Hey everyone. Well I'm flying on Air Asia to Phnom Penh tomorrow morning. I should be getting into Bangkok no later than the 28th. I'll try to update my blog a bit if I can, but not sure how much access to the internet we'll have.
Talk to y'all soon :)
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Singapore photos!
Ok, so it's been a long time since I said I'd post some photos haha. Sorry about that. So I finally uploaded some. They're pretty much all from clubs because unfortunately there isn't a lot to do during the daytime in Singapore. But wow, do Singaporeans sure know how to party at night. It took a bit to keep up with them that's for sure. I had a great time though!Click the link below to see all the photos:
 |
| Singapore photos |
Sunday, April 8, 2007
King's Palace / Koh Pha Ngan
Hey there. Well I thought it was time I posted some pictures of another trip I took to the King's Palace. I had went a few weeks back, mainly because Sacha's friend was in town from Canada. So Hong, Me, Mai, Sacha and John went. I took a few cool pictures and thought I would share them with you. The King's Palace is quite important to the Thai and Thai Culture. Important historical gatherings would occur here and the architecture and infrastructure is truly beautiful!
Thai women like to take photos with their hands to their face such as Sacha is doing, and Thai men make the gesture that I'm doing... Not sure why exactly, but I guess its "cool".
Ha ha Mai is being cheeky with the guard. They don't move at all. She was trying to get him to laugh, but guarding the King's Palace is a VERY SERIOUS job not to be taken lightly. Haha oh well...
Mai being silly again...Sacha, John and I had also went to Koh Pha Ngan, I didn't take many photos because I have already been there, but was able to get a few great sunset photos.
So that's all I really have to say. Not much I know, sorry. I had a great time and spent more money haha.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
I love Singapore!
Hey all. Sorry about the delay in posting. I've been in Singapore the last week. You may ask, "why a week?" "Isn't Singapore boring?" Well the answer is "because" and "yes and no".
I was fortunate to have a Thai friend who had moved to Singapore. I think without him to help plan stuff, I would have found Singapore boring. It is a remarkable, beautiful country with lots of stuff to do and see, if you know where to go and how to find it. Unfortunately I don't have my camera with me but I'll post some pictures as soon as I can.
Everyone tells me Singapore is a boring place to visit. I liked it however. It's difficult to see Singapore for the city it is. Given one's fixation on individual freedom, Maybe it's seen as a police state. You can't help but look around and study the city for signs of authoritarianism. Getting out of the airport, you look around in bewilderment. Is this city for real? It seems so clean and civil. If this is a real city, where's the Asian street vendors, where's the poor people and the grime?
Singapore is clean, that's for sure. It was refreshing to be in a city where you can actually walk on a crosswalk and have people stop for you. The cars don't billow smoke and there aren't motorbikes driving around frantically. So you can't help but wonder if Singapore really is boring or if it's just because people have told you it's boring. After being around for a while you start to notice the government ads for being caring and maintaining civility. You almost feel this sense of being brainwashed into being respectful of others and keeping the city clean. Everywhere you go, you see signs telling you to keep Singapore clean and never litter. You wouldn't dare to litter or do anything, or you'll be fined. There's a fine for everything you could possibly do wrong in the city. Eat or drink in spots prohibited to eat and drink and you face a possible fine of $500 SGD (roughly $350 CND). It was very interesting to see an Asian city with such restrictions. I didn't mind what I saw however. The city is so clean and the people are so civil, the would never risk doing anything bad or they could face fines. It felt like I was in one of those movies like "demolition man" where the people are model citizens, never swearing and always being polite and well mannered, perhaps even oppressed. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed being there because I like things to be smooth operating and clean and tidy.
The first few days I was there, I stayed in a little hostel. It wasn't very nice, but it was ok for a budget room. I had to stay in a "dorm" style room with 5 other people. There was this strange man who seemed to be living there. I'm pretty open to different and interesting people, but he was truly bizarre. I also met some nice people from around the world. I met a girl from Holland, so she and I hung out for a few days. My Thai friend (his name is Art) took me and a few of his friends to Sentosa Island. This island is Singapore's "claim to fame". The island is entirely fabricated and they boast it to be the southern most point of Continental Asia. Woohoo. We went there and hung out on the beautiful perfect little beach, specially designed and constructed with aesthetics in mind.
I finally checked out from the "hostel" and was fortunate enough to be able to spend a few nights in Art's apartment. He lives with some girls he works with, so we all hung out. We spent the next few nights going out at night and seeing the night life. I must say, Singaporeans although may appear boring during the day, the sure know how to have fun at night. We went to this club called "Zouk". I think it was one of the largest clubs I've ever been to. The place was massive, with endless rooms and corridors and areas to hang out. I unfortunately have a foggy memory of that evening so I can't describe it in too much detail haha.
