Singapore: JB & Clubbing

05-01-2005
Woke up quite late today, and after a phone call to Grandad (who, along with my Grandma, are heading south to Helensburgh to visit relatives), generally did very little (just the way I like it), until the afternoon, when Tim & I made the trip to Malaysia!!! That is not as extreme as it sounds, with Johor Bahru (JB - the border town) being little over an hour away from NUS. How crazy is that!!! The only problem was the first time I got to Clementi, I forgot my passport!! Stupid Tristan!!! An hour round-trip later, we were back on our way...

The MRT ride to Kranji (where you change for a bus to take you over the border) incorporates much of Northern Singapore, with the landscape gradually becoming less urban and more suburban and even some that may be defined as forest! In Singapore of all places as well!! Hehehe...don't let it's size fool you - there is so much diversity here.

Back to the trip - the Singapore side of Immigration (you are leaving the country after all - and Singapore and Malaysia are hardly best buddies) is a fortress (literally). A big, imposing, granite structure obviously designed to deter illegal immigrants. Conversely, the Malaysian side is quite unimposing - little more than a standard building with attached bus terminal. It seems to be quite clear though, from pretty much the moment you cross into Malaysia (and yes, I did get another stamp in my passport) why people are there. Do a search on Google for the reasons, and they will make themselves apparent. Pretty much, everything involves money, and surprisingly little of it.

That night we returned from our afternoon in Malaysia (almost without incident, except for missing the bus at the Malaysian side - I later found out that is of little importance though - yay!), and met Shirley (the third Sydney Uni student here at NUS), who arrived sans luggage. So, whilst Tim took Shirley out for her first outing to Clementi, I met with a group of about 30 exchange students and found out we were all going clubbing! What an introduction to Singapore for Shirley!!! We went to a seemingly expat-based club on Scots Rd (off Orchard Rd) called ChinaBlack. Very nice! Wednesday here is Ladies Night, with all females getting in for free, and at most bars, the drinks are free for them as well. Back in Sydney that would be considered sexist!

06-01-2005
Woke at 10am, and did laundry which seemed to take ages. It's amazing how often I have missed being able to just do half a job around the house. For example, at home I just place my dirty clothes in the laundry bin, and they miraculously appear cleaned and ironed the next night! Here everything that I forget to do is still waiting for me in the morning!!! So, I would just like to take this opportunity, on behalf of all those on exchange to say thanks Mum & Dad...we recognise how much you do for us...it's all those little things that make life so easy!

Later today I had lunch at 2 with Bianca and Shirl, and went to IKEA (which has recently opened a store near NUS), and bought map and photos and a plant etc... (I think this is the real end of all the 'to-buy' outings! Yay! ... oh, except a camera bag from Carrefour) for my room, which every day is becoming more of a home. I can remember when I arrived, it was so bare, but now it has life and an identity...i'm so proud

From IKEA I came home, went out again to Clementi for dinner and had great BBQ Pork and a Peach ice-blended pearl tea. Returned home by 10, spent 2 hrs going through everything for orientation tomorrow.

07-01-2005
We had our orientation today, which really was just a chance to meet more exchange students, and sign up for the planned trips overseas. The actual 'orientation' was pretty much a waste of time, with most of us already knowing the majority of what they explained. I mean, if you have been here a week, chances are you already know how to leave campus and where to go.

Most of the people I met today seemingly came from Canada. I have no idea why really, it just seems this is the way things have turned out - not that there is any problem with that Oh, and no, they are not from McGill or UBC (the Uni's I want to go on exchange to next).

From orientation, Tim & I took Shirley to 7-11 to get a Cashcard (what we use to pay for photocopying, and at vending machines and for a whole bunch of things actually!), and a prepaid card. From there, as I thought I was running late for the Business orientation, I sneaked through a back entrance to Temasek Hall...apparently there is a far easier one but I still managed to get to orientation before many others.

The Business introduction was far more informative than the generic one, with decent information about adding/dropping units (which as with every University, is done differently in the Business faculty), a tour of the faculty, an introduction to the libraries, and a chance to meet other Biz students (many it seems from UC - the Uni of California). Not to mention the really delicious afternoon tea...mmmm...

On my return to PGP from the Biz introduction, I found my bathroom cleaned!!! Whilst this did not totally surprise me considering the communal ones are checked ridiculously often (like once an hour or something!), I was told from the day arrive to the moment I leave, it is my responsibility. Nonetheless, it was a very pleasant surprise, and I hope it is kept up...one less thing to worry about! haha, it's getting more and more like a hotel every day!

For dinner, we all went to a BBQ at West Coast Park (near Cheese Prata, 'out the back'), organised by Leong, who is also organising the trip to Langkawi Island. He is an Alumni from NUS (known as, wait for it, Alumnus!!), and has been organsing trips as a way of ensuring exchange students get to see SE Asia and meet new people. When more than quadruple the expected number of people turned up (80 or so rather than 20), food was delayed in the hope many would go (which they did), and more alcohol was brought in. All in all, it was a really relaxing and inexpensive way to meet people, and certainly should be organised again.

08-01-2005
Today I was expected to wake up really early to go to the ICA (Immigration and Checkpoints Authority - Singapore's Passport Control I guess), which is where we go to get our Student's Pass (Visa) to stay in Singapore. Over the past few days people have been telling horror stories about how long it takes to be served, ranging from 45mins to 2hrs. So we prepared for the worst, with Tim & I brining books and iPods etc... However, it was all in vain, as we were in and out within 15minutes, including me getting my photo done!

Singaporean efficiency 1, Horror story 0.

From Lavender, we went with a group of exchange students (Jelle, Alexia, DJ, Joerg, John, & Tim) to Little India for lunch and a general walk around. No matter how many times I go there, I am always astounded by how real it is...its definitely not designed for tourists, although the temples and sights are beautiful. The smells, and the food and the people are fantastic.

We also went to the Mustafa centre, a four floor extravaganza of almost everything you could possibly imagine buying. However, it is all laid out sporadically, with the supermarket section next to CDs, next to Hardware, next to stationary. Now this may sound like just another KMart store to you, it's not. There are no specified sections, nor any markers to tell you where you are. You just walk and find things you never knew you needed. It has recently been expanded and extended its opening hours to 24/7. Apparently its packed for about 20 of those hours!

Dinner was at PGP again (still haven't found the killer dish to stop me eating elsewhere), and we went to a very flash bar at the top of the Swissotel in Raffles City (New Asia Bar) after dinner. It was free entry and half-price drinks before 9 and I arrived at 8:55, so I just made it. After 9 though, there is no reason to go there aside from the view. Beers are s$16 and cocktails s$25. It's just ridiculous really! The view though is astonishing, and it gave me a chance to meet some veteren exchange students from Britain who have been here since July.

From New Asia Bar, we migrated to Boat Quay and Tiki Bar, where you can have all-you-can-drink spirits for 3 hours for S$20. It's still not Hornsby RSL prices, but nothing is here. You can pay S$3 for one of the best, most filling meals you have ever had, but you will never get a can of beer for less than S$4. Silly! Australians would never accept it...hehehe

Till next we meet, bon voyage!