Dempsey Hill the Axis of Douchebags or foodie hotspot?

We live really quite close to Dempsey Hill which, if you haven't been there is a tangle of high end restaurants at the top of a hill surrounded by pretty trees. It's not that far from the central business district but it feels like an oasis after downtown.

Thus far we've sampled the fare at The Red Dot, CMPB and PS Cafe. Food in all three has been pretty good, menus are designed by a chef, food not always overseen by a chef... but nothing too catastrophic has happened either. It's all very pricey so be prepared to open that wallet wide.

Joo Chiat revisited

I'm sure I'll be back in this area again and again because it's so beautiful. Today it was a little cloudy and I only had my phone with me but I took a few shots anyway.

 

The great escape

I wrote a post a while back with some weekend getaway options but since we were constantly in different countries over the past few months we never booked anything. Friends of ours invited us to join them in Malaysia for a deluxe resort, total veg-out trip and we jumped at the opportunity. We're booked for a few days on Redang Island next month. Looking forward to spending some time off with Joel.

Saturday afternoon

This is what I do when I have a lot of reading to do for my courses.

The one thing I hate about the tropics

It must be Tuesday, the guy with the smoke monster is here

Fogging for mosquitoes is a National obsession

Despite the sketchiness of this practice from a bygone era I'll take it over Dengue fever any day.

Gold Class Cinema win

courtesy of Timeout Singapore

Joel arrived home from Montreal last night at two am after flying for nearly two days. Needless to say it was the best Valentine's Day present. Today we had a reservation to see the King's Speech at Golden Village in a gold class theatre. Big plush reclining chairs, blankets and a call button to keep the champagne coming. It was a dream come true. I had to nudge Joel and few times to keep him awake since for him it was the middle of the night and he felt like he'd been upgraded to first class.

Packing for Singapore

I have a few guests heading my way this year so this is for all of you soon-to-be Singapore explorers. My list of things you might want to consider when you pack your suitcase.

Bags
You don't really need to pack light or be very mobile with your luggage because as soon as you get off your flight you get a trolley and as soon as you get outside there are cabs and chauffeur services waiting. Cabs aren't expensive and well worth it after a long flight. Just make sure you can physically lift your bag off the conveyor belt. Alternately look helpless enough that someone else will do it for you. Not that I've done that.

Bring a purse or side bag you are comfortable with carrying for a whole day of walking and then something smaller for an evening out.

Clothing
You really don't need to (and frankly shouldn't) dress for a safari. While you may see lots of other pale, disoriented tourists taking this approach it's really overkill and gives all the fashionable Singaporeans something to really laugh about.

Chinatown at New Years

Finally got out to photograph the "cherry blossoms" at night

The arches over the road with the bunnies on top

Sentosa

I was on Sentosa yesterday which I think was probably the busiest day to be there given that the whole city is off work for Chinese New Years and the new boardwalk to the island JUST opened. Despite the crushing crowds I still like being where things are happening.

Egalitarian mistakes

Cultural sensitivity lesson number 1. When we first arrived in Singapore we stayed in a serviced suite as many people do. Four weeks in a little furnished flat with a maid coming in every day to clean. Mine arrived around 10am, barefoot and oddly submissive. It seemed excessive for her to be washing our tiny floors 6 days a week and I became very aware of my things being in her way. When she'd arrive I'd feel guilty about my dishes and quickly leap up to speed-wash them while she tackled the bathroom. I noticed that she seemed to avoid me if possible and gave me the stink-eye when we made eye contact. Oh my god she hates me, I thought. I must have insulted her or maybe she hates white people. I get it, white people suck. I'll try to smile more or maybe do the dishes earlier and not be still in my PJs when she gets here.

I shared my feelings with Joel who thought my maid issue was amusing but had no idea what to do. I started to greet her at the door with a big smile and would say "hey it's OK, I you don't need to clean up today" hoping she'd be thrilled to have a shorter shift.  I was met with dagger eyes. I just made it worse.