Posts Tagged ‘ Singapore ’

Things I saw in the first hour in New Zealand which I have not seen in 18 months of Singapore (worlds longest blog title)

20120528-134845.jpg

Ok, first of all sorry about the lack of blogs. Totally my bad.

A couple of weeks ago we went back to New Zealand and there were a whole lot of things (that I saw in my first hour) that I had not seen in my time in Singapore. I am not saying they don’t exist in Singapore I am just saying I have not seen them.

1. Used cars for sale: Cars are mad expensive in Singapore and because of this there is not much of a used car market. If you can afford the crazy taxes on cars (100,000 plus) you can afford to buy a new car. New Zealand has terrible public transport so vehicle ownership is almost a necessity. On the way in from the airport we passed a number of used car lots. The cheapest car I saw was $1999 (and it looked pretty good). Singapore may have the highest number of iPhones per capita but NZ has the highest number of cars.

2. Fresh milk: Truth be told, I did not notice this at the time, someone pointed it out once I was back. Singapore milk is all (a very large proportion) made from powdered milk. When i got back someone showed me the label “made from fresh milk”. This freaked me out (although once again I had not actually noticed) as I had grown up on a dairy farm (this is not strictly true… but we did have a pet cow once. We had to give here away, she kept jumping the fence). I had not had powdered milk my whole life, and now suddenly this is (practically) my only option (but once again I had not actually noticed).

3. A Rainbow: There is a saying that New Zealand can experience four seasons in one day and along those lines Singapore has two seasons. Sunny or thunderstorm. So you would think rainbows are a common occurrence in Singapore. Not so, for me at least. I am the reverse of the double rainbow guy (zero rainbows). Anyway I saw a rainbow just after we landed as we were taxiing to the terminal.

4. Campervans New Zealand loves campervans (motor homes). Can’t go anywhere without seeing them.

5. Banter This is not something you actually see, but more of a pleasant experience. I am not the most out going guy, but I do love me some banter with my cafe staff. It’s weird, there is nothing I am scared of more, than awkward small talk, but when it comes to no-pressure cafe staff banter situations, there is nothing I love more. Cafe staff banter in Singapore is minimal to non existent, so I had to get my fix in New Zealand

fin

*this blog was written on my iPad whilst on the train (I deserve some mad props for that)

2012
05/28
CATEGORY
New Zealand
Singapore quirks
Uncategorized
TAGS





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The World Orchid Show (aka the Orchid Olympics)

I can’t say that I have ever been to a flower show, or even a florist for that matter. But my new life mantra is to be a yes man and always take the opportunity to try new things. We were offered a guided tour of the show by my grandma (in law) and great aunt (in law) who are here as guest judges for the orchid Olympics. Now that was an offer I could not refuse.

Let me just say, I was very impressed. I had no idea there were so many varieties of orchids. Prior to the show I though they all looked the same but had a number of different colour variations. Boy was I wrong. There were tiny orchids (the size of a match stick head) and massive orchids (the size of my head). Oh and every colour of the rainbow was represented. They were all amazing!

I have a new found respect for orchid judges, they have to make some seriously tough decisions.

fin

Not actually an orchid (making sure you are still paying attention)

IT’S A BIRD…made out of orchids

With the judges

Singapore’s newest orchid enthusiast

2011
11/18
CATEGORY
Marina Bay
Singapore sights
TAGS


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An “Occupy” Demonstration – Singapore Styles

As I am sure all of you are aware these “occupy” demonstrations have been occurring all around the world’s financial districts. The people are protesting against corporate greed, social and economic inequality and the influence of corporate money on the government (thank you Wikipedia).

Sure enough Singapore also jumped on this bandwagon and set up a facebook page to organise an occupation of Raffles Place in the center of Singapore’s CBD. I can’t say I have ever been much of a protester or demonstrator (although I have inadvertently walked out of the University library into student protests and thought sure who doesn’t love a good protest chant?)  but this was something I had to see.

