Rekindling...

<----- Raymond, Prashan, Paul, Sherman & Me at HARRY'S after the gig at the ESPLANADE



The gig in Singapore turned out to be excellent...more than we hoped it would be actually.The first night at the ESPLANADE was one of the best gigs I've ever had.The crowd was really good and responsive, and I was very surprised that they took to the music we played.Ha ha...I never told the other guys this but I did have some doubts when Paul came to us with this idea for a Country & Western night at the open air stage.God...Country & Western...don't get me wrong, I love C & W (maybe not as much as some of my other REDNECK friends) and I do think the genre produces some of the world's finest musicians .Also, the music is in a word...'HEARTFELT', but C & W at the ESPLANADE, supposedly one of the more trendier spots on the sunny isle of SINGAPURA...ha ha, can you blame me for not being a true believer!To my utter surprise, the setting was lovely!Great stage and thousands of people, most of whom came for the fireworks display that happened between our 2nd set but they did stay back when they heard the music.The crowd just loved every minute of the performance and I have to say I loved it even more.The whole evening played itself out to perfection.Maybe I should have trusted Paul's instincts after all, seeing as he is one of our more popular exports!Ha ha...my sincere apologies Paul for my lack of faith and thank you (your lovely wife too) for giving us what we truly needed...a renewed conviction in our beliefs that we have not been barking up the wrong tree with our choice of trade because that is exactly what I came away with from this whole episode in Singapore.I have just been going thru' the motions these past few months and finding fault with everything and everyone else when I should have been looking within.Wondering why I derive so much less satisfaction from performing these days than I used to.Playing in Singapore with 3 other very talented and dear friends has made me realize that sometimes you just need to take that cold walk outside, gather up some more firewood, walk back in again and just throw it in the ole' fireplace...ha ha, hopefully before the initial flame fizzles out!

Speaking of rekindling...I had the pleasure of catching up with some really old but very good friends too.All of them have families of their own now but they're still as hospitable as ever.I have not seen one of these guys for about 10 years and it was very very good catching up with all of them.It's also really good to know that they're all doing well.I've made up my mind that I'm gonna take extra time to keep in touch with each and everyone of them.It's funny but this whole year has actually been about renewing old friendships!Early this year some friends of mine from a college in PJ started a little yahoo group for ex students.So over the space of these past 8 months I've had the pleasure of hearing from some people I never thought I'd ever hear from again.Ha ha...I have to admit that it's a wonderful feeling and a real test of my memory too.I never could have imagined being in touch with so many old friends but with the onset of the world wide web, I guess our world is getting smaller after all!So I hereby pledge to stay in constant touch with all of you...ha ha, SCOUTS HONOUR!!!

Ok ok...back to Singapore...the 2nd day we spent all afternoon specifically in Peninsula Plaza!I think we must have covered all the music stores in that plaza and the one next to it...can't remember what that building's called.So many guitars to see...wow, I could have just died!I tried quite a few and I'm still thinking about most of them...like the LAKEWOOD, PARKER FLY & PEERLESS!Ha ha...maybe when I have a bit of cash to spare...I'll make another trip! :o) Anyway at night, we all converged at TIMBRE...a nice little 'Al Fresco' bar somewhere along Armenian Street as BIG GAME were engaged to perform there for the night.That was a good night too!Danny, the boss who also happens to be a blues musician, came up and jammed a few songs with us.We finished the night there with Paul who joined us after his gig at Harry's (ESPLANADE).Ha ha...I have to say that by the end of the 3rd set, most of the Singaporeans had said goodnight and believe it or not, we were left with quite a few 'relocated' Malaysians to entertain!Nothing like a little 'local' support anywhere in the world, I guess!Anyway after saying goodnight to the crowd, we proceeded to another bar called HOO HA, somewhere in Pasir Panjang Village.Little did we know that the party was only just beginning.We climbed the stairs to the sounds of some classic rock being played and walked smack in the middle of one of the loudest jam sessions ever...GREAT!We jammed and drank and jammed and drank some more and then we jammed and drank some more!Before we knew it, it was time to leave but the boss, Victor (a gem of a guy) insisted on taking us for the best NASI PADANG (it's a local malay dish of white rice and other delectable dishes) in Singapore.Paul and Anne decided to go home...ha ha, actually Anne wanted to join us but I think Paul was just too tired.Victor took us for breakfast (it's definitely not called supper at 7.30 am) and it turned out to be a really good meal.So for those of you on your way to Singapore, do drop by HOO HA PUB for some late night jamming and if you're lucky, Victor may take you for some really great NASI PADANG...or at least he would point you in the right direction!By the way Victor also says that the steaks at his pub/restaurant are the best in Singapore!

My 3rd day in Singapore, I woke up at about 2pm and one of my friends, Dinesh came by to pick me up.We went over to his home for a couple of drinks and basically just to talk.At about 7pm his wife dropped the both of us at Balmoral Plaza...somewhere along Bukit Timah Road and we proceeded to a pub called BOJANGLES.The owner, Amarjit was expecting us for a dinner that he himself prepared and there was also a bottle of whisky waiting for us.Sherman was already there when I arrived so we waited for Paul and Anne before proceeding with dinner.The food was excellent so I really pigged out but I did stay clear of the whisky...ha ha, only because I had been on Guinness the whole day.After the meal and lord knows how many more Guinness stouts, my friend said he had to go.The rest of us (Paul, Anne, Sherman and I) caught a cab to Harry's, Boat Quay.There was another jam session happening there!With the exception of Anne, all of us got up to jam and it was a lot of fun.The bunch of musicians I saw performing at Harry's , Boat Quay were first rate...some of the young Singaporeans can really play!I mean they know their stuff.They decide on what they like very early and do just that!Ha ha...I guess we Malaysians are a lot more eclectic!Well anyway, we ended our last night in Singapore as only Malaysians know how!BAK KUT TEH!!!Ha ha ha ha ha...for those of you who do not know what that is...well it's basically pork cooked with 11 herbs and spices...oh no, I think that's 'Kentucky Fried Chicken'...seriously though it is pork cooked in traditional Chinese herbs.Really good when you've had too much booze...actually that's about all it's good for...ha ha, it's delicious though!I happen to live in the the BAK KUT TEH capital of the world so I do know what I'm talking about!Good ole' KLANG town...ask any hot blooded BAK KUT TEH enthusiast, they'll vouch for me!

We left Singapore for home the next day,literally said goodbye to all the jazz of Singapore for the blues of Malaysia.We were so tempted to carry on partying at the duty free zone in Johor Bahru (see what I mean by the blues!) but I decided to spend some time at my mom's place in Johor Bahru while Sherman went to visit his daughter who happens to live in JB as well.We only left JB for Kl at about 8 pm.All in all it was a fantastic weekend but it also left me wondering about a few things.I've realized that it was really good catching up with old friends and also that I don't need to wait for a special occasion to be in touch with them!Just have to make sure you have enough firewood stocked up to keep the fires of friendship and music going for long, long time...cheers everyone!!!

Gerard

P.S. Check out the same blog here (more pics) ;

http://dgerardsingh.blogs.friendster.com/a_slice_of_my_pie/