Monday, March 23, 2009

Singapore Tips

Hotels
A friend of ours can get good deals on Holiday Inns, Intercontinentals, Crowne Plazas etc…..i can send details

Poker
I organize a monthly game at my place. Let me know if you’d like to join and I’ll add you to the email list

Water
Got this great deal having a water cooler fitted at my place. Saves hassle from having to carry gallons of water up from the supermarket. Costs $10 each per 11 litre bottle – 4 bottle per month minimum. Call Win Dee on +65 9834 5915 if you’re interested

Dry Cleaning
I’ve found this fella called Wilfred (+65 9329 4574) who’s one of the nicest old Singaporeans here. He comes to my flat and picks up my dry cleaning once a week and takes it away (have no idea where to!) and thankfully brings it back ironed and smelling lovely. Unlimited for SGD500 for the year. An absolute steal in my book and a month in I can’t complain

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

The boy(s) is(are) back in town

Hi All,

I could definitely say I’ve felt better than I do right now. Last weekend, 15 of us ventured to Borneo to climb Mount Kinabalu. This was definitely the hardest thing I have ever done – I think the only thing I could compare it to is childbirth!! 8.8km distance and around 1.5km vertical. Going up in the rain, heat and altitude was tough….coming down was tougher – but the view at 5am for sunrise was certainly worth it. Pics will follow on FB when I’ve sorted through the 500 or so I took! You may get (un)lucky and see the ones of when I became a bit delirious up the top and while everyone was wrapped up warm as if they were going to go skiing, I decided to strip down to my boxers….

Talking of photos, I’ve signed up for a photography course. It’s pretty interesting and I compare it to driving a car. The basics are pretty easy to get a handle on, but moving up the curve is like trying to do 200mph at Monza without wrapping your car round a lamp-post.

I have actually had 2 other trips in the last few weeks since I wrote. The first was to a private island called Pangkil. 35 expats out here hired it out for the weekend and it was great fun. Then for Chinese New Year, a few of us headed to Boracay in the Philippines. A mission to get there involving many a plane, taxi and boat, but fine white sands and crystal blue seas made it worth the effort. See the pictures below.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60635&id=512991087&l=aa393

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64242&id=512991087&l=6e386

I’m back in the UK/Europe in a couple of weeks so would be great to catch up. Plan is to fly into Paris for Fri 27th Feb to watch the France v Wales rugby game and spend a weekend there with the boys and my parents. Then I come to London for the week of Mon 2nd March to work in the office. Then back to Paris to see Diana and head down to the Alps to go skiing with Nick and Greg (and Dionne?) before flying back to Singapore. Let me know if anything interesting is going on

All the best, Jamie

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

I’ll Have a B please Bob

Hi All,

So last week i was supposed to head up to Bangkok and Hua Hin with JB, but some very annoying protestors decided to over-run Bangkok airport and fall asleep there for a few days, while the police and army stood back and took it easy (a nice balanced view of Thai politics - think i should be a journalist!!) They timed this perfectly to start the evening i was due to fly, so i never got out of Singapore - oh well! The upshot of it was, i got to go to Bali for 3 days with 4 women! 3 French and an English girl - i was in my element!!! Bali was simply beautiful and i highly recommend it. We stayed in a very cool villa on the beach with its own pool and the staff come cook you breakfast every morning! 3 days was nowhere near enough, so will definitely be going back - its only a couple of hours flight away. See my pics below

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1219954&l=90693&id=512991087

The other nice surprise was getting a random phone call from an "Indian fella" while i was 6km down and huffing and puffing on the treadmill training for this 10km race i stupidly did at 7:30am on Sunday morning (my competitor - Angela, has dropped out to go on holiday (again) which means she has to do a nice forfeit) This Indian guy was in fact Richard Freed, coming through Singapore as part of his world tour. Had a good day out and let him loose on some of my friends with his weird and interesting stories!!

Work has been very tough the last few weeks. One day i was even in until after 8pm!! I say it in jest, but unlike the last few months of my previous role in London, i hardly ever get on FB during the day and there are hardly any shows and concerts to email my friends about!! (Mr Ticketmaster has retired...well at least hibernating). 8pm might not sound too late, but that is constant work and fire fighting for almost 12 hours. In fact, i haven't had a chance to write up this email so am doing it in my personal time - how honourable is that?!?!