The police/government issued a warning that protesting is an unlawful activity (unless you have a permit) in Singapore, this coupled with the fact that Singaporeans love to shop I was pretty sure no one would show up. Nevertheless I was intrigued and my curiosity got the better of me and I went to check it out.

I am not sure if it was Singapore’s love of retail therapy or their obedience to the government (which I am sure many governments around the world are extremely jealous of), it was what you would call a demonstration no show (apart from the 30 media personnel). So it was somewhat of an anticlimax but sure enough a true Singapore protest experience.

fin

tumbleweed

I think Singapore may have taken this occupy wall street sign a bit to heart

(source: egotvonline.com)

Singapore’s lone demonstrator (and when I say demonstrator I mean I was demonstrating that my favourite Public Enemy song is “Fight the Power”)

2011
10/17
CATEGORY
America
Marina Bay
Singapore quirks
TAGS




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The Seven Links Blog Project

My good mate and fellow blogger Tiny Island (a Singaporean blogger who provides a glimpse into what it is like to be a tourist in your own country) tagged me to join in the seven links blog project. Basically the blog project is a good way to pull out some of your best blog posts from the archives and showcase your mad blogging skills.

I thought since I don’t have an “about me” section I would use this opportunity to delve into the heart and history of this blog. So here goes:

This blog started out of laziness. My wife and I had just moved to Singapore. My Dad was doing volunteer work in Israel and my Mum was back in New Zealand. Instead of having to tell my parents what I had been up to in Singapore I decided to start a blog, so I would only have tell the story once. Turns out it did not save time. In fact, blogging is time consuming and I would still have to tell the story twice even after kindly referring them to my blog. But after a while I started to get a cult following of friends and family reading the blog (or so they say) and I got hooked on it and can’t stop. Be warned: If you say you read my blog, I will quiz you on it. A few of our visitors have learned this the hard way.

Some of you may ask what’s up with that orangefoamfinger? Well it all started in New York, we were on a round the World trip before our final destination of Singapore. I picked up a (hugely) overpriced orangefoamfinger at a New York Knicks game and for the rest of our trip (and much to the embarrassment of my wife) I would pose in front of international places of interest. I now can’t leave home without my orangefoamfinger. It all started from there.

I blog about being a househusband, what it is like living in Singapore and the countries we visit (with my orangefoamfinger of course).

 

my most beautiful post:

Awesome things on Awesome Bikes

Well as the title suggests, it is pictures of Awesome things on Awesome Bikes (in Vietnam). Not much more to it really.

 

my most popular post:

Coffee in a plastic bag with a straw

I think every newcomer to Singapore is intrigued by this mysterious drink in a plastic bag and hence is likely to google “plastic bag drink”.  I guess that some of those searches are referred to my blog. Also a few other bloggers have linked to the “plastic bag drink”. Thanks mates!

 

my most controversial post:

Singapore National Day

I don’t really do controversial. But If I had to choose my most controversial post it would be the National Day post. Only because I mentioned that the National Day Parade just seems like an excuse for the Singapore Army to show of it’s fire power. It is hard to be controversial in a country that has corporal punishment and the death penalty (oooh controversial).

 

my most helpful post:

farmers market?

I also don’t really do helpful posts (unless you want to get an idea of what a country is like to visit). I chose the farmers market post because of my public service announcement that it is not really a farmers market (as there are no farms in Singapore). However I still recommend you go because of the delicious food available (that would have come from a farm somewhere (just not a Singaporean one)).

 

my most surprisingly successful post:

Insect Fogging

This is another example of people visiting Singapore having no idea what is going on (I was the same) and therefore turning to google to find out. Those google searches sometimes end up at my blog and here we have a surprisingly successful post.  When I first saw the insect fogging I thought the apartment across the road was on fire.

 

my most underrated post:

The six dollar haircut

Seriously! Six dollars for a haircut (even if it not straight).

