paraphernalia

Today I decided on one of my things to do in each country I visit - record how they spell my name!

Seems simple, but you'd be surprised how many people can't spell 'Tristan'. Granted it's not a common name, but with the movie and all now, you'd think people would learn! Haha, seems not, and it's never been something I'd get annoyed over, so for a laugh, here goes:

Sydney (Starbucks, Circular Quay): Christin.

(I'll add to this as I travel around).

Argh!!! Today should have been fantastic - instead I spent most of it sulking about sleeping in and missing my one chance to visit Chek Jawa (the intertidal flats located on Pulau Ubin, the nature reserve/island off Singapore's North-East coast).

I was meant to wake at around 6am (those of you who know me realise how impossible that was going to be!) to be on public transport at 7 and on the island by 8am.

Why did you have to be up so early? The answer comes from the nature of the flats. Because they are below sea-level, viewing them requires you to be there at extreme low tides, which only occur at certain times (usually very early in the morning) and only on certain days of the month.

Instead of waking up, however, I heard my alarm (which comes from my mobile phone!) at 6, and chose not to do anything about it. It proceeded to fall on the floor (due to the vibrate function on my mobile shaking it off the table), at which point its battery fell out and the alarm ceased. I woke up naturally at 9am, and it took me a few seconds to realise what happened.

So...in conclusion. I have no decided to get a real alarm clock and make sure I stick to it. I can't believe, after all my forward planning etc..., that I missed out on this opportunity!!! Argh! NO MORE SLEEP-INS!!

On the plus side, I've just returned from coffee at Holland V with Mark. It was initially going to be movies in the city, but, try as we might, we couldn't get a taxi!!! I guess we just weren't looking in the right places. Happy 20th mate!

PS: If you're interested, I heard from Kristin (who did wake up in time) that it was very interesting. That is, aside from the kids who kept on stepping on starfish etc...! Damn kids!

i guys,

Last Friday to Saturday (just over 30 hours) my Dad paid me a visit! I was very excited, as it was the first time one of the family has come to see me in my new home.

It's a strange feeling - almost as if they are invading your turf, but the overriding happiness that comes from seeing your family takes over, and its all good. Whilst Dad was here I stayed with him at the Holiday Inn Parkview on Orchard, and I lived like a tourist. Big hotel breakfasts, buffet lunches, and steaks all the way!! I think I've satisfied my cravings for Western food now. I can go back to noodles and rice for another few months!!! (It only takes one big Western meal for me to be sick of it now - strange huh?!)

We spent the entire time together, and it was really good to catch up and just relax (next week is full of assessments and stuff for Uni - 2 presentations and an essay ). We also went to see "Being Victor Borge" - a stand-up show about the life and comedic talents of Victor Borge. Mum & Dad got to see him perform before he passed away a few years ago, and I thought this would be the best chance I'd have of seeing some of his material performed live.

It was really worth it. Not only was it held in Jubilee Hall in Raffles Hotel (with its old-school opulence), the jokes were great - most of the show was laugh-out-loud funny, especially the opera scene at the end, where Rainer Hersch creates alternate subtitles to songs from operas. Classic.

Anyways, as I mentioned, this week is frantic, so I better get back to it.

Ciao!

Having just returned from a live concert at the Esplanade (Singapore's answer to the Opera House), I thought I'd talk about the live music scene in Singapore.

Frankly, its got nothing on Sydney.

Whilst Sydney has the Metro, Enmore, Hordern, Gaelic, Candy's Apartment, and all the clubs and bars all over Sydney that host live music and DJs, Singapore has the Esplanade (strictly classical, opera, jazz, and some "fringe" performances), some live jazz and blues bars, and the clubs. The closest it comes to a live music venue is its Indoor Stadium, and the Suntec Convention Centre. Both are multi-purpose venues that double as conference rooms and sports arenas. They are not designed to hold live music, and thus don't do it very well.

Having said that, HMV in Singapore is huge, and stocks a much wider variety of music than I've seen at most Sydney music stores. Case in point: Scottish Indie rock band Idlewild, who really haven't "made" it anywhere are top-20 in Singapore. The store is at the Heeren on Orchard Rd, and its well worth a visit.

Hopefully before the semester is through I'll get a chance to visit Wakemeup Music, an indie-alternative store in Commonwealth, near where I live. It seems dedicated to local, regional, and indie punk/alternative bands - just my style. Should be interesting.

I have seen two concerts here though, which is why I feel I can comment on the state of the live music scene. As many of you know, I see many concerts in Sydney - on average 1+ a month. Here I've seen two, and that's not because I'm busy doing other things - its because there is NOTHING else!!!

The two big "festivals" (if you can call them that), Baybeats and ZoukOut! are held in the latter half of the year, so I miss them

Last Wed I saw Simple Plan at Suntec. Yes yes, I know, I've sold out, I'm a teenybopper and I should be shot etc. etc... But I have to say, despite all the flaws (missing the expat-local support band Pug Jelly, having to stretch to see over the 8yr olds sitting on Dad's shoulders) they put on a good concert, and I had an excellent time. Also, I was back in my room by 11:30! Couldn't do that in Sydney.

Word of warning: Singaporeans don't mosh like Aussies do. They stand and hold up one arm and rock it forward and back. It took a bit of getting used to. Apparently only the Malays mosh - and there were few of them at the concert.

The concert I saw earlier tonight was far more refined. Rachmaninov's 2nd Piano Concerto performed by the NUS symphony orchestra, including one of my Malaysian friends, Jae Sern.

It was awesome, although I have to admit I was very tired, so I found it hard to concentrate at times, but the performance was flawless. Really really impressive.

I think when I return to Syd I'm going to have to make more of an effort to go to classical concerts - after all, I'm nearly 20 and I need to start being more civilised!

Lastly, and definitely not least: Today is my Mum's birthday!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Just kidding!