Events

Over the past few weeks, I've been known as the "cultural guy" - i.e. the one who does all the cultural sightseeing etc... which is partly true I guess. I decided early on this semester that I would try and see as much of the island as possible, as I don't think I'll be back here again soon.

To this end, I went to see events as part of the Singapore Fringe and Australian Film Festivals, as well as begun a course in Chinese Calligraphy (dubbed "girly writing" by Johanne! :P)

On Monday night (March 7th) I went to the Esplanade to see a presentation about Singapore's history. Entitled "War Memories", it was an interview with a veteran journalist (Han Tan Juan) who has lived in Singapore and China over the past 50 years. He discussed his memories of the CCP-GMD (Communist vs Nationalist) civil war in China (from his viewpoint as a child on Hainan Island), and then through the Japanese occupation of Singapore (during lots of anti-Chinese action, including the branding of suspected anti-Japanese citizens), the declaration of Independence, and then the race riots in the 1960s between the Malay and Chinese communities in Singapore.

It was really fascinating to listen to his views on the events that have shaped Singapore into the country it is now, with all its flaws and imperfections. Racial tensions still exist (very little inter-racial marriage takes place), as does censorship (Internal Security Act (ISA), anyone?). Whislt he wasn't one to shy away from recognising the problems, he was not willing to test the envelope by actually discussing them. In his words "The ISA is stopping me from talking about the ISA."

This is the first year the Singapore Fringe Festival has run, and I think it's a great idea. Any modern city that wants to encourage creativity needs outlets for the arts, and the more avenues there are for expression, the better. Attendance to this particular event, however, was quite low (even though it was free), and I was the only non-Singaporean there. I thought it was a fantastic use of the Esplanade though, and was the first time I've actually been inside. It's a maze!

On Thursday, I attended my first Chinese Calligraphy lesson, and it was fantastic. I went with Bianca, and we both found it really interactive. Although its hard, the class is small, and really interesting. I had expected to spend some hours learning just how to hold the brush etc..., however instead within 15 minutes we were writing! It's such a break from studying, and really relaxing. Now I just need to work on my posture! (For those who are interested, its held at the Asian Civilisations Museum, Armenian St, and runs for 10 weeks. Cost $100)

The week ended on a high note, with the Aussies congregating at the Australian Film Festival tonight to see "Love's Brother". The film was about an Italian migrant families experience in 1950s Victoria, and the relationships the two Italian-born sons have. It was an interesting experience, and made me realise the large numbers of expats here in Singapore. Of the 200 or so people there, only 15 would have been locals. Just hearing Aussie accents made Shirl and I homesick, and the film made it worse (I never knew birds singing would make me think of Sydney!). For Aruni, who lives in Melbourne (where it was set), it was worse!

The venue, Great World City, seems to be the Singaporean expat brat hangout, judging by the number of teenage Caucasian kids walking around. It's proximity to huge condo's (private apartment blocks) must help.

Ciao!

I thought I'd take time today (having returned from a big night out) to clue you guys in regarding the nightlife in Singapore.

This may come as a bit of a surprise to many of you, however I don't go "clubbing" in Sydney - I had only been once to Home nightclub before I left in December, and that was an underage event whilst I was in high school!! How times have changed.

Whilst Singapore nightlife is relatively expensive (S$15-20 cover charges, S$10+ beers, S$12+ cocktails/mixers) it's an important part of the exchange student lifestyle, and one that we have embraced.

Many of the most memorable times this semester have come during or after a big night out (predominantly a Wednesday night/Thursday morning as its 'ladies night' then - females enter/drink for free at most clubs! - how unfair is that!?!!).

This semester I've been to ChinaBlack (Hiphop/Dance club), Tiki Bar ('free-flow' bar on Boat Quay), Zouk (the club in Singapore - dance/hiphop/retro on Wed), Insomnia (bar with live band), and last night Wu Bar (proper hip hop). I'm sure I'll go to many more before semester ends. Most clubs are hip-hop based, and the 'dance' clubs play commercial dance

Important terms in Singapore:
1-for-1: buy one, get one free. You ask for 1 drink, and you get 2.
Free-flow: all you can drink for a certain time period (ladies usually longer than guys)
Ladies night: Wednesdays at most places, ranges from free everything (ChinaBlack) to just discounted entrance (Zouk).

Note that all concepts of "responsible drinking" don't really exist, and the main aim for many is to get drunk, but not in an Aussie way - we don't drink to get drunk here, we just get drunk. It's a subconscious goal. Also, the cost of alcohol means you go to free-flow places and drink more than you would if it was $4-5 a drink everywhere. Strange logic huh!?

Oh, and if you are ever on Mohammed Sultan Rd (the single biggest clubbing district), enter Wu Bar at your own risk! It's proper hip-hop, and quite small and quiet, however we had an interesting time there nonetheless! Jane got to dance with 30+yr old black guys, Tim threw up on himself, Aruni threw up outside, and we all looked stupid pole-dancing!

Like I said, enter at your own risk!

Ciao!

This past week has been crazy! We are leaving tonight for Cambodia, a trip that has been planned, and re-planned and discussed incessantly for the past few weeks! It's been nuts, and a whole lot of fun.

However, this week has also made me realise *finally* that I am here to study as well as party and travel, and so I've been a little bad a left a few assignments to the last minute.

