singapore observations: a running series
18. At nearly any car park in the country, the cars are backed into the spaces; the only exceptions seem to be those tights spots which are incredibly difficult to navigate and which require a front-first approach. I'm curious as to the point at which this became the norm, or if it was the case ever since automobiles arrived on the island. It makes leaving very easy, but requires patience and understanding when pulling into a space, especially when the car in front of you is trying to manoeuvre his SUV into a space designed for a Mini Cooper.
19. Every Monday at about 4:45 p.m., a loud hum signals the arrival of the mosquito-sprayers. I don't know what chemical they use, or what type of equipment, but it sounds a bit like a small jet engine. We have to leap out of our chairs and close the windows before the insecticide gets inside the house, and it gets me every single time; I just can't seem to remember that they're coming.
20. Because Singapore is such a multicultural country, there are holidays every time you turn around. Just about all of them are celebrated. Vesak Day, in which we celebrate the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha, is coming up next week.
21. Hands down, local coffee and tea beat the stuff you get in chain coffeshops any day of the week. There was actually an excellent article written on kopitiam culture in yesterday's Straits Times, but the online version has been locked behind a subscriber wall (and even bugmenot was not enough to crack through). Most of the time, kopi (coffee) or teh (tea) is sweetened with either evaporated or condensed milk, which gives it a silky richness, and knocks Starbucks out of the water.
22. Similarly, "coffee shops" do not necessarily have the same connotation as you would expect. Some kopitiams are just that, serving breakfast items in addition to coffee and tea, typically kaya toast and half-boiled eggs. But the term can also apply to a full restaurant that also serves the beverages. Or going even further, it can refer to a full food court, with the same company name. It all gets a bit confusing.
Previous observations: 1-4, 5-8, 9-13, 14-17
19. Every Monday at about 4:45 p.m., a loud hum signals the arrival of the mosquito-sprayers. I don't know what chemical they use, or what type of equipment, but it sounds a bit like a small jet engine. We have to leap out of our chairs and close the windows before the insecticide gets inside the house, and it gets me every single time; I just can't seem to remember that they're coming.
20. Because Singapore is such a multicultural country, there are holidays every time you turn around. Just about all of them are celebrated. Vesak Day, in which we celebrate the birth and enlightenment of the Buddha, is coming up next week.
21. Hands down, local coffee and tea beat the stuff you get in chain coffeshops any day of the week. There was actually an excellent article written on kopitiam culture in yesterday's Straits Times, but the online version has been locked behind a subscriber wall (and even bugmenot was not enough to crack through). Most of the time, kopi (coffee) or teh (tea) is sweetened with either evaporated or condensed milk, which gives it a silky richness, and knocks Starbucks out of the water.
22. Similarly, "coffee shops" do not necessarily have the same connotation as you would expect. Some kopitiams are just that, serving breakfast items in addition to coffee and tea, typically kaya toast and half-boiled eggs. But the term can also apply to a full restaurant that also serves the beverages. Or going even further, it can refer to a full food court, with the same company name. It all gets a bit confusing.
Previous observations: 1-4, 5-8, 9-13, 14-17