Job Discussion Forums

[sojourner]

Imam,

You referred to "Kapitaans", in Georgetown, for excellent tandori fare. Are you referring to the one on Chulia Lebuh (Lane) ? If so, I have been to it on a number of occasions during my visits to Penang - yes, excellent tandori - also, quite good lassi ! As I've mentioned before, Chulia Lane is quite interesting. After my usual lunch of tandori chicken at the aforementioned place, I usually head off for a couple of beers at the Hong Kong Bar, just down Chulia Lane. V.relaxing, sipping beer at a table on the street just outside the HK Bar, watching humanity stroll by - also, I enjoy the home made potato crisps that the HK Bar provides (gratis !).

Yes, I agree, beer in Malaysia is quite expensive, especially compared to Thailand - and, even more so in China, where a large bottle of Tsingtao is around 5 RMB and Snow beer is only 2RMB !

You also referred to the "Fragrance" hotels in Singapore. I could be wrong, but aren't most of them located in the Geylang area ? Possibily, Electic might become somewhat disillusioned with Singapore, as a result of having previously lapped up all the PR bs about the (supposed) sqeeky-clean, respectable pristine image of the high-powered city-state. Admitedly, in all of my visits to Singapore, over a 32 year period, I have only been to Geylangs once, about 2 years ago. I was having a beer with a female FT colleague, from China, at an outdoor restaurant, and a *beep* sat at our table. During my time in the E/SE Asia region, this is the first time that this has happened ! Yes, of course, I have been propostioned countless times - but, always when I am alone, never when I have a female companion with me ! Maybe, it's an approach completely unique to the Geylang girls - maybe, they just happen to "specialise" in "3-somes" ! So, Electic, might be advised to stay clear of Geylangs if he happens to be focused on enjoying a modern, First World way of life.

Yes, Singapore, although it is reputed to be First World ,still has many Third World features. Not just Geylangs,but even in many other parts of Singapore, one can often sense something "Third Worldy" eg at the "hawker" eating areas located on the ground floor in many apartment blocks, such as those located on Waterloo St. Another good example is in the Lavender St area. But, really, anywhere away from Orchard Rd and Raffles Place one can often sense something about the "old" Sinapore ! I love Singapore ! But I prefer Malaysia, not just because the Third World is more obvious there than it is in Singapore, but the things that travellers are mostly concerned about (accommodation and eating-out) are much cheaper than in Singapore.(Nevertheless, it's still possible to eat out reasonably cheaply in Singapore -I've already mentioned the "hawker" areas in the apartment blocks;there are also a number of hawker-style eating establishments called ,I think, Capitanean (Kapitanean ?) centres, where the fare is only a little bit more expensive than is the case when eating out at the apartment blocks). But, as has been remarked on a number of occasions, the biggest drawback with Malaysia is the cost of beer !

Peter

[wailing_imam]

Fragrance Hotels can be found in a number of locations in Singapore. However, as I mentioned, they are more or less love hotels. Still OK for a night if stuck though.

Geylang is much quieter nowadays, the police have really clamped down. Shame though as the hookers, back street gambling and wayward gents really did make it one of the more vibrant parts of the city.

[Mrs McClusky]

Hassle free Asian Country is an oxymoron

[eclectic]