it begins.....
Well exams are over.
Do you ever get that “I’ve fucked up really bad feeling”
I’ve had the feeling twice in 1 week and currently in the process of praying to 4 or 5 mainstream gods, 7 or 8 gods from civilizations that haven’t really existed in a few thousand years, as well as a few from those hokey religions that are either set up to fuck virgins, scam money, or write tax off.
As a result I’m currently “sacrificing” many bacardi and coke's in these gods honour, I know its sacrilege but I’m pretty desperate.
So despite spending time at the airport having a religion experience with my mixed drinks, the whole process was uneventful, other then trying to get an exit row seat, which involved lots of puppy dog eyes at the check in staff..... Success! Never underestimate how far pity can get you.
So the flight was pretty ordinary, beautiful air hostesses, who were moderately competent, as opposed to say British airways, with airhostesses who look like a younger version of your grandmother, who are highly competent.
Killed the time reading, drinking, and playing video games *cough*.
So hit Singapore, first impression is its so unbelievably humid, I’ve never experienced anything like it before, and the streets are so clean and organised, its like the entire place has been build up from the ground over a 40 year period, so its all so properly planned, and organised.
Also no bill boards at all, random technology signs and logo’s tend to be the most noticeable characteristic while driving from the airport, the taxi driver didn’t seem to speak a word of English, though when he almost drove over a hooker 40 seconds from my hotel room, it was like the switch had been hit and he was quick to explain the entire area was filled with Chinese hookers.....and fucking hell, he wasn’t kidding, as another taxi driver the next night put it “bee’s going for the honey”, I agreed their was allot of honey, infact seemed to be far more honey then bees.
Now when I booked the room the lady on the phone warned me it was in the red light district, it was only for a few days so it really wasn’t a big deal at all, then on the drive to the room I saw how clean it was in the city on the whole and just laughed to myself, how bad could it possibly be?
Well it was different from other red light districts I’ve encountered, dodgy looking people which is standard, and dirty, but I just didn’t get the sense of being in any danger their at all. Seems to be very little violence, and drug use in general, though the ENTIRE place was one giant “hooker fest”, it took a few days to realise that every single chick in a 500 odd metre radius, who was carrying a handbag, and was either alone or with her other friends was a hooker.
So the hotel room was small, really small, kind of had a "get your rocks off and get the fuck out” feel about it, though after two nights their I had no real complaints
So day 2 and my friend flew in early and arrived about 8am, so we went to explore the “shopping malls”, which is just crazy, I swear maybe 5% of Singapore is just a series of shopping malls that are interlinked through a series of steps and escalators, its like Escher on crack!.
I personally believe it’s possible to spend a good few days without seeing much natural sunlight, and as we discovered it really is true.
The Singapore train system its basically what Melbourne’s should be, its clean, fast, efficient, and uses smart cards, which you just run over a sensor and it lets you through, as well as the fact you can recharge them, such an improvement on like everywhere.
Its really bizarre, on the trains the majority of the ad’s have a real “good citizen” feel, tackling issues from education, reading, not doing drugs, being polite, courteous, reporting suspicious behaviour, you name it!
It’s 1984 gone right, for better or worse the fact that nobody has any rights to criticise the government, has lead to what at first glance appears the be one of the cleanest most liveable cities in the world, with people who seem reasonably content with life.
The shopping district was just huge, pretty much everything you can find in Melbourne and more, all the standard chains...star bucks, kfc, boarders etc.
Interesting note about boarders is people seem to view it as a public library, and it’s always packed with people sitting round reading.
So ended up back at the hotel after a day or wandering around, went to find a vegetarian restaurant with my friend ,which really wasn’t that hard, and other then the public humiliation that came with my chop stick display it was pretty much all good.
After which I declared I wanted to find a dodgy bar, I had been eyeing this one place, as I’d walked past it several times in my wanderings, couldn’t see through the windows, so curiosity got the better of me.
We walked into pitch blackness, and their was a Stewart with a torch, I couldn’t see more then a foot in front of me, though it appeared to be lines and lines of booths.
