Make a Smilebox slideshow

Water and Views
Cecilia, Fann and I went to the Marina Barrage last week. It's Singapore's newest reservoir, right smack in the middle of the city. I mean, it's just a place to store water for goodness sakes. And it's a public works project to boot.

But what a nice job they've done with it. It's got a great view at night, and they've made really good use of the water theme. Couples were out walking next to the reservoir, kids were running in between the water sprays at the fountains, along with some parents.

And now young dating couples have one more place to make out.

But seriously, we used to be such a pragmatic, utilitarian society with no use for design or aethetics. (or for conservation, but that's aonther story) I'm glad it's changing now, and I'm glad we're combining form with function.

Most of all, I'm glad that even public projects are getting a soul.

Xmas Desserts


Charles has a new cake out for Christmas at Classic Cakes. Comes in plain custard, chocolate (YUMMY!! I'm not just saying this because I'm a chocoholic), and uh...Durian.

Sweeeet!

Lion Getting Ready to Have Giraffe Steak for Lunch

We were in the jeep following a giraffe when suddenly Floris, our guide at the S African Game Reserve, notices two lions coming out of the bush. The male stays behind, the lioness slowly prowls toward the giraffe.

"The lioness is going for the kill," he says.

"Should we warn the giraffe?" someone says.

"No! This is nature. Besides, the lions have got to feed. I'm not sure if this lion will get the giraffe though. She's very young, not very experienced."

We watch, silent. We're probably all hoping the giraffe gets away. The lion comes in from behind. The giraffe spots her and gallops. They're almost neck to neck - or rather, fang to hoof. But the giraffe is faster. He gets away, this time.

"Would the lioness really have gotten the giraffe?" someone asks. "The giraffe is so much taller and faster."

"Yeah if she were smart," said Floris. "If she had jumped on his back while he was drinking and got him into the water, he'd have been finished."

And that's how the game is played. Even if it's only in a Game Reserve.

Peking Duck Fusion

Yesterday a Beijing cabbie asked me which part of CHINA I come from:
"You sound like you're from the South," he said. "Guangzhou?"
Nope. OK - so I AM Cantonese, technically.
"Fujian."
Nope.
He went on with a couple more provinces and finally guessed Singapore when I told him to guess a country.
But yay! He didn't think I was a banana! PROGRESS! This is big deal for a CHIJ girl - a school that created fear and hopelessly among Chinese teachers - our Chinese was so bad. And where a friend of mine who got an A in Chinese hid it from everyone else.
That afternoon, I was able to tell another cabbie which route I wanted him to take (4th Ring Road - it's further but faster). And believe me, they don't speak English.
I guess after three weeks here I SHOULD sound less rough around the edges, and I found myself writing an address for the cabbie in Chinese, I'd seen it so many times in tiny type on the guidebook. And I surprised myself by using a colloquial phrase to respond to someone who wanted to exchange pins.
My Chinese is no where near some of my Beijing colleagues' English. One of them half jokingly said I was OK for a foreigner. Maybe if I stayed here longer I'd be passable.
But the point is this - learning Chinese now seems a lot easier than when I was in school. It's not because I have to, I don't. All my work is conducted in English.
I think we put so much pressure on kids in school that learning isn't fun anymore. It's just something we have to do - like eating cod liver oil - the barf-inducing liquid kind, not the capsules. We'd probably go further if we took ourselves less seriously.
It's like my highschool social studies teacher told me: Don't let academics interfere with your education.
My Chinese was hopeless till I went to grad school and in Washington DC, I dated a Taiwanese IP lawyer. The next time my Chinese improved was when I went to New York and had a Beijinger for a colleague two-desks down.
Neither of my Chinese skill spikes happened in Asia. Go figure.

"We Are the Champions"

1. Saw my first Olympic sport live last week: Beach Volleyball.

As far as firsts go - that was really, really fun. I didn't expect to see quite so much...uh...dancing. The Fu Wa's danced, the audience danced (kind of) and the international Beach Babes danced (if you stretch the definition of dance).

2. Saw my first Peking Opera. The New Mdm White Snake Chronicles. It was at the Egg, which is a really cool building inside as well as outside. During the performance, there were subtitles in three languages. And in the first few minutes, I kept thinking of Ye-ye - my dad's dad - who used to watch Cantonese opera on TV. I was wishing he could have been here to watch the opera too. Crikey, it's been more than a decade since I lost him, my paternal grandmother, and my maternal grandfather - all in the space of 18 months. I miss them. I'd like to have been able to ask them what they think of today's Beijing.

3. Watched Singapore get it's first medal in 48 years. On TV anyway. Table tennis, silver. Some of my colleagues were at the stadium. SMSed them to cheer for Singapore. Wish I'd known about the embassy party. According to the WSJ, they were playing We Are the Champions at the embassy. And why not.

My New Favourite Building in the World

Tried to get last minute tickets for the ballet at the National Centre of Performing Arts tonight. Of course they were sold out - which meant I had time to wonder around the theatre watching people and watching the building.

Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the building really seems to float on water.

