Day 2 Singapore

Day 2:  Singapore

Pop Quiz: what is this cube? Hint: it came off the pastry tray. Answer at bottom of post (no cheating)

Quote of the Day: I’m the bad guy?

Weather: Steam, tolerable when cloudy and intolerable when sunny

Department of you have no clue: Think you know what’s up with what the kids are listening to now? Watch Billie Eilish bad guy on youtube doing her Grammy award-winning hit.

No mats or bungee cords

THB is up really early and feeling a bit better, so he hits the Fitness Center. Where is everyone: the place is open 24 hours and nobody shows up at 4:50am?

DB and THB go to the prestigious 4^th floor lounge (breakfast is included) and amazingly there is another guy there at 6:30 AYE EM. THB samples the buffet and DB orders eggs scrambled soft and bacon (off the buffet) and toast sandwiches with coconut jam. Afterwards we stroll the riverfront near the hotel, just a few joggers out now.

"Bill"

Top two floors were added when PO was converted to a hotel in early 2000s

THB takes a nap…yeah, it’s only 8am, a guy needs his beauty sleep. At 9:45 we remember we signed up for the 10am hotel heritage tour. “Bill” shows up and an hour tour turns into an hour and a half: we learn about the history of the hotel (mostly a post office completed in 1928) and the environs (a small trading port), and the political history of Singapore. Bill takes us outside and shows us very old videos on his I-pad. Bill takes us inside and shows us where the hotel has a lot of historical information in an area off the lobby. Bill takes us outside and apologizes for running over and runs away. Fortunately, most of us are savvy enough to go back into the hotel and get out of the sun.

Closed

We had done some pre-work on what to do for lunch, picking a spot near a museum that is hosting some of the Singapore Art Biennial; DB had the concierge call and confirm it was open today (a National holiday) and THB had looked on-line to see that one of Tony Bourdain’s tips was open for lunch. We take an $6 cab ride (maybe 1K in crow’s distance, 2-3K’s in taxi distance) through the empty streets of downtown.

You yell and point and eventually the guy filling your plate gets it right

We share and swap chicken (mildly spicy) for beef (very spicy)

Double oops: the restaurant is closed as is the museum. We pick a place to eat that has a line, it’s Indonesia fare. Fortunately, the guy in front of us explains that we order by pointing at various dishes (providing tips on what he likes) and buy drinks and pay at the cashier. $15 for semi-spicy chicken, very spicy beef, several tasty green leafy veggies, very mild aubergine, and two super-sweet “house-made” ice teas. They take AMEX!

Taxi back, $6, where you can only get cabs by either finding a taxi line or calling for one; no flagging one down from the side of the road.

Decide to take a 30-40 minute boat ride on the Singapore river and bay. $20pp, the boat picks up right next to Fullerton. DB sits outside while the sun isn’t shining, THB stays under cover (what was DB thinking….oh, right, it’s a much better view from the back uncovered area and the annoying video commentary isn’t as loud). When the sun comes out, DB comes inside.

Back in time for afternoon tea in the prestigious 4^th floor lounge. Small sandwiches, small sweets, a mochachino for THB and ice teas for both of us.

At 4pm, it starts to rain…hard. We’re resting up so no impact, so far.

The hotel posts on their I-pad in-room device (THB cannot get it to work, of course) that the Fullerton Heritage tour has been cancelled for the time being over worries of the coronavirus. Maybe that’s why Bill was running.

At 5pm, we come to our senses and cancel our dinner plans for chili crab at Palm Beach at 8pm. What to avoid as you get over jet lag: eating dinner too late, eating spicy food too late, too much alcohol late in the evening. A bad trifecta.

Large pary next to us as we dine al fresco (that's Singaporean for al fresh)

Another group picture taken from other end

The "official" shot

Sorry, even though camera was sitting on table, THB wasn't fast enough to capture our meal before it disappeared

The special meal looked special!

We dine in the hotel at 6pm: DB has a burger with fries and wine, THB has shrimp won ton soup with char shui pork and egg noodles, plus a beer, $120. Yes it seems steep, not compared to the Chinese New Year special buffet at $75/pp without drinks. The special buffet looked great, and was way more food than we were looking to eat.

Chocolate in the room from a pack from Trader Joe’s (double imported).

Department of Early Observations: this is a small country, 5 million. Judging by the tourists (it’s mostly tourists we seen) and some locals it is one diverse spot. Religions abutting each other, cuisines varying wildly from restaurant to restaurant, language diversity with English seemingly the common denominator. Ethnic diversity. Some acknowledgment of a colonial past, and not in the way of being victims. And a reputation way, way out of proportion to what THB has seen so far.

THB is keeping an open mind: jet lag, the middle of a three day weekend, and interacting with mostly tourists in a 2 square kilometer area is not a way to form a lasting impression. Stay tuned

Book Review: Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed, Lori Gottlieb: A journalist/psychotherapist writes a good book about what therapy is all about, from both sides of the couch, using her own experience in therapy and stories of some of the more memorable patients she’s helped. THB is here to tell you that talking therapy works (psychotherapists don’t prescribe meds, only physicians can do that).  Here’s a great quote in the book from John Weakland: ”Before successful therapy, it’s the same damn thing over and over. After successful therapy, it is one damn thing after another.” While the book tends towards the optimistic, could use some more editing/cutting, and leaves you wanting to find out who the people in the book really are (obviously to protect confidentiality, the names and any identifying details have been changed), Highly Recommended, and THB also has a great family therapist to recommend if you need one (and if she’s still taking patients).

Shots from around town:

Botero #1

2nd Botero, this one in front of the closed museum

Well, if your idea of mecca is a street full of tchotchke sellers, this is your spot

What is this? THB has no idea...an upside down submergible?

What, you don't know a croissant when you see one? Yeah, yeah, yeah, croissant is a synonym for crescent, every third grade pastry eater knows that. Not so in Singapore; go to the front of the buffet pastry line if you got it right. And, if you have had one, like THB now has, stick with the crescents.