Am headed to Taipei, Taiwan this morning. I'll have this afternoon and tomorrow to tour around and then am in the office Monday and Tuesday before heading back to Singapore. Hopefully some interesting blogs to follow...
Read more...Three full days of meetings Monday through Wednesday wore me out. I opted out of the all-day meeting yesterday but had a company dinner to go to that kept me out until about 10 pm. I woke up this morning feeling a little under the weather and with a migraine. Ugh...not a fun way to end the week. I think I have just done too much this week. Too many early mornings and too many long days. It has been raining all day today so the weather has contributed to a good day of resting, napping, and recovering.
Read more...I have taken to riding on the top of the bus. I used to ride on the lower level on the way to the office and on the top on the way back home. I have no idea why...it was almost like I gave myself a little reward for a day of hard work. I then realized the other day that the upper deck of the bus is much emptier in the mornings so I have started riding on the upper deck both ways.
Today I started wondering what makes people decide to go up or down. For kids I think it is an easy question, most of them want to go up and most want to sit in the front. It is fun to be above everything else and to see where the bus is headed. Adults seem to be different though - some like heading up and others are content staying down...even if the lower level is completely full.
To me I think it is like choosing the best seat in the car when you are a kid...especially if you had siblings. Of course the front seat is the absolute best seat to have. However, if you were lucky like my brothers and I were we had a station wagon so the absolute prime seat was the 'way back' of the car. That would leave two to share the backseat and one to have the entire 'way back' all to themselves. It was like our own little kingdom that moved. Although I don't seem to recall winning the 'way back' too many times. Maybe that is why I have now decided to ride upstairs all of the time...and yes, I am like the little kids and try and get the very front seat.
A new thing for me is being able to walk most places since I live in a city. I think it is great to have things within walking distance and to not have to rely on a car to get around. I especially like the fact that during peak traffic hours (which seems to be most times in Singapore) I am actually able to get places faster by walking instead of driving. I will hop off of the bus a couple of stops before my normal stop if traffic is heavy. And I now have made a game of it and am able to alter my pace in order to hit the little green walking man right when I come up on an intersection.
This doesn't mean that there aren't some traffic slowdowns even when walking. The traffic isn't automobile traffic but instead pedestrian. In almost all cities in Asia that I have visited people tend to walk slowly. Now, I know that I tend to walk on the fast side but this isn't just slow...it is more like the 100 meter mosey...or the pokey little puppy slow...it is painful. The other thing that I have noticed is that many people here weave when walking. I know that I don't since I pick a block of bricks and stay within that row the entire length of the sidewalk...not the case for most people. And probably the most frustrating thing about walking in Asia is that people walk four or five across and don't want to give way to you. I of course, stand my ground and don't move (since I am only one person across) and force one of the four or five to move...at least a little.
Even with all of the frustrations and even when it is raining I enjoy the walk home each night. (My walk to the bus stop in the morning is pretty short.) I know when I go home in December I'll have fun zipping around in my car but I think I'll miss the ability to be able to walk most places. Durham, NC just isn't a very pedestrian friendly city.
That is how long my meeting was today. It started at 8 am and ended at 7pm...ugh! There were some good discussions but that was a long day. The cool part about it was that we were on the top floor of the Four Seasons Hotel. The meeting room we were in had a ton of windows so we had a great view. This afternoon we were able to watch a storm come across to Singapore and greet us at the hotel. It was an interesting perspective to see it from above instead of on ground level. Tomorrow will be another long day but hopefully not eleven hours long...
Read more...I've had a very relaxed weekend. I didn't have any appointments and really just hung out around my apartment. I had the urge to read some magazines so headed down to the local Borders bookstore to pick up a few and spend the afternoon reading them on the sofa. Holy cow are magazines expensive here! They are three times the US cover price...three times!!! What the heck is that all about? I expect things to be a bit more expensive since they are imported but my word...not that expensive. Of course, I could not justify spending that much money on something I'd be done with in about an hour so, I headed back home without any magazines...
Read more...I try not to complain or whine too much on my blog. That wouldn't be any fun for anybody to read and there really is no reason for me to dwell on such things. I am really lucky to have this opportunity and see all of the things that I am seeing. But, indulge me for a few lines...
Yesterday morning I had a great conversation with a really good friend. We laughed and caught up and planned for some time together during my visit home in December. I have made some nice friends here but none that are at the stage of friendship where we have history together. I miss being around people who know me and who I know well...
On my walk home from dinner last night I saw Lucy (the neighborhood stray kitty) sitting on the steps. I decided to sit down with her for a bit and pet her. She just lapped it up in true kitty style winding around me rubbing kitty fur all over me. If you have pets you now how comforting they can be just being around you or welcoming you home after a long day. Thankfully I have Lucy here but it just isn't the same...I miss my kitties...
Alan hasn't been feeling well the past couple of days. It is nothing serious but still annoying for him. I wish I were home to run and get him juice and just generally take care of him. I miss him...
And now this morning I am having a tasty cup of coffee while listening to the Carolina Hurricanes game. Some of my good friends are at the game as well as Alan. I'm thankful I can listen in and email and text them during the game. But, it just isn't the same...
I'll be home in just over a month so will get to see everybody, hang out with Alan, play with my kitties, and go to a handful of Canes games. And I'm sure I'll start my day and get preoccupied with something else going on...but for now...I miss these things...
P.S. The Canes just scored their second goal. Woohoo!
