MRT

The MRT or Mass Rapid Transit (Simplified Chinese: 大众快速交通 or more commonly known as 地铁; Malay: Sistem Pengangkutan Gerak Cepat; Tamil: சிங்கை துரிதக் கடவு ரயில்) is a subway/elevated train system that forms the backbone of transit in Singapore, spanning the entire city-state. The initial section of the MRT, between Yio Chu Kang Station and Toa Payoh Station, opened in 1987 establishing itself as the second-oldest metro system in Southeast Asia, after Manila's LRT System. The network has since grown rapidly as a result of Singapore's aim of developing a comprehensive rail network as the flagship of the public transport system in Singapore, to 70 stations, with an average daily ridership of 1.564 million in FY07/08.

Since 1987, the Land Transport Authority has been expanding the system in order to connect every neighbourhood/region in Singapore. The North South Line, East West Line, North East Line and part of the Circle Line are operational while the Downtown Line and the remainder of the Circle Line are still under construction. Construction schedules for the Thomson Line and Eastern Region Line have been announced.

I use the MRT to get to and from work (for you Vancouverites: think East Van to Richmond), It's quick, it's clean, it's air conditioned and it's cheap. From my apartment, I walk 10 minutes to the TIONG BAHRU station, train for 30 minutes, swap trains at TANAH MERAH and train for another minute, then it's a five minute walk to work. Simple, easy and no one gets hurt. It's super busy for the first few stops and the last two stops, otherwise I get 23 mintues of a decently roomy train ride. Another cool feature, is that you can MRT virtually anywhere in Singapore, if you have the time and patience, it's a dream (but cabs are cheap here and ofcourse faster).

The only real problem is that I hate, hate, hate public transit, always have, always will. I used to make fun of it in Vancouver as I'm a car guy and if I don't have a car, I'm a taxi guy but seriously, when it's this convenient and this cheap, it's hard to say no to the MRT. It will take some getting used to and once in a while I still cab it to and from work but more and more, the MRT is growning on me. It's a great way to get around Singapore and unlike Gamble's New York Subway experiences, it's not hot and it doesn't smell.

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE

So this weekend we knocked off another one from our "Sing to-do list" and visited the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SINGAPORE. It's a very cool and extremely massive museum that's free to the public and you only pay to see the "feature" exhibits (we paid $6 each to see both of the featured exhibits, well worth it). Within it's walls, there's a number of free sections that focus on the history, food and photography of Singapore as well as a number of rotating headliners. This month it's the work of Christian Lacroix and Verner Panton. 

Lacroix is one of the most legendary clothing designers on the planet and this exhibit focussed on his theatrical costumes, while Panton is a trailblazer in the world of furniture design. While the Lacroix exhibit was interesting, the Panton exhibit blew us away with how cool some of his designs were and how ahead of the times he truly was. Today it may be considered "retro" but when you look at the furniture pieces he came up with in the 50's and 60's... his use of shape and color, it's pretty amazing. He created some astounding rooms as well, bars and restaurants that if around today, would be considered some of the hottest joints in town, seriously, his work is all that AND a bag of chips. At first I thought, "man do I really want to see this?" and boy am I glad I listened to that smart wife of mine, I would have missed this incredible exhibit focusing on this very talented man. All in all it was an awesome day at the museum and you can see the pics HERE!!!

SINGLISH

Even though the "official" language of Singapore is English, in reality it's a hybrid called "Singlish" which virtually everyone speaks. Michelle bought us a Singlish dictionary to help us out and the thing is awesome, I wrote a little paragraph for you all in Singlish just so you get an idea. The proper translation follows afterwards.

Eh. Long time no see. Hi. Singapore is good, lah. The food in Singapore, damn shiok man! Michelle happy like bird lah, Singapore laimon cheaper. The weather is solid siah, but hot everyday! How can? Singaporeans are chio, no fatty bom bom, lots of stylo milo people man. Sup sup sui.

Hi. Singapore is good and I really like the food here. Michelle is ecstatic since diamonds are much cheaper in Singapore. The weather is simply great and superb but hot everyday! How is this possible? The Singaporeans are good looking, not a lot of fat bottoms, everyone is fashionable. It's no big deal.

Awesome...

MAY UPDATE

Well, here it is, officially three weeks in Singapore, sometimes it feels like way longer and sometimes we say "it's only been three weeks???" But a lot has happened for us in the month of May:

• We had a big battle with the BANK as we attempted to sell our house. As for the outcome... call it a tie.

• Here's the first few days of our VANCOUVER IN MAY pics, before the move!

• Our BON VOYAGE Party!

• Once in Singapore, we visited SENTOSA ISLAND and the BOTANICAL GARDENS!

• Michelle got a bad SUNBURN and I can't stop SWEATING!

• I started a SING FOOD picture album ofcourse!

• In fact, here's a look at our SINGAPORE adventures so far!

ADVENTURES IN IKEA

First off, we got an apartment, pics coming tomorrow when we take possession. 

But with the new apartment comes new house stuff since we sold virtually everything and only moved to Singapore with seven boxes, we need new goods for our new apartment and what better place is there for basics than IKEA.

Yes Singapore has an Ikea, two in fact and if you say "eye-kee-yah" they don't know what you are saying as everyone calls it "ick-eee-yah". We were excited to see what a Singapore version of a Swedish housewares shop had to offer, unfortunately nothing new.

