Singapore Stop Over
Trip Start
Nov 05, 2006
1
81
182
Trip End
Jan 14, 2008
Singapore,
Singapore
Sunday, May 6, 2007
All things are available in Singapore so it's a great stop over city between bigger destinations. We did learn that buying drugs is better in the other countries as many things that are over the counter in Vietnam or Thailand require prescription here. Also, major difference in price. However, you are risking counterfeit drugs in the less developed countries - and who knows what is in there!
So after a few easy, blissful days of shopping and napping we'll be off to Egypt (where I hear the touts are worse than Vietnam!). Laura and I each got a hair cut. Laura, who of course went to an Asian salon (what choice did she have!) came out looking like a Thai Airlines flight attendant. She seemed very pleased. She walked around all day saying..."Wow - I may actually be pretty today. First time in months!" I got another buzz cut, this time not so extreme. We are off tomorrow, on our 10-hour flight to Cairo where we begin our adventures on the great continent of Africa.
Laura's Comments on the Trip So Far:
Well, we are finishing up in SE Asia. I will so miss all of this wonderful Asian food! Rice, rice and more rice. Even sticky rice! What do they eat in Africa anyway? A couple of random observations - so far Oreos and Pringles have been available every where - in both Mexico and throughout SE Asia. We'll see if the trend continues. The only fast food restaurant that we have seen on both continents is KFC. Starbucks did not make the scene in Mexico, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam. It did appear in Thailand and of course, here in Singapore. We've seen mummies in Mexico and Vietnam (HCMC - at the History Museum). Another theme that will surely pop up again. In SE Asia, flip flops rule. While I might have felt awkward in my tevas in Mexico, everyone here lives in some kind of teva or flip flop. Flip flops make it very easy to take your shoes off as you enter guest houses, residences, etc., which is a pretty common practice. Also in SE Asia - motorbikes rule. Whether cruising the countryside in Cambodia, or ruling the streets in Saigon - the motorbike is an essential here (except in Singapore!). A discouraging concept, the whitening creams here. Asian woman go to great lengths to avoid the sun, and whitening creams are a common concept here. I saw them in Mexico as well. Bummer. And finally, traveling with your husband like this forces conversations that really should not be had until maybe the tenth year of marriage. We've had to discuss gastro-intestinal sounds, symptoms and byproducts! These conversations are really better undertaken by more "seasoned" couples. My mother would have died to be having these discussions so early in the relationship! However, we have found our groove and are rather enjoying this travel thing. From our protecting each other from the touts to our "do your own thing" days I have to say...I'm really getting into this!
Before I forget:
"Thank you" (phonetically, of course)
Singapore - Thank you
Malaysia - Terima Khesee
Thailand - Kap Kuhn Kaa (or Kap if you're male)
Laos - Kap Jai (lie lie)
Cambodia - Acoon
Vietnam - Cum Earn
and "Hello"
Singapore - Hello
Thailand - Sabadee (usually pronounced Sa-ba-deeeeeeee!)
Laos - Sabadee
Vietnam - Sin Chow
