Down Under

If you haven't heard, I'm down under in our neighbouring country soaking up the sterile mall air-conditioning. Strictly PG-13 fun though since I'm with my more conservative colleagues. When you get that itch to travel, you just gotta get somewhere.

And that includes the first bus I see going anywhere. Not much choice to be had though since the irritating schoolkids have already bought up every acceptable free-and-easy package possible relegating me to the Great Singapore Sale.

Not that I'm complaining.

So what do I do down in Singapore apart from indulging my favourite past-time? Sure, the prohibitive exchange rates might have curbed my excessive splurging a little but trust me to find real good bargains all the way from the posh high-street stores to the cheap bargain basement buys. Even picked up rose apples and mua chi to munch on while shopping.

Sights aplenty - and I'm not only talking about the boys. Our country could certainly learn a few tips from them on the refurbishment of colonial era buildings - rather than tearing them down willy-nilly to replace them with boring generic building blocks. And what's with paving paradise just to put up a parking lot? Haven't our construction guys learnt how to work with the natural topography yet?

But I'm not here to gripe about architecture. That's for my ISO to do.


Dinner and drinks...
Last time I was here, I did St James with my ISO so this time we spent the night trolling Clarke Quay till the wee hours. Yelling loudly in the bars, whispering sotto voce in the cafes - learnt for a fact that doctors can seriously stay up late chatting away like magpies till breakfast time.

Have to admit it was a little unsettling to realize that my colleagues and I actually enjoyed retro music in 54 far more than the thumpa thumpa house music. Then again I prefer music I can hum to. Fortunately there were plenty of youthful college students who evidently agreed - or I'd be forced to apply for a retirement home!

Oddly enough - in comparison to the last time - I found the hottie quotient dropping. I mean, I was once hypnotized by a set of amazing buns all the way down Orchard. Either I've become far more discerning ( not likely! ) or there's some secret National Service weekend rendezvouz where all the hotties have gathered together.

Hmm. Wonder what that's like.