Far from home

Moving

2006-08-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

Found a new blog site, and you all know how restless I can get, a girl needs a little change every now and then. (ergo - the haircut). Anyway, the new blog is by Wordpress and is available here. Check it out, let me know if you like it.

Traveling

2006-07-30T00:22:00.000-05:00

Having friends like you who travel alot and send me these great emails (you know who you are) certainly feeds my travel bug. I am still dreaming about taking our (as yet hypothetical) children in a campervan and driving from Singapore to Europe/ Africa/ Middle East or something. Going back to the basics of traveling cheap and off the beaten track.

I also dream about wandering around Latin America on my own sometime soon-ish. This article on the best (and worst) destinations for women worldwide is discouraging about Latin America (and some other places) for solo women, and what they say is mostly true, but now that I know what it's like, and what to do, I think I'll be okay. You're probably wondering what P thinks of this - the truth is, he loves solo travel as much as I do. And we firmly believe that we should take some alone time to do our own world wandering. I might return to Spain (since P hates Spain for some reason) and see it better, take the Camino de Santiago and see more of central and northern Spain.

Talking about that, here are some places to see before they disappear. Or check out this list of the most interesting (sometimes remote & undeveloped) beaches. There is an emphasis on interesting ecology, but reading it might also inspire you to visit some great beaches close to home.

Happy trails!

Long time no see!

2006-07-29T23:45:00.000-05:00

Yikes. Have not blogged in forever. Sorry. Unforgivable, I know, but there hasn't been much interesting stuff happening. Life's like that sometimes, and I'm glad for the rest.

Lately we have been discovering some excellent restaurants around home, which I shall have to talk about in another post.

Interesting happenings:
1. I got a Divacup (it's a silicone menstrual cup, so the boys can stop reading here). I am hooked. Girls, save the planet (no more tampons/ pads in the landfill) and your vagina (read the FAQs). No leaking, no stinking. You empty it every 12 hours, so you can do it all in the comfort of your own home. Also fantastic when you're camping: just pour and go. Mind you, it took a while getting the hang of inserting it, but now, it's great. For more info visit divacup.com, and check out the testimonials. If you need to change tampons every 3-4 hours now, you'll love this.

2. I got a Microsoft Notebook Laser 6000 wireless mouse. It's tiny (even with my small hands) but the laser tracks on anything, even glass, so I can literally use it on almost any surface. And I love the sensitive & smooth scroll wheel, which some reviewers have complained about. The left/ right buttons are a little stiff, compare to P's Razr, but there is very little to quibble about.

3. I got a haircut. Now I have a chin-length bob. When I've had long hair for over 6 years, going short was a bit disconcerting, I kept trying to comb about 2 inches further, and the first time I washed my hair was very wierd (where'd all my hair go???). After living with it for a week, I've decided I like it. Almost everyone has complimented me on it, so I guess it looks good to other people too. Most comments say I look younger/ cooler. Hmmm. Photos when I finally get around to taking them, so you guys can get your own opinion.

Viva Mexico/ Go Aussie go!

2006-06-13T22:50:00.000-05:00

Right now, it is an absolute privilege to be in football-mad Latin America, when the country you live in is winning!

We're just off a major street, and we always know for certain when Mexico wins, because cars will go down the street, with flags sticking out of windows, honking a beep-beep-bebe-beep rythm, chanting 'mexico-mexico-mexico'. I don't even have to watch the match. It's alot of fun watching the celebrations, so infectious it puts a smile on your face.

Here's a short video from the street I live on.

And here are some photos:

Right now, both Mexico and Australia are at the top of their group tables. Well, let's enjoy that while it lasts.

Mrs Henderson Presents

2006-05-24T23:37:00.000-05:00

This is the very first time I'm writing about a movie. Most movies we see, they're so big budget that they don't need further advertising. This one, however, is a very enjoyable romp. Please go rent it. If you need further inducement, there are naked women (and a very funny scene with 4 or 5 naked men) in it. Check out the Metacritic and IMDB reviews.

