I just started watching my first Korean drama DVD. It’s called “Lovers in Paris”
So far it’s been really cheesy, perdictable, and mindless. But, I’m really enjoying it. I feel like I’m watching a Korean version of a romantic comedy based on Cinderella.
I’ll report back as I get further along if it’s still good fun.
Singtel just recently launched the iPhone here in Singapore. I’ve been patiently waiting for it to be released here. Watching all the cool apps that are being released for it that don’t quite work because I have an iPod touch instead of a full iPhone is painful.
However, I don’t think I am going to jump in just yet. The killer app I was waiting for is the Sling Player. And this has not been released yet. On top of that, the data caps that singtel has are too small for me. Their plans are either 1GB, 2GB or 3GB for S$56, S$95 or S$195 respectively. I estimate that if I were to use my Slingbox excessively I would hit somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-8GB of throughput.
Hopefully when M1 or Starhub release the iPhone here in a few months they will relax the restrictions.
iHope.
This was the first year in many that I have missed out on going to Siggraph. I’ll be attending Siggraph Asia this year. But, it’s not the same. For those of you who are unfamiliar with what it is, let me explain.
SIGGRAPH is short for Special Interest Group GRAPHics. It’s a collection of researchers, scientists and industry professionals who share new techniques, technology , and innovations about the graphics field. What comes out of the annual meeting every year is what usually shows up in Hollywood movies two years from then.
Here’s two quick videos of stuff that’s happening there.
Using Photographs to Enhance Videos of a Static Scene from pro on Vimeo.
Just like most Americans, I didn’t eat nearly enough fruits and vegetables. Old habits are hard to change. But, out here in Asia, it certainly is quite a bit easier to get to that ideal. All the fruits out here are so sweet and delicious. It’s like eating candy.
Thai mangoes are currently my favorite. They’re served extra ripe. To the point that it’s almost as soft as a banana. Next comes pineapples from the Philippines.
One really good fruit is the mangosteen. It is totally unrelated to mangoes and as far as I know has no Jewish heritage. (har har har) you’re unlikely to find this fruit in the US though. It is extremely delicate and would never make a boat trip across the ocean.
Here are some photos of fruit I’ve enjoyed over the last few months.
National day is here in Singapore. It’s their version of the fourth of July. And boy do they know how to throw a party. It is celebrated every year on the 9th of August. Everyone gets into it, at least in appearances. It seems like almost every HDB Flat has a Singapore flag outside their window. And every Condo and office building has banners and more flags posted in celebration for weeks ahead of time.
The Govt. here has a big parade and show that a group of thousands put on. They train and practice for months. It includes everything from music, singing and dancing, to military attack helicoptors and fighter jets doing arial acrobatics. It all concludes with a huge fireworks display over the bay.
Tickets to the show are free but hard to get. Only 30-40K are available and are distributed via a lottery system that millions apply for. The other stipulation is that you need to be either a citizen or PR (permanant resident). The show is broadcast live for every one else. I didn’t get tickets this year. Maybe next year.
Today is a sad and joyous day. I have decided to give up on Digg. I just simply do not have the time to wade through the countless messages to find stuff to read. This is liberating because I was spending hours every week reading articles on random stuff, and now I have that time back. But, at the same time it was such a great diversion to read and hear what the greater populace of netizens were concerned about. Maybe I’ll come back to it. Maybe I won’t.
This is a video that more or less describes the life of a Digital Artist doing visual effects in the film and television industry. Thank god we love what we do.
Singapore’s official language is English. Therefore it is only natural for everyone to speak English. But, there is something not quite right about sitting in a taxi cab here with an old Chinese uncle driving… while he blasts Britney Spears. There are some things I just won’t get used to. Weird.
I went S.C.U.B.A. Diving this last weekend in Malaysia at Pulau Dayang. Very Very Very awesome. There was no current. Our schedule was basically, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, dive, eat, sleep. Repeat.. The water was incredibly warm. 27 C/80 F That’s basically the temperature above water as well. Awesome. Here’s a link to where it is in Asia and a link to a new Photo Gallery I’ve setup for it.
One of the greatest things about Singapore is the plethora of food options that are available 24 hours a day. Getting home from the club at 5am on a Sunday morning and need something for the impending hangover.
No problem. Murtabak to the rescue.
There are basically four levels of eateries here. Let’s start with the most basic, the coffee shop.
A coffee shop is a collection of little mini eateries. They usually have fewer than 5-6 stores and a few of the shops are always open 24 hours a day. A defining characteristic of coffee shops is the fact that they are all open air establishments. Generally they are located near either groups of HDB apartments or near where big groups of people are, like office buildings or around bars and pubs.
Next on the list are food courts. Food courts are nearly the same as they are on the USA. Except, they may have some great food in them and it isn’t filled with fast food joints. Food courts are “indoor”. They are located inside of malls and office buildings. The number of eateries they have sits between a coffee shop and a hawker center. Because they are inside of buildings, they aren’t open 24 hours a day. They generally have air conditioning, an important distinction.
Next on the list is the most Singaporean, the “Hawker Center”. These are mega eating centers. Imagine an outdoor flea market in the US, now substitute the stores with little eateries, that’s a Hawker Center. Food is cheap, and quite good. You’ll have a large variety of food to choose from. Western burgers and fries to Chinese dumplings or Indian curries, it’s all availabe here. And the best part, you’ll only spend $2-8 for a meal.
The final entry of places to eat, restaurants. These are stand alone establishments. They have air conditioning. And can be either really cheap or ultra expensive. They have their own sit down tables and napkins are standard issue unlike all the other eating options, where you share tables and provide your own napkins.