Bring on the Colors

Summer is here, but you would never know it.  The weather today is pretty much the same as yesterday, same as last week, last month, even six months ago :).  But I've gotten a kick of color in me on my recent shopping sprees.  Here are some of my fun new purchases.

Okay, so this looks a bit muumuu-esque, but I was drawn to the colors and design. 

If nothing else, it is a perfect swimsuit cover-up.

Fun new pants - also best for beach vacations I think :).  I thought at first they were grapes, but nope, little purple, dark blue and light blue flowers.  High, fitted waist, but long, wide legs.  They are so light-weight and comfy!

And of course I need some accessories.  I have always been against big purses, but in Singapore I need bags to carry my things.  I don't have a passenger side seat or trunk (aka "boot" here) to throw them in. 

Present for the Couch Potato

I am a TV-loving couch potato.  I think most of you probably already know this :).  While my vacations are planned and active, my home life is lazy and boring.  I love my TV (meaning actual TV shows, not TV set) and have been planning to get a new set since I moved here and my apartment was furnished with an older, 29" tube TV.  So heavy to move around, but otherwise really nothing wrong with it, which is probably why it took so long to get a new one. 

The TV broadcast, frequency, something like that, is different from the U.S. and I couldn't bring my old TV from home.  My brother and his roommates benefited from that :).  Apparently, just like with other things, the U.S. is like the only place that does TVs differently.  However, I can buy a TV here that will work both in Singapore and at home.  So my new one can come back with me!

And without further ado.....the new look of my entertainment wall (with one of my new favorite TV shows featured).

It's a Samsung - I tend to get brand loyal and am on a Samsung TV kick.  It's one of the new LED series, but it's an earlier series than what's already out so it was cheaper.  Since I don't cook and my apartment was furnished, I haven't had to make a lot of big purchases - toaster, iron, steamer.  So this was it.  It's a little funny because I spend the money for the fancy TV, but am hesitant to upgrade the cable box to HD.  Yeah...that one is going to take a little while to happen.  While I love TV, I hate paying for it.  Not sure if I can go above basic cable. (In Peoria I didn't even have cable!)

It is advertised as the slimmest TV out there...pretty darn thin, but you be the judge.  It was crazy how nice it was to take out the previous monstrosity.  It went from the wall all the way up to the front edge of the table.  The cables are all pretty well hid from the front view as well.  It is a good picture, but different from the last TV.  Some shows look so real/raw.  It takes a little of the *tv magic* away.  I think I'm use to it now - have had it for a few weeks.  I purchased it at the store one Sunday and they delivered it the following Saturday (would have come Tuesday but a girl's gotta work).  When I purchased it, I asked about disposing of the old TV and was told it would be $50.  I forgot about it and never paid when I checked out.  I meant to call during the week, but forgot.  When they brought the new TV, I just asked the delivery guys if they would take the old one.  Not even a flinch and they said yes.  So I got my disposal for free!

It's been a great TV so far and I'm looking forward to having it to bring back to the U.S. with me.  Yes, after a couple years, it will already be old technology, but I think I can live with that. 

Nothing too unique about this shopping experience.  When they delivered, they did do the full set up - reconnecting all my cables, cords, etc. to make sure it was working before they left.  That was very nice and it was all free.  The worst part was just deciding when and what to buy.  It's not like the U.S. where you can research everything online, get it picked out and then just pick up at the store.  Here nothing is online and I have yet to find a good way to price compare.  Here instead of going down in price, they tend to just add on freebies.  If you don't need the freebie though, it's hard to get value out of it.  My breaking point on this purchase was that I had seen the TV I wanted advertised for just under my minimum price twice during the weekend.  This past weekend I went shopping.  I was scared to see what it's priced at now :).

Ignorance can be bliss.

Got Food?

Shopping is one of the national past times in Singapore, but grocery shopping is of course required.  When I first arrived, the struggle was to figure out how to shop without my car.  Back home, just lugging the groceries from my car to apartment was a pain.  Imagine then navigating the bus/train with all of your first-time grocery needs.  Not fun :).

My cupboards were bare for quite a while.  While they still aren't that full, it's not for lack of shopping but lack of cooking enthusiasm.  I've found a few options for me:

1. Make many small trips where only 1-2 bags need to be carried home.
2. Buy groceries and take a taxi home.
3. Order online and have them delivered.
4. Shop in the store and have your purchases delivered.

I have tried all four to some extent, each with their positives and negatives.  I tend to do a mixture of 1 and 4 - perishables require individual trips and get carried home themselves; non-perishables get bought in bulk and delivered.  The taxi can work, but you still have to carry all your purchases from checkout to the taxi queue (pronounced "Q"; British word used here for line) and then wait for a taxi, which may or may not be quick.  Option 3 is similar to 4, but I don't like it because I don't feel that my options are the same online and I just really enjoy shopping in the store (I'm not a big online shopper for non-food items either). 

This past week was a prime example of my new shopping habits.  Tuesday night I took the bus to a nearby grocery store that has a good deli. 

Sidebar: There are 3 main grocery stores in Singapore - FairPrice (similar to a Cub foods or Sullivan's - cheaper store with the basics), ColdStorage (similar to Kroger - big chain with a little nicer experience and greater selection), or Jason's Market Place (similar to Schnuck's or another high-end organic grocer - it has the best shopping experience along with the most expensive prices).  With each step-up, the variety and availability of Western/American food items increases along with the prices. 

