Third Impressions of the Middle Kingdom: Taobao, Baopals and let’s stare at the foreigner

There’s nothing like sitting in your bed with a beer and shopping in the comfort of your apartment. Unfortunately, the Taobao website is entirely in Chinese and the banking procedure is kind of complicated. My boss told me about Baopals which is an English version of the website complete with English language support. Although I would have figured out how to use the Chinese version eventually, I couldn’t be bothered messing around with it… Baopals is slightly more expensive than Taobao, but hey… I’m happy to pay for the convenience. 

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Second Impressions of the Middle Kingdom

Although I’m not in a megacity like Beijing or Shanghai, the smog that hangs over the city is still there. There are good days and bad days. Somedays I look out and am surprised to see clear skies. And other days it’s so polluted I can barely make out the next building. This is despite the fact that I live in an area that’s full of trees and is pretty far away from any factories. 

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The Fool and the World: coming full circle

A lot has changed since we last saw the Fool: a brave yet somewhat naive individual jumping off a cliff with blind faith, courage and nothing but a small knapsack full of dreams. He’s lived through the Fool’s Journey and the many different experiences that have changed and shaped both him and his worldview. In some ways, he knows better now. In other ways, he’s still the same – brave, bold and willing to take the leap into the unknown. 

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Astrology Fantasy Novel Complete!

I know, I know. I’ve been on a bit of a hiatus with this blog. And it’s not cause I’ve been lazy with my writing or anything like that… I’ve actually been working on a novel that I’ve been meaning to write for close to erm… four years now. The idea came to me when I was chilling in my apartment in Japan. I sketched the whole concept out in a notebook and then forgot all about it (and the rest of my God forsaken dreams). But that was then, and this is now. And I’m proud to say that the novel is… DONE!

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Dick Lee’s Singapopera and high class hawker fare

Dick Lee is best known for his musicals that encapsulate that uniquely Singaporean soul by telling stories through music. So when I found out that Dick Lee’s Singapopera was playing at the The Esplanade (our very own local durian-looking theatres on the bay), I knew I had to go. Mr. Lee has been around for so long that I’m surprised he isn’t telling dad jokes. To think he’s only four years younger than my old man. But you wouldn’t know it by looking at him. He still wears his signature suits, looking as dashing as always with his silver hair and infectious smile. 

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