We laughed our heads off. However, being in Mexico, we were usually the only ones in the cinema to do so, either before, or after, the subtitles. Never at the same time as the locals, unless the comedy was physical. It's a very wierd sensation. Then of course, I'm cackling like a hyena when the context doesn't translate, and the whole crowd is wondering: what the?? The same thing happened when we saw The World's Fastest Indian, a movie that was probably harder for Mexicans to understand than Mrs Henderson Presents.

This movie also bears the dubious distinction of being the one and only movie we've seen here where not a single phone rang throughout. Although there is always a loud talker/ irritating laugher/ fidgety kicker in any Mexican movie experience. In that we were not spared.

This man kept repeating actors' lines: in very fascinated Mexican English. Loudly. In the seat right behind me. Argh! I have to confess, I am guilty of the same crime, but only in the privacy of my own living room, when I'm learning a new Spanish swear word. Which I say really loud while bouncing on the couch.

Anyway, go see both movies, they are worth at least one or two viewings. Next time I write about entertainment, it will probably be anime.

Stay tuned.

Sarong Party Girl

2006-05-13T11:10:00.000-05:00

Every Singaporean knows what they are. In short, Asian women who date white expat men. The abbreviation, SPG, is also known as Sarong Party Gay (self-explanatory, I hope). For more depth, see this Wikipedia definition.

Isabella Chen, the blogger also known as Sarong Party Girl, freely admits to being one. (More info about her in the Wikipedia entry). She also kept P occupied for a good half hour reading her blog. She writes very well, and raises some excellent points. Here's her missive about dating white men vs. Singaporean men:

All women like money and all women like sex. And I know –oh from talking to a few local girls, not necessarily ones that have ever dated Caucasians- that all of them secretly want to snag one. And the reasons are absolutely so primordial in nature it really epitomizes the whole dating game.
{link}

After I started dating P, my closest friends started teasing me about being an SPG. And how I really wasn't like one. I've never dated a white expat, I don't have a fake accent, etc. Other stereotypes include being years younger than her boyfriend, a very deliberate manner of dress showing off the fake tan, fake boobs, fake everything else paid for by rich white boyfriend.

Those of you who know me well know I'm none of the above. I met P in Oz, where I was the student expat. I dress like a boy: what's clean? does it match? and I'm usually done. I never wear makeup. The closest thing to cosmetic surgery I've had is LASIK.

However, I married a white boy. And that, in itself, means that Ms. SPG's little article applies to me to some degree. =) Yes, or no?

All about me

2006-05-12T19:35:00.002-05:00

Inspired by the eloquent answers of Ken Watanabe and Kate Winslet, here's my version of "all about me". Long time friends know how much I love these things, so send me yours!

childhood ambition photojournalist
fondest memory P anything, travelling solo
soundtrack my voice????
retreat my journal, my husband, my cat
wildest dream reasonable people in an equitable world
proudest moment holding my tongue, everyday
wierdest act peeing out a car window
biggest challenge living life thoughtfully and truthfully
alarm clock my husband
perfect day picnic at the beach with all my loved ones
first job waitress
indulgence dark chocolate & massages
last purchase lunch
favourite movie Lord of the Rings
inspiration the people around me
My life is getting better and better

the name game

2006-05-05T18:34:00.000-05:00

I was thinking today about my name, and our kid's names (when we have kids). To hyphenate or not? P is insistent that our children have Chinese names only (followed by his last name: not mine and his nor hyphenated). We thinks it's fair. Since we're respecting both cultures, it's a good compromise.

Still, I've heard my name mangled by non Asians, who can't pronounce last names with no vowels in them (no offense). Take my friend Hugh, for example. To Spanish speakers, his name is 'Ug" because the H is not pronounced. How would you feel if your name was Ug?

P thinks if we give them pronounceable Chinese names they will forgive us. An interesting discussion at Hyphen, an Asian American magazine, ponders the question very well. Another argument comes from a Chinese daily in Singapore. I fully agree that losing my rich Chinese culture would be a shame - my Chinese name is something I love, it sounds elegant, and the characters have deep meaning.