Have had some nice dinners and drinks with some of the students here to say goodbye after their exchange program. They really took over the jewish social scene here, so will be strange when they go. In fact i started seeing a girl called Diana (you can probably guess from the Bali pics). Lovely girl and i'm definitely punching above my weight!! Not sure what's going to happen when she leaves, but i'm enjoying spending time with her nonetheless.

Busy weekend involving football (scraped a win), the circus (absolutely shocking – I could have juggled better with some tennis balls), a 10km race (painful, but got round without stopping in just over an hour), brunches (eggs – yum!) and a boozy beach bar (madness). Thankfully had Monday off to recover with a well deserved massage!!

I can't believe i'll be home in 2 weeks!! This 4 months have gone so so quickly. Back in London Sun 21st-Weds 24th and the 'diff from Weds 24th-Sat 27th. Would be great to catch up if you're around

All the best, J

Bali Tips

Hi Guys,

Short write-up on my recent trip to Bali. Had an awesome time and highly recommend it

Flew in and out on Garuda leaving Singapore around 7am on the Sunday and leaving Bali around 8pm on the Tuesday. Flight costs SGD350. Other carriers are Lion Air, Singapore Airlines and i think JetStar

Stayed at the Ahimsa Estate in a 3 bed villa with private pool. Cost USD400 per night. 25 mins from the airport - they pick you up. Was brilliant, in a great location in Seminyak, 2 min walk to the beach. They come cook breakfast for you in the morning and the rooms and bathrooms are very plush.

Touristy stuff we did - You can easily hire a driver for the day around USD30. Our guy Nyoman was very nice and would recommend using him (mention Sarah and the French girls - 081 239 49491) We went to Nusa Dua to take a glass bottomed boat out snorkelling (very poor, didn't see anything) and to Turtle Island (animal sanctuary where you can take pictures with turtles, eagles, bats, Iguanas and other weird and wonderful animals - its ok, but a bit mean on the animals in my view) - we paid USD20 each for the 2 hour trip.

Then we went to a beach on the way to Ulwatu temple. Real hideaway cove that was very nice, but no idea what it was called! Then Ulwatu temple for sunset and a local fire dance which was interesting to see. The following day we went to Denpasar market which was ok

We drank at Ku De Ta - highly recommend. Very cool beach bar to watch the sunset. Ate at Cafe Bali which was gorgeous and so cheap for what we got.

3 days is not enough time and i will be going back. No chance to go to Ubud, Kuta, Monkey forest, Cycle tour, Volcano etc which all came recommended

Friday, November 21, 2008

Bangkok, Bintan and a Birdie

Hi All,

Well, suffice to say, although I’ve been away twice in as many weeks, this thing I do for about 11 hours a day has sure been taking its toll. It’s Q4, markets are crashing and we have to budget for next year. Lots of “intellectual masturbation” as one of my colleagues put it!! But when the big boss says jump, you don’t exactly leave early to play football (well, maybe once or twice!!!)

Nicole and Paul were passing through Bangkok after a couple of weeks on the beach in Krabi, so I went up to say hi. Bangkok is a cracking place – lovely food, welcoming people and some very cool places to go out. One thing is a serious problem though – traffic. Whatever you do, don’t plan on getting anywhere in a hurry!! Hours we spent in tuk-tuks (aka death-traps) and taxis. We went to go to the grand palace and turned up to be told it was closed for tourists until 1:30, but would we like to go on a tuk-tuk tour while we waited. Thought they were being nice and helpful until a couple walked past and told us we were being conned – sure enough, the palace was open so we hop skipped it round with Nicole doing her bit for cultural relations (see photos of her pose!)

Last weekend a group of 20 of us headed over to an Indonesian island called Bintan. It’s only a 1hr ferry ride away so very easy to get to. On the Saturday we played a round of golf – definitely one of the most frustrating games I’ve ever played. I typically manage to hit one nice shot per hole and finally it all came together on the par 3 on the 14th where I teed off to within 6 feet of the hole and putted in 1 – my first ever birdie – woohoo!!

We rented a couple of villas on the beach and that evening we had a pool and BBQ party with the theme Anchorman!! Some of the costumes were hilarious and some of them were disgusting (aka mine!!). Great fun and some cracking photos.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=49694&l=a2e60&id=512991087

Footy is still going well. I’ve been transferred into a new team…stepping up from the 5th to 2nd division. And my 5 a side team won its league

Tonight I’m heading off to the Races and next week I go meet Jamie Black for a few days relaxing in Hua Hin.

