Rediscovering Singapore | 3. Officially Infatuated

Posted on August 23, 2012 by

That last September trip left me wondering if there was more soul to Singapore – or if there was any for that matter. But I didn’t think much about when I would find out more about it, especially not after spending three months in Sydney earlier this year. I don’t think I need to play the comparison game between the two cities to explain why.

Sometimes in late June, my friend FinallyWoken texted me and asked if I would like to join her in Singapore for a night in Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Suddenly, I have a reason to visit Singapore. Well, a few reasons actually.

The prospect of catching up with her, and then another person (who made me want to write and capture images better), was very appealing. The idea of just hanging out with people who are good conversationalist was enough to make me want to travel across the strait.

Then there was that – my curiosity about Singapore coupled with my longing for leisurely walking in parks and sitting in museums and art galleries. In a way, I think I was missing my time in Sydney doing all those things, and Singapore was a close one to make up for it.

*****

Marina Bay Sands (MBS): Gardens by The Bay and Andy Warhol Exhibition

FinallyWoken was down with a cold when she arrived that afternoon, poor girl. After talking to her for an hour or so, I left her to rest and went on my own to explore what was on around the Marina Bay Sands.

The MBS resort gives you a sense of overwhelming space that mega-buildings intend to have you experienced. Here’s a description of the S$8billion development, with enough numbers to make your head spin.

“The resort features a 2,561-room hotel, a 1,300,000 square foot convention-exhibition centre, the 800,000 square foot mall, an iconic ArtScience museum, two large theatres, seven “celebrity chef” restaurants, two floating Crystal Pavilions, an ice skating rink, and the world’s largest atrium casino with 500 tables and 1,600 slot machines.” (Source: Wikipedia)

Well, add to that the new “Gardens by the Bay“, located across the MBS complex. This latest mega-attraction to Singapore that sprawls across 101 ha (250 acres) of reclaimed land took 7 years in the making with a cost of S$1billion. I guess when it comes to development around the Marina Bay area, no expense was spared.

The first thing you notice immediately from this super garden is the supertrees, 18 of them sticking up above everything else at a height ranging from 25 meters to 50 metres. Those supertrees happened to be the view from our hotel suite. This massive gardens complex offers a range of attractions, including The Flower Dome showcasing hundreds of plants from all over the world.

I came in the late afternoon and had no intention other than taking a leisure walk around the gardens – not quite the whole 101 ha of it, but just a tiny fraction of it through the Heritage Gardens, made up of the Chinese, Malay and Indian themed gardens. While I like pretty things and green space, I don’t think I was so inclined to learn about the horticulture that was available there.

I spent a lot of time stopping and taking in the views around me, including this pretty sight of the Singapore Flyer reflected on one of the man-made lakes on the site. One could possibly mistaken this scenery as the gray London with its own London Eyes and Thames River.

As I walked hurriedly across the bridge, back to Marina Bay Sands after the sun went down, I felt the spit of rain on me. The weather was not the best that day. With a couple of hours before the ArtScience Museum close for the night, I decided to check out the “Andy Warhol: 15 Minutes Eternal” exhibition. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside, but what I can tell you is this – if you ever get the chance to visit any of his exhibition, just do it. Especially if you love anything quirky and of pop-art. This was the largest exhibition of his work ever held in Singapore. I lost count at how many times I gasped and wowed at the sight of his creations, be them the paintings, including those of the celebrities (Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and more), the drawings of the shoes he designed, including the shoes being displayed; or that Silver Factory exhibit, a replica of his studio in New York, where everything was covered in tin foil and silver paint.

Museum Hopping

FinallyWoken and I parted just after lunch the next day, after we lazed around in the hotel suite the whole morning, skipping the MBS SkyPark for the next time we both feel like it, and preferably without the cold. The adventure on day two started that afternoon when I met Tetanus (“T”) a director, writer and photographer who lives in Singapore, whom I have become acquainted through his blog. I had told him I wanted to check out the museums in Singapore, which friends have been raving about, for they are known as some of the best ones in Asia; he was happy to play host that day.

I wasn’t fussed as to which museum we were going to, since I have never been to any of them. The MINT Museums of Toys was the first one we went to and it was a fun trip down memory lane seeing some of the characters I grew up with as a child. After all, MINT is an acronym for Moments of Imagination of Nostalgia with Toys. The first of its kind, the MINT Museums of Toys exhibits an impressive private collection of vintage toys – owned by Mr Chang Yang Fa, a Singapore citizen – that includes rare and unique one of a kind toys, collected from around the world. Over 50,000 pieces of toys are displayed over the five floors of this establishment.

Given its proximity to other museums we hopped across to Singapore Art Museum (SAM) for a quick look around to see what exhibition was on, before we decided it was probably better off to check out the National Museum of Singapore. (I’ll save SAM for my next visit to Singapore).

