The First Mefi Restoration in the Straits.

March 17, 2008 8:12 AM

Announcing the biggest Mefi gathering in Singapore, JB and some say, even Batam!

So long story short, noticed a while back that there are quite a few Mefi-ers (Mefia?) who've registered themselves as Singapore-resident. Combined with any wayward Mefi-ers planning to transit through Singapore (yes, it does happen; will all the guilty lurkers please stand up?), or live nearby, we could have a decent gathering out here.

Up for discussion:

a) Where: Crazy idea - Mefi seems to have already chosen a decent location for us! I don't know why the website defaults to Esplanade when you enter Singapore, but that's a great place as any.

b) What: Why, food of course! We meet up at Esplanade, and head to Glutton's Bay for some good char kway teow, satay or any of those delicacies the place is famous for.

c) How: If you're interested, drop a note here, or Mefi-mail me. I'll mefi-mail you back with my (or any other volunteer's) handphone number. We'll all meet up at Esplanade, chit-chat, discuss Chuck Norris jokes, eat and plan for the next meetup session. I'm trying to keep things simple, really; it's all free-form for now. :-D

d) When: Night time's the right time! From 730 PM-ish onwards, ideally. Looking for date suggestions; given that this weekend is long, perhaps there could be people travelling overseas? In which case, how does 730PM, 25th March sound to folks?

This is to just give a date well into the future as a starting-point for discussion; not really suggesting that 25th March is good. I'm extremely flexible, to be honest, although would need at least two days' notice.

Do feel free to post if there's anything else you'd like to share.

Here's looking forward to meeting y'all fine folk!
--
_{Mad props to infini for reminding me about this. :-D}

posted by the cydonian to MetaFilter gatherings at 8:12 AM (34 comments total)

I just popped in to say I thought you were having a meetup with Batman.

That is all.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 10:40 AM on March 17

I've been not saying exactly what crash just said all morning and I'm kind of upset at him now.
posted by cortex at 11:01 AM on March 17

I just came in here to say what crash said. I am disappointed that I was not first.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:03 AM on March 17

I am also disappointed that there will be no meetups with Batman. I want that shout-out.
posted by middleclasstool at 11:04 AM on March 17

I would travel to Singapore to meet up with Batman and Jim Beam.
posted by sveskemus at 12:20 PM on March 17

Is a reading disability a prerequisite for MeFi membership, or just for Singapore meetups?
posted by Cranberry at 12:37 PM on March 17

The hell with Batman, I just wish I could be there for the food. Have some chicken rice and wave in my direction.
posted by languagehat at 1:53 PM on March 17

The hell with Batman

No, THE HELL WITH YOU!

*cries*
posted by middleclasstool at 2:35 PM on March 17

I just popped in to say I was surprised that there were 8 people from Singapore answering already, but of course, now I see that there aren't. And on closer inspection, of the 13 people who say they're in Singapore, only a few post to MetaTalk, and The Shiny Thing is gonna be at the San Francisco Meetup on the 23rd. Would it be bad form to mefi-mail the non-readers, do you think? Probably. Would I do it if I were you? Possibly. Would I do it for Batman, Jim Beam, and chicken rice? Definitely.
posted by mumkin at 2:57 PM on March 17

I have MeFi mailed people to let them know about a meetup in the past. It even made one of them show up I think. So I would definitely recommend that option.
posted by sveskemus at 3:35 PM on March 17

I've alerted schiddin (and she definitely is from Singapore) although no idea when/if she is available. And I would be deeply disappointed in her if she didn't at least respond in this thread.

Hi Sherlee!
posted by langeNU at 4:47 PM on March 17

Mmmm... chicken rice - I can never get enough of the stuff. Not the Hainanese version mind you, but the Malay variety where it's served with Sup Ayam (chicken soup) and a chili sauce which is a mix of blended chilis and lemon juice. When combined, it's a taste nirvana.

I am now drowning in my own saliva.
posted by ooga_booga at 4:58 PM on March 17

Y'all... it's a Singaporean joke, JB (Johor Bahru) and Batam being nearby cities in Malaysia and Indonesia respectively. :-)

Heh, mumkin and sveskemus: we think alike! :-D I did mefi-mail folks as well; while I could have broken ettiquette or something, here's what I thought: not being a regular in MeTa, I would have definitely missed it if someone posted here alone.

