wrapping up singapore...

So after 18 days, I'm sitting in the hotel lounge, typing out my last post from Singapore. The store is open, and doing amazing! I've seen so much of the city, and made so many new business colleagues and new friends, that I'm going to be sad to leave tomorrow morning. We opened the store on Friday, and between the merchandising and the opening, then the follow up working in store the first few days, I've slowed down the sightseeing- but I did make it to China town at night for some dinner and shopping; China town makes little India look like a... I don't know- it dwarfs little india in every way! There are rows of streets with shops and booths, all full of basically the same thing, but it's fun to shop around. It was a great night, and I found some great cheap souveniors, but also a STUNNING- stunning gift for Daniel that I found back in the far back corner booth that was just an old couple selling some stuff, much more real stuff, like estate sale esq. So that made my night :-) We had some great sushi Friday night, but Thursday- we had the real deal: Chili Crab, Pepper Crab and other seafood at this place called Long Beach on Dempsey Hill. So Chili crab is THE thing to get here- a whole crab- they empty the shell, then stuff all the legs in it, so it looks like a flower arraingment, then smother it- and I mean SMOTHER it with either Chili's in a tomato sauce, or in the other, tons of pepper. It was the messiest meal I think I've ever eaten, but really so good! With the chili crab- they give you biscuts that you can dip in the remaining sauce, and it is sooo good. Then we also had these Oyesters that were oddly shaped- very long and narrow, with noodles on top. They were ok, but the best was definitely the crab. Here's a picture of me and Sona with our Bib's on :-) And the grand opening. It was great- lots of customers who had been waiting for the store to open, and customers who were just happy to find a great colorful, new, and fun store in the mall! This is such a great company to work for because it has such good recognition around the world, and it's such good products that everyone that shops is happy :-) After we opened and did all the photos, the opening team went for Tea and scones at a place down the mall. Such a nice morning. From left; Bill (architect), Me, Sona (Business Manager), Marc (Dir of Merch), Carl (architect), Matt (Marketing). So on a funny note- as I re-read my posts for Singapore- I had a lot of "BIG EVENTS" here- but each thing I did was so different and surprising, that they all seemed like big events. The LBrands guys and I had drinks and dinner last night and as we were sitting there in a skyline bar overlooking the Marina we talked about our experience the past week(s). Although we all love Istanbul, the traffic is horrendous, but we still all rated it our #1 city. But as we all talked, we all came to the conclusion that this was the new #1. Gorgeous sites here, not historical, but contemporary and stunning. The city; so clean, no traffic, fast and efficient subways. And what really locked it down was it's proximity to everything asian pacific; Phuket, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Bali, or Bangkok- all from 1hr flight to 3 hour flight away. Who knows; if we get crazy busy over here and add 30-50 stores, we might end up having a lot of people asking for assignments :-)))

Gardens by the Bay

So Saturday was a big day for me; I went to Little India in the morning, hung by the pool in the mid day, and then the big event; I went to the "Gardens by the bay" designed by an amazing, cutting edge architect named Zaha Hadid. I just happened to be in another of her buildings' two weekends ago when Daniel set us up a weekend in Cincinnati. So how cool is it that I saw two of her projects within 2 weeks of each other! Thank you Daniel for making that happen :-) Little India was a little "off" for me when I first got there, mostly because when you get off the metro, it's a normal neighborhood, it's not like they have a sign that says "yo- tourists- cool stuff this way!" :-) So I had to walk around for a bit and walk down some alleys to find the "real" little India. But when I found it, I saw it everywhere! It was crowded covered walkways, filled with everything you could imagine. The whir of meat saws cutting the freshest meats, the smell of roses and marigolds from the hanging floral strands, and curries and incense everywhere. I wandered streets for 2 hrs. So many stores, so many jewelery stores! And the best part- it was real! These were Indian immigrants in these stalls selling goods, and the same buying them! This was not a display set up for the tourist trade. I hadn't seen anything like this in a very long time. So much of Dubai was just set up for Tourists, as is Vienna, and Istanbul. But this was real, and fun. After two good hrs of walking though the sun was getting really hot and I had enough, so headed to back to enjoy the infinity pool and get a nap before the big event. So what was this big event??? Well; These are the pictures from the bridge that gets you over to the "Gardens by the Bay". The bridge was soooo crowded with tourists as this was still Chinese Year year (going on till February 10), but I muscled my way towards the side of the bridge and got some pictures. Not that it was hard- I'm like a friggin giant compared to most of the people hear- they basically bounce off me then look up at me! lol The gardens are free, but you have to pay 30SGD to get into the 2 conservatories; the Floral Dome, and the Cloud Forest. I had heard from the main server at the lounge that the Cloud Forest was "a must see! They have a waterfall!!" she said excitedly. So of course, I headed there. So this was stunning. I know I keep saying "AMAZING" and stunning, but this city is so amazing! Lol It was such a shock to see such a mountain of greenery- litterally a mountain of greenery. I had pre-read that this was the worlds largest conservatory with no interior supports, and I believe it after seeing this mammoth green space! The waterfall was cool, but what was even more incredible was the lower space, where the waterfall flows into a lush green garden that looks just like Jurassic Park! Finally, the sun was setting, and so I headed to the Trees... The buildings, again, soooo cool! I can't believe I was able to view her architecture in living color and style!! They are so futuristic, and- I'm going to say it! STUNNING! So the trees- they are solar power panels that help provide power to the park- so self-sustaining environment. They are also gigantic planters, with all sorts of plants growing on their trunks. At 7 and 8, they have a musical light show, and I was just in time for the show! I got some pictures, and then some Iphone video, and the put them down. I realized that alot of moments lately are missed because we (i) and others are so focused on capturing the moment that we dont' really experience the moment. So Put them away, and just experienced it. And wow, it was so cool. The music was all symphony, new age, and the trees were lite up to the exact moments that build in the music. It was great, and again, another night in Singapore, like no other in the world. :-)

CNY!!