I was first and foremost impressed with the museum’s architecture.

Housed in a grand colonial building The National Museum of Singapore is impressive both on the interior and exterior. Celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2012, it is one of the most notable museums in Singapore exhibiting all elements of the history on Singapore. Many of the permanent exhibitions have free admissions (during specific times of the day). We went to two of the four Living Galleries; Photography and Food. The other two are Fashion and Film & Wayang (“Wayang” is a Malay word for puppets).

The Photography Living Gallery showcases the history of Singapore through portraits of Singaporean families over 100 years, showing a glimpse of their lives, touching on the many social issues faced by the families, including one openly acknowledging the practice of polygamy.

The Food Living Gallery exhibits the many traditional food of Singapore and the stories behind them, including some quirky displays of the artifacts. I think it was at this point we started talking about noodles, including one that T grew up with, and we became hungry. Yet it was a little too early for dinner.

I took this shot as we walked around the museum district on our way to a lomography shop before we headed out to dinner; the light was just pretty.

I was at the mercy of my host who took me out to dinner, all the way to the other side of town, to the Eastern area that is Changi. Within half an hour in a taxi traversing through the city, the scenery changed from what was the concrete jungle of metropolitan Singapore to what felt like, a middle of nowhere. We arrived at a restaurant called The Coastal Settlement, a wonderful establishment with its rustic charm stemmed from the vintage and wooden furniture decor, surrounded by gardens and large trees. Add to that, the loud sound of crickets that came after the brief downpour while we were there; I almost forgot I was in Singapore.

The food was delicious – oh the truffle fries! I can still taste them to this day – the beer that washed them down was tasty, and the company was even better.

(Thank you, T!)

I had the next day to explore Singapore on my own before catching the last flight back to Jakarta that night. Originally I was going to head down to the Botanical Garden for more of those walk-in-the-park moments. However, after getting tips from T on an independent bookstore, as well was the Tintin shop, both located in Chinatown, I decided on a change of plan; head down to Chinatown for those two things and then see whatever else the day brings. The experience turned out to be a joyful one – giddy all the way through the morning as I browsed through all the comics and merchandises at the Tintin Shop and later in that bookstore, Littered With Books.

Happiness is being in a book store.

Now, what’s a visit to Singapore without going to the hawker centre at least once? I was spoiled with the posh food court in Marina Bay Sands, and being wined and dined last night, that I haven’t had a chance to go and get more of the local cuisine. At Maxwell Food Court, one of the popular ones around, I sampled some Pohpiah and Hainanese Chicken Rice from Tian Tian Chicken Rice, one that was also endorsed by Anthony Bourdain.

Actually, that was probably why I went to that stall of chicken rice. A long queue and Anthony Bourdain picture plastered all over the stall? It should at least worth a try. And the verdict? I’d come back for seconds if I wasn’t so full.

The “whatever the day might bring” attitude had me accidentally discover the Singapore City Gallery (URA Gallery) within the same vicinity of the hawker centre. The gallery has three floors of display (including some interactive ones) and exhibitions on the superb urban planning that makes Singapore what it is today. A visit there only made me even more envious of this little country, which seems obsessed with efficiency and organisation – unlike my own city of Jakarta which, coincidentally at the time of my visit, was having its first round of election for the new Governor.

I also found the Red Dot Design Museum, a contemporary design museum not far from the city gallery. I was excited going in, thinking I’d get another dose of creativity buzz that museums and galleries often give, only to find out it was closed for a private function. So instead I sat in a quiet bar located on the same site as the museum, killing time, enjoying a cold drink while reading and later writing in my journal, reflecting on this short trip that was coming to an end.

*****

The character of a place and my curiosity about the world at large will always trigger the wanderlust in me. But people are also becoming the reason I travel these days. The friends and family I have in Sydney, the expats friend I have yet to visit in Dubai, a place I never thought about visiting anytime soon, or to the extreme, that one friend currently working with the UN in Ethiopia – at least until he convinced everyone that it is much more civilised to meet somewhere other than Ethiopia if all we wanted was to hang out with him.

People make your travel experience that extra memorable. The conversations that tickle your mind, resulting in wandering thoughts to the places and moments in your life in reflection. The discovery that the person you thought you knew about from reading their writing is, well, in fact exactly like you thought they were, and more. The unexpected gems found through the local knowledge. Those fleeting moments you spend talking to some people, wanting those moments to last for as long as possible. Realising you forgot to take photos of the places that you were in, or even of the people you were with, simply because you were so engrossed in deep meaningful conversations, to the point that you didn’t even care if you didn’t make it to what most people think was a must visit.

Those moments. Those encounters. People has definitely made this trip that extra memorable for me.