It's "bad enough" that I failed to marry a Chinese man, if I changed my name I'd be even more of a "banana" (yellow on the outside and white on the inside) than I already am. Besides, Chinese women keep their maiden names when they marry. And having to change it in 3 countries (one with a malfunctioning government beauraucracy) is not something I want to deal with. So my name stays the same. Maybe if I lived in an English speaking country long enough, I might change it.

I'm still undecided if it'll be cruel for our kids to have no English name.

Comments, anyone?

Back from colonial Mexico

2006-05-03T22:40:00.000-05:00

We decided to rent a car and do a whirlwind tour of Guanajuato and Queretaro states, not realising how whirlwind it was going to be. We (or P) ended up driving about 1,300km through some very picturesque landscape. Unfortunately (for P) the roads were like "the Great Ocean Road on steriods" like he so aptly put it. He drove continuously through 700 - 1000 turns for about 5 hours. We also went from about 450m above sea level to above 2.5km above in the same day.

Then on our way home, we were caught in a spectacular storm of hail and rain. That, along with poorly marked, badly lit Mexican freeways and Mexican drivers, made us pull over for about 5 mins to let everything pass us by. I acutely felt how much we were at the mercy of the elements - a bit like camping in a storm really.

Of course (?!) we really enjoyed our trip. I didn't get carsick once, a miracle. We got lost so much it became a joke, even though at the time I never thought it was funny. Needless to say, I am totally pooped out from reading Mexican street signs that make no sense, so more later.

(PS. The trip was really enjoyable, seriously! Rach thinks I should stop telling people about Mexico, since I always make it sound like a nightmare. I'm going to try and put this trip in a better light...)

Here's a great article about some of the places we visited.

Pratchett Interview

2006-04-29T18:51:00.000-05:00

Came across this while I was googling Pratchett on BoingBoing: a fantastic, very entertaining and very long interview with Terry Pratchett. I printed it out and P and I are reading it addictively: be warned, it printed out 80 pages (!!!). If you are a fan, you better thank me!

Baja Kayaking & Loreto

2006-04-29T17:27:00.000-05:00

We had a most excellent kayaking trip with Gabriola Cycle & Kayaks, paddling the South Islands route. Our guides, Hilary and Joel, have teamed up with Hilary's parents, to start Baja Kayak Adventure Tours, which will be taking over the Baja trips for the 206 season onwards.

Some recommendations if you are in Loreto:

Stay at SuKasa Bungalows. Or first read the reviews on TripAvisor if you prefer.
Eat at "Mexico Lindo y Que Rico", fish tacos at Tacos el Rey on Benito Juarez are apparently the best in town. The ones at Salvatierra and Ayunamiento are good too (next door is a juice place). The tacos are served with flour tortillas: which are a northern Mexican staple. Further south, the tortillas are corn. Anyway, the best flour tortillas I've ever had were hand made fresh in Loreto. To me and P, they tasted like Roti Prata! More Loreto food here.
The best Loreto map I found is here, from the Dolphin Dive Center (highly recommended). Raffa (Raphael), the manager, is very friendly and helpful.
Fresh shrimp is sold off a pickup truck (ute to you Aussies) by a local fisherman and his family off the parking lot at "El Pescador" supermarket (corner of Independencia + Salvatierra). Very very yummy.
Black Feather also has some great kayak trips originating from La Paz, a larger city further south of Loreto in Southern Baja California. They also run very cool trips to Mongolia, Greenland and the Canadian arctic, which had me drooling in acticipation.

If you have any recommendations, please leave a comment!

Anyway, here are the photos. As usual, view on a big(er) screen with a broadband connection. If not, just be very patient. =)

a little bit of everything (+ something for the girls)

2006-04-13T23:43:00.000-05:00

Apologies for a silent week. We've been occupied by 2 VIP visitors, P's sister and my mum. And of course I had work to do.

A while ago, I sent an email round to Sam, Paul and Jasmin, who live in London but don't know each other. They are now hanging out, having a ball, and making me very envious. Paul has some great posts on his blog that make me wish I was in London again, and Sam has some excellent pix of everyone eating. Yum..

