Live Music at Last

Greetings everyone,
This weekend we saw our first music festival in Singapore. Bay Beats is an independent,youth oriented free festival with live bands from Australia, USA, UK Malaysia India, Thailand Indonesia and local Singaporean bands. It is held at the Esplanade Theatre complex which is situated on the Sing River just at the edge of the CBD. The complex itself is an architectural marvel with the outer buildings modelled on the infamous Durian Fruit. ( Large Green Spiky and extremely pungent smelling, not allowed to transport them on public transport, because of their distinctive aroma).

The festival was targeted at the youth with a very funky and artistic web site. The music was great, Asian bands with names like, Forced Vomit, the Otherside Orchestra and Abuse the Youth they sounded "out there" but the music was very accessible energetic and danceable. Once again we observed the locals being very reserved and watching quietly. However Kafil, Celeste, Andrew and Sally (all Australian's) lead the way with woo hoo's dancing and loud and enthusiastic clapping.

The Lucksmiths played a question and answer session at the Library, on Saturday arvo it was lovely to have that touch of home. However it did make me hanker for all things Melbourne . Their songs they are so everyday, about relationships, share houses, hangovers, smoking too much, casual sex and the change in the seasons, on reflection all things that young Singaporeans do not experience in the same way as youth in Oz. ( I have heard that it is forbidden to live away from your parents unless you are over 25. Many young Singa families live with their parents or inlaws even when they are married with children.)

It was great to see some live music, and Kafil true to form managed to buy 2 CD's one of whom he only heard on the Bay beats website. Given he has only bought 2 cd's in 6 weeks, I guess I shouldn't complain.

We have been here 6 weeks now, and it has flown, however it is only about 41/2 weeks until I return to Oz for a holiday and of course the party to end all parties in Queenscliff for our bestest friends Sue and Phil's 50th birthdays. Can't wait!!!

It rains here so much, if Melbourne got even a fraction of the rain that pours down here there would not be water restrictions. It means every spot of greenery is lush and vibrant, it also means that the footpaths can be slippery at times. The rain does not deter us all from our to- ing and fro- ing, we have adjusted to carrying an umbrella at all times. The only evidence of it affecting people is that there are more people in taxi queues. We have learnt that it is sometimes worth the extra $2.00 to ring and book a taxi from the rank, to jump the queue so to speak. Taxis are relatively cheap here as long as the driver knows that you know where you are going and how to get there. otherwise they tend to take the long winded rather than direct route.

I will sign off now until next time - Have a great weekend and stay in touch.
Love Kerri

All things domestic

Greetings all,
Well Kafil and I have moved into our house it is a spacious 3 bedroom terrace house in the suburbs. We had advice from a former expat that Bedok is a great area, with landed property(ie house) at less exorbitant rents. It is great for us childless expat couples as it does not have the premium rent of a place near one of the highly sought after international schools. It is about 15 minutes by MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) from town and only 4 stops from Changi airport.

Maria Avenue, is in the artistically named Opera Estate, and our part of the street is a cul de sac, which means no through traffic. Very different from being on the bus route in Charles Street.
The house has floor tiles and polished floors throughout, it is has air conditioning in 5 rooms and fans as well. Except the kitchen, unfortunately as this is seen as the maids area so no cooling or dishwasher. We will put a fan in the kitchen at our own cost, as the landlord has already installed a new oven and an extra a/c unit in the study. The kitchen has beautiful timber cabinetry which is new, and brand new stove top and oven. Most Singaporeans apparently do not cook much, they work long hours and tend to go out to eat most days hence we had to request an oven.

The house is lovely and light with a pretty bay window in the lounge dining area. The walls are solid concrete so we need to get a handyman in to hang our pictures up. I will post photos when
all is complete here.

We have a small courtyard type front yard with ample room for our barbecue a small one we bought over from Oz. Not having a car is not an issue as the Gas man, delivers a new bottle within 1/2 an hour of being called, for a very reasonable price.