There was also the nostalgia, the trip down memory lane from the things I saw – the toys, the old photos I saw at the museum, things that reminded me of my childhood and my background, one of a Chinese descent in Indonesia. Or nostalgia from the conversations recalling things from the pasts, the things I have seen, read and listened.

People, places, memories.

Whatever it is, I think I finally found some soul in Singapore. The place doesn’t feel so cold anymore. And dare I say, I think I am officially infatuated by this tiny little red dot.

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Rediscovering Singapore | 2. Lure of the Lions

Posted on July 25, 2012 by

Despite all the attractions and appeals of Singapore in the recent years, I still wasn’t quite drawn to it. I recall friends inviting me to come along for the many weekend trips — even one-day trips, to visit the Universal Studio back when it was recently opened in 2011. Back in the days when I was still the office-bound-corporate-warrior.

Maybe it was the wrong timing on those invitations, or maybe I was enjoying more of solo travelling — but for whatever reason, a visit to Singapore and its Universal Studio never eventuated.

Something was also holding me back.

It only dawned on me recently that Singapore held a not-so-happy memory. It was during one of the brief transit trips I made back in the days of living in New Zealand when I stayed for two nights with a few friends. The man of my life at the time came along and fell slightly sick on the trip, causing so much drama and heartache – which details I shall spare – I stopped feeling sorry for him at the end. Needless to say, such man is no longer in my life.

I guess that incident left such a bad taste in my mouth that I didn’t think much of Singapore since then. But as someone told me recently I “shouldn’t take it out on the whole country”.

And so I shouldn’t, for the place has so much to offer.

*****

In September last year, my best friend Miss Sassy invited me to see the musical Lion King in Marina Bay Sands theatre. I adore musicals and have always wanted to see the Lion King, after missing it a few times in the past while travelling in Sydney, London and New York City. With a couple of months into the sabbatical, any forms of travelling was high on the agenda. Finally, it was also my chance to explore Singapore as an adult traveller – with a new mindset. I wanted to see what the fascination was all about.

For what was put on display, with the details in costumes, and the emotions shown by the casts, it was worth paying top dollars for those front seats at the Lion King musical. (Images courtesy of motherinc.org)

We also checked out the Salvador Dali exhibition in the Art Science Museum in Marina Bay Sands, taking me back to the childhood memories when I first discovered the Dali-inspired watches in a shop. I wanted to own one, but never did.

(The image below is taken with a Blackberry camera – please excuse its quality for iPhone 4S was only acquired in December last year.)

Miss Sassy and I spent some time browsing at things in Bugis, where we also stayed, and later in Orchard. We share the same fascination on books and shoes – though she’s more shoe-crazed compared to me, that she proceeded to educate me on the fun facts of certain shoe models and designers. All while toddling along the ground floor of Takashimaya and ogling at shoes.

It was fun, and that could be why we didn’t kill each other during this, our first trip together. Also because we understand each other so well, that we didn’t need to be together the whole time, unlike other people who travel together. Most of the time, I was left alone to do my exploring and photography.

As photography was high on the agenda, I had my DSLR and tripod on this trip, lugging them around everywhere. I was that keen to take photos of the sights of Singapore, with its many neatly laid out suburbs. First cluster, to the east of the city centre, Bugis and Kampong Glam.

Words such as “characters”, “chaos”, and “hyperactive” can probably be associated with Bugis and Kampong Glam Add also “quirky” and “colourful” to the mix. I could feel the chaos, albeit a mild one compared to places like Jakarta, or Hongkong – from the hustle and bustle of people (mostly tourists) rummaging through the stalls in the market. Or the sights of those carrying trays of food while trying to find the seats in the packed hawker centre, and that uncle who was trying to clear up the tables as quickly as he can.

A different vibe is immediately felt when you walk into Arab Street in Kampong Glam. The chaotic Bugis still has that Chinese feel of Singapore. In Kampong Glam, there is a strong influence of the Moslem and Middle Eastern culture. This is also characterised by the presence of the grand Sultan Mosque. Shop houses are filled with shops selling textiles and restaurants with halal food.

I love the sight of great architecture, staring at building and places of worships is one of my past times while travelling. Unfortunately I didn’t get to go in to the mosque as there was a Friday prayer session.

Haji Lane, still in Kampong Glam, would have to be my favourite spot with its colourful graffiti and quirky shops/boutiques and restaurants.

I even caught a wedding photo session taking place on the same lane

Lugging my tripod and camera – all in the name of landscape and night photography – I took a long walk from Chinatown to Marina Bay Sands passing through the riverside and Esplanade. Everyone knows that walking is one of the best ways to explore new places when travelling. And Singapore is one of those places you can walk everywhere, if you don’t mind the heat and humidity.