A few different colors and styles but really Ikea is the same the world over, the big difference here is that the $1 Hot Dogs are made of chicken rather than "mystery meat" and you can put chili sauce on them as well as ketchup & mustard, otherwise it's Malm, Billy and Kulla for everybody! We got our basics towels, cups, sheets, pillows etc. and plan to go back for a few small furniture pieces but I was hoping for some more unique pieces. I guess we truly live in a global society.  

GIO'S MOVIE ROUND-UP: MAY'09

WOLVERINE

So disappointing, this movie is all over the place and overall it's not very good. The story is haphazard, the FX atrocious in places and when it's all said and done, it feels like a bigger let down than X-MEN 3. That said, I liked Ryan Reynolds & Liev Schrieber in their roles but I was never the biggest fan of Jackman as Wolverine and here even less so. 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS DOWN

STAR TREK

Wow! This is an amazing flick, it has an amazing cast an engaging story and some kick ass FX. I've never been more entertained from a STAR TREK movie and WRATH OF KHAN has finally been knocked out of top spot to #2. The casting director should get an award as everyone perfectly paid homage to the original characters but still created new ones, no weakness anywhere. Never before has TREK been so humorous and action-packed at the same time, I sat on the edge of my seat giggling throughout the entire movie... this is a true summer popcorn blockbuster. Well done JJ Abrams.  

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS UP

ANGELS & DEMONS

Much, much better than THE DA VINCI CODE. A decent mystery and Tom Hanks' hair is better in this one but still weird.

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS UP

TERMINATOR SALVATION

I had high hopes cause the trailers kicked ass but overall it was "Amazingly Average". I thought the story was the weakest link and Christian Bale was miscast as the hero (stick to the Batman universe buddy). The visuals were good as were the FX and it was funny to see a young Arnie for a few frames but otherwise it was a disappointment for me.

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS NEUTRAL

THE SPIRIT (DVD)

As much as I admire the original comic and the man who directed this film, Frank Miller, this truly is one awful movie. It's embarrassing. To tell you how bad it is, Sam Jackson should get an Academy Award for SNAKES ON A PLANE compared to this. I actually fell asleep for five minutes, I haven't done that in eons. Avoid this one unless you want to see how not to make good Comic Book Movie, then by all means, enjoy! 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS DOWN

JCVD (DVD)

Good but not great but definitely the best Van Damme flick in eons. Van Damme plays himself, a down-on-his-luck and washed-up movie star who gets caught up in a Hostage situation in him hometown. It's cute, it's quirky, it's got some funny moments and Van Damme is great in it although if it was anyone else, it would be just another movie. 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS NEUTRAL 

WONDER WOMAN (DVD)

DC continues to impress with their animated line-up. WONDER WOMAN is a well-done animated movie featuring great voice talent (Keri Russell, Rosario Dawson, Alfred Molina & Nathan Fillion), a good origin story and some decent animation. If you liked DC'S NEW FRONTIER, you will like this one! 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS UP

QUARANTINE (DVD)

Based on the spanish flick REC, this pseudo-zombie flick is a little bit BLAIR WITCH, a little bit CLOVERFIELD and all told from the point of view of a news team following some form of "outbreak" at an LA apartment complex. It's good but would be better with more gore and stronger  acting. Still, I found it enjoyable. 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS UP

WATCHMEN: TALES OF THE BLACK FREIGHTER/UNDER THE HOOD (DVD)

Unless you are a fan of the original Graphic Novel or the recent movie version, there is no need to see this animated adventure and mock documentary. Although they are cool, they can be a bit... boring. 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS NEUTRAL 

THE HILLS HAVE EYES 2 (DVD)

A needless sequel to the remake from a few years ago, this one sees the inbred mutants take on a rookie group of soldiers... much bloodshed and stupidity abound! 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS DOWN

PUNISHER WAR ZONE (DVD)

Awesome! That's right, I said it, the PWZ is awesome. Ray Stevenson (Rome) makes a picture perfect Punisher and the film is filled with gore like no other comic film around. Dominic West is a bit over the top as the villain Jigsaw but it works in the context of the film. Don't believe the brutal reviews this film got, it's fun, it's gory, and it's the best Punisher film out of all three that have been made. Still no BATMAN BEGINS though.... 

GIO'S OPINION: THUMBS UP

SINGAPORE BOTANICAL GARDENS

Coming in at around one-fifth the size of Central Park in New York, THE SINGAPORE BOTANICAL GARDENS is the only botanic garden in the world that opens from 5 am to 12 midnight every single day of the year, and does not charge an admission fee (except for the National Orchid Garden portion of the park). Opened in 1859, the linear distance between the Northern and Southern end of the Gardens is around 2.5 km. It is home to 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids of orchids, a six hectares large Tropical Rainforest, the Ginger Garden, the Botany Centre and three lakes. Considered one of the major attractions of Singapore, Michelle and I decided to walk the gardens and take some snaps.

It is a beautiful place, much like a tropical Stanley Park filled to the brim with exotic plants, lots of families and even our first look at a Singapore Spider (weird looking thing) but the thing that hit us the most was the heat. Man, was it hot, even for Singaporeans it was hot as everyone in the park was sweating. We only lasted three hours there but we still managed to snap a few pics which you can see HERE. Maybe in the fall we will go back when it cools down a bit... wait a minute... there's no such thing as "fall" here and it NEVER cools down. Oh well...

Next up? The Night Safari!