I met with my friend Mei this afternoon for a coffee at the Coffee Bean. While waiting for them to make my iced coffee, I watched the activity behind the bar. NO ONE was very friendly or appeared to be very happy. They were seemingly efficient. I watched the espresso get dosed, then tamped….weakly, knowing it wouldn’t taste great. I can’t help it!!! I watched the shot and timed it in my mind: 15 seconds! It should be closer to 25 seconds, they’d be fired in Italy. The standard there is 2.0 ounces in 25 seconds or “off with their head”!
I went to the airport this morning which took a long time! The ticket office I needed was one stop away so I walked. It was closed until 10:00 so I had 40 minutes to kill (I did find great pulled coffee, through a sock, while waiting). Once back and waiting in line, the computer kept crashing.
FInally, one hour plus after I arrived I was off to the airport. I walked up to a counter for Singapore Airlines with three people sitting behind a “counter closed” sign to ask them where I needed to go. One man asked for my passport, fired up a computer, asked me a couple questions, got m an exit row window seat all the way to LAX and then pointed me to “Row 4” where I could checkin since it was less than 48 hours until my flight.
THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN IN THE US WITH UNITED….maybe in the past but they have lost the customer service touch. At Row 4, I asked if I even needed to be there. She took my passport, looked up the flight number, verified it was an exit row, printed my boarding pass and told me I only needed to check my luggage Tuesday morning. WOW!
After I left Mei, I went shopping. I know, not something I every enjoy doing but necessity and foot pain called. My poor Reef flip flops are about flopped. One strap threatens to pull out completely and a strap on the other show had one strand snap so it now flops lightly on top of my foot when I walk. The bottom of both is so compressed, I can now feel rock at the arch of my feet when walking.
Unfortunately, Asians have small feet and in hours of shopping in many different shops, I located one pair of size 13 that weren’t very good. I’ll wait until I get home.
Back to the hostel, I dropped my things, had a shower and headed out for dinner. I forgot it was night market in Little India so walked more than I had anticipated. But I couldn’t stop! I had no map or plan, I just started walking, turning here and there as I felt guided and wandering through the evening buzz. HUNDREDS of Indian men out sitting and standing in conversation and connection filling the street with the most pleasant buzz. I’ve never experienced anything like that in my life! Amazing really!
Eventually I wandered into an area that was familiar. Last night, I took the MRT train, changed stations a couple times, got off at Little India and walked to the same spot I found tonight. I had no idea it was so close!
Imaging this: I’m sitting at an Indian restaurant, eating Murtabak with chicken, sipping a TIger beer and talking to the man from the restaurant about why the Pentagon is shaped like a five pointed star. It’s the only thing about the US he doesn’t like. (If you have any insight in to this mystery, please help!) The couple at the next table left and I asked if I could have their bucket of ice for my beer. He brought the bucket over and then filled it with more ice for me!
On the way back, I stopped at the Mustafa Center. It’s two city blocks of shopping and about five or six floors with virtually everything! Everything!
I went looking for a small travel bag I could use for my workouts when I get home. My backpack weighs too much for Singapore Airlines standards so I must split it up. They do allow for two checked bags (no charge) so I’ll organize that tomorrow.
Walking through the store, I came upon an amazing display of flashlights. The one my sis gave me before the trip crapped out. Three guys helped me and finally told me to go to “Basement 2” for the one I needed. Even though English is widely spoken here, I’ve had many challenges speaking it, being understood and understanding what others are saying!
Down to “B2”, I found another impressive display. Three more guys helped and showed me a small light that doubles at a spot light. It zooms out to be visible at 1000 feet or so and then zooms to a wide angle for more diffused uses….perfect!
The bag cost me $19 SIngapore dollars, the light $15 Singapore dollars or about $26 US for both.
I must have caught a bug here in Singapore. Here it is after midnight, I had two beers with dinner and I’ve just returned from shopping!!!! I don’t shop or at least didn’t. I’m sure not up to helping Joser look for shoes but this was OK.
Tomorrow, other than repacking my things and organizing for the flight home the next day, I have no plans. I may go to the island and beach or to the Singapore Zoo which I’ve heard a lot about. I’ve seen and experienced soooooo much in the past months, nothing is really screaming at me to go see and experience. Perhaps I’ll graze my way through the neighborhood and sip some Masala Tea while finishing my mystery novel.