When I got to Marina Bay Sands, it was still bright with daylight. I really wanted to get a picture of the Singapore skyline during sunset, including those iconic landmarks. Someone suggested I head to the Marina Barrage , and so I jumped on to a cab to catch the golden hour. Alas, the sky was so gloomy and muggy I didn’t get any good ones. Something about the forest burning from…Indonesia. (Sigh)

Taken from the Marina Barrage

Despite that, the Marina Barrage is a pleasant location to relax, walk and stare at the water or the city of Singapore across. One can also go to the rooftop park to play kites, or take photos as it was in my case. I did have fun learning about the Singapore freshwater reservoir including the amazing effort the government did to clean up its river. I only dream of one for Jakarta.

The Sustainable Singapore Gallery in Marina Barrage

I got a pleasant surprise on one of the nights I was back in the Marina Bay Sands waterfront promenade – again in an attempt to do more night photography. I was trying to take shots of the Fullerton Hotel from the opposite side when I startled and almost jumped from the very loud bang, a theatrical noise coming out of the speakers around the waterfront. The next thing I know, water was splashing around, shooting up in the air.

It was the musical laser light and fountain show, a free night time entertainment at the Marina Bay Sands waterfront promenade.

My jaw dropped for a few seconds while holding on to my tripod and camera. For someone who grew up loving the sight of neon lights in the city, there I was stunned. Very happy in fact, that little kid in me.

I must have stayed with my jaw dropped for quite sometime, mesmerised by the whole thing. Despite the late night, I kept on walking and taking photos.

I did venture out to other places such as Vivo City, right at the end of the island before one crosses the bridge to Sentosa Island. I also spent some time exploring a few of the cafes and restaurants suggested by friends. There are more places, suburbs included, that one can explore to get more photos. I didn’t have time to explore places with characters such as China Town or Little India. I wanted to. In fact, I only explored a tiny fraction of what Singapore has to offer.

Next time, maybe. Whenever that is.

*****

Lure of the lions. First the musical, then the city itself.

I was hoping to feel very excited about the place after that trip. Like “excited I can’t wait to be back here” kind of excited. Here is a place that offers lots of things to do, from shopping, eating, culture, art exhibitions, to outdoor activities. Not to forget, it has those mega attractions like Universal Studio and Marina Bay Sands. Or those short getaway trips with a ferry to Pulau Ubin, or Indonesia’s Pulau Bintan. One will certainly never run out of things to do in Singapore.

But why was I not feeling that enthusiastic about the place? It felt the place was almost too perfect, almost clinical and dare I say, a little cold. I felt like it was missing some characters, you know, those things you look for when you travel to a new place? Technically, Singapore should be a new place for me this time.

“I think you have mistaken characters with chaos”, said an expat friend of mine who is such a big fan of Singapore, he probably would give up his kidney for a chance to live and work in that place. Secretly though, I think he loves Jakarta more.

True, and I did find characters and the mild-chaos in Bugis and Kampong Glam.

Later I thought of what a friend once said to me,

“The place feels like that movie, The Truman Show.”

I found myself slowly nodding in agreement.

That is the attraction. It’s a first world country 90 minutes away from Jakarta. That everything works seamlessly in Singapore. From the perfectly manicured trees lining up those perfectly paved walkways, to the perfectly coordinated transportation system, one where the bus or train says it’s coming in two minutes, it does mean two minutes. Or the perfectly planned city that each suburb, true to each of their characters are compartmentalised neatly within this small island.

Everything was just perfect, everything works. In the eyes of many of my fellow Jakartans and Indonesians, everything that we long for, Singapore has it. I finally understood why some love the place so much they keep coming back, even enough to make some of them stay and never come back.

At the end of that September trip last year, I still wasn’t convinced to make Singapore my first or even an option of a weekend getaway, say like Bali, which I would hop on a plane in a heart beat despite having gone there so many times. I hear you, readers, one is city, another is a beach weekend getaway. But then I feel the same with Sydney, a city. I’d jump on a plane in a heart beat. Although a weekend will never be enough for this place. Even three months didn’t feel enough.

Maybe it was the familiarity of the places – the glitzy malls, the people and some of the food, ones I can find in Jakarta. Or maybe it was the fact that while food is cheap, other things are not. Like accommodations. Or drinks with alcohol mixture in it. Or maybe that I sense a certain uptightness in the air. Rigid in fact.

Whatever it was, I was still missing something. Something or someone will just have to lure me into the lion city again before I would ever make a trip there just to fulfil my curiosity.

And what do you know. Something and someone did lure me into visiting the lion city, sooner than expected.

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Rediscovering Singapore | 1. Appealing, But Not Quite Drawn…Just Yet

Posted on July 22, 2012 by

My recent Singapore trip changed the way I feel about the place. I wanted to chronicle how and why it came about, which includes the September trip I made last year, the one I never wrote about. For someone who took a sabbatical to do a lot of travelling, I am kicking myself for not writing more about my trips.

