Bring Size 10 shoes and booze

To sum things up Mike works and continues to give me money.
I get sent out to buy stuff. …….

Most women would enjoy this little scenario but as many of you know and for those of you who don’t I can honestly say I am a terrible shopper, in fact I would go as far as to say I loath it.
I do not go out looking for great deals or go eight different stores to compare prices and I avoid malls at all costs – my type of shopping is in and out. On sale it’s a bonus.

I’ve moved to Singapore the self pro-claimed mall capital of the world and as you have probably figured out most shopping is done inside these giant bubbles mazes as it is often to hot and humid outside for the average tourist.

I am working on embracing this cultural element.

And as a lady of leisure shopping has turned into one of my duties not to mention we have just moved into a new place and I have only brought ¼ of my wardrobe.

On a more serious note in a way its kind of sad as many of the areas where open flee markets and family run shops use to be located have been replaced with these air conditioned beasts.
Mike on the other hand has his mother’s genes and is very content when it comes to shopping. The man can go out all day and just look around, not be bothered by the mobs of people and for the most part be very patient through the whole process. That is unless he’s brings along the unhappy 28 year old going on 4 who spends her time asking when she’s getting the glass of bubble she was promised over half and hour ago.

Now personally the absolute worst thing to shop for is shoes.

My feet suck. They are what the doctors would call “flat footed” long, narrow and a size 10. I use to make fun of my girlfriend Ang for having what I called “carnie feet and cabbage hands” (she is also 5’10 but wears a size 8 shoe and has weird little doll hands but I still love her) I often found myself thinking about her this week and cursing her small feet as I spent a full day looking around in 4 different malls looking for black dress sandals. Singapore I have found out does not carry anything over a size 8………..9 if you are really lucky. I had one lady tell me in broken English “you to big” such words outside of Singapore I might have taken offence too.

Bottom line – No shoes in Singapore

SOLUTION – Internet shopping with bottle of bubble and Mike’s new Singapore credit card.

I have now come to the realization I don’t actually mind shopping as much as I have in the past.

Which brings us to the second most shall we say not so thrilling moment in Singapore thus far – the Bank
Singapore is a very efficiently run city especially where the government is involved. Mike and I were able to get our employment passes in about 15 minutes flat. If you are a permanent resident of Singapore then you are eligible to have a hefty part of your monthly rent subsidizes by the government, at hoc’r stands food prices are regulated and kept cheap (we are talking a full meal for under $2) as well as each stand is checked at least every month to two months to make sure they are keeping up standards health codes, the streets are clean, capital punishment is strict and as a local if you plan on partaking in any vises such as cigarettes, booze or gambling local or not be ready to pay.

Gambling – Locals love to bet on the horse races (yes dad there is a track) and on soccer games to a point that it has become what appears to be a serious issue. The papers are flooded with stories about men and women gambling away there life savings and every second bus add is for gambling addictions. Singapore is about to open its first casino but if you are a local you have to pay $150 Singaporean dollars non-refundable to enter. The idea is that hopefully discourages locals from coming and allows foreniers and e-pacts to feed money into the local economy.

Cigarettes – heavily taxed, most people smuggle in from Malaysia. Being that I am not a smoker I cannot provide you with the ins and outs

Alcohol – on each Liter of alcohol there is a flat tax of $7 added. Meaning there is no such thing as a $10 bottle of wine, although alcohol can be bought at every grocery store and convince store be prepared to pay at least 20-30% more then you do in Canada. Beer prices are about the same as in Canada.

SOLUTION – Please bring bubble and stop at duty free on your way to Singapore

But back to the bank - after waiting 2 hours to open and account and signing our first born away Mike and I have a bank account. Like most banks they like to charge you a fee – if you want to
Open a savings account it will cost you.
If you savings account drops bellow $500 a month you pay a penalty to the bank
If you want to open a checking account it will cost you.
If your checking account drops below a $1000 a month you pay a penalty to the bank.
If you want to own a credit card - you have to pay a monthly fee regardless if you are carrying a balance or not.
Should you want to with draw money from your account you need to find your banks atm machine or branch, as the others will not produce funds.

On the other fronts Mike and I as mentioned before have moved into our place and can’t wait to receive our first set of visitors. As to who it will be that is the big question…………

Have been hit by monsoon like conditions for the last few days – it has been a while since either Mike or I have seen a good thunder and lightning show and I have to say we have seen some pretty cool ones since we have been here.

Mike has found a TV channel that show’s canucks games………only thing is they are a day late.

SOLUTION – Mike has talked Kevin Black into setting his computer up near the TV and playing the games for Mike over Skype.

Will repost The issues with the Canucks email that I sent to some of you.

Also now have Internet and cable and soon will have a landline but Skype is best to get a hold of us.

Cheers
Risha (aka Lady of Leisure)