Five Little Things I Learned in Singapore Part 3

Oh, hello again, Changi!

1.  I was so busy holding off sarcasm and incredulity I totally missed the fact I may have been subjected to discrimination. But I'm giving the immigration officer the benefit of the doubt. He's just doing his job, after all.

Immigration officer: Is this house? (pointing at the address on my immigration card)
Me: Yes.
IO: In a building?
Me: What do you mean?
IO: Is this apartment?
Me: No.
IO: Condo?
Me: No.
IO: A real house?
Me: Yes.
IO: On a land?
Me: Uh, a house built on a land, yeah.
IO: Stand alone house?
Me: Yes.
IO: Not building?
Me: A house. A real house. Built on a land with neighbors next door, yeah. Near the American School?
IO: Ah. Okay. Here you go. (finally hands my passport back)

 2.  13th floor exists in Singapore! Ha! I didn't know that from previous visits.

3.  Me and Orchard Road? We click. My cousin and I would leave the house together and then split once we arrive in Orchard. She would go about her business and I was left to my own devices to explore. And explore I did.

4.  Traffic. There's traffic now in this city-state, even along the expressway. What's happening? I asked the taxi driver on my way to the airport.

Me: Is there traffic?
Taxi driver: Here and there, ye.
Me: I noticed that. What's with all the road construction everywhere?
TD: Ha! They keep digging and digging.
Me: Why?
TD: We don't know! The electric company is digging and then when they finish, the telephone company will dig again! And water also. They dig and dig on the same spot. Never-ending!
Me: That's sad.
TD: I know! That's why there's traffic. We don't have them before.

5.  I saved the best for last. Let me just take a moment to fully appreciate and celebrate this. My phone is working! I mean, I had a working phone. In Singapore! The first time I was in the country I didn't have roaming service and that's when cellphones don't have Wi-Fi connectivity yet. Then I lost my phone the same hour I arrived on my second visit. This time was a success.

Singtel was having problems the whole week so the internet at the house comes and goes. Sounds familiar, eh? Props to Takashimaya, Paragon, and Ion for their very good internet access. The other malls have to keep up. I can get network reception at Causeway Point better than the other malls in Orchard. We had breakfast every day at Starbucks but their Wi-Fi access is asking for a Facebook password. Not happening. We didn't feel comfortable with that. 

Overall, I had an exceptional time. I didn't get to sight-see but that wasn't the purpose of the trip. I learned a lot about myself that I didn't know before. It was raining also so any spur of the moment plans I may have had were immediately canceled. The wet season in Singapore is not until September so it was a bit unusual. The taxi driver told me climate change did that. He was very chatty, that one.

Did I mention it was my birthday week? By far my most memorable one.

Five Little Things I Learned in Singapore Part 2

1. Me, my cellphone and Singapore? We're not meant to be. On my first visit, my international roaming was just an idea. It didn't work. It was something I counted on the moment the plane landed but left me so out of reach for the whole trip I didn't know what to do with myself . I felt like a drug addict undergoing withdrawal. Every single day I would check my phone in the morning hoping to see something on the signal indicator. Nada. One week I was depressed because I can't use my phone except to take pictures. It felt ridiculous charging it twice because it didn't serve its main purpose. Five years later, I finally have that "Welcome to Singapore" message on my mobile the second I turned it on. But then in two hours, whether I have roaming or not didn't matter. I have no mobile device to speak of. Welcome to Singapore indeed! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. New shoes, new sandals, never a good idea. On the fourth day, my niece, the curious child that she is, asked why I have bandages (yes, plural) all over my feet. 
3. Short pants equals mosquitoes. I was so traumatized by my last vacation I promised myself to never go anywhere wintry again. Or at least the next time I go out of the country. And I was happy, deliriously so, to be able to go out and about not wearing jeans or any warm clothes. Not a fan of layering, me no deny it. Funny how you don't factor the little things when you think you had your way. I got home from a day of fun with mosquito bites all over my legs. Off! lotion failed to do what it's supposed to do. 
   
