Saturday, July 16, 2005

Need Help - Send Horchata!




















To address a previous question from one of our readers – the thigh chaffing has subsided, thank you.

A bit of a stressful week, going through numerous home tours, car lots and various discussions about our envisioned identity here in Sydney. How are we going to get about? By train (apparently Mussolini could do wonders here) or bus? Do we want to look out over the marine preserve, or do we want to look out above the surf break? Not a bad choice in the bunch, but (pending our application approval) we should have a place to call our own soon. Either way, you’re in for a treat.

We’re also experiencing a bit of adjustment with the fact that the sun sets at about 4:30pm here. I remember when I was in school at the University of Oregon, the sorority girls would constantly claim ‘Seasonal Affected Disorder’ as reasons why they couldn’t get their papers in on time, or go on dates with me. I had initially thought that it had to do with hydrogen peroxide withdrawal, but now I’m starting to understand what they were talking about. After basking in the summer solstice of California, it feels like our days have been chopped in half, making it hard to accomplish anything in the evening but an early bedtime.

Peggy and I did go shopping today for a dinner of fajitas and had our first dose of culinary culture shock. It seems that all things Mexican in this country is run by the Old El Paso monopoly. The 4x7 foot section in the supermarket that they reserve for this kind of thing features exactly one brand and one brand only – The Ol’ Paso. Want some fresh salsa? Nope. You get the El Paso mixture of Tabasco sauce, formaldehyde and catsup (ketchup). Like the rest of the items in this dark, back corner of the supermarket, the refried beans were due to expire in March of 2032. The tortillas contain a Silica Gel packet, with the emblazoned claim, ‘Now much softer!’... which was pretty doubtful. If Mexico was ever to send an astronaut on a deep-space mission, we are confident that Ol’ El Paso will be on board. Next week – let’s make Aleutian!

Over to the cheese section, where Peggy was confronted with a wall of monotony in cheeses, not a hue to be found – the entire cheese section was of white cheese. I joked that it was due to Australia’s whites-only immigration policy, which was actually in place here until the 70s… and was summarily shushed by my better half. I guess neither Pepperjack, Bleu, Cheddar, nor the Zesty Fiesta mix has made it across the border yet.

We tried to assemble the fresh ingredients to make our own salsa and found some eccentricities in how Aussies like to name things. We grabbed the capsicums (bell peppers), coriander (cilantro) and Hass (Haas, just misspelled) avocados and started to head for the exit. In glancing at the Australian tabloids, apparently Nicole is appointed royalty and that scandalous Tom Cruise is not allowed to enter the country any more – after their divorce, he’s fallen into that unwanted cheese category.

On the upside, the seafood is consistently fantastic and the prices overall are very reasonable. Australia – come for the white cheese, stay for the prawns!

Oh, and the cell phone deal has been worked out… 011 62 4 13 660 173 is how you reach me from the states (whattimeisit.com before you do, please) and Peggy will have her mobile on Monday. The Pawn Shop / Money Loaner / Cell Phone Unlocker was pulling the wrought iron gate down at exactly 5:01pm before we could retrieve her phone. Stores are open 9-5pm. Period. Consider yourself lucky if anything is open Saturday. Slackers.

Next time – possible apartment and automobile pix!

posted by ncawthon at 7:33 PM

Friday, July 15, 2005

Party Like It's 1995

In the one week since we left the friendly confines of California, one of the most difficult things that we've had to adjust to is being cut off from our usual, always-on feed of information through either web or cellular services. Singapore was not that bad, although the Four Seasons charged a hefty price to keep your data fix going in the hotel room. But, functioning in Sydney has taken some patience, partially because of our pressing needs for housing listings, used car posts and job opportunities.