We were ushered into one ordered a few beers and 3 chicks came and “descended” on us, it took all of 5 seconds to realise we were in a hostess club, and let me just say for the record it was very, very unsexy, as these “skanks” were trying to make conversation, after wiping our hands with moist towlettes, I looked at my friend in horror, this really wasn’t the place I wanted to be at all.
Downed half a litre of beer in record time (luckily Singapore beer is sensational), payed for some of the most expensive beers I’ve ever had and got the fuck out of there.
The whole experience was funny in a non-ha ha way. Though 5 minutes later it was funny in that ha-ha way, lesson here is do not go into any place you can’t see inside of.
I would have more comfortable if they had just tried to mug us, no luck there I’m afraid.
Well with that drama out of the way, we were catching up with some friends of my travelling companion at “zouk” http://www.zoukclub.com/ , which is one of the true super clubs of the world, size wise it really isn’t any bigger then say QBH in Melbourne, but it was far better designed.
Small florescent animals hung from the ceiling, and there were several bars.
The whole place was efficient as any company I’ve ever worked for, throw out the whole “underground” element, members had swipe cards, and drink cards had barcodes on them, entry was high, really high, and drink prices put to shame anything I’ve seen in Melbourne, or pretty much anywhere, but for an hour its 2 for 1 drinks, which is time to get loaded.
And I did, 4 “glasses” (seems to be a little less then a pint), to take the edge of the very average progressive house being played, these Singapore kids do it differently, they aren’t jaded, seem very optimistic, which to me seems to be a by-product of removing a drug culture from the club scene, frankly I was gagging for some good drugs and some weed, but instead, finished myself off with a long island iced tea, with the subtlety of a brick.
Left a few hours later, I’m getting too jaded for bad music.
Next day we moved to the parents of my friend’s room mate’s girlfriend, ands frankly it’s heaps nicer, and they have gone overseas, so I can drink my own weight in alcohol, and sloth around.
Today is Sunday and I guess its time to rest, task 1 is to get another bag, so I can get rid of all these unnecessary clothes.... (hoodies + Singapore heat do not work).
Hope everyone is well, healthy, and staying out of trouble .
Later
Gideon
Do you ever get that “I’ve fucked up really bad feeling”
I’ve had the feeling twice in 1 week and currently in the process of praying to 4 or 5 mainstream gods, 7 or 8 gods from civilizations that haven’t really existed in a few thousand years, as well as a few from those hokey religions that are either set up to fuck virgins, scam money, or write tax off.
As a result I’m currently “sacrificing” many bacardi and coke's in these gods honour, I know its sacrilege but I’m pretty desperate.
So despite spending time at the airport having a religion experience with my mixed drinks, the whole process was uneventful, other then trying to get an exit row seat, which involved lots of puppy dog eyes at the check in staff..... Success! Never underestimate how far pity can get you.
So the flight was pretty ordinary, beautiful air hostesses, who were moderately competent, as opposed to say British airways, with airhostesses who look like a younger version of your grandmother, who are highly competent.
Killed the time reading, drinking, and playing video games *cough*.
So hit Singapore, first impression is its so unbelievably humid, I’ve never experienced anything like it before, and the streets are so clean and organised, its like the entire place has been build up from the ground over a 40 year period, so its all so properly planned, and organised.
Also no bill boards at all, random technology signs and logo’s tend to be the most noticeable characteristic while driving from the airport, the taxi driver didn’t seem to speak a word of English, though when he almost drove over a hooker 40 seconds from my hotel room, it was like the switch had been hit and he was quick to explain the entire area was filled with Chinese hookers.....and fucking hell, he wasn’t kidding, as another taxi driver the next night put it “bee’s going for the honey”, I agreed their was allot of honey, infact seemed to be far more honey then bees.
Now when I booked the room the lady on the phone warned me it was in the red light district, it was only for a few days so it really wasn’t a big deal at all, then on the drive to the room I saw how clean it was in the city on the whole and just laughed to myself, how bad could it possibly be?
Well it was different from other red light districts I’ve encountered, dodgy looking people which is standard, and dirty, but I just didn’t get the sense of being in any danger their at all. Seems to be very little violence, and drug use in general, though the ENTIRE place was one giant “hooker fest”, it took a few days to realise that every single chick in a 500 odd metre radius, who was carrying a handbag, and was either alone or with her other friends was a hooker.
