An End To Drinking?

The face of alcoholism

It’s now been over a year since I left Scotland. Over a year since I left the ‘drink to get drunk’ culture, where I would drink the equivalent of 3 bottles of wine on a night out. I would have a fantastic time getting drunk, talking with friends, dancing, listening to ear pounding music and flirting with girls. I would never get a hang over which meant I never experienced the painful, nauseating, morning after effects of heavy drinking. Alcohol is also relatively cheap in the UK, with bar beer as low as $3 and a bottle of wine $10. The low cost of alcohol meant I could get very drunk with as little as $30.

So this week, over 365 days since I left Scotland, I realised that I’d been looking to recreate those drunken times, and I'd so far been unsuccessful. When I was working in Singapore alcohol prices were so expensive that I mostly gave up on drinking. A single bar beer was $16. At those rates it would take me over $100 to get as drunk as I would in Scotland. I also found myself lacking the larger friend circle that getting wasted benefited from. So I essentially became a non-drinker and mainly hung out with a small group of friends.

After Singapore I moved to New Zealand, and what an opportunity! Beer was typically $6, and I could pick up wine for $10. During my first few weeks in New Zealand I went to Couch Surfing bar meet ups and got extremely drunk, consuming drinks in the double digits. But I still found something lacking. The people at Couch Surfing weren't looking to get wasted like I was, so after spending $60 a night I realised that this wasn't what I sought.

In the last month I stopped binge drinking and instead decided to limit myself to $20 a night, which can buy a reasonable 4-6 beers. I soon realised that I didn't get any enjoyment from being only slightly drunk. In fact one night after consuming 5 beers and one pizza, I realised I wasn't drunk at all and essentially wasted $15 on beer. So when the alcohol at bars was too weak for my tastes, what was I to do?

Food Review: Little Sheep Hot Pot

Cuisine: Hot Pot/Chinese

Price: $30 per person

Location: 27 Cross St, Newton, Auckland
Website: N/A

Little Sheep Hot Pot is conveniently located near the top of Queen’s Street, and not wanting to trouble my friends with travel, I chose to eat there. The result was an enjoyable, but rather average hot pot experience.

The restaurant is clean and spaced out, a marked difference from traditional hot pot joints I've been which are often cramped and dirty. There were only a few other diners that Saturday and it continued to be quiet throughout the night. I felt it was a bit empty and soulless without the merry making din of others.

There were 2 staff that night and both seemed overwhelmed by the demands of us few diners. We had to wait longer than necessary for items like tea, food and drinks. The menu was confusingly partially Chinese, though all the important dishes were in English. All the staples of hot pot were accounted for like beef, fish balls, bean curd skin and cabbage.

The portions were pretty generous and we ate with glee. The spicy soup and pork soup both tasted good, and only got better as the night continued. Unfortunately a noticeable number of dishes came out still frozen, this was definitely not the freshest fare. At the end of the night we were stuffed and very satisfied with the meal.

Little Sheep Hot Pot offers an average hot pot experience. It’s not flash, or great quality, but you’ll still enjoy a good meal and its central location makes it convenient.

6/10

A Blog Post A Day?

I had a suggestion from a friend, that I should write a blog post a day and share my personal thoughts more. My original intention for this blog was to write informative pieces. I love food, so it made sense to write restaurant reviews.

Currently I have no other 'projects' that I'm working on, and I'm looking for work, so I need something to focus on. Something that will improve a measurable skill and I will enjoy. So writing a post a day doesn't sound like a bad idea. Maybe I'll also start the 100 days of happiness idea on Instagram.

So this is day number one, more exciting posts to come I promise.

Food Review: Al's Deli

Cuisine: Deli/Brunch/American

Price: $50 (4 dishes and drink)

Location: 492 Queen Street, Auckland CBD, Auckland
Website: http://alsdeli.co.nz/

Walking into Al's Diner I was greeted by a décor which was a mix between an American diner and a cafe, the tone setting the mood for casual dining. When I spoke to the server I was happy to discover that everything in Al's is freshly made. This includes the bread, meat, cakes and milkshakes. It's rare to find an eatery where they make everything in house, so I was immediately excited to start eating! I was overwhelmed by choice, everything sounded delicious. I decided to start with the Mexican inspired bagel of the week and cheese cake, before moving onto a Mega Main and Moose Ears. I had chocolate milkshake to drink.

