A little something for the moms

13 11 2007

Ok moms (and anyone else who doesn’t know how to use “RSS” who wants to know when new things are added to this blog):

  1. Open this post using the Firefox browser (if you don’t have it yet, install it. It’s way better than Internet Explorer or AOL).
  2. Print these steps for later.
  3. On the right side of the screen, find the orange text that says “Feed it!”
  4. Click the little green square & text under it that says “All posts” (that’s an RSS icon — you can follow these instructions anywhere you see that picture, color is irrelevant).
  5. That button should open an “Add Live Bookmark” pop-up box
  6. Click on the “Create in” box and select “Bookmarks” or create a new folder for these types of pages (I have one called “news” where I put links to many pages like this one.)
  7. Pick “Ok”
  8. You’re done! What exactly is it you’ve done?
  9. From the top menu bar, select “Bookmarks” — you should see “The Reyes Report > ” .. if you bring your mouse to the arrow, you’ll see a list of the most recent posts to read! Firefox calls these “Live Bookmarks” because they change and link to different things as new information is published.

Easy breezy and well-done! Next time you’re in the browser, just mouse-over that bookmark and quickly see if there are any posts you haven’t read yet. To read them, just click like you would any normal bookmark.


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Categories : general knowledge

Bare-handed crunch

13 11 2007

Came home yesterday evening to a 6-leg salute. You know the one. In my yoga class, they call it the dead-bug pose. Well, when I turned on the lights in the kitchen, I can assure you, this bug was most definitely just posing.

I won’t go into details about the obscene size or crunch-factor of this guy, nor my disgust at thinking about where he might have come from and how he got there and where the rest of his family might be. Suffice it to say that I promptly did what any self-assured, independant woman would do … screamed like an idiot, called my husband (who is in the US), covered “it” with a glass that I proudly managed not to shatter in the process, and then called late-night emergency maintenance to come and help. Hey, it was an emergency. I justified my lunacy by reassuring myself that they must see the sheer size of this animal/bug for themselves, otherwise they would not have believed me. What happened next, you may not believe.

At 9:30pm the door rang and I met an adorably plump, short, Chinese man — who showed me he had most of his teeth when he displayed the best smile I’ve seen since I’ve arrived in Singapore. That or maybe I was just so happy he came to rescue me. Though lured on the premise of a broken A/C unit (he quickly put that one to bed and showed me how to turn the fan on “high”), I showed him the pet. No problem. In one flash movement he whipped off the glass, flattened his hand, and BAM. Yep. Squished the giant c****oach with his bare hands. Grossed out? Nope .. wait. He then proceeds to PICK-IT-UP between thumb and forefinger (laughing and talking to me the whole time mind you … while I’m trying not to lose my lunch & offer him Purel and a loofah), says goodnight and TAKES IT WITH HIM. Ugh. Nasty.

Anyway, they’re spraying the apartment today. Hopefully that’s the last I’ll see of that while in S’pore!


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Categories : singapore

I didn’t know Singaporeans eat…

10 11 2007

Everything! Here are ten foodie things that have surprised me …

  1. Fried rules! So many of the foods are fried.
  2. Meats on sticks are popular street fare
  3. They eat rice for breakfast
  4. Ice cream can be served in bread (instead of a cone)
  5. They have ice cream flavors like Yam and Sesame Seed
  6. They put eggs on everything
  7. They called pulled meat “floss”
  8. One local fruit here is so stinky it’s not allowed in hotels or on airplanes. It’s called “Durian”
  9. They LOVE condensed milk — it’s in tea, in soup … hiding in any food to sweeten it up.
  10. Indian + Malaysian + Chinese = Singaporean food. Japanese is new-ish here, but pervasive. And Western food is well represented (though often simple things like salads are not often well done).

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Categories : food, singapore

Hands on

9 11 2007

There’s a large mall just across from me called “Takashimaya” — it’s a ritz anchor store (like a Nordstrom) and also the name of the mall itself. Last weekend, in front of this glitzy shrine to western materialism, I found erected a white tent — and in front of the tent, a fenced in area containing about 10 cars (max, 40 per car). Different colored Subaru Imprezas to be precise.

Around these cars were gathered some 300+ “contestants.” The challenge? How long can you keep your hand on the car.

That was Saturday, 1pm. A young Singaporean woman answered that question on Tuesday, after she kept her hand on the car for 77 hours and 13 minutes.  Seriously.

And the crowds watched.

Now, they were allowed breaks — every  6 hrs they got 5 minutes to use the bathroom, get food and water, and get a free shoulder rub. They stood under the blazing equatorial sun,  the thunderous winter monsoon downpours, the long days and the longer nights.

And the crowds watched.

I found myself pulled to the scene to see how many participants were still holding on. It was an interesting demonstration of mind over matter to be sure.

Congratulations to the winner … the first woman in the competition’s 6-year history to hold out longer than the men. And truly, when the man won the men’s segment, there were 3 more women holding on for final victory.

Why the pain? Well, I heard tell of someone who bought a fairly standard Mercedes here for $400,000.! Cars here are exponentially more expensive. The car from this competition, for example,  was valued somewhere around $80,000 (my mini is something like $90,000) — crazy! So this is quite a prize to vie for. I’ve never seen one of these before. Not sure it really qualifies as a spectator sport, but I did find myself detouring to walk in front of the tent and see how everyone was doing on their cars.


