Prelude to Beautiful Seed Concert - part 1

July 30th 2007, 10.30 p.m (Singapore time)

It's a beautiful night and I'm sitting at the hotel's
lounge looking out at the Singapore night sky, overlooking
the Esplanade, the gleaming water, the floating stage being
readied for the upcoming National Day celebrations.
In the distance, I can see the water pouring out from the
Merlion's mouth into the Singapore river.

We just had a production meeting in the afternoon with the NUS Centre For
the Arts production staff and laid out the song list,
fine-tuned the plans for lighting and sound, and I finalised
the choice of a grand piano. I had used the Steinway and Sons
grand piano the last time that I had played in the UCC hall,
during the February 2006 arts festival, but somehow, this time
around, the 7ft Yamaha grand seemed to be more suited to my mood.
So I'm choosing to use it for the concert instead.



The weather has been surprisingly cool in Singapore.
Not much hot sunshine. Just muted brightness and lots
of fluffy, thick clouds overhead.

I've switched over from my daily dose of Darjeeling Tea
at Peets Coffee and Tea, to my daily dose of teh at the
neighbourhood Yakun Tea shop. All in keeping with switching
my time zone 16 hours ahead.

It's funny how it's always easier for me to snap out
of jet-lag coming from Los Angeles into Singapore
rather than the other way around.

We'll be having a rehearsal with the string ensemble tomorrow.
Looking forward to it.