4. City tour, never again. You wait and wait, and wait, and wait. Precious time wasted. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. This one's so unusual it took me a while to get over it. Dog poop in the sidewalk. Like seriously. The Singapore we all know is changing and I should have realized it after my mind reconciled with the fact I actually lost my phone in this city-state.

Five Little Things I Learned in Hong Kong

1. It's extremely helpful to travel with friends who take it upon themselves to read maps and train routes for the whole group. Follow the leader. Life's easy that way. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. People can be mean. I have learned of that so very early in life. In Hong Kong, they can be meaner. When the maitre d' sits you in a table right in front of the restaurant entrance with its automatic sliding doors -- the radar sensor kind, take note, that makes her meaner than all of my childhood tormentors combined. Do I have to mention that the place is located in a very busy street? That every time someone stops to read and check out their daily specials posted outside, the door opens? In winter! I don't need to tell you that, no? She can't give us a table anywhere else but she happily assisted the other locals who came in after us to tables upstairs. I told you, mean.
3. You want a Coke? Just say Cola-Cola!
4. When the weather center says temperature could drop to five degrees, believe it. They know better. I had that moment -- that confusing, terrifying moment when I made peace with the world and entertained the idea of me dying of hypothermia right there in Disneyland. No kidding. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. I don't like big airports. Period. 
   
   
   

Five Little Things I Learned in Macau

1. My mind refused to acknowledge the fact the hospitality industry doesn't seem to require their workers to learn basic English. I know it's China and I don't expect them to be fluent in the English language but life could be easier if they show more patience in trying to make their point across. I was the visitor, a guest, they are the host but they were the ones who gave me exasperated looks when they can't answer my questions. There was even one who turned and walked away from me. Rude, eh? I was always the one with the apologetic smile. Shouldn't it be the other way around? If you cannot articulate it, there's always the pen and paper. A little sign language can help, too. 
2. If you're on a budget and trying your best to save more shopping money, don't fret. Just take a stroll up and down Senado Square. Trust me, you'll be fed. There's free food everywhere. You just have to buy yourself a bottle of water and you're set. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Seeing a senior citizen carry a stack of trays up the second floor of McDonald's kind of broke my heart. While I must commend the company for employing the elderly, I couldn't help but imagine her as my own grandmother. Yes, her. She's a she. I guess there are no issues of discrimination with regards to hiring seniors in the region.
4. The best thing about Macau? You can actually get around without paying for transportation. All you need is a map and the ability to read one then hop on the complimentary shuttle buses operated by the major casinos and hotels. Totally free. I love Macau -- with the free stuff! 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. It would do you so much better if you can remember your hotel room number. My friends and I always go out as a group so despite my wrong hallway turns a couple of times, I was good. Or so I thought. I had to go back to the hotel alone when I got separated from them on our last night. Not only did I go up the wrong floor, I also tried to open the wrong door, repeatedly pressed the buzzer and knocked for a really long while before I realized I was in the wrong floor and definitely the wrong door. I also did the same on another door in the other wing believing it to be my other friends' room. Epic. I was four floors up. Good thing no one seemed to be inside those rooms at the time. My butt being dragged to the security office wasn't exactly my idea of a fun-filled vacation with friends had my realization took another minute to set in. Lucky me. 
   
   
   

Five Little Things I Learned in Singapore

1. Changi Airport is one lonely airport. Impressive, yes, but the absence of too much human traffic somehow takes the awe factor away.
2. You have to remember to keep glued to your left all the time. I understand about right-hand drives alright but I didn't know it works for building entrances and exits also. And yeah, hallways and pathways included.
3. Iced tea is well, just iced tea. As in tea with ice. Best not to forget to ask your server for sweetener always.
4. Thank God for third world countries like here. My less than 300Php book costs less than 500 there converted. My 67Php Mcdo fries and iced tea are double the price plus more.
5. And my most stupid act ever? I asked for gums at the airport before going home. I forgot about the ban, honest. I will never forget the incredulous look the girl at the store gave me. It was like if I dared ask why she said 'There's no gum in Singapore.' she's gonna call the police and have me arrested.