Pooh Talk

Read an article regarding the greater cooperation and goodwill between Spore companies in China as compared to the past. Always found Sporeans here more friendly and willing to hang out than back home since many of us are here alone. And nothing testifies more to goodwill than a hearty karaoke session which is numero uno entertainment here. Not your average Cuppage St karaoke room, here in BJ, it is an EMPIRE! There is this Qian Kui (Money Chest literally) karaoke joint which is so popular than people queue for hours to get a room to sing. Even if you book in advance during weekends, you may not get your room at the designated time. For a reasonable price, you can sing 24 hours, eat at the buffet (they serve MEALS at certain timings - last Sat, I got Peking duck!) and just drink all you want (free flow of drinks) to soothe the savaged throat. The rooms are comfortable and posh (the exterior building looks like a hotel and the lobby IS exactly like a hotel's with uniformed staff armed with walkie talkie earphones) and the song selections are pretty good. Not that I sing though.... but maybe.... just maybe, I can TRAIN my voice here huh? I mean where else can you hang out in WINTER? It is just too cold to go anywhere else!

Two thing struck me as I was on the bus home but actually they are related. Not sure if the moon was too round and its gravity doing strange hormonal things to people here today, but a lot more people are irritated and impatient in getting around. In the markets, fat jackets swish and squish around as locals elbow their way through. Maybe it is the lack of space due to a whole lot more jackets being worn. The funny thing is some kids are so wrapped up, I think they will bounce right up if you throw them on the floor :) Also witnessed 2 traffic accidents where burly drivers can't wait for the traffic lights to change and wham right into each other. The BEST thing is that they leave their cars (not very damaged though) right in the middle of the busy roads and cause a huge jam. They don't seem to care and merrily alight to check the damage and yell at each other, yes, RIGHT in the middle of the road.

I can NEVER understand why locals spit so much. What is that they eat or drink or have down their throats that is CONSTANTLY or FREQUENTLY irritating? Some tell me it's the dry weather but seriously, I get the same weather conditions but I don't have anything to get rid of in my throat at all. Not that I will let it fly trajactorily but I really have nothing down my throat. So I don't get it when I hear that gross throat-clearing, ready-to-eject noises that makes my hairs stand (and I make sure I am not in ITS way) 5 or 6 times in the 10 mins from the same guy at the bus stop. And with current weather, things just get frozen on the ground so much faster... hence, the little sicko spots on the ground are 'captured in time' instead of evaporating naturally (best forgotten). In fact, some of these 'frozen spots' are seriously horrible rubbish heaps right outside shops where owners just throw out their unfinished noodle soup or something. Amazes me how they can be so uncaring of their shopfronts.

Never truly understood why bears can hibernate in winters and sleep months without waking up. I have seen friends react and think slower these days and we all agree that we sleep deeper and it's getting harder to wake up even in bright sunlight streamling through. It's as if the water in our blood has frozen up and we go in retard mode :) And yes, we yawn more often and tend to favour crawling home for naps during weekends. Really not used to being so lazy. I am already a bum on warmer days but this is REALLY hitting my limits! I pity the kids here though. Because of the cold and the danger of being vulnerable to unknown viruses, they are being kept home - driving their 'a yi's crazy with enforced inaction. I know of one poor 5 yr old who runs around the house, confined and bored to tears - hence started an imaginary restaurant in his house. Cute :) Oh, in response to K, hotplate curry noodles in Marina Sq is found in the new foodcourt with a view of Esplanade.

Never had dry skin problems before, at least not till your whole body prickles and tingles. Dehumidifiers become very impt comodities right now. I 'drink' up body oil and moisturisers very few hours now instead of once after bathing. And lip balms are a must or your lips will crack. Your ears hurt and your nose gets numb if you stay outside too long. The fun part is your breath vapourises in the cold so you get 'smoke' out of your mouth.

Currently Discovery Channel is showing a feature on Spore's history. Learnt something new - William F was lobo in his job!! That's history in minute details for me. Is it propaganda or a candid look at our home? We will find out :) Many Sporeans here are prob missing home. I got to eat pork curry on Sat and laksa today as friends decided to get a whiff of chilli in the cold. Also found out that laksa don't taste very nice using spaghetti as the noodles. Actually I don't really eat laksa back home (yes yes I know what I am missing) but I find it to be VERY similar to curry. I miss hot plate curry noodles at Marina Sq foodcourt. It has the BEST curry chicken.... hmmm, is there still chicken back home? Here, people are shunning it and substituting pork instead.

Now in BJ, literally everyone can say "No Sweat!" to you. Today's highest temp is -2 deg. Last night I could hear the winds pounding on the windows and whistling in the dark. It's a fashion parade of puffy down jackets, furs and high cut boots. We may look like penguins but believe me, we move VERY fast. Esp hoping in and out of cars and dashing into restaurants in the midst of howling winds. Almost feels like on a SWAT mission - we move on the same count to open car doors and slam it. We only lack the ear plugs :)