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Categories : singapore

I have a “hot” body … aka “east meets west”

8 11 2007

There is a huge Chinese presence and influence in Singapore. So when someone is sick, it’s not uncommon to look to Eastern remedies and causes. Upon arriving in Singapore, I almost immediately acquired a chest cough. To the Chinese, they say my body is too “hot” — not when measured by a thermometer (that would be the western solution), this is a different kind of heat … meaning that my body’s yin/yang is out of whack — probably true since it’s 85 degrees and about 85% humidity all the time.

Plus we’re in the A/C most of the time, foods and spices are different … tons of reasons.

So, seeking eastern answers, I was told 2 things:
1. Avoid “heaty” foods
2. Visit the chinese medicine man

“Heaty foods” are red meats, fried foods, citrus (and probably more than that, I’ve yet to learn).

“Coolie foods” are clear broths, chicken, most vegitables, and some really interesting desserts.

So I’m doing that (or trying to, as much as I can / understand).

The medicine man is another experience. It’s more like a drug store, but instead of being filled with pills and drops and syrups, it’s filled with grains and powders and tonics. After asking about the quantity, color, and frequency of my phlegm (ewwww), they prescribed a tea … it cost about $5 for the package of what looked like ingredients for 5-bean soup. So, I duely put it on the stove in 3 rice bowls of water and boiled for over an hr to reduce the water to 3/4 of a rice bowl. (Well, actually I was talking to Conrad on the phone and almost boiled all the water out, so it was a tad bit more concentrated, but I think the essence of the thing was there.)

Now, I also went to the clinic at work. Dr there gave me 4 medicines and said he thinks my cough may be due to a new alergy.

So, we’ll see. This week, I’m trying to stay eastern — if I can kick it with a tea, why bother with the pills.

Until then, I’m keeping the tissues nearby! :-)

Still smiling.


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Categories : singapore

Deepavali – A Singapore holiday

6 11 2007

Deepavali light up in little indiaThursday is “Deepavali” in Singapore. This is an Indian holiday, the Festival of Lights, and it’s a holiday marked by the whole country (yes, that means a day away from the office!). They celebrate with food, fireworks (well, sparklers) and by lighting up the area of town called “Little India” where the Indian population (a minority in Singapore, but a healthy one at that) have the largest presence.

Floral and flame offeringTo celebrate and learn more about the custom, I’ve been invited to a colleague’s house to have lunch with some of their family and friends. Really looking forward to the look inside — of the house, of the local culture, and of this very holy of Indian celebrations.

What is it? According to Wikipedia, “The festival marks the victory of good over evil, and uplifting of spiritual darkness. Symbolically it marks the homecoming of goodwill and faith after an absence… While Deepavali is popularly known as the “festival of lights”, the most significant esoteric meaning is “the awareness of the inner light”… or the underlying reality of all things.”


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Categories : singapore

New digs!

6 11 2007

View from the balconyWell, it’s official. I have a temporary new home at the Orchard Parksuites Serviced Apartments in Singapore. Best thing about this place is it’s about a 1 minute walk to the local subway (“MRT”) and even closer to the “Times Square of Singapore” (aka Orchard Road), so I’m right in the heart of it here. Pretty good gig all in all. And I owe it all to the big boss for pulling some strings.

For anyone who’d like to send flowers or chocolates … :-)

Rebecca Reyes
c/o Orchard Parksuites
11 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238800

I’m temporarily in a 2 bedroom while they wait for a one bedroom to open up … so if you want to visit …………. ok, ok. No pressure.

Speaking of visiting. I’m coming home for Christmas! Well, to our old home anyway. Conrad and I will be in the Raleigh area celebrating the holidays with the Osmon-Reyes families … and we hope with some of the 919 fam of friends too … watch for the evite!


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Categories : singapore

Notes from the jungle

5 11 2007

I blogged about it so it must be true. I found myself thinking this on Friday when I found out I got to move into my new apartment! Ok, so after lugging my massive trunks across town, I was so tempted to pass on Dr Goodall … but I wouldn’t want to disappoint!

I didn’t get there in time for the parade, though I was wearing my best “endangered workin’ 9-5 employee” outfit! Seriously though, the little ones came out in style, there was a 2-humped camel occupied by 3 kids, a troupe of jellyfish (clear umbrellas w. streamers), caterpillars, monkeys, even huge birds manned with large poles… awesome. And Dr Goodall was there in person, making monkey sounds, accompanied by people singing about global warming, endangered species, recycling … all kinds of good stuff! (Photos pending.)

Furthering the jungle discovery, I ventured off on Saturday night to Singapore’s night safari — an up-close and personal adventure with the zoo’s nocturnal creatures … I saw all kinds of animals only before seen on TV … like towering termite mounds, hyenas, babirusas, onyx, otters, giant anteaters, bearded pigs, and hey Conrad … even a capybara!! (Imagine, a rat bigger than the ones in NYC!… they’re actually kinda cute — fuzzy nose with a sort of bunny tail .. but still the world’s largest rodent.) No pictures of the night safari, cuz .. um .. well, it was night. Best I’d have captured would be worthy of one of those gimicky “Singapore at night” all black postcards. Hmm … new business idea maybe!

Anyway … all-in-all, a pretty good weekend. Did I mention I laid out by the pool? Well I did. B/c it’s about 90 degrees here, and sunny .. most of time.

Next post is likely to be something like “I didn’t know they ate that here…” so stay tuned!


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Categories : singapore

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