Movie in Singapore

A couple of days ago, I decided it was time to explore the movie theaters in Singapore. Harry Potter had just been released, so I did not need much convincing!

The theaters in Singapore have an interesting way of doing things- everyone buys tickets with alloted seat numbers. So you better be in line first in order to make sure that you don't end up in a first row seat. So, this way, you actually have to buy your ticket on time and can stroll into the theaters in your leisure. Unlike the US (at least most of the theaters I have been to there), where you can buy your ticket last, but come early to grab the most wanted seat...Well..both have their 'charms' I suppose :)

So...going back to the movie..I did not like this Harry Potter as much. The Harry Potter series is the first and only time that I am seeing the movies without reading the books ( I just never succumbed to Potter book mania)...and so I had no idea as to what to expect in the sixth movie. I am not sure of the reason behind my lack of marvel at this movie...could be that it wasn't very well edited, could be that I felt 'sad' at the ending...could just be that I have 'grown' in the last few years :P Either ways, movie #3 remains my favorite...

Should I Risk It?

I am going to Malaysia in a couple of weeks to attend a friend's brother's wedding. I need a visa for that and so need to turn in my passport for a week or so. This is fine, except that I really wanted to travel to Indonesia/ Thailand at some point. And though they give visa on entry...they do need to see my passport!! Hence I spent an hour this morning trying to figure out the best flight and hotel deals and contemplating the right time to turn in my passport..

And then I came across this...
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/17/indonesia.hotels.explosions/index.html

My first reaction was obvious shock. But my follow up response almost surprised me. I realized that I was shocked because I could have been in the vicinity, not because such a thing 'could actually happen'. I have gotten so used to hearing about bomb blasts in tourist hotels/ trains/ crowded areas all over the world that I have become desensitized!! What kind of a world do we live in? Where its almost normal to 'expect' a 'terrorist' attack!

So, now the most important question ( of the moment)...should I risk these possibilities? Risk the happenings which we take for granted... read about them on the news and forget about them as soon as something else manages to capture the headlines...should I attempt to travel in South East Asia or should I play it safe and shelve those travels for some other time?

O Land of the Malls!

If Delhi gave me the impression of being the land of tombs, Singapore does a good job of coming across as the land of malls! And its not only Orchard Road...it everywhere. Its very rare that you wont get out at a MRT stop that is is connected to some form of a mall! And the big malls that boast designer labels are in abundance as well. So, while shopping and eating seems to be the prime hobbies of the folks here, the food is cheap and shopping relatively expensive [Singapore is on sale now...so that is cheap as well :)]

Most of the malls have free wireless access, but they require you to have a Singapore cell phone so that they can text (SMS) you the password! Texting is huge here- like in other parts of Asia and Africa. The best part about the malls is that you can get to some faraway place from the the MRT stop by just going in and out of several malls without having to see the light of day! I learned this when I went to see Raffles Hotel, a masterpiece in itself- a beautiful white exterior, fountains glistening in the dim lighting, extravagant chandeliers and Sikh doormen. Now, given the weather here...that commute is what I am grateful for!!

Budget Airlines...Tempting the Poor!

I have been thinking about visiting one other South East Asian country before I head back to the US in september...Thailand? Indonesia? Philippines? Anyways, I decided to look at airtickets to help me sort through options. Most of these places range around $200 round trip. Well..that was before someone mentioned Tiger Airways!! Round trip to Manila is only 80 SGD!!! Seriously?? Is something wrong with the airline or is it cheap just because its a budget airline?
http://www.tigerairways.com/sg/en/

Well...its very tempting to fly that and given that I am in a money saving phase, that may be my only option. Ummm...I wont be attempting this adventure till end of august...will keep you posted :)

For now its back to work...

Ordering...

This entry is dedicated to ordering. Ordering what you ask? Ordering lab supplies. Ordering computers. Ordering just about anything that will enable work in a lab.

Its ~ 4:55 pm in Singapore now. I came to this place about ten days ago having 'placed' orders for stuff about three months ago. I though I would be in lab, working away to the wee hours, getting some elusive data. But no. Ordering stuff here is quite a process apparently. To start of, nothing is here yet and I am learning the ropes of the process as we speak. The lead time for anything is at least three weeks (that is 'after' an order has been placed). It takes much longer to 'place' the order as I have learned. The people here work very efficiently...yet...

