Travel

Flight over the North Pole. Kinda.

EVA air SIN - TPE - JFK and back.

“Singapore is China, right? They eat dog there. So backward.”

I haven’t posted much since arriving here… That’s because life here is pretty straightforward and nothing is complicated.

The post office.

In Belgium buying stamps is usually ??????*** and, like in Singapore, I end up going to the post office and asking them to weigh it and stamp it.

However, unlike Belgium* (and most of Europe?) they have these handy machines.

I swear one day I’ll post geeky tech stuff on this blog again… But until then… 5 days of London with British Airways (due to ridiculous last minute prices, economy premium only). A380 from SIN to LHR.

First time in like years I did a long haul flight without transit (well technically last time was Montreal but that wasn’t as far). Direct lah!

And I haven’t been in London in like 2 years. I should have one full spare day to walk around and visit. Let’s see how it changed. :)

Christmas in Kuching – the cat city. <3

I should put more effort and time in updating my blog again. Got a shit load of random experience/issues with an Edgerouter now on Starhub in Singapore (IPv6, but still not reaching my Gbit speed). But that’ll be for later.

Had a few days in HK last week for an offsite with work. Jetstar + first time Tiger.

Now flying from SIN to ICN via KUL because the direct flights didn’t fit my price cap at work for that period. Business class on Korean Air (and MH – but that’s supposedly not as good).

I guess I get to post now when flying to Brussels.

Flying SIN to BRU with Lufthansa.

BRU to MAD with Brussels Airlines (which I guess is now Lufthansa too) from 20/10 till 23/10.

BRU to BCN with Brussels Airlines from 27/10 till 31/10.

Leaving the 5th November to SIN again with Lufthansa and returning with Swiss (their brand new b777!) on July 6th.

Also changed blog timezone to Singapore.

My quest for opening a bank account in Singapore:

1. DBS: wanted utility bill < 3 months old of my residence in Belgium (which I didn't have -- most of the stuff is on my company's name). Payslips and other bank documents didn't count. Also 2hrs queue. -- (at this point I signed a tenancy agreement and had my own address/place/crib in Singapore) --
2. UOB: Required a physical Singpass (which you only get after you started working and your employer submitted your IPA).
3. Citi: IPA was enough, but tenancy agreement wasn't enough; they need the "stamp duty" proof. Also doesn't provide NETS. Getting a online banking token has to be "requested", and getting cards (and thus access) takes ~2 weeks
4. Went back to DBS with my tenancy agreement and IPA: opened bank account, got access to online banking, everything up and running in about 30 minutes. Downside of DBS Android app: seems to drain battery (requesting GPS high accuracy all the time for some reason; uninstalled for now as I'm not in Singapore until end of this month). Bank cards (did I mention I received them directly?) comes with Visa payWave. It's a Platinum (not sure why I received this -- seems standard as they didn't ask -- don't think they noticed my other credit cards were Platinum too) Visa debet card.

With FlatTurtle we have people working for us via a Singaporean company, outsourcing. So I already transfer money every month to Singapore with BNP Paribas Fortis (~€40 fee), but for my rent deposit I wanted to try something new: enter TranserWise. Works really well and fast, and needless to say, the fees are much lower (more than half).

There. Relocating to Singapore for the time being. Becoming an expat.

Lufthansa BRU => FRA => SIN.

Back in Belgium in October for a bit though.

Auf wiedersehen for now. Be good Belgium.