So I'm puttering around downtown tonight when I found a snack bar inside one of the many Duty-Free emporiums that dot downtown Bangkok. I ordered a pint o' Singha. That's the premimum domestic beer here.
Wanna know how much? Look here and weep! Here's a clue: it costs 70 Thai Baht. Look at the conversion to US$!
Muhuhahahahahaha!
I half expect this building to transform into a big ol’ robot and start rampaging across the city.
It’s 0700. I’m at the MRT transfer station to get to Changi Airport. The sun rose like a flaming orange ball. And ALREADY it’s hot!
It was hot lugging my bags to Bugis MRT from InnCrowd. And why am I up so frackin’ early? I’m flying to BKK today on my first visit. I hear it’s hot over there. Hotter than SIN.
So I met up with the lovely Sara-Ann tonight for dinner. We met up in her 'hood for Peranakan cuisine, something that would be ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE to find in the states, lah! And something that many SIN visitors dun usually get to experience because it's out on the East Coast, waaay away from the CBD.
I took the MRT out there and Sara was gracious enough to meet me at a central spot (a petrol station!) and then off we went to eat. She picked out one of her fave places and in we went. (pic of menu coming shortly).
Now since I'm totally clueless, Sara translated the menu. Ordered some excellent dishes. And dug in!
Kanna say you've not been warned...
Met up with Truc for lunch today. She's been working in Singapore for a few years now.
Went to a local fish & chips place near Boat Quay. Apparently, she’s embarking on a round-the-world trip after she does the farewell party thing. In Cambodia (!)
The advantages of making good scratch and living in Asia. Sigh.
How bloody exciting. Went to the gym today. Unlike HK’s Causeway Bay gym, the Orchard Road gym had proper sized equipment so no backache and no pain...
Then it rained. A LOT. I’m not sure if this photo can accurately portray how hard it was raining, but it was hard! And cool! As in NOT HOT!
It cooled off about 30 minutes before it came down. Yeah!
Wound up going over to Johor Bahru for the afternoon.
It felt almost like going to Tijuana. Except maybe with nicer malls. And their Starbucks have free wi-fi! Wah!
You can see that there was a lot of planned construction here that didn’t pan out. Note the forest of rebar in this parking lot.
Awas! You see that a LOT around here. 
There is a sign here that points the way to KL. 
Then why did traffic come AT me after I took this snap shot? I’m told that this happens in Malaysia a lot.
Once I got back to Singapore, it was dinner at Newton Circus (food centre)!
I got some simple food, dry wontonmee and a big cup of lime juice. Great stuff, even when you’re drenched with sweat.
Tomorrow: Lunch with Truc and San and dinner with Sara-Ann (I hope)!
Yet another entry in the "emergency motorbike" series.
This is a 750. The police here use these. Most of the civilian bikes are little 125cc buzz bombs that look like sport bikes...
As I mentioned in previous post, this is probably my first (and last) unchaperoned time in Singapore. Each previous trip, I've been taken around by someone local (which is great, dun get me wrong) and seen part of their lives as demonstrated by where they chose to take me.
This time, I decided to let the MRT take me places. 
I went to Geylang where Singapore's unofficial red light district is. Actually, it's a pretty nice, historic looking red light district. Didn't take many pix because I didn't want working girls hurling high heels in my direction. There IS some nice neon out there though.
After that, I chose to do a 180 and head out to Clarke Quay. It's one of the entertainment districts along the river. There's some neat looking restaurants and bars and coffee places. Also a Hooters. And all along the riverfront.
There's a river taxi too. But not running at the late hour I was there at tonight. 
See?
On the other end of the quay is appropriately, the new and old houses of the Singapore Parliment. 
Can you guess which one is which?
When two old frens meet after 2 years...
"you let your hair grow"
"you lost weight. How much?"
Lines that belong in a Deep Space Nine episode...
Today turned out pretty full, despite the late start.
What started out with a short cigar and water turned into a long drinking session as only cigars and guys do. You can figure out the topics of conversation. Booze, cigars, women, money. But not in that order...
Note to cigar people reading this: The cigar lounge is in the Regent Hotel and it was once a La Casa Del Habano. Not anymore, but they still sell Habanos and a LOT of scotch! Macallan is the speciality of the house here.
Wound up closing the joint at 2100 and headed out to search for an Indian restaurant called A-1 Restaurant.
As you can see, I found it. Here's how to get here if you're so inclined.
Take MRT to Little India.
Exit C and walk toward Seragoon
Left on Seragoon and walk for a good 7 minutes or so.
You will walk past a mosque. Make an immediate left. You'll see the sign.
