I Can't for the Life of Me..

... get up earlier than 7:30 am. Whether I clock in 10 hours or 5, whether I sleep with the lights on or half standing up - my mind refuses to wake as does my body.

I put on a familiar outfit and explored the neighborhood recently. But this was only because I finally had a free day over the weekend while the sun was still out.

I've always jogged late in the evening, in the safety of my village. I'd like to say it's because I get home late, but even if this is a fact, I've really always preferred night to day.

It would really REALLY be great to make the most of my day though by maximizing my mornings.

But I can't for the life of me, get out of bed earlier than 7:30 am.

Will attempt to do so again in the morning. Wonder how that will go.

New Old Friends

One of the many things that has helped me transition into life here are friends.

I'm very blessed- a number of old acquaintances live in Singapore, including 2 very dear friends who have been key in my moving and settling in. As Singapore is such a popular transit locale - I've also already seen friends from back home and having visitors pop in over the next few months. 

Come to think of it - I think I've seen a lot of new old faces in my last month & half here than I have in a years time in Manila. Funny how that works.

After visiting a few friends around the U.S. 2 years ago, I remember thinking to myself how it great it was to see old friends in new contexts - getting to know them outside of the world I originally had known them, not hearing about their new stories through email or chat, but actually living it with them for a few days. 

Still experiencing the same sentiments now - same friends, different context. It's a lovely position to be in as you're presented with the opportunity to get to know someone just a little bit more. 

Decluttering

Its no secret that I like to declutter.

I recently cleaned up my computer.

Before:

After:

Can't you see me turning cartwheels in my head?

Ah simple pleasures. Nothing quite like them.

Ok Ka Ba Tyan?

I love seeing everyday brands doing something a little different every once in a while. One of my very first posts on this blog in fact was about the variety of Kitkat I saw in Japan.

Here's something new for me that I saw while shopping for groceries over the weekend... Yakult: original, orange, apple & grape!

House Hunt

One of many things that consumed my mind when I moved, was finding a permanent place to live. I ideally had a month to find my new home. In reality, "house" hunting began 2 weeks after my relocation - firstly because I was too cheap to take on an agent to do the hunting for me, and secondly because work consumed my every waking (and yes - sleeping) moment. 

I had a lot of parameters going into the hunt; and as I saw and learned more about Singapore property and Singapore living, my considerations changed... considerably. 

How much was I REALLY willing to spend? Should I live with roomies, flatmates or by myself? How far away is too far? Why is rent so friggin' expensive? I'm going to save myself money and just rent a room! How near is too near? Seriously... why is it so expensive to get a place on your own?! HDB or private condo? Hells- I need to be comfortable! Maybe I should get an agent already? Will this place do? Yup, never ending stream of declarations, questions, NOISE took up the whatever brain space was not being occupied by work.

So in that time I had and opportunity to view a bunch of places, from "just beyond my budget" to "hellz no!",  to everything in between. Many I considered but there were always 1 or 2 things about each place that didn't sit well with me, and ultimately kept me from wanting to seal the deal. 

A week prior to moving out of my hotel - I was set on rooming with a friend of a friend of a friend.. and her friend. Pressured to find a place? Maybe. But the last place we found was real nice! Super close to work, fully furnished, in a modern apartment and all for a pretty good price! Never mind that it was smack in the middle of Singapore's red light district. Besides, the agent who posted one of the places Mom had scouted for me, that looked promising... wasn't reverting! 

Two days before moving out of the hotel - said agent above reverted. Mom urged me to see it.. "you never know...". I saw it the next morning and an hour after seeing it, I sealed the deal. 

Yes.. you read that right... my unit name is: Flamingo. And no, the name had nothing to do with my decision to sign the lease for this place! More like a happy bonus. lol. 

Clocking in 6 weeks in Singapore, 1 week at "home"- finally finding a place of my own has been a huge anchor to the general mess of activity and emotion that's been whirling about in my life for the last few weeks. Totally looking forward to making this house into a home. 

 

Apple Packaging

I find it amusing that rather than praising the genius of the iPhone, I'm going to spend this entry praising the  genius of the packaging of the iPhone.

• Love it's compact size
• Inspite of size, everything is organized by layer and compartments
• I love that tiny little "key" that you use to push open the sim drive
• I love the little folder that comes with the manuals
• I love the makeshift tab that helps you lift the layers to access the compartments underneath 
• I love how even the PLASTIC that they use to wrap the components are specially cut and made to suit that particular element 
• I love how the plug has a little bed with holes so the prongs can be inserted properly and the entire plug compartment is secure

Amazingness!!!

WC Signage

Ever since I got a little taste of signage and way finding, I've taken a strange interest in bathroom signage- at how people can take universally known symbols and make them just a little bit more interesting.

Sustainable design at Anvaya Cove, Bataan - i love how the shape of the figure matches the shape of the signage.

@ Fluid Post, a sound studio in Manila. All of their room identified in a similar manner. Very awesome.

@ a hotel in Korea. Wala lang. It was so uninspired, that it was inspiring. If that makes any sense. lol. 

@ Ion Mall in Singapore. Takes on rounded lines & bright blue LED-ish type lighting of the primary signage.

Outside the bathroom door at my new work place.

Inside the same door. My favorite to date only because it's so makulit. lol