The University charges you per MB downloaded if you go over your daily quota of 6MB which accumulates while doing activities such as surfing the web or checking email. This, assuming, is to prevent file sharing of music, videos and pornography (it's for research, I swear!), which tends to gobble the bandwidth. So, every computer on campus has a login credential attached to it, even when dialing in from home you are monitored on your quota. Never heard of this concept being implemented before in the states, but it does make sense in some twisted way. In addition, each department has a different set of credentials than the University-wide set, and each library has a third set in order for you to use their top-of-the-line desktops (in about 1995) and wi-fi networks. Mind-boggling.

We established a mobile number today, which is helpful in applying for housing and bank accounts, you can reach me at 0413 660 173, drop the 0 and add 011 61 2 (I think) when calling from the states. We've certainly had our share of misdials, adding a jumble of ones and zeros before local and long distance calls to try to find a magic combination that gets us through. Peggy gets her mobile either today or tomorrow, we're going through a pre-paid plan until we can sort out who's the best provider for us.

When we got dial-up going last night in our temporary digs, it was amazing. We didn't realize how much we needed it until it was taken away. A former teacher of mine once was quoted five years ago as saying, "I'd rather chew on tin foil than use dial-up", this was until the job market tanked and he was forced to eat those words. But man, after a week of searching for internet cafes and not being able to boot up your own laptop, the sweet sweet sound of that bit-rate baud screech was music to my ears. You can have my broadband connection when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Coming soon... obligatory Sydney Opera House photos, possible flat rental options and more!

posted by ncawthon at 7:51 PM

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Sydneysiding

Last we spoke, Peggy was awaiting clearance from the Australian government to stay and be my Sheila for the next few years. With the help of some very kind representatives at both Singapore Air, as well as at Sydney airport, we feel as it will be no worries. She went to the immigration office today, who assured her that it is all good and that her husband will not be returning to bachelor status after her tourist visa runs out. We should be squared away soon.

We arrived in time yesterday to watch a dramatic sunrise over the city skyline. That's one thing (pretty much the only thing) that I have vivid memories of, was the size of sky here. Sunrises, sunsets, inclimate weather all occur on a scale that is hard to imagine.

After a catch-up nap, as the flight from Singapore was horrible, we explored the city in our rented Kia Ocelot (or some obscure animal like that). It was such a strange sense of deja vu, remembering random intersections or restaraunts that I might have stumbled upon almost a decade ago.

In driving around Sydney's coastal communities looking for housing, we realized a few things. First, the waves are huge. Fast and massive. There are many surfers out, the water feels as if it is about 65F, not too bad, but the surf is so intimidating that it will be a few months before we stick our toes in it. Secondly, the rental market is pretty good. We've met some friendly people who have shown us around some beautiful flats and we're optimistic about where we (you) will be able to stay. Certainly more reasonable than the Bay Area, but then again, what isn't.

First day at the University of Sydney went well, the International program is about 500 strong, perhaps 300 or so being Chinese (including one guy who is a dead ringer for William Hung) with the rest smattered from all over. About a dozen 'Mericans, including myself. I'll establish a web account tomorrow and hopefully will start posting a bit more.

No pictures as of yet, still doing the hit-and-run web connection thing.

posted by ncawthon at 7:32 PM

Monday, July 11, 2005

Singapore: We Gotta Get Outta This Place

Currently in terminal 2 at Singapore International (funny how they have nothing but, being a city/state) awaiting word back from Caneberra on our visa snafu. Somehow, through the miracle of the internet, she was dropped, not from the applied visa, but from the ever so important approved visa. Our friendly Singapore Airlines ticket agent, Mohammed, has put in a request via TeleText (pre-cursor to email) so that she may come through as a tourist.

Our luggage has caused constant comment from bell-hop, taxi driver, passer-by and most recently, Mohammed. We've been able to check it through alright (provided we are allowed to board) but it has been a massive undertaking. I feel as if we're political refugees on the run using SmartCarts. The clincher is the 75lb. number I call the Brown Behemoth, causing the service class to cower in fear.

