Journey for reeds

OK, everyone knows that I have lost the reeds that Jinyang gave me. My sincere apologies to him.

But everyone also knows that one cannot practice without reeds.

So Nick gave me a suggestion, or rather comment, that I should go buy cheaper reeds, as I am a beginner. I totally agree with him.

I sms-ed Jinyang several times. His only response is "Arrrggghhh!". Obviously he is very unhappy with my fault.

I reached at Singapore today morning. After some nap, and lunch, I took 154 to Clementi, started my journey for reeds.

Following direction from Xianwei, I took MRT to Jurong East, had a 20 minutes walk in IMM (Because I was lost inside), and reached at this shop called "Bandworld". The bad thing, was that the door of the shop was closed tightly. Then Xianwei told me that I had to call them first. The result is, the music shop will be opened at 7.30pm. OK, mission failed.

Then I asked Edna. She said there is a shop called "Swee Lee" at Bras Basah Bugis. That's all, no more information. So, in quite a confused mood, I went on MRT, toward Bugis. After I reached at Bugis, I had to stop in front of the information board for 5 minutes, until I finally found that "Bras Basah Road". This time, I walked for about 30 minutes. Only then I realised that I won't be able to find that shop all by myself, so I sms-ed Edna, "Bras Basah where? I think I am lost". She sms-ed back in not more than 10 seconds, and told me that it is just beside National Library. Then I felt cheated (not by Edna), because I passed by National Library at 20 minutes ago. Walking back to National Library cost my another 10 minutes. When I finally reached at this "Bras Basah Complex", I felt cheated again, because the signboard is at the another side of the building, which I passed by before. After 5 minutes of searching inside this stupid complex, I reached at "Swee Lee Company".


This is the National Library I am talking about.

I bought an oboe reed of Rico, medium soft, for $13.70. Have no idea whether cheap or expensive, but I felt quite happy already. Anyway, this is the cheapest I can find there. And they only have 3 kinds of oboe reeds, one is hard from Rico, another is some unknown brand.



After I tried out, I conclude that the reeds that Jinyang gave me must be hard. The reeds part and the cork part are a bit longer then Jinyang's, making it easier to sound, but also a lot easier to loose control. I prefer the previous one.