HK & Singapore update

So HK was cool as expected and I had a good visit there with mi familia. We did quite a bit of sightseeing even though the weather was mostly shit. I love that city.

The main reason for this post though is Singapore and the revelation I had that it is way cooler than I expected.

First of all, they allow gum. Just not the selling of it. So after I entered passport control hiding my gum stealthily on the roof of my mouth (and well into the rest of Friday evening), I was told by some expat dude that they do allow you to put chewing gum in your mouth and in fact chew it in the light of day...right in front of the authorities.

Aside from that little tidbit, I learned that Singapore is basically like a working and efficient version of SE Asia which was kind of a nice break from KL. People there seem pretty friendly and there seems to be a big number of younger expats.

It's also relatively easy and cheap to get around by metro which was definitely a nice break from KL with 99% of its cab drivers being rip off artist fucks. A hearty fuck you to all my Malaysian cabbies reading this.

Singapore also has a number of cool historic hoods where you can get bomb Indian, Chinese, or Malay food for pretty cheap (if you know where to go..which I didn't). Hawker stands though seem to be all around and offer really good food and drinks 24 hours a day.

To sum Singapore up: I could see myself living there and I may be looking into a getting a job there sometime in the not so distant future.

Now I'm going to Singapore

Also known as "Disneyland with the death penalty" or the "world's only shopping mall with a seat in the United Nations" as I've read on wikitravel...and I believe everything I read there.

Not having been there, I would venture to say that Singapore is actually more strict than Disney Land since they allow chewing gum at the latter. Not to worry as I will expertly hide my gum on the roof of my mouth as I've done since Ms. Denicola's 1st grade class on up to my most recent meeting with the CEO of the External Trade Development Arm of Malaysia today.

Anyway, I'm pretty pumped to finally go there since I had a friend living there when I was in BKK and never got around to visiting. I expect to hear a lot of annoying "Singlish" that sounds very much like English spoken in KL with random grunts and "lahs" added to words that need no additions. I also expect to pay $40 Sing dollars for every meal...on second thought maybe I'm not that pumped...

So...Singapore. Here I come.

I'm Going to Hong Kong

My parents are coming to Asia and I'm headed to HK to meet them this weekend. I've been before so I know what I'm in for and it's going to be sweet.

On a related note, I was just told that I "can't miss" the restaurant Chili Fagara. ha ha. Yeah right. Nice try guy who "lived in Hong Kong for 5 years."

That reminds me of the last time I was in HK. My buddy asked if his friend, who lived in Hong Kong for a while, knew any cool people we could meet up with. He gave him a number and said "call my buddy Mickey. He's really awesome."

Fast forward to the first night we were there and my friend says to me and our other travel companion: "hey guys, I'm gonna call this Mickey guy cuz he's supposed to be cool and will know where to go out here." He whips out his phone, dials the number, and gets the general line to Disney Land Hong Kong. Well played guy who orchestrated this prank. I'm still waiting to use it on some unsuspecting friend.

I did just check the web for Chili Fagara and to my surprise, it does exist. No joke, this is on their website: "Many people describe our food as orgasmic - the intensity mounts and grows until you reach the top. Then you have to calm yourself..."

I think that's called blue balls.