5. Side trip continued: Singapore

View from Turtle Island

A couple of days after the lovely Steamboat dinner with friends in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia it was time to head down to Singapore. But not before stopping to purchase a few more new vcd's. Now some may ask, what is a vcd (video compact disc). Well it is like a dvd (digital video disc), but the quality is not always as good, and there are no bonus features but they are incredibly cheap. I bought many before I went to Japan so as to have some entertainment for my laptop computer. I would not realize until later, that this was a very wise purchase. 

So off to Singapore with my friend and former roommate Latisha and her fianc?Michael. They drove and it was only a few hours down south to Singapore from K.L. Before entering Singapore, we had to go through customs. I figured there would be no problems. Then I was asked if I was transporting any cigarettes, chewing gum or vcd's. Yikes! I had two out of three (NO, not cigarettes...I have never smoked!). My friends said 'No' for me and after a quick, non-probing look into my over- stuffed suitcases, the customs officer let us pass on through. Whew! I had no idea those were the kind of things asked about at the border or I would not have risked such a thing. If you are wondering why vcd's and gum, well... there are a lot of pirated vcd's in circulation, and gum is not allowed to be chewed on the streets...seriously. 

Merlion, symbol of Singapore

Singapore is know as a "fine" city, not just because it is beautiful and has a fine appearance, but because there are signs for fines for many violations, including chewing gum out in public. It may seems strange to have so many rules regarding trash, gum, and other things, but if you ever go to Singapore, you will find the cleanest city that you have ever seen! It really is amazing! No trash floating along the gutters, no garbage cans spilling over, not gum or cigarette butts scattered along the sidewalks...nothing.

I was scheduled to stay a few days with my friends prior to the big move to Japan so we made a point to just relax, by going down to the pool, barbequing, strolling about town, and taking a few tours. One day Latisha and I went downtown so that I could pick up my token Hard Rock Caf?and Planet Hollywood glasses...of course, could not forget them while I was there. We walked around the canal area and took a short canal cruise throughout he city. It was lovely. There are bridges or varying designs throughout the canal. Also along the way, you get to see a statue of Singapore's symbol, the Merlion, with it's top half of a lion and bottom half like a mermaid. We also went to have an afternoon drink of pearl tea. In Singapore it was called a Happy Cup. There was a menu of dozens of flavors of the pearl tea. The little chewy pearls (boba) that sink to the bottom of the cup are made of natural tapioca. I had a banana boba drink and it was delicious...perfect on a warm day. Just a side note, in case not everyone was aware, there are several places in St. Louis that now serve the Bubble Pearl Tea, they are Cha Yoon on Euclid, Little Saigon Caf? also on Euclid and St. Louis Bubble Tea in the Delmar Loop.

On a day on my own, I went on another boat ride, but this time I went out of the Singapore Harbour and visited a small place called Turtle Island. This place was really neat because there were all these little turtles everywhere. The view from the island, between the coconut palms of the Singapore skyline was beautiful. In each city I visit, I always try to allow for at least one day on my own, walking about. It never fails to amaze me the wonderful things you can come across while just walking; the small temples, the little shops, the daily life of its citizens...the true heart of the city.

The next day the three of us traveled to the Crocodile/Reptile Park, where I saw more alligators and crocodiles than I had ever seen before at one time. There were just tons of 'em, lying all over each other, with their mouths agape and their eyes staring up at you. We went to watch a show of some guys who were playing with alligators. Yes, playing...wrestling around and doing tricks...wow. This park was great, it had crocs, iguanas, Galapagos turtles, and snakes. A highlight of the trip was having a photo opportunity with my friend, while we got to hold two of the park's residents. Latisha opted for the baby croc, whose mouth was taped closed and I gladly chose the 76kg python. It was an incredible feeling having this massive creature wrapped around neck and shoulders, weighing more than one of my suitcases! 

Reptile/Crocodile Park: trainers with crocs

Now if this was not exciting enough, we then went on a night safari. It was beyond words and I truly wish I would have had more time in there. There were many species; lions, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, bats, rams, snakes, birds... To walk a dark trail and hear the animal sounds reverberating through the trees, knowing you are only a fence away from them was exhilarating! We also got to walk into a bat cave. That was really cool because there were all these small brown bats hanging about. Once in awhile they might land on you or swoop very close to your face, what an experience!

My last night in Singapore was spent quietly with my friends enjoying a nice grilled satay dinner, recanting past adventures in St. Louis.

Well my side trips to Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore had achieved its purpose. They gave me a chance to relax with dear friends, while giving myself some private time to contemplate my future in Japan. And so I went, leaving Singapore on March 4th, 2001 for Narita Airport in JAPAN...and then to my new home, in Kamogawa.

Laura with Latisha and friends: baby croc and 76kg python

Next #5: Arrival in JAPAN

Please contact me with any questions, comments or suggestions: laura.paige@scanews.com or check the website for color photos of the trips at www.scanews.com/japan.

(to be continued...)

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