Happenings Outdoors

Flash Memory

2006-07-05T22:28:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not talking about the stick you put in your computer where you can store a lot of information. I mean memory in a flash. Alternatively, the events that were, in a jiffy.

Ok, I think I left off at the beginning of the worldcup. I wont talk about the worldcup although I will mention it has been a rollercoaster of sorts. Four teams that were expected to reach the semis got knocked out. I have been watching almost all matches. Reaching to work late, but working till late and compensating. In all, its been a good two weeks or so.

I bought a golf set for dad and soccer shoes for bro. Cheap and good stuff! Singapore is really good for branded things, is what I've learned. Oh and I'm out of money again. I think the eating becomes expensive after a while. You tend to eat the costlier things, and they gnaw away at your pockets.

Have been playing soccer diligently with Pak friends. It IS a lot of fun. A solid workout for 2 hours and then a warm bath.

Aaahhh ...

(Thats me after the hot bath and relaxed with a Chocolate drink in hand and a comfortable chair to sit in with my legs lounged upon a stool watching S-O-U-T-H-P-A-R-K).

Oh yes, a second addiction has gotten to me after Audioslave (If you guys didnt understand my 'love' post, I'm sorry you're alive). Now, I watch Southpark. The obnoxious, 4th graders from the town called, yes, Southpark. They rant off obscenities at the drop of a hat, or if the Jew and the Christian come face-to-face. In more-simpler-words-for-the-bozos, all throughout the show. So, yes, the cussing keeps going on and on and on. Okay, but thats not why its funny. I'd rather turn on Eminem and laugh at his pathetic attempt to create 'music' while talking about screwing his dog and kicking his mom. Oh wait...was it the other way round?

Anyway, point being, its not the plethora of four-letter-words which has gotten me hooked. The humour at times is brilliant! The way they lambast celebs, in particular, and the american way of living, in general, is what gets me coming back for more. In the show, those words would have had serious ramifications.

Now for the...

...flash memory:
Watching football, playing it, enjoying southpark, a day with Miss M, visiting pubs, swimming, meeting new people and good company, eating noodles, getting moderately depressed, feeling buoyant, sleeping late, rising late, cursing the alarm, cursing myself for not setting the alarm, learning chinese culture, unlearning chinese culture, eating good exotic food, buying stuff, going to the gym and sleeping in the AC, getting Indonesian currency (They mint notes for 50,000. W.O.W.) , being introduced to an IBM x41 tablet notebook (damn, its god-like), borrowing it, feeling hungry again.

The flash memory can store a lot of information. Nice.

There's something I'm missing though. I'm not really sure what it was. Ohh well, I shall edit it in later.

I am so evil. I love it.

I think Tonic is a really good band. People should listen to it more. So is Stabbing Westward. Miss G can vouch for it too. You know who you are.

Oh yes, I remember what it was. ",working." *edited in* (wonder why I left that part out)

Off for lunch. KP you're a good fellow to remind me to write again. I admire your voice as well. No, I shall never think you're hot. I think Adriana Lima is hot. I have a theme of hers on my mobile. Ok, I should leave now, my friend is waiting in the food court...

Good beer and the Game

2006-06-09T23:58:00.000-07:00

(Warning: Must be tons of blogs with the same material, so I'd suggest you randomly click on blogs and get to a person who you dont know. In all probability he/she shall be writing the same darn thing in as many words. What I mean to say is that, this entry is mostly redundant. But because I have been instructed to run a blog and it gives me thinking time away from my work, I shall proceed anyway.)

There's nothing like watching the opening game of the World Cup with good Tiger Beer.

Atleast thats what the ad says...

True upto a point, after which you want to be back in your room and be watching it on the laptop or with friends. I would love to watch a game live in the stadium no matter what people say. Its all about the atmosphere you absorb in. Same goes with rock concerts. Although, I've done that on numerous occasions, for the sake of completeness, I mention.

Old blokes who claim to know so much about the game and jump around screaming when Costa Rica scores a goal, would probably not be able to locate the country on a map in the first place! Well, probably neither can I. My point being, I dont proclaim I know the game too well. I only follow EPL and adore the Champions League. A World Cup is not the best football you can get, but definitely the most engrossing in my humblest of opinions.

My two cents worth on Germany vs Costa Rica? I think the Germans had better strikers. Defense played spectators today. And the Germans were good spectators. I'm not sure they can get very far in the tournament this way. They could do well against countries who attack all-out. Latin countries, I would say. Like Costa Rica, who I think just qualify as Latin Americans. This is only from the first match, and Ballack's return might change things. Not very sure though.