Last night's meal was excellent. Bar Restaraunt On The Hill (BROTH) had great food and ambience, well worth the price and walk. I had the Kangaroo, served rare, Peggy had the Australian slipper lobster, which looked fantastic.

posted by ncawthon at 7:32 PM

Sunday, July 10, 2005

Singapore: Caned What it Used To Be




















Just a quick note regarding the previous entry... apparently one of the sky-divers in the Air Force didn't open his parachute in time, snapping his ankles in front of 25,000 school children. I guess there is a need for rehearsal.

Today we started the day by going down to Chinatown, a few subway stops out of the retail jungle called Orchard street. Peggy had found an interesting tradition where locals take their pet birds to mingle with other pet birds at the Bird Arena. They get their morning coffees, grab a chair and hang what looks like little finches in their cage. Word is, they get some birds that are having difficulties singing to listen to the more musically-inclined birds to pick up some of their habits. Secondarily, it is a way to show off their cages and bird furnishings.

Across the street was the wholesale pet shop (a small shack), where you could put together an ensemble worthy of 'hanging with da locals'. Cage was about USD$50, bird was about $75, the miniature, bird-sized ming vases (I'm not making this up) were also about $75 each. Having your finch learn to chirp with the best: priceless.



















After bumping around the river walk area, seeing where Lord Raffles first set down in Singapore, we subwayed out to the park on the Eastern side of the island. Subways are cheap and very efficient here. It feels more like an airport terminal tram than a light rail system. There is a noticable presence of military, given the attacks in London this week as well as the International Olympic Committee being in session. Trains run every five minutes or so, escalators move at a blinding speed and there is a positive air of cordial behavior. You'd be cordial too if there were machine guns being toted around.

The park was certainly the cure for what ailed us. Plenty of locals out enjoying (what started out to be) great weather and a day at the beach. There were fisherman, skim boarders, rollerbladers, bikers and wind surfers all recreating the Indonesian way. One oddity was the humour in watching a large number of S'pores learn to rollerblade. Given the fact that there are no ice rinks here, they didn't have the whole gliding concept quite down yet. It was like the bunny slopes at Squaw Valley, slapstick comedy waiting to happen.

We rented two bicycles and did the three or four mile trail along the Eastern coast, stopping for some suger cane juice, satay, carrot cake (which contained zero carrot, just a mix of egg and turnip) and for desert, snow cone with mango sauce, tapioca medley and beans. Not a band lunch at all for $10. The exposure to the sea showed us what kind of ship traffic comes in and out of this city. I mean region. I mean country. There must have been 100 cargo ships in the strait, perched to offload their supplies. This is the oil that keeps the engine of the retail juggernaut churning.

I used to think that the Internet was the greatest aide to comparison shopping out there. That was, until we came here. To be able to leverage one shop against dozens like it only steps away must make the life of a propritor very difficult. With the suit tailoring, I used one store to research the fabrics and get a gauge of the costs, another to give me an idea of what an expected turn around time might be, and eventually contracted with the third using knowledge gained from the other two. The thing is, these three shops were on the same floor of the shopping mall, adjacent to one another. Not sure how they establish their price baselines, since the haggle system is still very much in place.

On our way home from the coast, we got caught in a monsoon and discovered that S'pores just take whatever their doing and move it underground when it rains. Odd thing was, as we arrived at our station, people were having full-on picnics in the stairwells of these subway stations. At least a half-dozen families had their checkered blankets opened up, sitting back with bowls of fish and cabbage just out and munching away. I can see wanting to duck for temporary cover (as a few hundred did), but they carried on as if there was no difference at all between being in the park outside and being camped at the top of an escalator. We got absolutely drenched in the walk back to the hotel, so I guess we are certainly none the wiser.

Tonight we're headed off to a recommended restaraunt called Broth, back o'er in Chinatown. This will be our first sit down meal that has not come from a hawkers cart and we're looking forward to experiencing some of the Indo-Asian cuisine.

posted by ncawthon at 7:31 PM