In an attempt to make up for it, Rediscovering Singapore is a four-part story, and this is the first.

*****

My first foray into the city-state of Singapore, was some 20 years ago on that first overseas trip with the family. Jurong Bird Park, the cable car ride to Sentosa Island, and of course, taking pictures by the Merlion statue, were some of the fond childhood memories I have of Singapore.

Not quite the Merlion view I remember from over two decades ago

Since then, every visit I made has been limited to either passing through Changi Airport in transit, during those times I was coming home to Jakarta while living in New Zealand, or spending a night there with my best friend Wei, en route to her wedding in her hometown Mersing, in Malaysia.

The Little Red Dot has always been a place I just passed through in one way or another as an adult.

But that’s not the case for the many Indonesians I know .

Given the proximity of Singapore from Indonesia (a 90 minutes flight from Jakarta), it is understandable why many Indonesians have a close connection to the Singapore.

Many friends I know went to school there as baby steps towards the world of living independently before venturing into the higher education in the US, UK, and even Australia. Some even made Singapore home while climbing the corporate ladder given its base for many multinationals regional offices. And for those of us who can’t seem to find the medical expertise in our own beloved Indonesia, Singapore has always been the first option.

I often hear stories of many upper class Indonesians who would make trips – even day trips, just to get a good dose of exercises on their credit cards. So for some, a shopping haven is what becomes of Singapore.

With its efficient transportation system, the open luscious green space and perfectly manicured trees lining up the streets, as well as that luxury we Jakartans long for, the pedestrian walkways, it is also no wonder that many Indonesians jet off across the strait just to experience, well..all of the above I just mentioned.

In the recent years though, Singapore has more appeal than simply being a shopping haven or the alternative for medical services. It seems that Indonesians can’t seem to get enough of this place, thanks to the Singaporean government investment in its infrastructure and tourism.

Universal Studio. Marina Bay Sands. Formula 1 Night Grand Prix. Just to name a few things that add to the attractiveness of this place.

But yet, I was not quite drawn to it. Not just yet.

Until..

September 2011.

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Blindsided

Posted on July 20, 2012 by

It came over unexpectedly, sending her on whirlwind of emotions. Gritting her teeth, she tried to hold on to her tears. Not here, she told herself. Not like this.

She was blindsided. Back then, and now with this.

Take a deep breath and calm down, woman. She kept telling herself.

Unable to contain the tears welling up in her eyes, she finally let go. Letting everything wash over her, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Let this be the last one, she said.

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Promises

Posted on July 19, 2012 by

I stop making promises for I tread carefully in the world of expecting the unexpected.

And for every other reason why one stop making promises, you can read Hanny’s post here.

Posted in Rants & Raves, Scribbles | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Imperfections

Posted on July 17, 2012 by

“People call these things imperfections, but they’re not — aw that’s the good stuff.  And then we get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds.  You’re not perfect, sport.  And let me save you the suspense.  This girl you met, she isn’t perfect either.  But the question is: whether or not you’re perfect for each other. That’s the whole deal. That’s what intimacy is all about”

-  Good Will Hunting (1997)

It is still one of my favourite movies of all time.

And often, those flaws are what makes it perfect. The perfect imperfections.

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On Project 365, Emotional Baggage, and Memories

Posted on July 16, 2012 by

I have been back from Singapore for a few days now.  The scribbles from that trip are still flowing on to my notebook.  A friend said that trip could be considered a “spiritual” one for I have changed the way I feel about that tiny country. More on those in later posts.

I am days..no, scratch that. I am months behind on my Project 365 posting.  Yes, good luck to me.  I am close to 100 days behind.  Clogging your inbox I shall with my backdated postings from yesterday, today and possibly tomorrow.

But before that, an intermission. This post.

I was sorting out my photos from the month of April, up to Day 103, when I noticed that I am missing photos for the next two weeks,  even on a few days in the next couple of months since then.

My mind wandered back to that  day. 12 April 2012, the flight back from Bali to Jakarta.

We had a really nice family holiday, the first one since my sisters had their children. Everyone else in the family stayed in Bali just for the weekend, while I spent extra few days of alone time. Little did the family know, I was keeping some emotional baggage on the matters of the heart the whole time I was with them.  A story, or a puzzle rather, that was missing its pieces.

As I sat on that flight going back to Jakarta, my head was filled with questions. Questions that I finally found the answer in the next few days and coming weeks as the story unfolded itself unexpectedly.

So unexpectedly that things were  falling apart with me, that Project 365 took another setback. But instead of skipping those days and write them off, I am going to post photos from other days, mostly from my trips, dated as close as possible to the actual day.