England stands a decent chance. So does Italy. I back Spain as I adore their style, but not certain on them. I love how Brazil plays, but will not be rooting for them.
Time will tell.

It was fun sitting in the long alley behind the pub with atleast 10 TV sets and LCDs playing the same game. Reclining back comfortably and watching soccer made me miss my hostel and the guys. We all watch the matches together on the SkyB. Sigh.

Ohh well, good fun! Shall be back home in a month as well. :)

Officially in love

2006-06-06T02:12:00.000-07:00

In a foreign land. Doing work which confuses me a little and excites some.

Found love. Its so exhilarating. Wish you could flow with me.
Audioslave.

The voice just calls...
Takes me to an altogether new world. Back to where I want to be.

I am Audioslave's slave. Totally. Completely.

Mustafaed

2006-06-02T09:57:00.001-07:00

If anything, Mustafa deserves an entire entry. Dont fool yourself, you havent seen the Daddy of all Indian-ness at work until you've seen Mustafas. The only place in the world where they sell everything. Yes you heard me right. EVERYTHING!!

I got out of my slump which had been hampering my work for the past few days as well. Found money and went shopping for essentialities. As luck would have it, I decided to go to the famed and dont-miss-it-for-your-life destination. Not that far-off, although it involves a change from a bus (188) to the MRT (purple line) and getting off at Farrer Park, I checked out the crowd. The distinct South Indian flavour in the air seemed well...South Indian. What I'm trying to bring out is that the area was completely taken over by Indians. So is Little India for that matter, and its very close as well.

Anyway, walking into the mall, you initially dont see them. Its like a normal place, and then suddenly WHAMMMMMM, you get hit like a speeding bus with a driver who's checking the time on his watch on a freeway. They'r rampant, theyr crawling like ants onto a moti ka laddoo! Uncontrolled Tamiliansssss!!

Adding to the compact arrangement of people in Mustafas, are the walking aisles. They dont exist. I think they put them in by mistake when they realised, stuff actually has to be put onto the shelves if you want people to buy them. And that wont happen unless the cart having the stuff can pass through. Point being, you need to hold your basket real high in order to prevent ramming into the same kid thrice. Saying sorry doesn't help after the second time, trust me on this one!!

Stuff is cheap in Mustafas. I dont mean when I convert it into INR but when I shop for stuff elsewhere in Singapore. As I mentioned in a previous post, money has a free-will in Singapore. Let it go berserk in a place like Mustafa I say.

At times you mistake the people in blue shirts as the people who work there stocking the inventory ever so efficiently! Every other person is always putting back stuff coz they found something more cheaper.

I bought a total of $48.40 worth of stuff, which included a friend's also. The experience left me exhausted and wiser.

Dont buy anywhere else.

As a friend has rightly pointed out, "The only stuff they dont keep in that store are airplanes."

You would be waiting for me to go, "But I'm sure I saw one of them in there". You guys are very predictable. Sigh.

I need a wiser audience. I think I shall appeal somewhere. There has to be a WART (Wiser Audience Rights Tribunal) somewhere.

I dont know how to end this post, so I shall tell you that my professor has given me tons to do this weekend, so no more roaming around :(

Dont look happy do I?

Wish me luck yeah?

Sudden lows

2006-05-31T21:37:00.000-07:00

Warning: If you make fun of me about this post in the comments section, I shall personally come and wipe that smile off your face. No, not tell you to stop smiling. Box until you can smile no more.

Damn!

It had to happen didnt it? With everyone bitching about how lukkha or jobless I'd become, it was inevitable. Issues rose up, things happened, and I'm in emotional turmoil. Progress from last post as under:

- Professor went out of town leaving me with work to be done. Needless to say, I didnt do it. Tried working but without the pressure of a deadline, I couldn't push myself too hard. Last heard, he's back in town, expects a report from me and shall call me any instant now.
Status quo: Screwed with less than half done.

- Am so broke beyond repair (I love puns *faint smile*). Am pretty much out of cash. Shall have money by tomorrow or day after. I think I shall borrow some more. But I want money to eat!!! This sure sucks.
Status quo: Cash-strapped and grumpy.

- Hate Tom Yam instant noodles. Too much spice even for an Indian. Horrible aftertaste. Why did I have to buy a whole pack with 5 of them?
Status quo: Hungry and Growling.

- Temperature blues came rushing at me. A throbbing head combined with a fever visited as if thats what I had been wishing for all day long. Took a crocin, and felt better in the morning. But the headache wont go away.
Status quo: A bugging headache.