So Chinese New Year was Thursday night, so I had a 1/2 day work, and then wasn't sure what to expect. The architects suggested we go to 1Raffles Place, the tallest building in Singapore that has a rooftop bar. I was skeptical because it was 6 hrs before, and in NewYor or chicago that would have been impossible, but we went anyways, met up at 9pm. We paid the $30sgd entry fee, took the 2 elevators up to the roof, and voila- we were in! It was so NOT busy! I was shocked, and then I saw the views and was even more shocked! I know I just blogged photos from the top of MBS, but this was even higher, and better! After getting our first round of drinks, I might have figured out why it was only 1/2 full; beers were $20 USD, and the one guy was drinking double Chivas, which was $35USD a glass! YIKES! But, it was a once in a lifetime experience; being on the tallest building in Singapore, on Chinese New Year, so, when in rome.... So either the fireworks were really low, or we were really that high- because we were actually looking down on them! And unfortunately, it got really busy right before midnight, and we didn't end up having "prime" viewing, but we still have a view. The MBS Casino/Resort looked really cool- they had a light show at 11:30, where they lit up the roofs and had a big water show as well. All I can say is that it was awesome. Truely amazing, and the best night I've had in Singapore, and a great memory of this city, and this trip! :-)

Working in Singapore

Well I had an amazing 2 days off, and am SO happy that I came in early to explore the city before I had to work. Monday morning, like I have done so many times before, I took a cab to the corporate office of a company I do not know, and enter a conference room filled with people I don't know, and Presto-chango- I'm going to be their best friend! :-) It is a little daunting, I have to say. This time especially because there is already the VS business here, and that business is a powerhouse. Strict, to the book, hardcore retail. So that is not my style- I'm the easy going, have fun sister-brand where everything is colorful and happy. But of course, after the past three days of training together, the team and I are getting along great, and they are having fun. :-) Monday night, the brand manager and I went out for a drink with the architect who is here from Columbus, so was nice to hang out. We did it up- straight to the top of the Marina Bay Sands towers, where they have the amazing infinity pool and bars and restaurants. Drinking our bottle of wine, and talking, I looked around at where I was. Night was falling over the city, the cool breeze was blowing in from the ocean, the skyline of Singapore was in full panorama infront of me. It was incredible. It was a moment that I will never forget, a true moment of beauty, and reality....... And now back to the normal stuff :-) They love this kind of coffee here that is thick as mud, and cut with condensed milk, sweetened with Powered condensed milk. The picture is how it is made, and yes, that server making the coffee is mixing the coffee in the condensed milk can! AH! I just threw up in my mouth typing that. lol I can not even tell you how much it grossed me out to watch her making the coffee that way. She obviously saw my horrified look because she pulled out an actual metal steamer cup (like at starbucks) when she made my coffee, thank goodness. They don't have the cardboard sleeve's for the cups, they use a little plastic hammock thing! Carzy looking (picture) We had lunch the first two days at this new building where the main floor has many different restaurants. First day we had a great amount of dishes that were cantonese. Shrimp and pork pancakes, beef and noodles, and dimsum with chicken or pork. The second day we did a quick box lunch which was actually really good pork and vegetables. So, so far, I'm having a good time, and am so excited for Thursday night; CHINESE NEW YEAR!!!

Shopping on Orchard Avenue

Sunday's are the day for BRUNCH! I learned that all the hotels have a big brunch special, similar to Dubai's Friday Brunches. After experiencing the amazing fresh fruits and and bacon, I headed out to the big event; shopping on Orchard. Orchard ave is the Michigan Avenue of Singapore, or the 5th Avenue, or whichever place you consider the mecca of all shopping. I took the metro, and was surprised how many people were already out at 11am! The train kept getting fuller and fuller every stop, and then once we got to "ION", the entire car emptied. Ion Orchard is the ultimate mall, where everyone goes, and now I know why! It is 12 stories of shopping! 6 of which are below ground, and there is a definite pecking order to where the stores go. Main floor and +2 are the high end retailers, Louis, Dior, Chanel, etc. Basement 1-3 are what I'd consider the normal stores; Zara, Mossimo Dutti, Victoria's Secret, Aeropostale, and the further down you go, the stores get less prestigous. Level B6 was just dry cleaners, pharmacy, and mom and pop stores. The top floors are food courts and cafe's. This was true for every mall I went into, and I went into alot! Orchard has mall, next to mall, next to mall. It is crazy! They all have exactly the same stores too! I found a local department store called Robinson on Orchard, and it was the best place I went all day. Mostly because every store I went in to, they had size s, m, and xs. No large, or xl, so just like in Bangkok, I shopped the accessory stores. :-) Until I got Robinson. The store is huge, 8 floors, and looks like Barney's New York, but is priced like a Macys'. I started finding a few things, and then more things, and then a super nice sales associate came over and found more for me, it was like that scene in Pretty Woman and I was finally getting to shop! :-) It was great, I got some unique stuff, new colors that I never wear, and it didn't end there! Then I realized there was a home store too! Ah- well I can't disclose what I got there because it is some presents for later, but it was, without a doubt, the best shopping experience I've had in years! After that, I went to a New Years Shopping Market. It was super busy, as Chinese New Year is Thursday night, and it was fun! There were a lot of booths that had decorations, candies, some real- and I mean REAL cuisine; eel, octopus, snakes... I can't unsee some of the things I saw in there, but for the most part it was good to experience some local shopping too. I got some great souvenirs out of there too! By the time I finished my shopping, Orchard avenue was hopping! The sidewalks were packed with people, an the metro was even more jammed than before.