They say it’s not how hard you fall, but how fast you get up. And I did so after that tiny blip in my life, thanks to a few people who I know I met for a reason. And if there was anything I learned from this process of catching up Project 365 , is that I want to take better pictures to create better memories. Be them happy or not so happy memories.

While it might be tedious posting a lot of them right now, it has allowed me to play back those not-so-distant memories. Memories which I thought I wanted to forget. But instead, they become memories that I now treasure for they made me stronger today.

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On Travelling Must Dos – a Quick Note from the Little Red Dot

Posted on July 11, 2012 by

I’m sitting here in a 5-star hotel suite room in Singapore, thanks to a dear friend whose husband decided at the last minute he has to return home instead of stopping over in this Little Red Dot. So I came in as the last minute companion, not to mention we haven’t caught up with each other for ages. It was very kind of her to invite me along.

What initially was planned as a 24-hour filled with girly goss, rocking up to the 57th floor of Sky Rink Observation deck and sipping cocktails (by now one should know which mega architectural establishment I am staying in. Yes, the Marina Bay Sands) – is pretty much.. well, a pending plan.

We are both somewhat sick. I’m almost done with my cough and cold, while dear friend just got it. At least we can’t blame each of us for catching it from the other.

I needed the break badly as well for one reason and another. Mainly to get away from Jakarta with its chaos in traffic and congestion. Singapore may not be ideal (compared to Bali) but this place still intrigue me. Mostly I’m intrigued to find if there is more soul to this place. It’s just..too perfect.

Before I left, I had listed my must do’s, and it wasn’t an ambitious list. I’m desperate to chill and just relax. I craved for long walks in green lushious open space, parks and the like, as well as visiting the art galleries and museums. And I craved for riding on efficient public transport.

So I walked miles in Gardens by the Bay as well as by the Marina Bay waterfront. Then I got to see the Andy Warhol exhibition (genius artist!). Check. Check. Oh, and ate Hainanese Chicken Rice. Check.

Then I thought of the 57th floor Sky Rink Observation deck in Marina Bay Sands. The last time I was in Singapore, in September last year, I told myself I’ll check it out when I come here next, or when I get to stay at this hotel.

And I am staying there now. And it gives me a complimentary access to the Observation Deck, instead of paying some S$20 to go up there. Surely it’s a must do?

But instead I find myself lounging in the hotel suite. Reading and chilling out with my friend. And thinking, the deck will be there the next time I come here.

When it comes to travelling, every one has a must dos list. Mine seems to be changing as I grow older and travel more. Sure, I still have to go back to Rome to visit the Colosseum, Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel (for another friend will never let me go of such silliness not visiting them when I was in Rome. I had 48 hours is all I said to her.) But everyone travels for a different reason. The must do’s list is different for everyone.

I have my moments of checking off the tourist spots. I also have my moments of just wanting to take it easy and slow, enjoying the solitude. Like now.

I might still go up to the observation deck later in the day, if I feel like it. But if I don’t, I’m not going to make a big deal of it. It’s still going to be around, and Singapore is an hour or so away from Jakarta.

Plus, it was never on my must do’s list on this trip.

PS: Initially I planned on a digital detox of no tweeting, no blogging and simply no connection to the digital world. I failed miserably the moment I faced a massive crowd of families and kids here causing me headaches. So I tweeted. And now I blogged.

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“I Quit!” : The Farewell Note

Posted on July 6, 2012 by

I wrote about the day I decided to take a leap of faith to quit for a sabbatical. It was still two months down the road after I made that decision that I actually left the office. I had a three months notice back then. (Yes, three months. No, they didn’t think it was crazy).

It doesn’t feel like a year ago that I walked out of that office.

The perfect farewell gift from my team.

I promised myself that when the time comes for the anniversary of it, I will post my farewell email sent to my colleagues on this blog.  For memory sake.  I tried drafting one in the days leading up to my last day, but for someone with a three months notice period, I was still busy right up till the end.  So I ended up drafting this towards the end of the day, plus I didn’t really know what to say without it sounding like a boring farewell note.

And so, here it is.

(Some details and identity have been removed for privacy reason).

*****

From: Me

To: Selected people in the office

Subject: Thank You & Farewell

Date: July 6, 2011 7:29:21 PM GMT+07:00

For someone who is considered a chatter box, and often verbose when writing, I am a little stuck for words as to what to write on my farewell note. Unfortunately, I have deleted past colleagues’ farewell notes from my in-box, so I can’t exactly do the copy and paste. Plus, that’s plagiarism.

So let’s try and see what I can come up with in the next few paragraphs.

This is definitely not going to be one of those sappy sad notes. Why should it be anyway? I have had a fantastic 5.5 years with the bank. (Yes, you read that right. “Fantastic”), and that is a reason to celebrate. One might think, what an irony given the circumstances of this note. Why leave if it’s fantastic?.

