Where do I begin?

So, it is dusk outside, the 6pm news is about to start, I'm being asked what do I want for dinner - why does my body and brain think it is time for breakfast?!?!

There needs to be a way to get over jet lag!

I've spent the last two weeks in Singapore for work, and yes true to form I did manage to spare a little bit of time to assist the Singapore economy by visiting a number of shopping establishments - how could I resist - Singapore Sales, and more importantly a stronger Aussie dollar! I am always amazed that at the end of each trip, when I get home and empty out my suitcase (with assistance from either one or both of my kittens!) that the majority of my shopping is not actually for me, but for my husband! Hmmmm, may need to think about this.....

My work takes me to many a great city, and yes some no so great - but I can provide valuable insights on how to get from point A to point B in most airports around the world.

When you travel, you become quite obsessed with trying to find familiarity in complete chaos! You want to know that if you want a fluffy pillow rather than the scummy latex one, all it takes is a quick phone call. The hotel staff know to leave you a copy of the Financial Review each morning rather than the Telegraph - or equivalent - without even asking. Someone says good morning to you each morning on your way to start the working day, and most important - the room service menu is to a standard to provides both old favourites and local cuisine that actually tastes good - no cardboard please!!!

You can actually tell a lot about a hotel by not just the room service menu. Is there a big bowl of potato wedges (with sour cream and chilli sauce!!)? Are the hamburgers like the ones you get at the local fish and chip shop - big fresh bread roll, packed with fresh lettuce, cheese, egg, pineapple always a good sign, and fat crispy chips! Nothing says comfort food like fat crispy chips!!!

What I also found great about being in Singapore was the mix of food on the menu - most of which when I pronounced it I received a "ehy?" or a "you want spinach madam?" which would have been great if I had not asked for Malaysian Chicken Satay!!

In Singapore, there are 4 official languages - English, Tamil, Mandarin and Malay - I am in awe of just about everyone I work with who has the ability to swap between 2 or 3 of the languages within a single conversation, and then add in my favourite language, Sing-lish to the conversation.

For most countries in either the Pacific or Asia, where English is recognised as a language of the country, often develop a version which is unique to that country - Singapore is no different! If you listen carefully, it is great to hear the "lah" and "can" used in a way which we are just not used to hearing!

To put some context around all of this...

"I can assist you, and would be pleased to do so" - becomes "Can can"
"How are you today?" - becomes "OK, Lah?"
"I am well thank you, and you?" - becomes "good lah eyh?"
"I should be pleased to help" - becomes "ok missey!"

We went for dinner one night at the new Singapore Flyer - which is essentially Singapore's answer to the London Eye. In English, the restaurant is called Seafood Paradise, in Mandarin, the restaurant is called Sky Cloud Kitchen. I have spent most of the last two weeks being able to not only pronounce "Tien" which means sky but also being able to write the character. My goal from here is to try and learn one Mandarin word per day.... lets see how I go with that as a goal!


Sunday - Back to Sydney.....