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Sometimes I feel like I am the only person in the world who fills up on water, however temporarily.
Right now, I'm sitting at a table with an entire bottle of sparkling water, and I'm not going to manage to drink it all in one sitting.
Singapore has been beautiful, but also tiring and hot. I have mostly stayed in the hotel, where my room has an absolutely ridiculous view. With the exception of today, when I went out to meet a friend and we walked through 30C heat-and-humidity, fit to broil me in sweat. I was sincerely slick across the skin by the time we reached the place we were going to lunch.
I'm happy to report that Singapore isn't entirely given over to the modern, flash, and fancy. In a little street of restaurants and bars, we found a place that doesnt look like it's changed its decor since the eighties. And I don't mean bright and tawdry neon; I mean lino floors, melamine tables, and the old 'Chinese' paintings and ideographs on the walls, framed beneath glass.
Chin-Chin runs a brisk and cheap business with an extremely simple menu - the height of the 'if you're good at it, ride that train all the way down'. That said, most westerners wouldn't dare eat there for fear of food poisoning - it's got that look about it. Although honestly those places generally have the best food. We had a meal for two, it was filling, and it cost about the same as one meal would have cost elsewhere. Which, on this street where the buildings look like they were built during Singapore's early years of colonisation by the British - complete with wooden shutters - probably means they own the shop and space outright. Because the rent on that street would be absolutely RUINOUS.
Granted, to get there, we had to emerge from the modern, flash, and fancy shopping centres that...sincerely? Look like something straight ouf the Australian 00s (possibly the American 90s) - bling and lights and colours and EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
UGH.
Anyway, it's been an excellent couple of days. Even if I've been battling this damned virus. That, or the air-conditioners are drying out my throat something ferocious.
Tomorrow, I wake early and fly to Hong Kong where I will be seeing my half-brother and the niecelets.
And dealing with Dad, who I suspect has an "offer" of a business proposition.
And I am busily reminding myself it is not up to children to fulfil their parents' dreams.
Right now, I'm sitting at a table with an entire bottle of sparkling water, and I'm not going to manage to drink it all in one sitting.
Singapore has been beautiful, but also tiring and hot. I have mostly stayed in the hotel, where my room has an absolutely ridiculous view. With the exception of today, when I went out to meet a friend and we walked through 30C heat-and-humidity, fit to broil me in sweat. I was sincerely slick across the skin by the time we reached the place we were going to lunch.
I'm happy to report that Singapore isn't entirely given over to the modern, flash, and fancy. In a little street of restaurants and bars, we found a place that doesnt look like it's changed its decor since the eighties. And I don't mean bright and tawdry neon; I mean lino floors, melamine tables, and the old 'Chinese' paintings and ideographs on the walls, framed beneath glass.
Chin-Chin runs a brisk and cheap business with an extremely simple menu - the height of the 'if you're good at it, ride that train all the way down'. That said, most westerners wouldn't dare eat there for fear of food poisoning - it's got that look about it. Although honestly those places generally have the best food. We had a meal for two, it was filling, and it cost about the same as one meal would have cost elsewhere. Which, on this street where the buildings look like they were built during Singapore's early years of colonisation by the British - complete with wooden shutters - probably means they own the shop and space outright. Because the rent on that street would be absolutely RUINOUS.
Granted, to get there, we had to emerge from the modern, flash, and fancy shopping centres that...sincerely? Look like something straight ouf the Australian 00s (possibly the American 90s) - bling and lights and colours and EVERYTHING IS FOR SALE.
UGH.
Anyway, it's been an excellent couple of days. Even if I've been battling this damned virus. That, or the air-conditioners are drying out my throat something ferocious.
Tomorrow, I wake early and fly to Hong Kong where I will be seeing my half-brother and the niecelets.
And dealing with Dad, who I suspect has an "offer" of a business proposition.
And I am busily reminding myself it is not up to children to fulfil their parents' dreams.
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"HUGS"
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Takeout for the win! :D
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Oof - good luck with the Dad thing. Mine often had those sorts of "great" ideas - especially when he was on the manic side of his bi-polar. *hugs*