up to nothing much. Compared to the last trip back some 4 months ago, I didn't set up as many social engagements nor made any lists about what local food to eat. The reasons I have largely kept a low profile is to reserve more time for my family, whom I felt I didn't have much time for the last time. Also somehow for this time, my craving for Singapore food is very weak, to the point of indifference. Maybe it's because I've just returned not too long ago.

Anyway, this trip, XiXi has been extremely 'sticky' to me. He tags along wherever I go and refuses to follow even PoPo and YiYi if I'm not around. He wasn't like this the last time. I wonder why? Maybe he's grown older and wiser? Or maybe the child care experience has given him some kind of separation phobia? Thankfully, he's very well-behaved as long as I have some toys or his DS Lite to keep him entertained. Recently, he got acquainted with the iphone and the games inside are really useful to keep him occupied.


Besides XX, I also felt a bit different this trip. I'm not as excited when I see the array of delicious food available at the foodcourts. The humid weather is a lot more felt this time and I hate to see the ends of my sons' hair dripping with sweat from the moment they wake up and leave the air-con room. Their skin is always clammy and they stink by midday! I myself am sniffing and blowing my nose every morning due to the humidity and the change in temperature. Without a car, I take the public transport a lot more and though I compliment SMRT and the town councils for doing a good job paving a smooth way for parents with strollers and prams, I especially dread taking the buses with a stroller.

What I cannot stand most is the crowds. One night we went to the Giant hypermart at Tampines to grab some bread and milk. The place was swarmped with people - at 11pm! There was a queue just to get up the escalator! Despite its size, every aisle was packed and shopping there gives me a headache. I constantly have to make sure my kids don't get in the way of others and that they don't get hurt by the carts. All the cashiers were open but the queues were more than 10 shoppers long in each aisle. It was extremely difficult to navigate through the shoppers and find the end of the queues as they stretched into the product aisles of the supermarket. I know this is a situation that can't be helped with the 4.5 going to 6 million population in Singapore and I believe most Singaporeans don't like it any better than me. That's why I really appreciate and like the spaciousness in Australia.

I'm not an ungratful brat who forgets her roots but I'm more and more convinced that I'm happy visiting Singapore but the lifestyle in Singapore is no longer suitable for me. For my personality, I don't need big shopping centers, good food and tons of money to be happy. I have no issues with seclusion and a slow paced, laid back lifestyle. If only my family and close friends are with me in Australia, then my world will be complete.

Flight to Singapore

One morning, 5 days into the new year, Hubby sat at the computer checking airline prices. I had no idea then that 5 days later, my family and I will be back in Singapore. This unexpected trip surprised many of our friends and family, myself included. We had just been back to Singapore in Sept and I hadn't expect to be eating Char Kway Teow again so soon. It took me several days before the reality of the trip sunk in and I started packing. Luckily, the packing was really easy as there wasn't much difference between the weather in Melbourne and Singapore then.





The airline that attracted our patronage and confirmed our trip was Emirates. It was the first time I had taken another airline other than SIA. My verdict? I was pretty impressed with their cabin, inflight meals and entertainment system. However, their cabin crew, though appearing friendly and professional on the surface, lacks sincerity and are not as customer oriented as those from SQ.





Approaching the aircraft, there was a wide array of Australian and Singapore newspapers at the aerobridge for our selection. A Singaporean sounding cabin crew welcomed us at the door. Good start, I thought. Flight EK405 took off on time, however, there were NO drinks served until an hour after take-off. At the customs, the water in my little bottle was poured away, so my children and I were extremely thirsty. I pressed the call attendant button but no one came for a long time. I walked to the galley to get it myself and found the cabin crew having a briefing. No one paid any attention to my presence for a while and when I finally got someone's attention, they gave me the impression that I was interrupting them.





The children were so thirsty that they drank every drop of their apple juice. By the time, the drink service started, they ordered a 2nd glass and gulped down all of it as well. It was way past 8.30pm and I could see they were very hungry when they finished up all their biscuits given as a snack with the drinks and started eyeing mine.

When dinner was finally served, they were pretty substantial and the drinks were generous. I loved the mini bottle of wines and their ciabatta bread rolls. I only wished the bread was warmed. I was most impressed with their ICE entertainment system. The variety of movies and channels were comparable to SQ but the touch screens are so cool and the navigation of the system is more user-friendly.

Overall, the flight was smooth and I enjoyed the flight. I actually managed to watch 3 movies - Julie & Julia, Case 39 and a little of My Sister's Keeper. Enjoyed Case 39 especially. But that's really because the children were angels. They fed themselves, watch movies and went to sleep, waking up only just before arrival.

A Happy New Year

We are now 7 days into the new year! The last few days of 2009 till now have been a flurry of outdoor activities and social gatherings. With our friends, Steven & family from Singapore staying with us and welcoming the new year, our whole family has been pretty busy out and about, spending the summer holidays doing loads of fun things together.




And things are set to get busier for the rest of the month. More details coming up ;-)




Our recent activities would have made a long journal but I think a picture tells a thousand words:

Cycling buddies ready to ride along Williamstown beach

Exploring Bacchus Marsh's Peppertree trail on bike

New Year's Eve BBQ at our place

2010's first breakfast

BBQ Picnic at Dandenong Ranges (at 16 degrees celsius!)

Drive-in Movie: The kids all ready to watch Alvin & The Chipmunks from the roof of the car

At the Melbourne Aquarium

Shannon & XX at our impromtu picnic at the Gurdies winery

Reunion dinner of 4 ex-colleagues

Christmas Day: finally get to open our presents