Languagehat, ooga_booga: You'll love the food at Glutton's Bay then! Particularly pineapple fried rice, fried rice served inside a pineapple. :-D
posted by the cydonian at 5:20 PM on March 17

Would this be the first Singapore MeFi meetup?
posted by WalterMitty at 7:33 PM on March 17

Hey, wish I was there--have some delicious Pineapple Rice on me, will ya!
posted by hadjiboy at 10:42 PM on March 17

nihraguk and i may be going...
aren't there any more MeFites currently in Singapore? who else is going to be there?
posted by aielen at 10:37 AM on March 18

7.30pm 25th March isn't a very good time for us though... mon/wed/thurs might be better, if you're looking at 7.30pm onwards...
posted by aielen at 11:01 AM on March 18

I will be there. anyday that week works for me "i'm on holiday" ;p after finishing up a looooong project
posted by infini at 3:41 PM on March 18

Wow, I signed up for an account just for this.

Are MeFi lurkers allowed at meetups? I can lurk around in the background cooking the satay while everyone else downs huge mugs of sugarcane juice and Tiger beer.
posted by hellopanda at 9:10 PM on March 19

Darn it... The one time I'm out of town, and everyone organises a meetup.

Say hi to Batman for me, though.
posted by The Shiny Thing at 7:47 AM on March 20

hellopanda, sure you can if the ketupat is done just right ;p

btw, so its confirmed 7pm at esplanade on 25th?

shiny thing, look at it this way, there'll be a good reason to have another one when you're back
posted by infini at 9:36 PM on March 20

7pm on the 25th is fine by me, unless some last minute work crops up (sigh). But it seems like Tuesday isn't a good day for Aielen?
posted by hellopanda at 9:29 AM on March 22

tuesday isn't a good day for nihraguk. i'm ok with it myself. but maybe nihraguk won't be going anyway; i'm not sure. maybe mefi mail him or sth?
posted by aielen at 10:42 AM on March 22

why not change to a friday evening then? the 28th? or even saturday late afternoon?

just some suggestions ...
posted by infini at 9:31 PM on March 22

Can, can, also can lah.
posted by ooga_booga at 12:55 PM on March 23

so which day is it? saturday late afternoon isn't too ideal for me. friday evening works. but who is going, when's everyone else free, etc etc...??
posted by aielen at 5:10 AM on March 24

Same as aielen here - can't do Saturday 29th but Friday's fine.
posted by hellopanda at 9:00 AM on March 24

Hello everyone:

Sorry for not posting earlier on; was travelling through Malaysia. Seems like there's a mini-consensus here for Friday evening then? In which case, let's confirm Friday evening, 730PM at Esplanade's lobby (near those bubbly fountains); Mefi-Mail me your contacts (email, mobile), and I'll Mefi-mail you all mine.

Confirmations for Friday, 730PM: hellopanda, infini, aielen, ooga_booga and me.
TBC: nihraguk, slf

And since we won't be meeting tomorrow, just thought I'd publically out the fact that a reliable source tells me that tomorrow is infini's birthday. Here's wishing you a Happy Birthday, infini; just save some space and energy for another party on Friday! ;-)
posted by the cydonian at 10:37 AM on March 24

_{Err, or rather, on second glance, ooga_booga might have just been practising his Singlish... ?}
posted by the cydonian at 10:39 AM on March 24

That's just me being silly. I'm just sorry I can't make it! Have some cendol for me. Bastards! Wonderful, wonderful cendol...
posted by ooga_booga at 12:50 AM on March 27

So, ummm, I was the only person to turn at Esplanade today because, ummm, everyone else was busy at work even at 730PM. :-|

Not cool folks, you shouldn't be working so hard on a Friday night!
posted by the cydonian at 7:21 AM on March 28

Damn, I wanted vicarious food photography. Rum luck, Singaporeans.
posted by mumkin at 9:00 AM on March 28

Nobody else turned up? I'm so sorry, cydonian :(
posted by hellopanda at 3:05 AM on March 31

ok, so the cydonian suggests we should all try for a meetup again; i'm game...
am assuming we're looking at 7.30pm onwards, again? this week or next week...? i'm not free this friday night or next saturday night; besides that, i'm relatively flexible.
posted by aielen at 7:06 AM on March 31