Talking about yum, here's some very nice nerds from VioletBlue (above 18 only): Brains and brawn, what could be better??

h0tt guys of Emerson (11/04/06)
Just landed in my inbox (and I see the EFF's Staff Attorney is, ahem, all over it) but it looks like "new media" student group Emersive at Emerson College is:

a) full of extremely sexy and uninhibited nerdy guys; b) they have made a beefcake calendar; and c) they are donating some of the proceeds to the Electronic Frontier Foundation. This is *so* going in my file for Sexiest Geeks of 2006 at the end of the year.

Buy a 2006 Hott Guys Calendar: Some Rights Reserved from the group, Emersive. It's not too late. Or, download their monthly behind-the-scenes images (same page).

To end, a very funny quote, also from Violet: "God, how could he make a mullet--a mullet with highlights, no less--look so sexy?". Somebody should put that on a t-shirt.

Visitors

2006-04-06T16:29:00.000-05:00

My mum arrived safe, sound and tired at 5.20am. Remarkably (for Mexico City) she cleared customs and collected her baggage within the hour. It's been great having her here, we've already taken her for a Mexican meal.

On top of that, Rachel, P's sister, is arriving at 7pm tonight. So we have 2 guests for the price of 1. It will be a fun family reunion, and I might either blog alot or not at all. We'll see.

Poem

2006-04-03T22:18:00.000-05:00

I wonder how I can be solitary,

when everyone's around.

I don't know if I'm my own self
or responding to the crowd.

am I trying to act a role

or am I real?

............or maybe I'm just another ant upon the hill................

living day by day

doing things I'm supposed to do
saying what I'm expected to say

living day by day

Dangerous cities

2006-03-31T22:15:00.000-06:00

Found out today one of my colleagues at work was robbed on his way home from work. Right next to a Metro exit. In broad daylight.

Yikes. Still, the exit was a quiet street.

Thankfully we live on a very very busy street. All the extra pollution (air, noise, etc.) is good for something - like great restaurants, a salsa club, a cool cinema, banks, airline offices, Starbucks and the like close by. There are always cars driving past, people walking past, lights on. It's much safer than some of the posher, tree-lined ares, where anything can happen on the dark, quiet streets. Also, we live in a very Mexican neighbourhood. Thieves will usually target a richer area than waste their time with us.

Sadly, if I tell people something like "one of my colleagues was assaulted", they get a bit scared to come visit. The truth is, logically, that there are very dodgy parts of town in every large city (even Singapore, if you know where to look). How safe you are just depends on your street smarts and common sense.

Here are some tips on how to travel safely from the State Department (very thorough + long. Some info specific to Americans), Rick Steves (Europe travel tips), BugBog.com (very good, useful for backpackers).

The one thing I found to really deter thieves and make me feel much more secure, is the Pac-Safe. I took it with me on my solo Europe trip, and secured my backpack to anything solid. I was able to queue for tickets, go to the loo, sleep on night trains and buses and in dodgy hostels without any worries. Many travellers stopped me to say "what a great idea!" and ask me where I bought one. It might be a little heavy and hard to get the hang of using, but worth every bit of effort.

Of course, don't forget to do lots of research about your destination(s) and don't forget to have fun. The more you travel or live overseas, the more it becomes second nature. And lastly, don't let a minor monetary loss distract you from your holiday. It really isn't worth it.

Lights, telephone, corruption

2006-03-16T22:00:00.001-06:00

My goodness, 2 weeks without blogging. Life has been a bit out of control here, sorry.

On Tuesday our electricity was cut off. Our phone line was cut off 2 days earlier. We had phone calls for Dec 19, 2 days after we're married. When we were in Australia. Hmmm... Maybe Oscar learnt how to dial the phone with his claws??

So I tried to see if I could get the $10 off my phone bill before I paid. The phone company kept hanging up on me, I tried the Net and they have the dodgiest website I know, and I couldn't find a branch close by in the phone book. Then I asked my colleagues. They offered to walk me to the branch closest to work. (Mexicans are very nice when they get to know you). So I pay the phone bill 5 days after it was cut off, get the phone reconnected, they cut our power! The very same day!