Back in MIT, I had gotten used to the online system aka. ECAT where everything can be gotten by the click of a button. It took me ten days, over fifteen emails and about five phone calls to order cells (despite the fact that I had been trying to order them since april). Apparently it will take a few more weeks for them to get here...and about a week to ten days for the computer monitor to be ordered...

Oh well. This whole process has just made me realize the 'greatness' of online ordering and sigh at the fact that I took all that for granted. Singapore is a great place with a lot of research money...but it needs to get a better ordering system in place!!

That was fourteen times I used the word 'order'/'ordering'/'ordered'. Now its seventeen :) I told you it was dedicated to it.

A Stopover in Delhi/ Agra

I just got back from a whirlwind of a India trip! Four days in Delhi and Agra!! I took a few days off work in Singapore to participate in the pre-orientation program for new Indian students coming to MIT. I was supposed to go and talk to them about life in the US, in MIT and in graduate school in general.

The days involved informal presentations, bonding activities and sightseeing in Delhi. It was a pretty pleasant experience except for the insane Delhi heat! The heat wave in northern India this summer is absolutely traumatic. I feel bad complaining about it because while I did enjoy the comforts of sporadic air conditioning, water and electricity, there were hundreds of thousands without any of these amenities...While Delhi boasts of some of the greatest malls [people go to malls for 'hanging out' here!] in the country, it is teeming with poverty...the rich-poor divide in India never fails to amaze me.

In the few days in Delhi I managed to visit the Qutb Minar, the Lotus Temple, Humayun's Tomb, Dilli Hat and a games arcade [to stay away from the sun :)]. Delhi should be know as the land of tombs- I could spot them everywhere!! On my last day there, we visited Agra and saw the Taj Mahal. It was breathtaking...hot...but breathtaking!! The magnificence of the architecture, the detail in the inlay work, the miniature carvings...and the overwhelming feeling of just standing in front of one of the modern seven wonders of the world made my day! Unfortunately, I had to catch a flight back, so I could not stop by Fatehpur Sikri or the Red Fort. Some other day...and that some day will be in the winter...maybe on a full moon night...and then I can see the Taj in all its glory.

Out and About in Singapore!

I have been Singapore for a few days now...enough time to realize that I cant live in this weather for long and more than enough time to learn that the procedure for ordering experimental supplies is ridiculously long. So, I took advantage of the fact that I have not much to do here and went exploring last weekend!

I spent last saturday walking along orchard road- in and out of several malls that line the road and tower the city. Its mesmerizing to the point of being overwhelming and somewhat pointless!! Who shops here?? Most brand names are well over the US price...but if you can find that cute dress in a small (or big) Singapore store...lucky you! Singapore is on sale! And food? Lets not even go there...its everywhere!!

On sunday, I spent a couple of hours walking in the Chinese Gardens. Saw the Confucious statue, the Japanese, Chinese and Bonsai gardens, the twin pagodas, the live turtle farm and even spotted wild lizards!! Then I the decided to take the MRT to Boon Lay. Hung out in the mall (again) and window shopped for a while after lunch. Read for a bit and headed out to the Jurong Bird Park. It was amazing!! Walking around for a few hours made my day (and week)! Got to see the largest man made waterfall while listening to the chirping of African birds :)

Well...now I am in lab...trying to get some work done...drinking fruit juice and bubble tea and snacking on baked goodies...Life would be great if only my cells (for experiments) were here [and the weather was better etc etc] !!!

This Time Its Singapore...

I am still bit by the travel bug! Since returning from Europe/ Africa I have been to VA, Washington DC, CT, NY, AZ and Lake Tahoe! And now I am in Singapore, doing research and exploring lifestyles. I got here ~9hrs ago. And other than catching up with a friend for an hour or so, I have been running all over the place...trying to get ready for work while seeping in the aroma of life here. The first thing that struck me was the amount of food everywhere. Seriously, its plenty and its cheap. Quite the combo! I am trying to be good about eating...since any exercise outdoors in this humid weather will be very challenging :)

Here is to two months of 'explorations'!!