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Cindy's World Trip Blog

January 21, Month 8

Singapore - Motivational Posters Gone Wrong

It is most auspicious that we went to Singapore. Well at least it must have been because I heard the the word auspicious more times that week than I'd heard it in my whole life. Being in Singapore was a fun cultural experience. Especially having come from Australia where the culture, although unique, was very comfortable.

After we arrived in Singapore, we saw tons things in the shape of rabbits, artificial cherry blossoms, and red everywhere in preparation for the Chinese new year. Talk around was about how this or that was "most auspicious" and how all elements of the city were designed to adhere to the concepts of feng shui. Smells were unusual, sight and sounds unusual, tastes... you guessed it - unusual. It didn't just feel like we arrived in a new country it almost felt like we had arrived on a new planet. But because Singapore is fairly westernized and clean it made a nice transition to Asia.

The girls, I am proud to say, have been very adventurous trying new things. The first time we encountered "squat pot" toilets Sophia and Ellie chose to try them even though there were westernized toilets available. They came out looking so proud of themselves. They have also been adventurous with their food choices. Singaporean people are made up of many cultures and the variety of food choices reflect that. We tried Arab, Indian, and tons of different Asian foods. The girls have even insisted on using chop-sticks when available (although I personally insist on using a fork. I stink at chop-sticks).

Not all of the risks have gone well though. One time we sat down for Indian food and one of the kids wasn't excited about it and pouted though most of the meal (although I'm pretty sure she liked it). Another risk gone wrong was when Ellie decided on a whim to try sour-plum juice... it was nasty and we ordered sprite to replace it. Still, I was proud of her for trying something new. Lastly, one food choice we made didn't agree with our digestive systems (not sure which one though).

We felt like the kids would be more willing to try new things if they also got some food that didn't seem so strange to them. This is why we have also gone to some of the chains available here like McDonald's (although I hate the stuff) and pizza hut.

Judging by how many shopping malls there are and how well most people dress I have to assume shopping a major pass time in Singapore. I didn't care much for tromping around malls in my utilitarian, comfortable, travel clothes and exercise shoes among the fashion conscious. Don't get me wrong, I still love clothes and dressing nicely, but this isn't the season for it. I did love the shopping in the less organized areas with worn patina surfaces instead of marble. That is the cultural stuff I love. Weaving through China town and seeing roasted ducks in a row all strung up by their necks and strange dried foods. That is shopping I like even when I buy little to nothing. Little India and the Arab section also proved equally entertaining.

We have also walked through Hindu and Buddhist temples and Islamic mosques. Seeing how others worship is always fascinating to me. It was my first time being in a Hindu temple. I watched as people rang a bell as they made their way in. Next they got in line to see the priest. Some made an offering of food which the priest took up a few stairs to a little shrine. He came back performed a short ceremony with a candle that ended with a white streak across the dot on their foreheads. I need to research it more so I understand what was happening, but even being clueless to why everything was done, it was interesting to see. In the Buddhist temple we walked around, a nice gentleman kindly taught us that it was not polite to point to the Buddhas as we had been. He explained that instead we should use our whole hand (Vannah White style). We were grateful for his advice and have been showing each other things everywhere we go with our whole hand. I feel a little silly, but I don't want to be rude.

Almost all of our experiences in Singapore have been amazing, but none of us will think of Singapore without laughing about our budget accommodations. Singapore, although an amazing place to visit and well worth the trip, has expensive accommodations. We decided to try a hostel to make it more affordable. Our philosophy is generally- clean, basic places will do since we don't go anywhere just to see the inside of a hotel.

Our first warning signs that things were not going to be good were the laminated motivational posters hung all over. They had them up for good reason too. The posters were the kind that usually have a black background, a big picture, and a big headline word (like "patience" or "success") with motivational subscript.

The worst part of the place was the bathroom. Even though the girls willingly tried the squat pots around town, it took some talking to get them to use the shower/ toilet combo there. My girls obviously paid no attention to the motivational poster hung in there with the headline of "difficulty." If they did for sure they would have been fine with the bathroom. I saw the facilities and was hesitant, but as soon as I saw the poster I was fine. No problem. In actuality, I decided that the name hostel came because it makes people feel hostile.

The guy running the place is really the one that should be hostile. His brother somehow suckered him into being there almost 24 hours a day. I got up to use the bathroom one night and noticed shoes by the front desk. I peeked around a little and saw a mat on the floor with feet sticking out. The poor guy was sleeping there then getting up and working all day all except for a couple of hours that I saw his brother there.

We met some other interesting people around town too. My favorite was a taxi driver we met at the end of his work day. He obviously was tired of tourists and could have been doing stand up comedy about how he felt about certain challenges of cab driving. He illustrated how he handled smelly people by rolling down his window and showing us the menthol stick he puts up his nose. It is designed for people with colds, but he has found it useful in his line of work.

Hopefully our time in Asia will continue to be "most auspicious" as the year of the rabbit continues to get closer. Happy lunar new year everyone.