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Sticky Singapore
Entry 40 of 115 | show all | print this entry |
Well, here I am, and I remain, underwhelmed. My built-up image of Singapore was that of a super-clean, neat-freakish 'fine' city. In fact, the only neat things were the airport, train, and the malls. Otherwise, much of the city is slum-ish, with trash all over the ground, and folks repairing old crappy chair and bicycles. I feel really out of place- English is spoken, and is the lingua-france here, but I think people resent it when one starts out the conversation with English. So the trouble is - do I say hello in Manadarin, Malay, Tamil, or Cantonese? I think I'll just so as the Singaporeans do and not talk to anyone else. I am currently in Little India - in the slummiest hostel I could find, but I am getting used to it, to the touts trying to sell me suits, and the smelly produce-juice running rancid all over the skinny street. The Indians are the most friendly though - I had a short converstion where we shook hands, and held them until the end of the discussion. A cultural thing that I've been expecting, and really it wasn't bad. My big beef is that I am one of the few white people here, so I am stared at quite a bit. I tend to like blending in. Probably won't be happening for quite a few months now.
I actually ran away from a tout today - he had a silk robe all wrapped up and ready for me to buy, telling me that selling it at such a low price would bring him good luck. So I lied and said I had no money. He walked me to the ATM. I ran up a flight of stairs and into a back alley while he had his back turned. I felt rally bad, he was nice enough, but far too pushy. I need to learn to barter now, I see. It is also bloody hot here; sticky, in fact. There are no hot showers, but they are unneccesary. Now I shall go do the typical touristy thing - eat chili crab and have a tiger beer.
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