Lets look at the bright side of it now, shall we?

Okay, there's no bright side to the whole thing. So buzz off!

Damn imbeciles...

Office, work?

2006-05-30T01:31:00.000-07:00

In my office. I have a space to sit in. And a really cool workstation. My professor seems to be really nice and has handed down to me his own laptop as well.

Got take-away food. Scrumptious Basil Salmon in creamy sauce with pasta. Now eating a Blueberry Muffin.

Well fed.

Free.

Does it get better than this?

(Thats the walk behind my hostel to this 24 hour eating place called Fong Seng)

The eating problem

2006-05-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Being the judgemental* fellow that I am, I speak for everyone when I say, food is the second in line in the most important trio of existence - Music, Food and Sex **. Yes, in that order. Now, why food is not at the top is something I wont go into. You will need to visit a psychiatrist if you think it should be above music. Uninitiated buffoons.

Abstinence from the last is what I shall be practising. Which means, I shall need more of food and music! Why, I shall elaborate in the next post.

Coming here, I was apprehensive on what I should or should not eat and whether I shall get past the first week without crying out in anguish for home-food or even hostel-mess food (eughh) for that matter. A conversation with my uncle before I came here revealed some disturbing facts:

- Woh log sirf keede khaate hain! (They eat only insects, bugs and the likes)

- Vegetarian toh unn logon ke liye kuch nahin hota. Chicken ko veg maante hain. (There's nothing like vegetarian food for them. Even Chicken is vegetarian for them.

- Kutta khila denge. Bachkar rehna! (They shall serve you dog-meat. Be wary!)

- Ghar ya hostel mein hi banana apna khaana. Humne toh wohi kiya tha. (Make food only in the hostel or your house. Thats what we did.)

Lets go in order.

- By insects I think he meant shrimps, prawns and other seafood (apart from fishes) which I dont exactly love, but I can eat once in a while. What I wasnt prepared for was eating them every single day.

- Being the rotten apple of the house/extended family, I eat meat. And I love it (There have been times where I have let myself into believing I can actually stop eating it, and failed miserably, but lets not digress at this point in time). So, yes I thought I could manage by eating Singaporean Veg.

- This was the scary thought the moment I got off the plane and checked out the Airport Cafeteria. Chicken Croissants (Yum). Mutton Pie (unnh unhhh!). Chicken with Dog tail Sandwich (What the frikkin f###??).
I went very promptly into the nearest washroom and splashed water on my face. I looked at myself. This couldn't be happening. I cant be living amongst people who eat dog-meat!!! Poor dogs. I love them creatures!
Taking a few badly-needed deep breaths, I walk back calmly to the Cafetaria and smile at the waitress, who smiles back broadly (A little too broadly, now that I think of it.. ***) . I point towards the Chicken with Dog tail Sandwich promising myself I shall throw it into the dustbin. But I want to see how they can cook such preposterous stuff and pass it off as food? She smiles (again) at me and says, "Having here or take-away Sir?". I try to remain calm at the outset. "Take-away please". She places it in a box and hands it to me. That will be 1 dollar 20 cents sir. I try to ask if they will accept Visa, but I decide not to. I take out my wallet and hand over 2 dollars, getting back the change. Anxiously looking this way and that, I open the box and then let out a long sigh. It wasnt dog meat! I blame it on jetlag. Although I know better. I'm just very freaked out. (Incidentally, dog-meat isnt eaten in Singapore. Its a very Korean thing. So, the people interning there might want to watch out!)

- Yaaaah right!! I cant cook for nuts. And am in a hostel. Although we have common kitchens in every wing, I dont think I can go through the rigmarole of standing there hoping something good comes of it. Shall learn to cook someday (how convenient to put it off for another day. Sigh..)

Having spent 10 days (or so) in Singapore, fooding (as I like to call it), is an issue in Singapore. Simply put, there are too many choices!!

There is a plethora of stuff to choose from - Thai, Malaysian, Japanese, Indian, Muslim (yes its a genre here. Something to do with Halal meat), Western, Chinese, Vietnamese, and finally, Pure Vegetarian (without Chicken, yes).

The eating problem that was, isnt a problem at all. The hordes of foreign people flocking this land, have rendered it a food destination (Tamils are rampant in Singapore..theyr on the loose!! They are everywhere!!! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh ..shhh..dunn wanna offend anyone, do we? :D ). Eating out everyday and still having enough money to buy clothes makes it a gastronomic hotspot in my humble opinion.