In a city where "nothing seems to ever go wrong" I was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have experienced an emergency situation almost first-hand. Picture this for a moment, the perfect little city where police officers and fireman are probably bored to death because nothing happens. Well in the apartment I was staying in, a group of us were hanging out, having a nap before we went out for the night and I could faintly hear some kind of building alarm in the background. No one else seemed concerned until I looked outside and people were stunned in disbelief as part of the 20th floor was on fire. WOW, I don't think Singaporeans knew what was going on. We decided to exit the building as we had no idea what was going on. It really wasn't that bad, it was just an apartment that had a cooking accident, however judging by the amount of emergency vehicles that showed up, you'd think the whole building was ablaze. Within a few minutes, this funky emergency vehicle with the slogan "civil protection" on the side showed up. The fireman/women jumped out of the vehicle and headed into the building. Then after that an ambulance showed up, then a few police cars, then a huge fire truck with ladder showed up. I think half of the "civil protection" force showed up to aid in this tragedy. It was kind of humorous really. But the little cooking accident seemed to be under control and we re-entered the building.
I must say I could definitely see myself living in Singapore one day, if I were to choose a city in Asia. It almost comes across as this rich snob city because people all seem to be well off, with nice cars, nice clothes and are very civil and obedient. Oh well, we'll see, maybe one day.
I had a great time there; thanks Art for taking me around! I'll post pictures as soon as I can.
I was fortunate to have a Thai friend who had moved to Singapore. I think without him to help plan stuff, I would have found Singapore boring. It is a remarkable, beautiful country with lots of stuff to do and see, if you know where to go and how to find it. Unfortunately I don't have my camera with me but I'll post some pictures as soon as I can.
Everyone tells me Singapore is a boring place to visit. I liked it however. It's difficult to see Singapore for the city it is. Given one's fixation on individual freedom, Maybe it's seen as a police state. You can't help but look around and study the city for signs of authoritarianism. Getting out of the airport, you look around in bewilderment. Is this city for real? It seems so clean and civil. If this is a real city, where's the Asian street vendors, where's the poor people and the grime?
Singapore is clean, that's for sure. It was refreshing to be in a city where you can actually walk on a crosswalk and have people stop for you. The cars don't billow smoke and there aren't motorbikes driving around frantically. So you can't help but wonder if Singapore really is boring or if it's just because people have told you it's boring. After being around for a while you start to notice the government ads for being caring and maintaining civility. You almost feel this sense of being brainwashed into being respectful of others and keeping the city clean. Everywhere you go, you see signs telling you to keep Singapore clean and never litter. You wouldn't dare to litter or do anything, or you'll be fined. There's a fine for everything you could possibly do wrong in the city. Eat or drink in spots prohibited to eat and drink and you face a possible fine of $500 SGD (roughly $350 CND). It was very interesting to see an Asian city with such restrictions. I didn't mind what I saw however. The city is so clean and the people are so civil, the would never risk doing anything bad or they could face fines. It felt like I was in one of those movies like "demolition man" where the people are model citizens, never swearing and always being polite and well mannered, perhaps even oppressed. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed being there because I like things to be smooth operating and clean and tidy.
The first few days I was there, I stayed in a little hostel. It wasn't very nice, but it was ok for a budget room. I had to stay in a "dorm" style room with 5 other people. There was this strange man who seemed to be living there. I'm pretty open to different and interesting people, but he was truly bizarre. I also met some nice people from around the world. I met a girl from Holland, so she and I hung out for a few days. My Thai friend (his name is Art) took me and a few of his friends to Sentosa Island. This island is Singapore's "claim to fame". The island is entirely fabricated and they boast it to be the southern most point of Continental Asia. Woohoo. We went there and hung out on the beautiful perfect little beach, specially designed and constructed with aesthetics in mind.
I finally checked out from the "hostel" and was fortunate enough to be able to spend a few nights in Art's apartment. He lives with some girls he works with, so we all hung out. We spent the next few nights going out at night and seeing the night life. I must say, Singaporeans although may appear boring during the day, the sure know how to have fun at night. We went to this club called "Zouk". I think it was one of the largest clubs I've ever been to. The place was massive, with endless rooms and corridors and areas to hang out. I unfortunately have a foggy memory of that evening so I can't describe it in too much detail haha.
In a city where "nothing seems to ever go wrong" I was fortunate (or unfortunate) enough to have experienced an emergency situation almost first-hand. Picture this for a moment, the perfect little city where police officers and fireman are probably bored to death because nothing happens. Well in the apartment I was staying in, a group of us were hanging out, having a nap before we went out for the night and I could faintly hear some kind of building alarm in the background. No one else seemed concerned until I looked outside and people were stunned in disbelief as part of the 20th floor was on fire. WOW, I don't think Singaporeans knew what was going on. We decided to exit the building as we had no idea what was going on. It really wasn't that bad, it was just an apartment that had a cooking accident, however judging by the amount of emergency vehicles that showed up, you'd think the whole building was ablaze. Within a few minutes, this funky emergency vehicle with the slogan "civil protection" on the side showed up. The fireman/women jumped out of the vehicle and headed into the building. Then after that an ambulance showed up, then a few police cars, then a huge fire truck with ladder showed up. I think half of the "civil protection" force showed up to aid in this tragedy. It was kind of humorous really. But the little cooking accident seemed to be under control and we re-entered the building.
I must say I could definitely see myself living in Singapore one day, if I were to choose a city in Asia. It almost comes across as this rich snob city because people all seem to be well off, with nice cars, nice clothes and are very civil and obedient. Oh well, we'll see, maybe one day.
I had a great time there; thanks Art for taking me around! I'll post pictures as soon as I can.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)