So the hotel room was small, really small, kind of had a "get your rocks off and get the fuck out” feel about it, though after two nights their I had no real complaints
So day 2 and my friend flew in early and arrived about 8am, so we went to explore the “shopping malls”, which is just crazy, I swear maybe 5% of Singapore is just a series of shopping malls that are interlinked through a series of steps and escalators, its like Escher on crack!.
I personally believe it’s possible to spend a good few days without seeing much natural sunlight, and as we discovered it really is true.
The Singapore train system its basically what Melbourne’s should be, its clean, fast, efficient, and uses smart cards, which you just run over a sensor and it lets you through, as well as the fact you can recharge them, such an improvement on like everywhere.
Its really bizarre, on the trains the majority of the ad’s have a real “good citizen” feel, tackling issues from education, reading, not doing drugs, being polite, courteous, reporting suspicious behaviour, you name it!
It’s 1984 gone right, for better or worse the fact that nobody has any rights to criticise the government, has lead to what at first glance appears the be one of the cleanest most liveable cities in the world, with people who seem reasonably content with life.
The shopping district was just huge, pretty much everything you can find in Melbourne and more, all the standard chains...star bucks, kfc, boarders etc.
Interesting note about boarders is people seem to view it as a public library, and it’s always packed with people sitting round reading.
So ended up back at the hotel after a day or wandering around, went to find a vegetarian restaurant with my friend ,which really wasn’t that hard, and other then the public humiliation that came with my chop stick display it was pretty much all good.
After which I declared I wanted to find a dodgy bar, I had been eyeing this one place, as I’d walked past it several times in my wanderings, couldn’t see through the windows, so curiosity got the better of me.
We walked into pitch blackness, and their was a Stewart with a torch, I couldn’t see more then a foot in front of me, though it appeared to be lines and lines of booths.
We were ushered into one ordered a few beers and 3 chicks came and “descended” on us, it took all of 5 seconds to realise we were in a hostess club, and let me just say for the record it was very, very unsexy, as these “skanks” were trying to make conversation, after wiping our hands with moist towlettes, I looked at my friend in horror, this really wasn’t the place I wanted to be at all.
Downed half a litre of beer in record time (luckily Singapore beer is sensational), payed for some of the most expensive beers I’ve ever had and got the fuck out of there.
The whole experience was funny in a non-ha ha way. Though 5 minutes later it was funny in that ha-ha way, lesson here is do not go into any place you can’t see inside of.
I would have more comfortable if they had just tried to mug us, no luck there I’m afraid.
Well with that drama out of the way, we were catching up with some friends of my travelling companion at “zouk” http://www.zoukclub.com/ , which is one of the true super clubs of the world, size wise it really isn’t any bigger then say QBH in Melbourne, but it was far better designed.
Small florescent animals hung from the ceiling, and there were several bars.
The whole place was efficient as any company I’ve ever worked for, throw out the whole “underground” element, members had swipe cards, and drink cards had barcodes on them, entry was high, really high, and drink prices put to shame anything I’ve seen in Melbourne, or pretty much anywhere, but for an hour its 2 for 1 drinks, which is time to get loaded.
And I did, 4 “glasses” (seems to be a little less then a pint), to take the edge of the very average progressive house being played, these Singapore kids do it differently, they aren’t jaded, seem very optimistic, which to me seems to be a by-product of removing a drug culture from the club scene, frankly I was gagging for some good drugs and some weed, but instead, finished myself off with a long island iced tea, with the subtlety of a brick.
Left a few hours later, I’m getting too jaded for bad music.
Next day we moved to the parents of my friend’s room mate’s girlfriend, ands frankly it’s heaps nicer, and they have gone overseas, so I can drink my own weight in alcohol, and sloth around.
Today is Sunday and I guess its time to rest, task 1 is to get another bag, so I can get rid of all these unnecessary clothes.... (hoodies + Singapore heat do not work).
Hope everyone is well, healthy, and staying out of trouble .
Later
Gideon
