Music Monday: Actually, her Name's Marina

It's a little sad to say, but I've loved Marina & the Diamonds ever since first hearing the song Hollywood (Fenec Soler Remix) on the Gap soundtrack at work. Soon after I got a hold of the album two other tracks made it onto the store soundtrack, causing a slight overdose on Marina that summer.

A year later I'm still just as fond of the group, particularly the titular singer's voice, and delighted that Last.fm recommended this track to me as a free download. I had never heard it before a few days ago, but I fell into that same immediate adoration as with Hollywood.

Y'see, I really like some of 3OH!3's work as well, particularly this song. The way that Marina & the Diamonds covers it though is so incredibly different, taking the tempo down and stripping the electronic sounds away for an acoustic jam session instead.

So take a listen, and if you like it hop over to Last.fm for the download link while they're still offering it.

a Photoblog: Derelict

National Day in Singapore, Video

There's only so much I can convey with words. Here's a video of the finale, which i did not see from my vantage point across the bay. Apparently the fireworks were actually in sync with the sing along! So watch the video below and pretend you're in the Lion City.

video by 154media

National Day in Singapore

I was lucky enough to be in Singapore as the country celebrated 46 years of independence. It's still quite a young country, and that youthful enthusiasm showed on August 9th.
I started the day off watching the culmination of a week-long NUS "Rag and Flag" event, which saw each faculty put together floats and performances. Now, when I say performance, I mean they had choreographed dances and show gymnastics. People were being thrown into the air and flipping. Human pyramids were being assembled. Everyone seems to know hip-hop.

When the Rag and Flag was finished, the National Day Parade began, and was streamed live to our screen across the bay. It started with an extremely corny, scripted demonstration of Singapore's military, and slowly became a military parade, and then, well, I'm not sure what it became next.
"Parade" might be the wrong word to describe the events that happened that night. The only thing I can compare it to is the opening ceremonies of any Olympic games. They had actors and actresses, sing alongs, performers, costumes, and a story line with set acts!

Of course, at the finish of the parade/performance/whatever there was a massive fireworks display and light show. It was like nothing I have ever seen before, as the fireworks are set off in the bay among all the towering glass buildings as well as from the tops of the buildings themselves. Factor in the reflection from the water and the glass and you've got quite the rad display.
All in all, a very different form of celebration than I partook in for Canada Day.

first and third photos by Randy-Tan, second photo by Shutter wide shut

my Favourite Things, Food in Singapore Edition

Y'know how lemonade is the refreshing drink of choice in the summer? Here, that honour goes to lime juice. I sampled it my very first day here, and have been in love ever since. For a while I was going on one a day. Now I've branched out into all the different juices you can get, most all of which are fresh squeezed and therefore rad.

I'm in love with Indian food. The Indians tease me about having the Indian dinner every single night, but what can I say? It's the most delicious thing on the menu. If I just want a quick snack, though, roti prata is my usual go to. It's not your typical fried roti, and I always take my stuffed with eggs. Then there's the side of curry sauce to dip in, which I end up eating with a spoon when I've inhaled all the bread. Mmm.

This may have originally been a favourite of mine from living in Victoria, but my love for hot pot bibimbop extends to Singapore, too! Korean food is widely available in Singapore, and even in the heat and humidity I don't mind sweating a little more over a hot plate and a side of kimchi. 

Every night I have at least one cup of hot Milo, a drink that is sort of  like hocho but definitely not. During the day I'll also drink it cold over ice, often ordering it as a Milo dinosaur. And just what is this Milo dinosaur, I hear you ask? Well, it's a regular glass of iced Milo with an extra scoop of the powdered mix on top. It be delicious.

Bread Talk is a chain of bakeries, and every time I walk in I am completely overwhelmed. It's all self service, so at the entrance you pick up a tray and tongs. After wandering around the store trying not to spill drool on the baked goods you take you heavy laden tray to the cashier and pay for you spoils. I try to limit myself to four purchases at a time, two savoury and two sweet. Faves include the chocolate cream cheese bun, mushroom hot dog bun, and garlic chicken sausage pizza.

The majority of my vegetable intake comes from lunches at stalls that sell laksa yong tau foo, which is a type of soup. First, you pick up a bowl and fill it with whatever vegetables, cooked eggs, tofu, and meat products you wish, and then hand it over to the cashier. Your choices are quickly boiled and then placed back in the bowl with your choice of broth. I always have laksa, which is a spicy coconut curry much like Thai red curry. I may or may not grab some of that right now, as the photo is of one of the couple stalls at NUS.

Lime juice photo by Charles Haynes, roti prata photo by jeanyim, bibimbop photo by jbcurio, Milo photo by CLF, Bread Talk photo by midthought, laksa yong tau foo photo by 22n.