Time in Singapore

After an tiresome and uncomfortable wait in the Cebu airport, we took flight and entered Singapore. Our hostel was clean, air conditioned, included hot water, but had a shared bathroom. However, since it was called the "Dragon Inn" it made up for any shortcomings.

Upon walking around Singapore I was immediately struck by how much safer it seemed than the Philippines. No gun toting guards at every business (such as the pizzeria guard we encountered the day earlier in Philippines) or bag checks at malls. We started off the day going into the Muslim district, passing by a block entirely dedicated to beautiful textiles. Later in the day we checked out little India and ate some fantastic Indian food for 5$ each. Its about the cheapest option there is for eating over there. The outward structures of Hindu temples were also quite amazing, incorporating countless statues and carvings of deities and heroes in the polished and dyed exterior.

I also noticed that jaywalking is the norm there. Now I've always said this about my hometown, P.A., but Singapore beats P.A. hands down in the jaywalking department. Walk lights are completely and utterly a convenience, the exception for walking not the norm.

It was pretty cool seeing the fusion of Arab, Indian and Chinese cultures mix in Singapore, and the next day we also saw where all the whities hang. We went to Orchard road, a very long street lined with shopping malls, coffee shops and department stores. It was clear that we had entered "expensive land" and brands that I would never conceive of purchasing in a million years were presented to us at every angle. Named like Gucci, Loui Vitton, Dolche and Gabana, etc... are just "tv land" words to me. There is a diminishing gains effect that happens in clothes, and I don't need to pay ten times as much money for an extra 10% gain in quality. Those kind of stores literally boggle my mind when I think of how much better the money could be spent than there...

While in Singapore I woke up one day and felt the usual semi-hardened lump of mucous from Asian air in the back of my throat. I applied the proper suction from swallowing but it didn't budge. That happens sometimes when the phlegm is particularly bonded with the flesh, so I swallowed again, creating more suction... Hm..., no dice. I tried again and this time it hurt. Something was up. I started to believe that this "mucous" was not mucous at all. I looked in the mirror and said "ahhh". My uvula had became intensely swollen and elongated to the point where it rested on the back of my tongue. This became highly annoying as it constantly triggered my swallow response throughout the following days.

Later in Singapore there was some unknown event among little India, since as we were walking around we noticed something strange. The streets were completely filled with swarms and swarms of Indians. Not just Indians, only Indian men. Not just Indian men, only Indian men with mustaches. Now we had always noticed a prevalence for mustaches among Indian men but I was awestruck by the sheer mustache-fest among the men there. The choked sidewalks and streets were teeming with mustache more than any 70s porno could ever dream of. Anyway, it was a weird vibe. About 90% or more of the people sported them.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable and polished kind of city, but a tad expensive.