MANILA

In entering the Philippines for the first time, excitement rushed my veins as I breached the humid walls of Manila. Alongside Joshua, warrior for my freedom and travel partner during my first few days, I prepare my soul to conquer yet another new adventure....







Sunday, August 1, 2010

Singapore: "The land of the Lion"



Singapore. If you plan on traveling, travel to Singapore. Quickly becoming one of my favorite cities, I would like to express the perfection and regulation that is dictated over this island/city/country. It is illegal to spit on the sidewalk, street or at all. It is illegal to have gum, it is illegal to litter, it is illegal to eat even close to the tube/train, it is illegal to prostitute without a license and monthly exams, it is illegal to have napkins in a restaurant (because they are wasteful and they fill trashcans, and dirty the city), it is illegal to do anything in this city if it is at all intoxicating to the cleanliness and perfection seen on the streets. If you break these laws, you actually can be caned...but most likely fined.

Singapore is absolutely breathtaking. The moment I arrived I threw a large double fist pump jump at the site of my host, Gitanjali as I saw her through the declarations glass wall. Bag in hand and cleared through declarations, I hugged her four or five times to catch up with the year of a distant friendship. Gitanjali and I worked together at the Gates Foundation and have kept in touch. If I would have been told we would be reunited in Singapore a year later, I would laugh in disbelief. What an amazing place to reunite.

Gitanjali and I caught up with our crazy lives, filling each other in with the details of the past year while taking the train back to her apartment, watching the "practice" parade down her main street, sitting by the pool, and admiring the fireworks (also practice for their independence day). It was a colorful and exciting welcome to the clean and orderly city.



We had dinner my first night at a "Hawker" which is a typical Asian outdoor area with 50 - 100 different kiosk of places to eat surrounded by tables waited by girls in white shirts serving pitchers of Tiger (their version of Bud Light...only 12 bucks a bottle!). We went to the grill/sauté part of the hawker and had amazing LARGE grilled prawns, chicken, and beef.



After returning from dinner and getting dressed up, we met Gitanjali's friend and headed to Clark Quey for drinks and to go clubbing (don’t read this paragraph, mom;)) WHAT A BLAST. Not only is Singapore the most clean and safe city that I have ever been in, it is also a melting pot of an array of characters. We danced until our shoes were filled to nothing. The lights and masses of people were so fantastic I couldn’t help but laugh for hours until we hailed a taxi home. It is a weird site to see so many white guys "mac'ing" on Asian women. What is the deal with that?! It's hilarious.



Skipping brunch the next morning to get an extra hour or two of sleep, we began our relaxing Sunday with a macaroon and coffee. Gitanjali left to pick Pert up from the Airport while I went to hunt down my AmEx, long story short Rodney Reyel stole my AmEx and they just so happen to have an office in Singapore that could grant me a new one. Rodney, if you are reading this...I am not your biggest fan!

I started exploring Singapore deeper once I had my card. It was BEAUTIFUL. Everything was so green and tropical. The perfectly manicured lawns and medians were covered with exotic palms and ferns. The trees looked like Bonsai trees the size of Oak trees.



I started strolling away from the shopping central and into a more pleasant and residential area. I strolled right into an antique/furniture gallery in which was two floors of historic Indian artifacts. It was sensational. Every piece in the store had a tag with the piece’s history. Suki, the owner, when handing me coffee was such a sweet and hospitable first generation Singapore man. Growing up in an Indian family, he obviously took on their kind and warm culture. He asked about my visit to Singapore and shared all the history he could about the islands atmosphere and culture. He had many interesting stories in which I sipped my coffee and we became good friends in a matter of two hours. I wish I had bought something from his store; however the $8,000 brass Indian doors or $3,000 dollar gold and iron dinner tables were a little big for carryon luggage.



Back at the Apartment I surprised Pert and the three of us had a great time exploring more of Singapore, people watching, and eating the most amazing dinner of HUGE crab and prawns in chili sauce and salted egg sauce. We had such an amazing day catching up and site seeing in the city. Tomorrow, as Gitanjali has to work, Pert and I will go to the Singapore zoo and then I go home to get ready for a long night of training. I love my life.



The place we got Chili Crab was called No Signboard because when they started, they were only a kiosk that couldn't afford a signboard...so people called them by No Signboard...their food is so amazing it is now an extremely popular restaurant here.





Hope all is well back in the states or wherever your life has you!

Little fact: 1 in 10 people in Singapore is a millionaire. It has the most BMWs and Mercedes per capita in the world.



Much Love.

P.S. the large boat looking structure on the top of these three buildings (in which are a new resort) is an infinity pool from one end to the other!



I am dringing Tiger Beer, their famous Bud Light!



In the food court, you can pick several of these pieces and then they steam them and put them in a noodle soup bowl. SO GOOD!






The view from G's apartment!



Below is one of MANY amazing green glories of singapore:



Out Car for the evening!....



This is from G's apartment...She has a clear view of this street in which at the end of the month, the Formula One race will turn right here!! SO AWESOME!



Ciao for now!
Hailey

4 comments:

  1. Jealous!!!!!! I wish I could have gone with you!! Looks like you had an incredible time. We will have to head up to Rainier for some winter fun when I get back to the states. Until then...

    Cheers,
    Josh

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  2. Beautiful pics Hail! Thanks for the update, and yes, the twinge of jealousy at your Int'l jetsetting (however work-related it is) has started to settle in. See you in a few weeks!

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  3. Amazing stuff lady! Keep on writing the details! I love it!!!

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  4. Josh - winter fun is boring, when you can have 365 days of sun!

    Hailey - so fun to read what you experienced. Thank you for visiting! You made my day/week.

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