Category Archives: Uncategorized

I wanted to buy airplane tickets from Langkawi to Singapore but for some reason SilkAir’s website would only sell me tickets traveling the other direction.  So, I called up, paid the additional phone-reservation fee, and booked three tickets that way. … Continue reading →

I don’t know all that much about Singapore’s political system, and I suspect that while I’m here, at least, I’m better off keeping it that way.   Here’s an example of a hard-hitting local news story:  On Wednesday night there … Continue reading →

As soon as I overcame my prejudice against American coffee franchises (right now I’m in a “Spinelli’s”) I found lots of places where it’s normal to sit for hours in front of a laptop.   Indeed, the only hard part … Continue reading →

Several times a week I’ve been going to a ‘Wellness Club’ across the street from my apartment to use the weight machines. It’s in Revenue House which is the office of the Singapore tax authority.   To get to the … Continue reading →

Hoping to try out the macro features of my camera, I visited the shop above.  That’s right, it’s a store that sells only 3/4” pets and tiny, tiny aquariums to house them.  I feel almost normal in this town. The … Continue reading →

After helping Scott move we took a bus to Clark Quay to have a burger.  Clark Quay turns out to be under a city-block-sized glass umbrella. There was a very heavy rain shower while we were eating.  The noise was … Continue reading →

My camera has returned from the shop.  It seems to be working fine, but I’m still a terrible photographer.   That beautiful garden (well lit, though I am not) is outside the apartment house that my former housemate Scott just … Continue reading →

This video played on the train constantly when I was here last year.  Alas, the YouTube clip cuts off before the bit where the woman starts describing the culprit over the intercom.  Something about her accent still sticks in my … Continue reading →

My camera is in the shop, after only two weeks of proper functioning.  On the plus side, the service center here is happy to honor my Japanese warranty — but, on the minus side they require a ‘Warranty Card’ which … Continue reading →

The plaque at the art gallery explains that this is a statue of Chairman Mao directing morning calisthenics — apparently an important part of growing up in China for the artist.  Did the chairman really direct them himself?  Surely it’s … Continue reading →