It began last Sunday with a walk around campus and the surrounding area with the local environmental group - the Kent Ridge Heritage Walk. It was a fascinating look at the history of the area – which was the site of the last battle of the Malay regiment in WW2 against the Japanese. The fact that we were there on the anniversary made it all the more special. That, and we discovered our campus has bunkers from WW2 hidden behind a water tank! How many uni’s can claim that! That night we went out for Kiran’s birthday dinner at Holland V(illage), the local expat hangout. Very nice Indian food! Happy 23rd Kiran!

Tuesday night, however, was not a time for celebration, as we saw Hotel Rwanda at the cinemas. I haven’t seen a film like that since Schindler’s List, and none of us left dry-eyed. The film was so powerful, and so moving, it really makes you want to do something and stand up against all the injustices in the world. I was almost speechless after seeing it, and for me, that is quite an achievement.

The past few days, Shirley, Tim, Aruni and I have been discussing setting up an 'Australian' stall for the International Fiesta to be held at NUS yesterday and today (where I got to finally see a dragon dance!). It didn't eventuate, but it did mean we finally went to Aussimart - the only store to sell Vegemite in Singapore - however it was shite! Really small, and with only one or two items of interest, we left having bought nothing. It was a letdown really - we had built it up (having walked past it many times when it was closed) to be this amazing store, and a cure for all our intermittent homesickness - but no, it was just a small store selling very little of interest.

However, back to the main topic: my Uni work. This week I had two large assessments due, and I needed to study for a midterm exam (which is on two days after we return from Cambodia!). Suffice to say, it was a difficult week, and I don't think my essay (for one of my history subjects: Colonial Indochina) is entirely up to scratch - but hopefully my Prof. won't notice. The tutorial presentation (for SE Asian studies - on migration) went really well, as that was today.

I feel so relieved now to have those two over - my first real test of studying in another country and I think I may have just made it. At least they were all done and handed in on time!

Now, it’s off to the airport and Cambodia!

Ciao!

For many exchange students, CNY represented too good an opportunity to miss. For most (including myself) it meant 5 or 6 days off in a row, with no tutorials or assignments due.

However, I decided to experience CNY here, and catch up on Uni work and readings etc... Travel has taken its toll on my uni work, and I need to do more than the bare minimum as my grades are transferred (for many of the Northern Hemisphere students, esp. the Americans there work is taken as a pass/fail!)

So...as there were a few of us remaining in Singapore, we made the most of it, visiting Istana (the Preisdent's House on Orchard Rd), having a 'reunion dinner' with a local family, and watching the firecrackers and fireworks from Chinatown itself on NYE.

Chinese New Year is celebrated in Singapore with a two-day holiday. The holiday revolves around spending time with your family and relatives, particularly if you haven't seen them in a while - hence the many full flights, and the importance of Taiwan-China flights around this time.
We (Jane, Mike, Brandy and myself) spent Tuesday night (New Years Eve) at Jane (from Canada)'s Aunt's apartment enjoying reunion dinner, and learning to play Mahjong (Chinese 'pairs' game basically). It was great - the variety and amount of food was unbeliveable, and I tried many types of fish and meat (including cow and pig stomach) that I would never have otherwise eaten. (At least its preparing me for grasshoppers and spiders in China!). Got to practice some of my limited Chinese and visit my first HDB apartment. Thanks Jane!

Reunion dinner ended around 10pm, so we made our way to Chinatown, along with 500,000 other Singaporeans, and wedged ourselves in the crowd to count down New Years. Despite the numbers, it seemed remarkably quiet compared to Sydney NYE crowds, where by 10pm you may as well stay at home because its so packed.

The firecrackers which followed the countdown (done in Chinese! - Shi, Jiu, Ba, Qi, Liu, Wu, Si, San, Er, Yi) are a tradition, however I don't think they've been used in Singapore for many years - and only now has the ban been lifted! I am not too sure why they'd ban such an obvious part of the celebrations, but hey, this is Singapore, the land where you can be fined for spitting, but having 10 people sitting in the back of a pickup truck is fine!

At midnight, after some of the crowd had dispersed, we followed a mass of people around the streets of Chinatown to do some last-minute CNY shopping. We picked up a box of Mandarins for half-price (still overpriced compared to normal!), some sticky cake, and bubble tea along with admiring the tackiness of it all. It's just like Christmas - again!

Wednesday, the first day of the new year, is a day of new beginnings - so the Chinese are expected to have a new haircut (they can't cut their hair in the first three weeks of the new year, as its bad luck), and wear an entirely new outfit. This is the day when they visit all their relatives, and the kids pick up Ang Pao (red packets - containing money). I spent Wednesday at home, and saw Seoul Raiders, a Korean-Hong Kong action comedy, along the style of Charlie's Angels. Very poor, but it knew it was being stupid, so it was ok!

Thursday was our visit to Istana ('Palace' in Malay), the President's residence near Dhoby Ghaut station on Orchard Rd. This place is MASSIVE! It covers a block from Orchard Rd to City Hall. It's only open on selected public holidays every year, and we got to wander around the grounds (just like Government House in Sydney) and selected rooms in the house. Apparently, in the afternoon President Nathan and his wife came out to greet visitors, but we had left by then

And that was it, Chinese New Year Singapore-style!