And I’m officially coming home at Christmas/Chanukah time – I land in London on Sunday 21st, stay there a few days and then head to Cardiff on Xmas Eve for a few days. Lemme know if you’re about

Keep in touch, J

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Bangkok Tips

Hi Guys,

Had a short sharp trip to Bangkok. An excellent place worth visiting. Some tips.

Taxi to/from airport should cost no more than THB 500. Always make sure they’re on the meter. Took me 30 mins no traffic. Took 1hr back with traffic.

Traffic is an absolute nightmare. Skytrain supposedly efficient but I never took it. Tuk-tuks are pretty dangerous but great fun.

I went to the Grand Palace, reclining Buddha and spent an hour on a long boat – all in the same area and I recommend – just make sure you don’t get conned by the guys outside telling you the place doesn’t open for foreigners until 1:30 and how about you come on my tuk tuk for a tour for a few hours first – ignore them, they’re lying. You do need to cover up legs and shoulders in the grand palace, but you can borrow trousers/sarong there.

Ate dinner at Baan Khanita which was very good. Also recommend Face, Cabbages and Condoms, Curries and More. Food is very cheap

Drank at the open air bar Sirocco (at State Tower). Also recommend Vertigo (at Banyan Tree) and Bed Supper Club. (All London prices)

Stayed at Centrepoint Silom. Cost THB 2500 (about USD100). Hotels in general are pretty cheap and there are some cool boutique hotels – this is one of the cheapest of the lot, but a very 4 star good standard. Also recommend Peninsular, Oriental (expensive), Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Metropolitan (cheaper and very nice) Seven, Davis, Dream (Boutique)

Didn’t go to Khao San Rd this time, but very good fun and full of backpackers. Similarly, didn’t go, but I thought the area for “shows” is less seedy around Nana than Patpong. MBK and Siam Paragon are the enormous malls. And catch Muy Thai if you can – great fun.

Hope this helps.

Oh yeah, forgot to say….traffic is a nightmare!!! Jamie

Monday, November 3, 2008

Perth....Hallowe'en....and a whole lot in between

Hi All,

While it’s been snowing back home, it’s been a pretty eventful couple of weeks in Asia.

The Northern Irishmen himself, Jamie Black came to stay for a few days before shooting off for a month traveling Asia – I’m meeting back up with him at the end of Nov for a few days partying and chilling on the beach. Had a couple of good nights out and showed Jamie some of the more “interesting” parts of Singapore!

Then a group of 8 of us headed off to Perth and Margaret River for 5 days of gluttony! Was basically a food and wine frenzy – couple of those “loosen your belts” moments! Stayed the first and last night in Perth – felt a bit like Cardiff – small City on the coast, easy to get around. Rest of the time we picked up a car (see my advert for Audi!) and drove down the coast to the southwest point of Oz – Margaret River. Gorgeous valleys and vineyards set against the beach and coast – really nice place to get away from it all and relax. Got some good pics on FB

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46487&l=30082&id=512991087

Friday night was of course Hallowe’en. Singaporeans sure make a big effort. A group of 12 of us headed to a comedy night under the theme “Golf Pros and Tennis Hos”! Some cracking costumes and a good boozy night all round. Not sure if it was because the first person was a guy and was British….or the fact that the “headline” was female and Australian, but it was one extreme to the other with the British fella having us in hysterics and the Aussie woman had us throwing plastic golf balls. Defining moment of the evening was our friend Jared getting up on stage in front of the 200 people for his dance interpretation of YMCA. Again, pics (and more importantly video!!) on FB

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=46485&l=1be13&id=512991087

On Saturday, Anna “Preston” Preston arrived for 24 hours on her way to Sydney. Had a good night out at Supper Club and did some shopping and eating etc. Went to the famous Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel for lunch and can only describe my “Spring country chicken with frites” as KFC chicken and chips in a bucket – really frustrates me how these institutions trade on their name. That’s a problem with Singaporeans in general – they have no idea about good service.

Back to my old ways this week – seeing a Canadian comedian called Russell Peters. I’ve never heard of him, but he sold out his 3 shows in hours so I thought why not. And Friday we’re watching Avenue Q which I’m very excited about!! Next week, Nicole and Paul are in Bangkok so going to shoot up and see them for a couple of days.

Hope all is well wherever you are. Please write back and lemme know what’s going on, J x