I had to try the cheese cake, and wasn't disappointed. The base was crunchy with a bit of sharpness to it, I think it was lemon. The cheese struck the balance between firm and soft. It had just the right consistency that it held together on your fork, but melted in the mouth. The topping's strawberries were fresh, though the jelly was perhaps too sweet. A fantastic slice of cheese cake and a great start to the meal.

Game Review: Diablo 3 (Patch 2.0)

Genre: ARPG/Dungeon Crawler
Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Mac

Release date: 15/05/12

Developer: Blizzard Entertainment

Diablo 3 is the long awaited sequel to the monumental Diablo 2. At launch the game was plagued by the always online requirement, Real Money Auction House (RMAH) and poor looting. 2 years later some of the issues have been fixed with the addition of the 2.0 patch. The RMAH has been removed, loot itemisation vastly improved and heroes have been furthered balanced. Unfortunately the always online requirement still exists, which may severely hamper your ability to play the game. 

Diablo 3 is set some 20 years after the events of Diablo 2 with a mostly new set of heroes. You choose from the Monk, Wizard, Witch Doctor, Demon Hunter and Barbarian. Each hero has the option of male or female and each features unique voice acting, which is appreciated. I created a female wizard, after playing a Sorceress in Diablo 2, and started on Hard difficulty.

Jumping into a new game the most striking feature is the dated visuals. While as usual, Blizzard's art style is strong and can make up for some deficiencies, the game clearly lacks in the graphics department. Characters are rough and low quality, which is especially noticeable when you take a closer look. Textures are also muddy. While it doesn't detract from the experience, the game certainly isn't beautiful. That said the presentation is otherwise impeccable. The voice acting, sound effects and sound track do a great job in bringing the world to life. 

Characters are especially visually lacking

Like its predecessors Diablo 3 drops you straight into the action, this time in the town of New Tristram. Your hero has followed a mysterious falling star and finds New Tristram beset by the walking dead. As your hero stymies the tide of monsters, you uncover the larger demonic plot and the threat to the world at large. Blizzard's recent attempts at story telling have been somewhat ham fisted and Diablo 3 is no exception. The game features B movie tier villains and so much hair brained bravado from your hero that it's hard to take things seriously. This is especially unfortunate as Diablo 2 managed to craft a brilliantly sombre atmosphere.

A Guide To Employment In Singapore As A Foreigner: Getting Your Job

In my last post I outlined some of the basics of finding work in Singapore. Arriving at Singapore without a job offer, in the hopes of finding employment is bold move. I would not dissuade any one from trying their luck and finding employment this way, but keep your expectations realistic. To put it simply most employers don't want to bother with you, since they have to go through so much effort to hire a foreigner. It is entirely possible to be success in your endeavour though. If you are an experienced professional it will be significantly easier for you to find a job. For fresh graduates it will be much harder, but still doable. You will need to have the right skills, and ace an interview if you want a job as a foreigner. Let's get to the strategies you'll use to maximise your chances of finding your job.

Test the waters before you arrive

Use sites like JobStreet to scope the job market and assess the demand for your set of skills. Even better; apply for those jobs and see what the response is. You may even get an interview before you arrive in Singapore.

Abuse the visa system to extend your stay

If you are still looking for a job and are worried about your tourist visa expiring, don't fret...much. Leaving the country for a few days then returning will give you an extension on your visa, from 30 - 90 days. Malaysia and Indonesia make for great weekend getaways. I know friends who have done this a couple of times successfully, extending their stay in Singapore by several months. Obviously don't do this too often, or immigration may get smart to your scheme.

A Guide To Employment In Singapore As A Foreigner: The Basics

Singapore is a desirable place to live and a great country to start your career in. All the major corporations exist in Singapore, infrastructure and modern amenities are in abundance. Moving and working abroad will also set your resume apart from the rest. However the Singapore job market is extremely tough as an entry level/fresh graduate foreigner. There are a few hurdles to overcome to finding employment, so let's go over the basics first.

Job market

Singapore's economy is in good health and its considered the high tech centre of South East Asia. The pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries are prominent and many technology companies have bases, like Sony, Philips and Google. Chances are if you have a degree, you can find suitable work in Singapore. Check this page to see what skills are in demand.

Employment Legislation

In Singapore you need a work pass/visa to work. These are typically applied for by the employer on your behalf, if they wish to hire you. Employers have to fill out paper work including justifying to the government why they should hire you over a local Singaporean. This year the government will put into place plans which will make it even harder for foreigners to find work. What does it mean? That employers will tend to ignore you unless your skills are in demand, or you already have a work pass.