To that I’d say, the only constant thing in life is change.  I am making one for choosing a different path, one that would start the moment I walk out that door this evening from this building.  After all, every one of us is destined for some purpose in life, be it here, or in a different organization, or for some people, some remote mangrove forest in the middle of nowhere.

Wait, I did say no sappy bit. None so far right?

I did have a fantastic 5.5 years here.  The ups and downs, challenges thrown at me, and the celebrations of successes, that all pretty much shaped me as the person that I am today – and one hopes it’s a better version of me than 5.5 years ago walking into MMU (Ed. our office building) as an RMT (Ed. Resident Management Trainee), coincidently as the first day of the bank starting its office here. (Yes, Monday, 16 January 2006).

The journey was mostly worthwhile because of the people I have met, and I kid you not when I say “People” is what makes this office one of the best places to work. I have truly made some of the best friendships here in this bank.

So for that, I thank each and every one of you for being a part of my journey here.

Thank you for your support during my time here and also for some of you, sharing some of the best life lessons. Thank you for putting up with my often opinionated self and sharp tongue.

I do apologize sincerely if I have offended you in any way in the past (yes, mostly for being strongly opinionated) but in any case, none them was ever intentional.

I’m never good with good-byes, so I’m sorry if I didn’t see you personally to say farewell.  But if you feel the need to keep in touch or even reply to this email (for I will unlikely receive your reply here)  my personal email is listed below.

I’ll sign off now by wishing you all the very best in life, and again, thank you for everything.

Regards,

-Me-

PS: So much for being stuck for words – this note has over 500 words. I told you I am verbose.

Positivity, Passion, Courage are contagious. Don’t ever lose them once you find  them.

*****

My farewell card as picked by one of my staff. I love the quote.                                                                                                          ”All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them” – Walt Disney

And again, I still can’t believe it has been one year. What a year of adventure it has been.

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On Notebooks Galore and the Art of Scribbling

Posted on July 1, 2012 by

It’s a quiet and peaceful Sunday morning. There I am sitting in bed, still covered under the soft blanket, reading my Twitter timeline, and articles online. Yes, I am a big kid in the big noisy digital world and I am so addicted to my Apple gadgets, I take them to bed. Well, may be just the iPhone.  The fact that it is a Sunday morning probably explains why my Twitter feeds are not that noisy. Everyone is probably still asleep. That, or because I have decided to cut down the accounts that I follow on Twitter. I have learned to put them on “List” or even use the “Mute” button for some of the noisy ones I follow.

Between reading short stories, articles and news on the latest happenings in the last few days  – Tom & Katie are divorcing, Adele’s pregnant, and Instagram,Netflix, PinInterest all went down causing what someone labelled as “a hipster apocalypse”, and (God forbids, but it’s happening) Aburizal Bakrie is running for 2014 Presidential election — it dawned on me that today is the first of July.

The first day of the last half of the year for 2012.  Oh hello, New Year’s resolutions, what are we up to now? Oh, no wait. I didn’t make many this year, just one. 

I did make a promise to myself recently that come 1 July, I will start a new notebook as my organiser to write my project list, my thoughts, writing topic and whatever it is freelancer and writers do with their notebooks.  I agonised over the last couple of weeks on how I would use the new notebook my friend Stella gave to me, a gorgeous fuchsia-leather bound notebook.  I even researched online on how most people use their Moleskins as organisers.

The current pristine collection – one of them soon to be written on.

If anything, I get more overwhelmed, and stopped my research.  A friend sent me this link instead to zen.

You see, I have always been addicted to stationery, in particular notebooks and organisers. I can’t remember when or how the addiction started. Maybe it was since I was a little girl scribbling on my notebooks with “Dear Diary” entries. Or maybe that perfectionist in me trying to be that super-duper-organised student back then, or as a  corporate warrior in the recent years, that I would try to hunt for the perfect system to organise my life.  Alas, I am still not the most organised person (compared to some others I know) and I have accepted that it was just excuses for my addiction to notebooks, organisers and the like.

A notebook porn. That is me.  I have the bad habits of a) not using notebooks gift from people because they are so nice – still, keep giving them to me as presents, people. *grin* b) starting one notebook and not finishing them before starting another – though I have been good lately almost using up the latest one c) I’m so noisy in my head that I scribbled all over the place including my iPhone notepads, Evernote, and the notebooks I have.

Call it an attempt to further procrastinate inking that pretty notebook, but I have decided today to get all my notebooks and organisers collections out,  and boy, what a flood of memories looking at and flicking through the old ones.

The spiral bound notebooks collection – one of them has my bucket list

Back in 2007, Starbucks started issuing their limited editions organisers/planners towards the end of the year, causing me to spend copious amount of coffee to collect 21 stamps to get the notebook. I would even ask friends to give me their stamps after their coffee purchases.  I have three of them, 2007, 2008, and 2010 – I missed 2009 and use another planner.