I like to go to FairPrice for generic items - bread, milk, juice, fruits, sweets, etc.; but when it comes to deli meat for sandwiches and real cheese, I go to Jason's.  On any given trip, it probably takes about an hour for me to get there, look through all the aisles, check-out and get back home. I try to keep it to one bag and bring my canvas bag to re-use.  Tuesday night I needed deli meat and therefore went to Jason's.  Came out with wheat bread, raisin bread, shaved turkey, feta cheese, two large roasted red peppers (called capsicum here), oranges, apples, tomatoes, an avocado, salsa and Tostitos.  I think that was about it.  Total bill ~S$40  (cheese and peppers were almost S$10 a piece).   Carried in one bag to the bus stop to get home.  *This store is near the #2 on the map below.

Saturday I went to Carrefour for my non-perishables.  Carrefour is our local equivalent to Wal-Mart (i.e. it has more than food).  I found out that if you spend more than S$150, you can get free delivery; otherwise, it is S$8 - which isn't too bad.  Saturday I loaded up on drinking water, milk (I get UHT boxed milk that sits on the shelf), juice, honey, cereal, peanut butter, laundry detergent, softener, cans of soup, new trash can, paper towels and hangers (along with some other little things).  I've been slowly changing out my closet hangers since the move - about 5-10 per trip to Carrefour.  I think I should be almost complete by now.  Space is limited in Singapore, so Carrefour is a two-level store.  Foods and personal products on the top, clothing, hardware, toys and electronics on the bottom.  There is an escalator to connect the two floors.  When you go down it, the cart wheels lock into place on the floor, so no concern about rolling away and smashing into someone.  Then at check-out, simply say it's for delivery.  Everything comes out of the cart to be scanned and goes back into the cart without being bagged.  Then you go to the counter right outside, fill out the paper work, leave the cart and wait for it to be delivered in about 24 hours.  My shopping trip ended ~8:30pm and was to be delivered between 4pm and 9pm on Sunday (actual arrival was a little past 5pm).

I left the store with nothing but my receipt and purse.  It was wonderful.  It was a nice evening out, I had on my tennis shoes and I decided to walk along my bus route until I was ready to hop on the bus.  I've included the map below (courtesy of the "route mapping" function from Nike+), which shows where I started on the right (took the bus here) and where I end (at home) on Alexandra Road.  The walk was good and so I never made it to that bus.  All in all, it turned out to be a 3.2 mile walk home.  I did stop for a snack pack and fountain Coke at McDonald's around mile 2 (the numbers are the mile markers).

Sunday, I only needed to be home when my purchases were delivered.  The only issue is that I have to do this shopping on Friday night or Saturday so that I'm actually home to receive it.  It's a great way not to have to carry around a bunch of crap though.  And here's my delivery....now to put it away :).

New Dress! :)

Last weekend my shopping slump (for clothes) finally ended! I found a department store with clothes that can actually fit me, not ugly, big selection and more reasonable prices.  Clothes are still stinkin' expensive, but I've decided I'm just going to have to get use to it!

I took a few items in to try on.  1) Dress too small :(.  2) Skirt that fit, but a bit too long for me (yes, hard to imagine when I'm one of the tallest people walking the streets here) 3) second dress - same size but fit like a glove!  It was amazing and just made my night.  With a 15% discount I could talk myself into paying the +S$100 price tag.  Also, I knew this would be my first clothing item from Singapore and it'd be with me a while.  (I still have several items from Spain, which was back in 2002!!)

Introducing my new dress......(shoes came from home, but work well together!)

Stimulating the Local Economy

Today I was ready to spend some money. Got my new credit cards, got my old apartment deposit and refund and I'm ready to brave the crowds :).

I started this morning by checking the movies online. There's been a new Audrey Tautou movie in the newspaper ads about the life of "Coco before Chanel" and I was intrigued. Got tickets online and even picked my seat, just like on a plane. I had been warned and wore my jeans and brought a jacket. The cinema is as cold, if not colder than theaters back home. But you can buy soup at the snack counter. Big seats, individual cup holders, all for about $7 US. Good movie.

Afterwards, I quickly found a shoe store and made my first fashion purchase. And 50% off! Very excited. While I haven't had much luck with fitting into the clothes here - shoes can almost always work :). The red ones I just loved for some reason. Not practical, but had to have. I needed some other black heels. Here, it's nothing but bare legs and feet. So lots of sandals, but regular dress shoes too. I don't know how the women do it, so sweaty, nasty, ewww! So a must on my list was some sort of open toed shoe and this one fit the bill perfectly.

Next to the grocery store to get some staples: bread, cereal, lunch meat and cheese. Came home for a banana, quick rest and headed back out.

Next was to a different shopping mall, nothing specific on the list but browsing. Didn't have much luck until I happened into the foodcourt. It was dinner time and I was hungry. I wish I took a picture - I found the longest line (best indicator of what's good) and queued up. It was Indonesian BBQ, ayam panggang, which consisted of a chicken leg & thigh grilled with some sort of sauce, white rice with curry sauce, slice of egg tortilla and small bowl of broth. It was really, really good. Interesting to eat with only soup and fork though!

Afterwards, I headed to Carrefour (the local equivalent of walmart). I was good on food items, but the bottom floor had non-food. I browsed some more, needed a can opener for some soup I got last weekend. Found that. Then happened upon a toaster!! I didn't know if there were any here. So happy. Then I continued to find little things and headed home. On the way out, I saw delivery service. Yay!! I've seen you can order groceries online and have them delivered. I don't care for at. This way, I can shop, drop off my cart and for S$8 (~US$5.50) get it delivered to my house! Great day.