I got there right before closing time. Ordered some chicken and curry. Note to you all: wash your hands first!
It was pretty good lah!
Will be seeing Yi-Lin tomorrow for tea and Truc and San for Monday lunch. Wonder what I'm going to be doing Sunday? =P
It's 00:00 now and I'm all knackered out.
Soooo I got in very late last night. And slept until 1000! Dammit! Half the day is gone!
Inn Crowd is at heart a hostel as evidenced by the big shared kitchen (pic forthcoming). Coffee here is instant so the morning was tough for a caffeine fix. As I finally dragged my butt out of the door into the 30+ degree heat, I couldn't bear it anymore and I stopped off at the Tekka hawker centre for breakfast/lunch.
I had the local version of wantanmee (AKA wontonmein). Not bad. Ran some errands and puttered around, trying to get re-oriented.
Yes the MRT is still spotless. And yes, the trains don't run as frequently as the MTR in HK, but I've had to wait no more than 5 minutes for a train. And in this oppressive heat, who wants to hurry?
I figure tomorrow will be a good day to do some truly touristy stuff. Maybe visit Changi village or something like that.
Oh yah, these really big signs are posted in areas with busy traffic. 
Makes sense don't it. Won't EVER see this in San Francisco, will we?
So I'm back in Singapore. It's been 18 months since I've been here last.
Useful to know: If your flight gets into Changi past 2300, forget about the MRT. Be resigned to paying for a S$35 cab ride instead. There are van shuttles, but they don't run much after 2300. I was there at 0000 and they wanted me to wait until 0100 to share a van. Yah, right. I'll cough up the extra dough to get to the guesthouse. This is where I'm staying. Right in Little India.
But some things haven't changed. Like how it's a freekin' blast furnace (83 degrees f) at 0100! That's 1 AM for you people who don't do time math...
Which means that it gets worse when the sun is out. Eeeeeeeeeee
Hopeful thinking lah!
Hanging here in the Silver Kris Lounge, having a Tiger Beer, using free wi-fi and just came outta the shower.
Now this is the way to prepare for a flight!
You know our favourite daan taat place, Tai Cheong Bakery is closing, right? 
Since they announced their constructive eviction, it's been hella busy with 1-2 hour waits in queue becoming the norm. 
Well I queued up 
and got some daan taat. Mmmmmmm! 
Too bad lah! They won't keep on the plane. But I got mine! 
Burp!
Better add BKK to the category name.
Because I'm going to spend a few days in BKK! I've already been warned by Duker about the following facts:
A: BKK is hot.
B: HKG weather is cooler compared to BKK
C: BKK is definitely NOT SIN or HKG.
D: BKK is cheap! I'm staying here for three days, private double for US$40 TOTAL!! Wah!
Lots of photo-whoring forthcoming...
Somewhere in Causeway Bay last Sunday, 0200 hours. 
Another entry in my series, "Emergency Motorcycles".
You saw the paramedic motorcycle from London last year? Now here's a HK Police bike. They use these little bikes in the city.
In the New Territories, I've seen full size BMWs just like back home. The universal ice breaker with motorcycle cops? "How's the bike"?
Langham Place is this huge mall/hotel complex smack in the middle of Mong Kok where the worst of the hom-sup district once was. It has a really nice MUJI and other similar shops.
There's art too!
Quality advertising for a quality product!
Just dun try to take on airplane lah!
I hate this leaving crap!
It's always the case when you have a limited amount of time somewhere. You try to visit different places while hitting all the familiar spots. Well, I definitely visited someplace different this trip. I visited the Yasukuni Shrine. I ran into a protest. I saw more cops in one place than in all my previous visits.
This is the shrine: 
This is a protester: 
And these are a bunch of Tokyo Metros who are covering the event. A bit camera shy, very unusual for Japan: 
Yeah, that's me, always trying to stay outta trouble. Heh.
Speaking of trouble, I stopped by Akihabara on my way to NRT. They close the main drag on Sunday so it's all cosplayers, musicians and otaku. 
And naturally, a lot of the people who hang out here on Sunday look like this: 
Like I said, trouble! Next stop, HKG...
I often have to remind myself: This is a different trip (than before), see different things!
So today (since it was happening in the neighbourhood near my hotel) I went to check out the Sanja Matsuri. Apparently, this is the biggest matsuri of its kind of the year. It was really fun to watch but would have liked to have particpiated in it. But after watching everyone sweat and heave in 28+ degree heat and humidity, perhaps it was better just to watch. And have a beer...
Basically, each shrine has a deity. They get transported around in mikoshi, being shouldered by 30 or so people. Depending on the size of course. 
