Walking in Little India I saw a sign at a restaurant advertising “Free Coffee” with any order of our pig organ soup. You might need something stronger than coffee with that?!
Tonight on my way home, I saw a sign in the MRT indicating a fine of $500 if you are caught eating or drinking anything on the trains. NO FOOD OR DRINK! The fine is higher for smoking!
I made it to the Botanical Garden today. It looks, well, very botanical. It’s a wonderful park and so quiet here in the city of Singapore. Lovely plants, an orchid garden, a ginger garden and more. However, since I was trekking in original forest, it didn’t really capture my attention. Maybe it was the ache in my feet from wearing worn out sandals for too long yesterday?!
I had a wonderful afternoon exploring and got to China Town finally. It’s clear that I’ve got much left to explore in Singapore. There are so many sights and scenes, I could be here another week looking at all the sights. Well, maybe another week tasting foods I haven’t had a chance to eat yet!
Big guys don’t bounce! Maybe you knew that already but I was reminded today when I slipped on oily concrete steps in China Town and landed on my back. Good thing I work out and have enough muscle strength to counter the fall. I’ve got a bruised spot on my back, on my right forearm and a jammed middle finger on my left hand that will remind me of my experience in China Town for several weeks.
I found a Chinese Pharmacy and they had a salve stronger than Tiger Balm that includes a pain killer. He offered me the sample bottle so I wouldn’t have to buy some. I bought some anyway to have. It cost $3.50 Singapore.
When I got to the Indian Restaurant where I ate last night, I asked Tarik if he could get me some ice. He brought a small bucket and later refilled it for me. That really helped with the swelling. I’ll see how the body feels in the morning when I heft up my four packs of over 30 kilo’s as I head to the airport. That’s over 65 pounds for those of you not paricularly Kilo literate. The weight keeps going up as I found more spices at the market tonight so packed them in my new little bag that somehow has nearly filled up!
The other man at the restaurant listened while I told him it was my final dinner in Singapore before I leave for home tomorrow and I really loved their Tandori Chicken. I plan to teach myself how to make it at home. He told me to write down my email and he will send me step by step instructions for how to do so!
Now, I’m finishing up packing. I checked with Singapore Airlines about flying into Tokyo tomorrow and they said everything at the airport there was OK. Soon, I’ll have my bags checked, will be lugging 6 kilos’s of Buddha around the airport along with my laptop and eventually reclining in a luxury I haven’t experienced since I left in December.
Today, coming off the MRT on my way from China Town, I noticed people stopping for no apparent reason in front of me?! Passing them, I saw they were preoccupied with games or texting on their cell phones. Then I noticed about half of the passengers approaching from the other direction were heads down doing the same thing. That’s a dose of reality as I head back to the civilized, busy Western world.
Now to put on some more of that balm.