Throngs of people were there watching a laser light show appearing on the building. Then I walked to Tian An Men square. Man were there lots of people walking around. And I saw maybe three non-Chinese tourists in all. OK ... maybe more than three - but still - I think my definition of "crowd" got redefined tonight.

Nest at Night

Just back from watching the Olympic Games opening ceremony at a colleague's house. Pizza and Wings - including a flavour I've never had before ... tuna pizza. My takeaway? Tuna's meant to be on sandwiches.

On the way there, we saw throngs of people lining the streets, waving flags, waiting to watch the fireworks. Lots of energy, lots of anticipation. When the cabbie dropped us he said "You might have problems getting a cab back until the end of the Opening Ceremony - a lot of us are going to be home watching it on TV."

At Bob's place, it was really cool to watch my colleagues get all excited when they saw atheletes they've met or helped out at our iLounges - internet lounges - at the Athelete's Village. One of my colleagues video skyped his wife and daughter in Raleigh to say good-morning, which was really cool. I saw Leander Paes, the tennis player, march in with the India team. I had met him at the Torch Relay in India where he was carrying the Torch for Lenovo.

The best part of the night: watching the final Torchbearer, Li Ning, run suspended in the air to light the cauldron, holding the torch my colleagues had designed.

Tied for the best part - Amy had gone to the grocery store to get some more drinks in the middle of the evening. Came back, and handed me a jar of peanut butter. I'd offhandedly mentioned at breakfast I was bummed that there was no peanut butter in our breakfast cafe. So...wow! Thanks Amy!! Appreciate this!!

It's the little things that are big - especially when we're away from home for a month.

Beijing Duck

First day at the Olympic Green today. Media are beginning to trickle in. At the Oympic Green early this morning, saw a couple of runners and cyclists. Four more days to opening and already things are buzzing.

In the meantime, Beijing is a long long way from when I first came here a decade ago. The only similarity is that the streets are still really, really wide. Although not as wide as I remember, since it's now streaming with cars.

Friday night after work went to Bookworm Cafe at San Li Tun - Russian 20somethings at the table in front of me; a mixed group to my right; two Japanese girls with cosmopolitan American accents; three older Brit guys at the next table. And lots and lots of used books. No Shepard's Pie though. Was expecting Brit food. Had a fried goat cheese salad called Einstein, and my colleague had a Cervantes. For a moment I wasn't sure if I wasn't in Ropponggi Hills.

Last night we went to Li Qun Kao Ya at 11 Zhengyi Lu near the Qian Men Dong Da Lu. In a hutong, kinda rustic, value for money. Still prefer Da Dou and Made in China, but Liqun's a lot easier to get a reservation in, and it's really homey - no attitude. It looked like the Chinese diners came during the early shift and after that it was all Lao Wai.

At the subterranean mall under the hotel, a gym that wasn't open when I visited (so I ended up running outside), a supermarket with an emptying bin of White Rabbit candy and ... DURIAN! Also got my Singaporean Khong Guan raisin biscuits and the wrong type of oatmeal that said Quaker but tasted like jook/ congee. The last time I was in a Chinese supermarket was in...White Plains New York!

Bumped into a friend I hadn't seen in oh...8 or so years at the corner of a San Li Tun crossstreet. Heard this Singapore accents, turned around, and there he was.

Geographical divisions mean less and less. The only Borders I'm quite familiar with is the bookstore. Come to think of it - I hung out at Borders in Mt Kisco in NY, and now I hang out at Borders at Wheelock Place and in Parkway in Singapore. The only difference is I never have to wear at winter coat at the one in Singapore.

Beijing 08!

Arrived in Beijing today. Already the q's were already quite short at immigration. But I went into the even shorter q - for people working on the Olympics.

Saw the Lenovo "Powering the Biggest Idea in the World" ad and the image of the IdeaPad U110 staring out at me the minute I got off the plane. It felt like I went straight from the plane into the office. Which was kinda cool. (I wish I had shot the image of the Olympic Torch on the left, unfortunately, it wasn't me)

Even cooler cuz I had seen/ heard my colleagues working on the new campaign at inception.

Saw the Singapore Olympic Sailing team right after going through immigration. Wished them well, wished them good luck. They looked so fresh and excited. Way cool.

Got my bags the minute I got to the baggage carousel. Pleasantly surprised. As efficient as Changi Airport...well almost.

In the cab on the way to the hotel the radio DJs were talking about the Olympics. Big, big buzz. Lotsa energy.

Fish and Water in Aveiro, Portugal

Arrival of luggage meant end of cranky spell. What a difference having my own stuff around me makes. Had no more excuse to go to Zara, which was fine by me.

Coolest moments:

• Ordering food not really knowing what we were going to get. Faves: Octopus, cod, and uh... that one kidney dish in Porto.
• Drinking Port in the Douro Valley.
  
• Free wireless and Weekend FT in Coimbra hotel.
• Simple but really great breakfasts in Coimbra and Porto - esp the fresh fruits.
• Our new friends from Brazil on the same tour us us to the Duoro.
• Catching up with Hedy and having a really simple holiday.
  
• Time away to think.
  
• Finally, FINALLY getting my luggage.