Sometimes there are little mikoshi for little people. 
The mikoshi of various sizes get taken to the Senso-ji Shrine in Asakusa. They expect a fun ride, so everyone on carrying duty (deity?) rock and roll in rhythm, lest the deity inside gets bored. Entertained deity = more blessings and good luck for district from where it came from. So the trip to the shrine has to be fun!
Once they get to the shrine, they pay homage and then they go around the back and park and the crew eats obento and drinks beeru. It's a lotta hard work! 
Now the crews who shoulder the mikoshi are co-ed, but its amazing how the girls look great while the guys all look like me after a day in Singapore (sweaty and sweaty). 
I think the secret is: blotting tissue.
This was my first Matsuri, hopefully the first of many. Stayed in Asakusa for most of the afternoon, just taking in the scene. It was fun, lah. More pix to come later.
This is my first full day in Tokyo and following tradition, I met Yumi-chan for lunch. Meeting Takeshi for dinner. Did some shopping and puttered around Takadanobaba. One of the more fun words to say here in Tokyo. Say it Arnold-like: TAKA-DANO-BABA! Heh heh heh.
Culture and shitamachi comes tomorrow. This is my first visit to Tokyo during warm weather season. Is ALL of Asia humid? Sheesh.
Haven't been too inspired to take pictures yet. But again, gimme a break! I got in late yesterday and didn't even go out! My outbound flight was delayed due to rain at SFO. That sucked big time. By the time we landed at NRT, it was after 1630. Perfect for a leisurely ride on the Keisei tokkyu (take this instead of the Skyliner-give 18 minutes and save ¥990).
By the time I got to the Juyoh, I was plain knackered. And after I paid for my hotel stay, I realized that I had already burned through ¥10,000! How, you ask? Here's how it pans out:
Train ticket:¥1000
Hotel Stay: ¥8970
After showering and soaking in the hotel's sento, I went out to Ginza for a cash run (nearest Citibank). And in a moment of weakness (because I was frackin' hungry!) I got some McD's for sustinance. It dun have the stigma it does in the US so I felt fine about it.
Got back and crashed face first onto the futon on tatami. Sleep! Mmmmm.
It's amazing what a good night's sleep will do for you and the amount of apostrophes I use when I write. I'm typing this on a Japanese keyboard and many of the usual symbols are elsewhere. I mean, really!
Actually, it's pretty easy when you're treated nicely. Then, you're obligated to return the niceness.
I checked in for my flight. Was pleasant and smiled (and flirted just a little). They didn't have me in an aisle seat. I asked (with a big grin) if I could be put on the list for an aisle seat. She said, "check at the gate".
Part of this blog is supposed to be about food. So I'm going to share with you some snaps from my kitchen. Click on the thumbs.
How about some udon?
Or maybe some stir-fry?
How about some soup?
Mmmmmm.
Tai Cheong Bakery in Central makes terrific daan taat. Period.
Now their rent has more than doubled and they gotta move! But the question is move where?
From the unlinkable South China Morning Post:
Lord Patten's favourite bakery could yet be saved from closure. Two Liberal Party lawmakers say they have found several premises that the shop could move to.
The Tai Cheong Bakery in Central is famous for making the former governor's favourite egg tarts. But the 51-year-old business must move out of the premises by May 25.
Gettin' ready for a trip to the land of horrid weather, fun people and great great food! I found what seems to be a locals' guide to Singaporean food.
Nope, this is NOT a Mazda advert...
My local Aprilia dealer had their annual Open House today. Besides 10% off all the stuff in the shop (excluding bikes) Aprilia sent bikes for demo rides.
Aprilia makes a big line of sport bikes and scooters. I took out a Scarabeo 500 (!). Big wheels and big engine. The test route was 27 miles. 101 to South City, over San Bruno Mountain to 280 and then back to the shop via 101.
And yeah, it was fun!! But US$6400...
There was an event tonight at San Francisco City Hall to observe the beginning of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
And since it was an "Asian" event, there were waaay too many old folks there for the free food and not for the event. Yah, just because they're short dun mean they can jump the queue!
Malou Nubla was one of the emcees for the event this evening. She should have been one of the draws of the evening. When she got her start doing the early morning traffic report, she was the ONLY reason to get up that early, lah!
Japan Tobacco is trying to get smokers to be more considerate to non smokers.
Commendable.
So they've engaged in a very creative ad campaign that surprisingly is minimal in its use of engrish. This one is my favourite!
It's been hinted that some of these adverts are aimed at gaijin since the english used actually makes sense. Even if it's haiku-like.
It definitely ain't Engrish!
(Hat tip to Tokyo Times)
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