From the Misfiring Neurons of Chris Lim….

-[Fri 9/6/02]-
Every morning we feasted at the fine breakfast offering. The hotel, The Royal Plaza on Scotts Rd, is owned by the Sultan of Brunei. As a surprise only to me, it does not serve pork. He’s Islam. Breakfast meats were turkey, beef and chicken. Our daily eatings include, smoked salmon, foie gras with crackers, and the typical South East Asian rice and noodle dishes. I was surprised that it was included with the room.
At 4:00 am Saturday (SGP time) we awoke to pack for the flight to Malaysia. Its been an interesting stay. The hotel has ADSL internet access, however work was the farthest from my mind. I allowed for the quick checking and replying of some emails. We left for the airport at 6:00 am.

Today CP has to go to work. I’m left to wander the city. Two malls were my primary destination. Funan the IT Center (yes that’s what its called) and Sim Lim Square. Public transportation in Singapore is a joy. The underground MRT system is efficient and frequent, albeit busy. Cars are expensive and enjoy a gigantic 100% tax. A fairly decent Honda Accord costs SGP$180K (about USD$40k).

I took Orchard Road’s MRT station to City Hall Station, cost SGP$0.80. FtIC was a large 7 storey mall (pictures later) filled with vendors that sell everything from abacus(yes, really) to Zoom Modems (I thought we went bankrupt?) It had about 20 stores per floor. Unfortunately many stores only opened at 11am. I bought a couple CD’s and an international wall outlet converter. Next I took the MRT to Bugis Junction. I also had to make a transfer at Raffles.
Sim Lim Square was but a 5 minute walk. I refer to it as the 5 minute was from Hell. At 12pm, Singapore is defeatingly hot and humid. The island is a fiery cauldron just 2 degrees north of the Equator. Perspiration, nay the sweat that streamed down my back collected an drenched my belt. Time for a new belt…. SLS was a 5 storey densely packed version of Funan. There I bought an “original” VideoCD of a movie for CP. Travis and Hywell would drool over the WALL of computer cases that filled sections of the mall. I liked the hydrolic-looking one that opens like the doors of a Testarosa [sp?] and the clear REAL bevelled glass cases (SGP$300!) any case can be made to order. I left for the hotel totally had my fill of computers for the rest of the day. Oh wait … I still gotta check my mail….

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-[9/5/02]-
We landed in Singapore last week at about 7am SGP time. The weather was hot and humid as expected. A large vanlike cab took us to the hotel for SGP$35 about USD$20. It took about 20 minutes as it was during the morning rush hour. We spent that day walking around Orchard road mainly buying the clothing we would wear for the week. Our luggage was filled with mostly gifts and the essentials.

Got a couple T-Shirts for Hywell and Travis. Singapore is as always the model of cleanliness and how a metropolitan would be under strict rules punished by the levying of LARGE fines. Smoke in a restricted area you’re fined $1000, no if and or ‘butts’. Ok so the life here is sterile , but it also feels safe and most people are courteous to foreigners. Me, the quintessential tourist carrying my Sony Handicam, pointing to every little nuances of life not experiencable by the outside world. Oh, look an entire store selilng nothing but condoms…

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Ok, tomorrow’s the day we fly off half way around the world. About 9800 miles to be a little more accurate.

Me, wifey and soon to be baby will be on vacation. We’re going to Singapore and Malaysia for 2 weeks. 19600 miles each should almost buy us an airline ticket. I wonder what airline Singapore Airlines are affiliated with.

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