Day: 337

My apologizes, my photos have been hit or miss this last week; but seeing how the primary purpose of this trip was to see a lady and I wasn’t pushing taking too many as opposed to just hanging out with Felicia. I am still having a good time.  Even if I don’t have my hard drive filled with infinite pictures of Singaporean malls.  I figure you all understand.

Day: 336

The days with Felicia are wonderful, yet the city-state of Singapore is worth about a four day visit. I am on day 10. In this giant city I find myself wandering the same streets again and again.  Fortunately she keeps taking me to all her favorite places to eat and hang out, so it cuts off most of the monotony (and leaves me so full I could die). I am fairly sure when I get home I will avoid the mall altogether for a few months; I really am a horrible consumer.

Day: 335

Rob says he has become so lazy that he doesn’t even want to write his own post.
I suspect it’s the copious amounts of roast pork and chocolate biscuits that he’s been eating — as much as he claims that it’s the heat and humidity that drains him.

Ah well, at least the pictures are still good.

Signed,

Felicia

Day: 334

We ate, then we ate, then we ate more; there really isn’t 12 days worth of stuff to see here, even for a slow tourist like me.

Tonight we were heading to one of the “prime” tourist attractions which keeps visitors here (the average tourist stays three days and spends $400), the Night Safari; basically a zoo that is open at night to watch the animals as they feed and run around in the dimly lit cages.  A relatively cool idea, and Felicias mom had given us some free tickets, so what the hell.

It took about two hours to take in everything that was offered, including the requisite animal show, and Felicia’s (the extreme carnivore) only response was “Animals are dumb…”.

I just smirked and watched the otters.

Day: 333

Felicia is scared of swans…  Some story about one trying to eat her as a child or something.  Of course, I harassed them on her behalf.

Day: 332

Felicia finally let me out of the room for more than just a visit to the mall, so I was able to finally get some shots at night around Singapore.

And now she says I am just being lazy by only writing this much…

But I’m tired… very tired…

Day: 331

“Uhh… Hi Mr and Mrs Wong, this is the American boy who flew across the world to fool around with your daughter and corrupt her Asian family values with his radical western thinking… isn’t a pleasure to meet him!”

I knew this could easily have turned out to be an awkward day for me, although I am fairly certain Felicia was a slightly more concerned about it than I.  So far we had been holed up in a hotel/hostel in the center of town and all I had been introduced to was a few of her friends (which went well).  Our plans were to meet them for dim sum around brunch time, then later head to the outskirts of the island to enjoy a home cooked meal at their apartment.  Easy enough, now all that was required of me was to turn on that bartender charm and make believe like I am a decent guy.  That might have been where my concern came in.

My instructions were simple; don’t call them by their first names because that would be disrespectful, don’t call them Mom or Dad because that would set off a series of events causing worlds of trouble for everyone, try not to be excessively casual with them (which I am with everyone naturally), and just call them Auntie and Uncle.

I put on my best “Meet the Folks” face and dove right in, and actually to my surprise it all went well and by the evening I was sitting around having beers with her father and looking at baby pictures.  I think the only issue was all the posing for pictures I made Felicia do throughout the day.

Day: 330

For those of you that know very little about Singapore here are a few facts , which have surprised even my family members (and myself).

• Singapore is it’s own country with the worlds second highest population density.  It is not part of China, Malaysia, or Indonesia.
• The first language here is English (although Felicia is also fluent in Chinese, French, and sign language)
• Singapore is the worlds 22nd wealthiest country per capita; just below the UK and right above France.
• They have anti-gum chewing laws and $1000 fines for littering, creating ultra-clean streets and subways.
• Singapore has easily what I’d refer to as the worlds highest concentration of malls and escalators.  I don’t know if this is an actual fact, but I do know I went into three different, six story malls without ever setting foot outside into the heat.
• It contains the worlds busiest trading port and masters the Banking arts.

So, for those of you wondering, No, I did not trick some backwater Asian girl into falling for me, she is easily smarter than me and knows full well what kind of trouble she is getting into. (hopefully)

Day: 329

Unfortunately, Felicia had to work today; starting tomorrow she gets the rest of the time I am here off.  It did actually work out sort of decent for me, seeing how my body is still trying to figure out what damn day it is, and all I managed to do was one short (hot) walk and lots of napping and eating.

Day: 328

This place is damn hot!  I walk a block in the middle of the day and my clothes are drenched in sweat.  I have a feeling you are all going to get a pile of night shots this trip; the city is far more photogenic at night and the sun is not battering down on me.  Although it’s still damn hot at night too!