Singapore without the Sling!

I know, I know… it has been far too long since I have last written. Believe me all the “hint-hint” messages were hard to ignore. But some stories need to be mulled over and cultivated in the mind for a time before it becomes apparent to the storyteller that the tale is finally ripe for sharing. As I am a bit rusty at the whole art of writing, forgive me if this one was plucked from my memory a bit prematurely… but ultimately I think the blame should fall on those who kept pushing. :) HMCS OTTAWA was towed through the murky waters to it’s lonely birth alongside Singapore. We were dwarfed by our travel companions, as we were docked alongside the American naval ships, the one Canadian flag flying boldly in a sea of red, white and blue. Unfortunately, Singapore was not in her best attire for the visit, as fires have been raging in Malaysia for the past few weeks, and as a local paper printed, “matches are still the cheapest method of field clearing.” The dense, beige smog hung low in an already humid atmosphere; Singapore only experiences two seasons: Hot and Hotter. Fortunately we were experiencing the Hot season. But with the addition of the Malaysian haze the heat seemed almost unbearable. The first evening we were unleashed into Singapore’s bulging downtown core at 5:00 local time. I escaped with 3 fellow Stokers for a night of merriment. We boarded the MRT, Singapore’s efficient rail system, first stop, Chinatown. We were on the hunt for good food and a massage (my idea, but quickly adopted by the others). We managed to find an economical, yet equally enjoyable, alternative to visiting a spa. You see, there are many reflexology and massage therapy vendors lining the dense Chinatown expanse. We managed to discover a tiny shop on the third floor of a Chinatown mall and quickly signed up for treatments. I opted for a 30 minute foot reflexology therapy. It turned into 30 minutes per foot and cost me a whopping 20 Scoobie Bucks with a 5 buck tip. “Scoobie Bucks” was the slang term we gave the Singaporean dollar. My Dutch blood was a’ tingling at the obvious deal, as the spa treatment I had booked would have cost me 300 Scoobie Bucks… I made sure the next morning that I cancelled the treatment, vowing to search out more of these local vendors. The evening then took an unexpected turn as we found ourselves in a club boosting an Asian cover band… there is something to be said about watching 4 twenty-something Asian boys screaming out Metallica lyrics to an adoring crowd of young college students. We got such a quick out of it, that I even managed to snap a few photos of the guys. Kevin Albert (one of the stokers) was upset that the band didn’t sing like the Metallica cds… to which Quinton Cennon quickly pointed out that they didn’t quite look like them either! We spoke to the bar tender about good local places to check out from there and were advised to check out a small club under the Hyatt Hotel on Orchard. I was thinking this sounded like a great idea, seeing as the Hyatt is a well-known, high priced, classy establishment, so naturally the club associated would be comparable. Well, let’s just say I was right about it being “high priced.” I don’t think there was one girl in the joint that wasn’t on the clock. The room was very classy indeed… something comparable to a business adult’s lounge, with rich wood grain and exotic lighting fixtures. The difference was that the room was filled with middle aged white males and Asian females in very slinky attire. Go figure, I had managed to stubble across Singapore’s underbelly. Now I am a rather shy person by nature. Sure I have no problems with standing before a crowd of thousands speaking my mind… but when it comes to being surrounded by women so desperately begging to be objectified, I get a little uncomfortable. For starters I was wearing a turquoise button up top with a golf skort and flip-flops… not the most flattering “I’m here to show off my assets (emphasis on the “ass”) evening wear.” So, naturally you feel out of place in the bare skin sea of hormones. I decided to be a sport and wait out the night until the boys got bored with the surroundings and I could slink back to the boat. In retrospect, I don’t regret the experience one bit. I’m glad I was there to witness the oddness of it all. It’s strange to watch people old enough to be my parents, so desperately crying out for attention and a warped version of affection. It really made me feel more empowered that I do not swim with that crowd, that I am not dependent on human contact to the point I would search for a bastardized version of intimacy. All I feel is a need to say “Thank you, Mom and Dad” and “Thank you, Kevin.” The next day was a day of exploring that started as early as possible. Unfortunately that meant waiting until 12:00, as the second day was a working day filled with storing ship (taking on supplies by hand) and our hallowed cleaning stations. But, soon enough the leash was unclasped and we venture out to discover more of what Singapore had to offer. We seemed to rush through the city’s delights in an effort to capture all the sights and sounds on film… planning to truly take in the experience while back on board sifting through the digital imagery. We visited Chinatown, yet again (and a personal favorite), Little India, and then back to Orchard, the downtown shopping core. It was equally as choking hot, but the beauty soon revived us. Chinatown was filled with so much colour and life, the shops and wares spilling into the crowded alleys and street… I have the pictures to prove it. :) Little India left a lot to be desired in my opinion. I found it very dirt and almost impoverished. The only highlight of our visit there was finding a traditional Hindu Temple swarmed with colourful statues of all the Hindu deities. One comical thing of note, and yes, I snapped a picture, straight across the parking lot from the Hindu temple was a little, hidden Buddha statue sitting in the grass laughing. My evening was cut short, as I had volunteered to attend a reception on the ship’s flight deck. Many dignitaries and foreign ambassadors were in attendance and I wooed them all with my tales of life as a female engineer on the high seas. All in all it was a great experience. So many different stories and experiences to exchange for new ones. The third day was a day of Duty. I was an upper deck sentry, toting my C-7 rifle and accessory belt. The heat was unbearable, with the only relief being a menial breeze barely reaching me from the water. If there was any potential threat to the ship and her crew, I wouldn’t have been all the intimidating with my feet dragging and my rifle hanging from my shoulders, looking like a waif searching for an oasis in the choking heat. I sure did get a lot of stares though. Apparently I look “hot with a gun.” Really? Cause I sure did feel HOT! The fourth and final day was a day jammed packed with trying to fit everything we had missed during the first two days into. I think we did a pretty good job. We went back to Chinatown for food and shopping, went back to Orchard for shopping and ice cream (so good) and then to a spa for massages and pampering (Chinatown variety). I managed to pick up quite a few great souvenirs for family, and of course myself – come on now, I am my mother’s daughter. Mom, you would love it. I bought a gorgeous red and gold Chinese style jacket made of 100% Chinese silk. It was designed and tailored in Singapore and fits me like a glove. On that note, I must say, “I love Singapore. They are MY people.” The Promised Land, where I would never need to hem my pants! So, all in all it was a fantastic experience. Yes, Kevin I have taken your much repeated advice and am making the most of each port. I’ve managed to experience a lot and stretch my money like a yoga master! Today was a rather momentous occasion as we have crossed the Equator. We are now undergoing extensive initiation rituals to be accepted into “King Neptune’s Realm.” It is all a part of “The Crossing The Line Ceremony.” An old navy tradition were all the “slimy, unclean tadpoles” (me, and anyone else who hasn’t yet crossed the line) are initiated to become “Shellbacks” (all those who have crossed the line before). The festivities kicked off about an hour or two ago, where we were all mustered up on the focsle (the pointy end) and witness our fellow shipmates dressed in character. We had mermaids, enforcers, the herald and Davey Jones. All there to ensure us Tadpoles are clean enough to enter King Neptune’s Realm. Tomorrow is the initiation ceremony, complete with an “interesting” breakfast and a dunk in the pool. No please forgive me, as I am quite cold from my initial Tadpole bath… I’ll explain more tomorrow, as I am still not completely sure what lies in store… especially since I am the Leader of the Tadpole Liberation Army (TLA). :)