Category Archives: Happy Land

Off the grid

I just spent a week off the grid.

No access to my blog, email, social media, SMS or any of the other trappings of our connected lives. It felt good.

I grew up in a world without computers and it is nice to remember that people can live without them. Naturally, that proposition is becoming more difficult each day in the developed world.

Do take the time to disconnect once in a while. It will refresh you and might even allow you to reconnect with yourself and your fellow travelers on this, our adventure.

Ruminations

Life is not just.

Nobody should ever think that it is. Life is naked and brutal and beautiful and breath taking and surprising.

But  not just.

Justice is a concept, even though coined by us humans, which is poorly understood at best. Who is the authority of arbitration when it comes to justice. Who has the wisdom, insight, neutrality and ultimately power to mete out justice?

The answer, unfortunately, is, nobody. At least nobody mortal. We seek out God, the Gods, Fate and Karma to be the ultimate arbiters of justice. We thus recognised long ago that justice is something that cannot be left in human hands.

So, what good is it? Must we wait to be judged by a higher authority? An ultimate power? And whose justice will it be? Who, in the final analysis is just? Justified in having taken the action that was taken?

Not an answer to be found in a blog – that much is certain.

How about this then? Let us treat each other with respect and dignity. Let us treat each other in a way that encourages smiles and hugs and giving way and getting up to offer one’s seat and helping the weak with the heavy loads and the strong to realise the value of humility.

After all, justice will be a long time coming.

Singapore – my thoughts in 2009…

ImageM-Set Satay Street Meal

8pm 5/11/2009

Rating: Delicious   S$24 for 40 sticks (with sauce, rice cubes and cucumbers)

Lau Pa Sat with Andrew & Adam

Steamy heat, even at night – the smell of smoke and a thousand aromatics fills the air.

My stretch tea has a bitter sweet edge, keenly waking my senses.

Colourful lights and a multitude of voices dance through the night. Families, couples, lone diners and the ever present flurry of the hawkers circling and then descending upon new arrivals as they sit down.

Presenting the famished with a plethora of exotic delights and tantalising morsels they flourish their menus and attentively take your orders while the beer girls wait their turn. Beer is served by the mug, and the local favourite is Tiger, closely followed by Heineken.

We eat our fill and then some more, because that is what you do in Singapore.

Magnificent.

A little later.

East Coast Hawker Center by the beach – 945pm

Fruit with Phil

The night here is much cooler and more pleasant. The fruits Phil selected are juicy, tart and sweet. Star fruit, Guava, Mango, Pineapple (oh so sweet – I do not think I have ever had Pineapple this sweet), Jackfruit and Papaya.

We are enjoying a refreshing icy cold sugar cane juice with our fruits.

There are more families here than in the city, including small children, even this late. That is what I love about Singapore and like cities – they never truly stop, sure they slow a little and might even seem to rouse very slowly come morning, but they do not stop. One can find food and drink at any time of the night or day, of the finest quality.

The East Coast is pleasant. There was a heavy rain and the moisture still clings to the ground, giving the gentle ocean breeze a heady undertone.

Cool, yet tropical.

Food

Some of my posts mention that I like food. That is an understatement.

I love good food.

One of the most outstanding cities (countries – as Singapore is that rarest of things – a successful and thriving city-state) to eat in, in the world is Singapore. I agree with Anthony Bourdain’s assessment that, if one loves food, then, quite possibly Singapore may be the best place on Earth.

From local Peranaken cuisine to Malay, Indian, Chinese, Western and all manner of fusions thereof one is left breathless and giddy with excitement by the sheer choice, variety and complexity of flavours, smells and aromas to be sampled.

I recommend the Chicken rice (at Maxwell), Chicken Briyani (at Lau Pa Sat – also has great Satay at night), check out Little India for awesome Indian cuisine, or the famous Singapore Chilli Crab – personally I prefer the Pepper Crab for its intense heat.

You can eat anywhere at anytime. Grazing is probably the best way to experience Singapore, which means you will eat every 30 minutes or so. There are tasty treats and tidbits everywhere.

There is even a German Bratwurst stand in the middle of Chinatown (run by a grumpy German) – it was quite surreal when I saw it for the first time.

The foodhall below Takashimaya is brilliant, and quite upmarket. If you get the chance check out Food Republic. They are dotted all around Singapore, but I like the one on the roof of Vivo City.

It truly is a culinary paradise.

Stay tuned as I will be in Singapore in April, and will delight you with Food pics and accompanying commentary.

Bon appetite!