My colleagues at work couldn't stop laughing.

Apparently we didn't pay the electricity bill. Yes, we didn't pay the bill we never recieved it. And without warning, snip. P thought it was just another blackout. We get about 1-2 a week, especially if it's raining or blowing. Actually, we had a blackout today: 3 in a row, lasting from 5 - 15 minutes.

So we go to the electricity board and pay our bill. I told them we didn't get a bill. They look at me and say, if a bill doesn't arrive, you have to personally visit the electricity board to check and pay what you owe. (!!!!!) And what about the curtesy warning?? In bright red?? Nada!

THEN they charge us a reconnection fee: about 60% of our regular bill. And inform us that our electricity will be reconnected within 3 working days. ARRRGGHHH. I was about to kill someone by then. (Wouldn't you??)

Why do I have a suspicion they are trying to make extra money off "stupid" foreigners??

So P stays home the day we pay the bill, just in case the electricity employees decide to stop by. Our wonderful neighbour Ramon, who happens to be an electrical engineer, helps him reconnect the electricity while P is at his door asking for some freezer room. WooHoo!! All we have to do is stick our receipt on the meter so that the electricity company doesn't make another "mistake".

Only in Mexico.

Hope your life is currently less stressful than mine.

PS. Thanks to Carl for spurring me on - this post wouldn't have happened without you!
PPS. Got the postcard today!
BTW, we're off for a week of kayaking in the Sea of Cortez. I'll post when I can.

chocolate & health

2006-03-04T23:27:00.000-06:00

Here's yet another article proving the healthy effects of chocolate: from New Scientist - Eating chocolate may halve risk of dying.

A Dutch study on 470 men aged over 65 showed that those who consumed the least chocolate were twice as likely to die from a heart attack, even when other factors such as weight, exercise and smoking were taken into account.

Hmm, maybe if I can't become a chocolate taster, I can be a chocolate researcher??

Origami ringwraith (and other cool stuff)

2006-03-04T23:07:00.000-06:00

Here's a photo of an origami ringwraith (at least that's what I think it is..) from an origami competition in MIT. From Make, one of my favourite blogs.

Also check out this "instant snow" video from someone who threw boiling h2o up in the air on a very cold day. (from digg.com).

P & I are very interested in green architecture, so here's a great idea: waterless urinals (not kidding) - "No Flush: Let the Yellow Mellow" from Wired news. Now, if only I could learn to pee standing up(warning - link might offend)!

Heavy metal candy

2006-03-02T19:42:00.000-06:00

I can now blame my (ahem) "lunacy" on something! And the stupidity of SOME Mexicans.. Yay...

From chilli production to pottery, children are exposed to lead repeatedly. The concentrations in candy can reach about twice the toxic level in every piece of candy.

Reporters at the California paper spent two years investigating. They learned that the lead presence stems from the chili in the candy. In some parts of Mexico, dried chilis aren't washed. They sit for more than a year in a hot storage shed and have insects and rodents crawl over them. The bags holding them include not only chilis, but sometimes car battery connectors or rocks or any kind of heavy substance that will weigh down the bags and earn the farmer more money. The lead also comes from the ink on the labels and the ingredient tamarind, which is sometimes in the candies. (link)

Chronic low-level exposure to lead can cause developmental problems in children, including impaired growth, reduced IQ and learning disabilities, and behavioral and hyperactivity problems (link).

Grasshoppers are even more lethal. Kids eat them by the handful, ingesting as much as 2,300 micrograms of lead at a time. Just 10 micrograms of lead per deciliter of blood can permanently lower a child's IQ by four to five points. (link)

Yikes. No more candy for me!

In the same vein, here's something about toxic drinks in Britain.

Emergency Contraception

2006-03-02T09:26:00.000-06:00

Many people are unaware that emergency contraception, aka. the "morning after pill" will be effective up to 72 hours (3 days) after the "accident". Of course, the sooner it's taken, the better.

Here's some useful info from the following sites: Family Planning Association UK, Princeton University FAQs, reachout.au.

Interesting...