Costs of living here varies immensely, it is expensive for lots of daily items, however if you do not demand brands and products from Australia fresh produce is not too pricey. Meat and fruit and vegetables are priced by the100 grams which is a little confusing at first. The MRT service is first class and Melbourne could really learn from the locals about how to run a transport system. It only costs 66cents per journey from one ticketed entry point to another. The train stations and trains are immaculately clean as no food drink or cigarettes are allowed. In the major underground stations there is a labyrinth of tunnels escalators and travellators, you can go from one station to another without seeing above ground for kilometres.

Today I felt it was time for a hair cut and I ventured into a stylish looking salon, under the HDB flats. ( Housing Devt Board High rise complexes with out the facilities of private apartments and condos) The HDB blocks, are self contained and have their own fresh food market, hawker centre ( cheap self service food from a variety of Asian flavourings) hardware shops, bakery etc.

I walked into the salon, (to the amazement of the 3 trendy youth working there) (not any other expats in the concourse) and braved it for a hair cut. It costs $5 extra for a hair wash and I thouht hang the expense. I was surprised when there was no evidence of a basin. The apprentice (I guess) put a plastic bag over my shoulders covered by a small hand towel. She then proceeded to wash my hair using the contents of a squeezy bottle!!! I was a little taken aback.
She then massaged and lathered my head and hair for ages, it felt very good, however the sight of me sitting with big peaks of shampoo being sculpted into my hair was not a good look.

Following the extensive head massage lathering, I was taken to a fully reclined hair wash chair were my hair was rinsed off before the cut, the hairstylist then took over. She was very thorough and seemed to cut each hair individually . When she had mostly finished she took me back to the basin to rinse out all the stray hairs. She then continued to snip and comb until she was satisfied with the result. My hair looked great very nicely styled and shaped, I will probably never replicate the look my self. All this for just $ 20.00 Sing, which is $16 Aus.!!! I will definitely go back.
Hope all is well and your not freezing
in the Aussie winter.

Love and Best Wishes
Kerri - Some random Bot Gardens
shots - the gazebo and Swan Lake!

Singapore National Day & Botanical Gardens

Greetings all,
Last Saturday was Singapore National Day, the lead up to it was quite something the air force practiced their formation flying over our apartment. Shops were laden with t shirts and souvenirs in the national colours red and white. The finale of the day was a spectacular fireworks display.We viewed the fireworks from Kafil's office on the 29th floor.



Yesterday we went for a long walk in the wonderful Botanical gardens they are just a stones throw from the shopping capital Orchard road. It was hot and steamy, peppered with light showers, the gardens are a wonderful oasis, were butterflies flutter, squirrels climb and turtles and swans glide thru the tranquil Swan Lake. We were greeted by a cacophony of cicadas which oddly sound quite electronic and the chirping and singing of birds.







There were magnificent fan palms, colourful tropical flowers and shady rain forest paths.


There were an array of beautiful brass sculptures dotted throughout the gardens.


The middle photo is called Joy and celebrates the Joie de Vivre of children.
The sculptures were stunningly placed in hidden corners of the gardens.











We had lunch at a beautiful restaurant overlooking a waterfall in the gardens. As we left the gardens we came across a final dress rehearsal of a schools spectacular performance. the children looked wonderful as they practiced their stage exit and entrances.

Festival Of Lights

Greetings all
I wanted to share with you a wonderful visual spectacular Kafil and I saw on our first weekend here. We are a short stroll from the 2 major art galleries of the city. They were used as the canvas for a display of light projections which transformed the buildings to literally works of art.



It was spectacular, I wanted to oooohh and ahhhh, but the locals were so sedate I was reduced to admiring the work in silence.



Its hard to explain however Kafil took some wonderful photos.



Singap ore prides itself on its commitment to the arts, and every weekend there has been music, visual art, and performance to experience. At the end of the month a couple of Aussie bands - The Lucksmiths are playing for free at a Beats festival in the centre of the city. We will make sure we go as the Lucksmiths are a fun band we have seen a couple of times in Melbourne.

Welcome to Singapore

To open proceedings here's a picture that epitomises Singapore; the Merlion outside the Fullerton Hotel. We took this picture after an excellent meal at a place in the Esplanade called "Our Humble House".

If you eat nowhere else in Singapore this is a must do experience. The furniture is like something out of Alice in Wonderland and the food is astounding. It is Chinese with a touch of international fusion.

Anyway, until the next time.

Have Fun