Century Egg = FEAR FACTOR

Tuesday, October 18

My day started out very normal today.... until lunch.

Now that I have been here over a week my coworkers have decided that I should start trying more of the local food.  At lunch they bought me a plate of "things to try."  Most of the food was pretty good, however I didn't know what most of it was.  One thing that I did not like was a fish ball.  It was very "fishy" the other was a Century Egg.  Is is a black hard boiled egg that was featured on fear factor.  They let me try it at the end of my meal, and it actually looks a lot worse then it tastes.  When I told them it wasn't that bad their reply was, "oh good, then we can many more things."  The next things on their list are: a fish head, "eyes are the best part" and pig tendon soup.  I said I wouldn't try either, but I guess they are Singapore favorites, that I must try.  I think I will wait a few weeks though!

Other fun facts/observations:

- In Singapore they drive on the other side of the car, and other side of the street.  Opposite from America. 
-  1 out of 5 people in Singapore are expats
-  5 million people live in Singapore
- There are 10 million tourists per year in Singapore.
-  Many Malaysians commute to Singapore for work because the exchange rate is S$1 = 2.40 Malay
-  Casinos are new in Singapore and are employing close to 20,000 people. 
-  Singaporeans have to pay S$100 to enter a casino, visitors can enter for free.  The Singapore government doesn't want their people gambling
- 85% of people live in government housing
- Purchasing a car and getting a drivers license in Singapore is very expensive.  An entry level car costs around S$100K.  The government doesn't want old cars on the street, so every 10 years, you must buy a new car, and reapply for a license.
-  Singapore is the #2 exporter of used cars in the world.  Japan is #1
- When you are getting married in Singapore, Malaysia, China it is customary that the groom to be give the bride to be's family a monetary gift.  The monetary gift starts out at $5000, a normal gift could be close to $15,000.    The 2 families get together, bring in a good negotiator, and literally negotiate what the groom to be will give the brides parents. It has to be cash, and handed to the brides parents in one sum the day of the wedding. (I think our grooms in the U.S. need to pick up this custom).