2006-02-28T13:39:00.000-06:00

I was reading Where Solo Is Sociable on today's Wired news, a commentary about being solo in different parts of the world (namely NY, London & Japan). Made me wonder: I adore being alone, and I haven't noticed if it's harder to be alone in a Western country or an Asian one. I don't know if I'm happy alone because I'm Asian or I like to read. Although it's more difficult to be alone in Mexico City: an amalgam of the Latin "togetherness" thing + American "OMG you're alone?!" thing. Hmmm...

From browsing the Grand Rounds Vol II No. 23 a weekly roundup of interesting medical/ science blogs, and a weekly addiction for me, I found these interesting articles: ASPARAGUS, STINKY PEE, AND SCIENTIFIC CURIOSITY and I never ask why.... (a urologist ponders things stuck in strange places). I LOVE my line of work. =)

San Miguel de Allende

2006-02-20T23:46:00.002-06:00

We have just returned from a very pretty colonial town about 3 hours north of Mexico City. Here's some buildings in the center of town reflected off P's sunnies. For the rest of the flickr pictures, start here.

The bus trip up was colourless and boring. Nothing like our trip to Oaxaca, which was gorgeous. And our first impressions were that it wasn't as pretty as Taxco - it sat on a smaller hill, and was less higgledy-biggledy charming.

BUT, it's filled with wealthy American retirees/expats who are aspiring to paint/ write. As a result, there is a very posh feeling to the town. The historic facades all have a new lick of paint, new doors, and wide entryways for SUVs. There is great coffee & pasta, excellent bookstores, live music.

It's all very nice, and very pleasant to wander through. But I can't help wondering if it's losing a little of its Mexican soul. We stayed in a budget place in a Mexican part of town, and I cannot see how the influx of wealth has helped the ordinary man on the street. The buses look the same, the people dress the same, the Mexican eateries taste the same.

Still, it was a fun visit. We still prefer Taxco & Oaxaca. And our favourite place in Mexico is still Isla Holbox.

if you'd seen me earlier...

2006-02-15T21:44:00.000-06:00

Here's P & I at Six Flags a few weeks ago. First time I rode a roller-coaster, I freaked... Yes. I'm not proud of that, but I freaked. On the Batman. I turned into a whimpering, blubbering mess. This photo was on the Ferris Wheel. Where I almost freaked. Then I regained my composure for the photos. Check them out. I think they're cool.

that thing in the middle of my face is not a radish, it's my nose...

2006-02-14T22:14:00.000-06:00

I'm getting over a cold that P sneezed onto me last week. My nose is beet red from blowing, I am using one box of tissues every 24 hours, and thankfully, I'm getting better. I just have to let it run its course. Now, most people know a cold is viral, even if it might progress to a throat/sinus/ear infection (where it may become bacterial).

People still ask me, can't you give me something to take this away? Well, we can treat your symptoms, for sure. Read the American Lung Association Cold Guidelines: it's an excellent resource on how to make yourself feel better, how not to infect your colleagues/ family and when to see the Doc.

Patients sometimes want antibiotics. Here in Mexico, it is THE wonder drug (as you can see from this article). EVERYONE gets them, for ANYTHING. Probably a good reason why I get about 1 cold a month from September to May - drug resistance here mighty high. Here's why antibiotics are a bad idea.

=) Hope that was useful!

Oh, and Happy Valentine's Day!

Having kids

2006-02-08T20:31:00.001-06:00

Being the information freak that I am, I've started a budding collection of pregnancy & maternity info. From mothers, nurses, friends, magazines, websites. Anywhere you can think of.

I'm asking bilingual parents how they raised bilingual kids. I'm reading medical articles on pregnancy. And parenting magazines. I'm determined to have a no-drugs delivery, no C-section (por supuesto!!) which, knowing how big my husband is, and how small my hips are, might NOT happen. I might end up lying in an OR, my womb being knifed, my abdomen being torn open by blasé hands which then fish out a sticky neonate...

Argh... I'm turning into the super-anal, "nothing bad will happen to my child if I can help it" kind of mother. And it's scaring P. And I'm not even pregnant yet. And we're not even trying until we get out of Mexico. Oh dear.