Singapore trivialities

The first thing I noticed out here is that the sun stays up until 1900 or so. Thought it was kinda weird until I was told that Singapore is practically on the equator (knew that, that’s why the crappy weather) and this affects daylight (which I had to think about for a minute before it made sense).

If there are parts way north that have 6 months of darkness and light, geography plays a role, right?

KL Hangover Cure

Last night there was a lot of vodka, gin, scotch, beer and air conditioning. Also 2 liters of water.
Despite all that, woke up with a hangover. Along with heat and humidity at 0900! This is supposed to be a local cure. It’s local chicken noodle soup and a bottle of Singapore’s finest.
And yes, that’s a chilled glass with Tiger beer with an ice cube in it. If it weren’t for that ice cube, that would be a glass of warm beer after 5 minutes.
klsoop.jpg
Guess what? It worked! Or was it the beer?

Road Trip to KL!

Soooo I landed in Singapore last night and hightailed it to my friend’s place. I wound up being a ringer in a vicious Scrabble game…and cleaning house!

This AM, I woke up (big effort in a 25 degree house) and made it out to Tanjong Pagar, assigned meeting place for those of use driving out to KL and location to a pretty good creperie next door to a Thai deep tissue massage place I went to last visit.

A 4 hour trip to KL via freeway going 180 k/ph. Yes, that fast. And I wasn’t even driving!

Any kind of road trip out of Singapore requires your passport. And you can’t leave without 3/4 of a tank of gas. It’s not the Singapore Gov’t being concerned you’ll be stuck in Malaysia without gas, it’s that you’re cheating them out of revenue!

Gas is hella cheeper outside of SG. Kinda like cheep gas in Daly City…


HK Arrival

As many of my friends know (otherwise you probably wouldn’t be reading this), I make regular visits to Asia and try to make the effort to come here at least once a year. There are various reasons why I do this which I will explain if you post a question in the comments section.

My only regret is that this HK visit will be only 10 hours because it’s a stopover on the way to Singapore. Despite it’s problems (corrupt government, indifferent civil servants, Harbourfest, mainland pollution of all kinds), it’s still an exciting, dynamic place to visit. Kick-ass food too!

This is my first time back since last November on the eve of the SARS scare. Even though my flight landed at 0645, the airport seems strangely empty. Maybe because the bulk of the flights land later in the day? Or maybe they feel as I do, that it’s just too early…

However, take the A’Ex to Central and see a busy city going to work. These people dun feel that it’s too early.

“Money never Sleeps!”

Sunrise over China

Two weeks ago, I was in LA for my college roommate’s wedding. Being the frugal (ha ha) chap I am, I decided to purchase tickets on Southwest, leaving OAK to LAX on Saturday AM and returning Monday AM in time for work. I saw the sunrise both on the drive to OAK and to LAX.

It’s kinda depressing to be up THAT early to see the sun come up on your way to the airport…and on the 405 no less!

I saw the sunrise again this AM, this time flying over China on the great circle route to Hong Kong.

Strangely, I didn’t feel depressed. Instead, a feeling of liberation and optimism flowed over me, as if to say “good things are possible”.

Perhaps it’s freedom that I felt because I was traveling and unshackled from the chains that bind me to work and my desk.

In either case, I didn’t mind that I watched the sunrise today.

Good Idea!

Because of the SARS attack last year, Hong Kong has been on a health kick since. That’s a good idea because littering and the health effects that result from it have been implicated in how quickly SARS spread through buildings and the like.

On my many visits over there, I did notice some litter, though nothing of the magnitude of San Francisco, cesspool and refuse dump for California. The HK governmnent has now declared a new policy: If you have been cited previously for littering and you do it again, it’s now a HK$1500 (about US$195) fine and manditory community service.

It’s a serious matter because when Hygiene officers began writing citations, they were attacked. Then the attackers were arrested and prosecuted. As a result, these officers have become a tad shy in doing their duty.

This new ordinance should put some teeth into the regs they have to enforce. Good luck.

News info from the unlinkable South China Morning Post

Drama

My trip is about a month away. It’s still happening but some things have popped up that may muck it up.

#1: With Arnold being the Governor-Elect, they’re moving quickly to set up house. That means that people are being hired over the next few months. Hopefully.

#2: Governor’s Ball? Hope they do it at the end of the year. Gotta buy a tux.

#3: Friend of mine that I’m flying to Singapore to see (what a way to date, twice a year!) is going through some drama right now. Hopefully, we’ll work our way thru it.

But here’s the scary part. If staff appointments are being made or the Governor’s Ball is being held in the latter half of November, I’ve got to rebook the trip.

Thank goodness this is an award ticket…

National Day or…

more accurately, happy Chinese Communist day!

On 1 October 1949, the Red Army took control of the mainland and declared the founding of the PRC (while the legitimate Nationalist Government retreated to Taiwan). This day is celebrated as “National Day”, much like the 4th of July is out here. It’s a day off with celebrations in a jingoistic and nationalist manner, just like any other national celebration.

They also had some observances in Hong Kong, met with protesters. How nice!

However, because of the political climate there after 1 July, the Communists are preparing to intervene in next year’s elections that could, in theory, break their lock on the LegCo. Different analysis but same conclusion here.

Sounds very omnious. Read the last line about “arranging an initiative scheme” for their people to demonstrate and vote. That means they will pay their members to vote and be loud and stupid. Sounds like union, I mean democrap tactics to me.

sheesh

Busybody American Leftist

Again from the ULSCMP, this story. Seems Martin Sheen (who plays a “president” on TV) knows what’s best forthe HK people in a letter he drafted on behalf of the terrorist organization PETA:

Hollywood film star Martin Sheen has called on Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa to heed appeals to permanently close the territory’s live animal markets.

In a letter to Mr Tung written on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Sheen said the live markets were cruel to animals and caused epidemics, including severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

He said the animals were housed in crowded, filthy conditions.

Sure, cause a ruckus in another country where manners will prevent the people who live there to tell him to “shut the fuck up”.

It’s typical of an American liberal to go somewhere and preach that “I know what’s best for you, do what I say now!”

Sheesh.

Conrad in HK has his say here; just wish I was as diplomatic.

Duh

Well, Duh!

In today’s unlinkable South China Morning Post…

The historic July 1 mass protest was the most significant political event Hong Kong has experienced since the handover, the United States Consul General in Hong Kong James Keith said overnight (HK time).

“It was a remarkable episode, one that will go down in the books as perhaps the single most important event in Hong Kong’s short political history since the handover in 1997,” Mr Keith told the Heritage Foundation in Washington DC

Mr Keith said the demonstration reflected some commonly held views among Hong Kong’s middle class, adding that it was directed at the SAR government – not the central government in Beijing.

“It was not just a referendum on the property market or the government’s fruitless efforts to stem the tide of unemployment and it was not a walk in the park during a local holiday by an essentially apolitical people,” he said.

Well, I think that this is mostly right. People I know over here who flew home (to HK) to participate in the march were demonstrating their displeasure against the puppet, er appointed-by-Beijing Tung regime because of their stupidity in ignoring the wishes of the HK people but also because they put Beijing’s dictates ahead of the specific needs of Hong Kong.

It was a direct demonstration against the Tung regime and an indirect slap at the Central Gov’t for forcing the issue through their Tung administration puppets.

Seems for the moment, the Central Gov’t has gotten the message. Tung, well, we will see…