For when you dont wish to go out and eat, there's always Cup Noodles and other rannnnge of Instant stuff to choose from. Last night, I had this Instant Chicken Cup Noodles (you just add boiling water, which is available from a dispenser in the kitchen) and an (waitttt for it) Instant EGG!!!! The picture is up there for everyone to see and ogle at. The marvel of it. The pure simplicity. The horrible, sweet taste! =)

So all you people who really want to come to Singapore and need a reason, I reiterate, "Food, music and sex."

Wait, was it food first?

Damn.

*ahem*. Anyway, food is among them!

Bon appétit monsieur!

Or should I say 愉快膳食! (thats chinese for Happy meal)

--

Post-thoughts:
* I am called judgemental by a friend who wishes to remain anonymous lest she be bombarded with angry retorts by you readers. She also thinks I write like shit, but thats okay. She also thinks everyone else including her write like shit. But thats okay as well. Her profession, incidentally, is journalism.

** Cheese-woman echoes the same thoughts on this. I think I stole it from her. Ohh well. Easy come, easy go.

*** Singaporean (Chinese?) chicks smile like mad. If you try talking to one, almost throughout the conversation they will smile until you start to wonder if their cheeks have been infused with an irritant which will only not irritate when they smile. It remains a mystery until today. In the remaining part of the conversation they go "aaaah", "yeahhh" and "ooooh". No, those arent orgasmic at all. Rather, very very very irritating!

"Singapore is small. Period."

2006-05-27T05:11:00.000-07:00

...so tells me my good new-found friend, Kundi, while also talking about how I was mistaken (and many of you still are! no no, dont lie now) that Singaporeans (all south-east asians, do I hear?) eat dogs.

"Dogs??" he exclaimed. "Surely not. Not when they (singaporeans) have much more delectable stuff to eat like frog's legs and pig liver."
(It is worthy to note that at this point, I shudder, which he probably ignores as something which North Indians do after eating a heavy lunch) . He is from Kerala, yes.

"Why are there cats on the road and not dogs? Did the Singaporeans eat all the dogs off the streets??", was my naive query a few moments before. Much in contrast, in India if you get up for a glass of water at 3 in the morning and dont hear a dog barking, you think an earthquake is enroute and do the necessary.

Yes, its a very small place. And people say that if you start touring it one day, you shall have seen it in its entireity by the end of it. I tend to agree, and so my plan and/or situation is as follows:

1. I shall only tour Singapore with company which wishes to tour Singapore and not alone as I have been advised by some, or with a female who seems interesting (???). She'll end up buying everything from her money and I shall have to shell out money for her ticket to places!

2. Only in the event of a mega-sale shall I ever go shopping again. Money has a free-will in Singapore, and there is no choice but to abstain altogether. (more on abstinence in next post)

3. "The major places I will chalk out one fine day and take the guided tour"
ABSOLUTELY NOT! I have better things to do in life than walk around with corny foreign tourists who think in terms of how many spots they manage to hit in the day. My way will be probably going to a couple of places and spending time there while managing to have fun in the bargain.

4. Will hit most bars and clubs in Singapore by mid-June, which gives me a month to go. (there are a zillllllionnnnnn small bars and clubs and *ahem* strip clubs AND *cough* sex-filled *cough* lounges, but for the sake of sanity and my purse I have decided upon going only to the good ones; bars and clubs that is). Also it will be very inconvenient to take upon myself the daunting task of hitting all clubs. Convenience is motto principale di vita for me.

5. I'm broke right now. Am hoping that somehow I get paid ultra-soon, otherwise I might have to make a list of "Hot Indian stuff" to sell here. Apparently, that stuff also does not sell well in all parts of Singapore, as they have their very own Little India.

Finally, when I sit down and think about it, I realise if I have to satisfy everything I will have to come visit Singapore again. There is no time!!

I like my internship as the stuff is interesting to me. Not to you, not to him, not to Andy, but to me! So dont comment crap when I say its on Strategic Management in the Biotech Industry, primarily in India and South East Asia. Currently, we're researching beer in China until he gets me to the Biotech part. Thats ok, mate!

Did you know China has 500 different local brands of beer? The cost of a can of beer in China is Rs 10? There are four cities named Tongzhou in China?? Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher is one of the leading brewers in China??

Okay, the last one was a lie. Its actually Kingway beer, and its made by (be ready for it!) Guangdong Breweries!

Fine. Enough of the nonsensical blabbering. Have put up a pic (bugging work!) of my hostel for the sake of those who wish to drool/watch/scorn/show-any-other-related-emotion upon it.

Until next time!!