 

post I am most proud of:

singapore shufflin’

The making of singapore shufflin’ was without a doubt the proudest moment in my blogging career. A dancing tour of Singapore. That is all.

 

I am going with an Antipodean theme for my selection of bloggers to keep the seven links project going (although only one still lives in the Antipodes)

katherineisawesome (the queen of NZ fashion blogging, hot off the heels of NZ fashion week)

isaaclikes (the king of NZ fashion blogging, now living in New York, about to be hot ON the heels of NY fashion week)

bec’s expat life (an Australian expat who has recently moved to Singapore, getting amongst it)

 

fin

2011
09/06
CATEGORY
Career
House husband
mrs orangefoamfinger
orangefoamfinger
Singapore quirks
Singapore sights
SINGSERVATIONS
Travel
Video
Vietnam
TAGS










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And the hunt begins

After finishing my thesis, it is now time to step up the intensity of my job hunt.

About three months ago while there was a slight lull in thesis writing (the first draft was getting demolished by my supervisor) I applied for about 20 jobs. And yesterday I got my first rejection letter. I can honestly say a rejection letter has never felt so good. Having not heard from any of the prospective employers I was beginning to worry that I had got my e-mail address, phone number and postal address wrong on my CV and cover letters. Not a single acknowledgement that we have received your application or you are terrible for this job so no thanks. Not a word from any of them. But yesterdays e-mail put my confidence (however slightly) back into Singapore’s science human resource professionals. Even though it was a generic rejection e-mail it now gives me the confidence to get back on the horse and start applying for jobs again.

“We are impressed with your credentials and academic qualifications” – obviously not impressed enough to give me an interview. lol

I mentioned in a previous post that most of the science jobs that I am qualified for are looking for Singapore citizens or permanent residents. We could become permanent residents without too much effort. However, there is a slight problem. From the minimal research that I have done, it looks like I will have to do national service in the Singapore Army.  Mrs orangefoamfinger is the one with the job and the person the permanent residency will be filed under, making me a dependent of her and I believe (again from my minimal research) that dependents, if they want permanent residency will have to do national service.

My blog could go in a whole new direction: camouflagefoamfinger.com

fin

2011
07/13
CATEGORY
Career
House husband
Masters
mrs orangefoamfinger
Singapore quirks
TAGS





2 comments

This is my bloggy wog

Just over a week ago I landed in a city I have never been to. This city is to be my new home. Singapore, Singapore!

In the weeks, nay, years ahead I will describe what it is like moving to a foreign land. What it is like trying to get a job in a niche market during the GFC (Global Financial Crisis just in case you didn’t know) and I will describe interesting observations of a country from a alien perspective.

Is it hard to make friends? Whats it like only knowing one person in an entire country, admittedly a small country, however small it is, it is also one of the most populated countries in the world, by area.

Is it hard to be motivated when there is so much exploring to do? A thesis has to be written in the first few month that I am here. Sure I should be writing some science words right now, but I figure this is a good distraction and a good way to take some much needed time out.

Okay for my first Singapore fact, well, more like observation. I think I will call these My SINGSERVATIONS.

My SINGSERVATIONS No.1

Singapore is not as clean as I imagined. Don’t get me wrong it’s clean, most probably the cleanest country I have been to. I also have high standards of national cleanliness, coming from New Zealand. But I was expecting some kind of complete rubbish free utopia. I know it’s crazy but I was not expecting to see rubbish bags on the corner, the stray drinking straw wrapper on the sidewalk and I even saw someone throw their cigarette butt on the ground. Did he or she (just protecting his or her identity) not know they could face jail time for that offense? All in all Singapore is a beautiful clean country, but just have some realistic expectations. Not like I did.

Fin

2011
01/17
CATEGORY
Career
Friends
Masters
orangefoamfinger
SINGSERVATIONS
Welcome
TAGS



2 comments