My Starbucks organisers collections

I still kept all of the Starbucks planners today.  I used them when I was working at that bank, not necessarily filling the pages with work stuff, but more to record my daily happenings, where the line between work and personal life was sort of blurring.  I had my office Lotus-Note calendar for appointments and a normal notebook to write down work related stuff. I didn’t want to smear boring work stuff on these planners. They were in fact my grown up version of “dear diary” book.  Having said that,  I failed to scribble thoughts on them every day for back then. Everything revolved around work, and who has time to scribble before bed juggling between work for one of the biggest international bank in the world, Jakarta’s traffic, and eating late dinners? Well, I didn’t. Not as much as I wanted to.

Those days I don’t have time to scribble and forgot on what went on those days

Nevertheless, flicking through them this morning, I reminisce on those days.

Scribbles of fun and work training days in London, April 2007

2007 was special. Not only because it had my favourite Starbucks organisers,  It was the year of my training in the UK (for which I am eternally grateful. If it wasn’t for the bank, my Euro trip would probably not happen that soon). And the Starbucks organiser itself was special.

Favourite Notebook-Organiser-Planner

It came with a coffee bean bag to store it in. I still remember getting this on that Starbucks shop in Kemang (Jakarta), and meeting up with that alpha-wolf male best friend of mine, him sitting outside with his coffee cigarette and there I was all giddy like a school girl jumping up and down happily with that organiser in my hand. Pretty sure I saw him rolling his eyes.

When I decided to take on the sabbatical, my friend, a writer and editor at a Jakarta magazine, told me to keep a journal. Just write every day, even if it was something menial and mundane. Just write.

The few entries during my travels

I took on his advice and started a new book for my personal journal, one I wrote my many thoughts during my time off and especially my travels in Bali. I wrote every single day in that one month in Bali to capture my travel memories, and later when I spent time in Sydney with even more stories.

I love looking at those notes and take myself down to memory lane. And that is why I scribble on those days. Memories to hold on to.

So where does that leave me today with my notebooks addiction?

I will always be addicted to them, but I have refrained myself buying any more of them until I use them up. At least I will try.  Oh, but I am still going to jump up and down every time someone gives me a nice looking notebook. Seriously, I do love them.

I haven’t bought any day planners/organisers since I quit my job at the bank.  Back then, looking at grids of weeks and months was customary, as I had targets and deadlines to meet with the bank. To give me a bit of pressure.

I think I need those pressure back now in my current life to keep me moving faster.  Set deadlines.

Today I resort to blank and lined notebooks. I carry one pocket-size I stash in my handbag to scribble things as I remember them, as well as that one (travel) journal I kept on since I quit last year, most of the time sitting on the bed side table getting its pages filled just before I go to bed.  I use my iPhone calendars for my appointments, and the Reminder apps for listing to do list, in an attempt to live the life of an efficient freelancer in today’s digital world. I also use iPhone writing apps to jot down my notes at times, when I am on the go, sometimes even drafting a blogpost that more often that not, didn’t make it on to this blog.

And it can get a bit overwhelming and chaotic with the many version of electronic and paper tools. Which is why I am trying to streamline them.

Despite the ease of technology with the iPhone, I still miss scribbling appointments and to do list. I do miss looking at the structured life in some way (but no, I don’t miss getting up at 6am every day to fight the traffic to be in the office by 8AM. THAT I do not miss). I think I just have to accept that I will always be that girl who loves scribbling and writing random notes. Be them love notes, quotes, or song lyrics and yes appointments and to-do-list.

Even more importantly, scribbling my stories as I explore my wanderlust, travelling on the different parts of the world.  Or when I am not travelling, for stories evolve everyday around me.  I read an article here where the days of advance technology  would never kill the need for notebooks especially more so for writers or travel writers/bloggers.

So for this new gorgeous looking notebook, it will be my planner and fields for my thoughts. I am  allocating the first few pages for my grid/monthly view pages – I do have deadlines and target to meet these days – and a few more pages for writing topics and project list, leaving the remaining of them to write freely. Be it project brainstorming mind maps, random notes, love notes or anything that tickles this brain of mine. And yes, even drafts of blog posts and articles, because as that article above pointed out, in the words of Anne Lamott, all good writers produce “shitty first drafts” . Come to think of it, that is a good excuse as to why my writing is shitty on these notes, writing as fast as I can to get the thoughts down.

1 July 2012. These pages will be filled.

So let’s bring on the next half-year, with more stories to fill in those blank notebook pages, and hopefully making some of them on to the publications I want to write for.  Or at the very least, making them on this blog.  Of course, after writing shitty drafts of them.

How do you operate with your organisers and notebooks?

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