Jetlag is a funny thing. I should know. For the second time in as many weeks I am in the throes of being lagged. And while the negative aspects of a thirteen-hour time change done twice in a week are probably well documented, the positive attributes are more likely to be lost in the haze of time travel. One of those positive aspects is the remarkable productivity that occurs during the early morning hours of the workday. Always wanted to work out at dawn? Enjoy watching the sunrise? Ever felt the need to wake up at 1:30 in the morning to write a blog entry? Come to Singapore.
So I suppose I should note that yes, I have been extremely lazy over the past month in terms of updating my blog. While unfortunate, it was necessary. I needed to get out in the world and experience some things so that my entry didn't only consist of the mundane aspects of my daily life here in Singapore. Remember, for every two day trip I take beyond the shores of my little island state, there are five days in which I am forced to don business casual clothing and make presentations in Power Point. With that said, I have decided to productively use these unlit hours of the day to share some stories from the past month.
My last entry chronicled the adventures of the Hong Kong Triad as we explored that small, extra-special island of the People's Republic of China. What has happened since then? Well, in addition to working, doing laundry, and eating, I spent my weekends in the neighboring countries of Indonesia and Malaysia. Additionally, I made a brief, but extremely fulfilling trip back to the States.
Indonesia. Fifty-five minutes from the coast of Singapore, by means of a luxurious high speed ferry, lies the northern tip of the Indonesian island of Bintan. There one can find five-star resorts, world-class golfing, palm-lined beaches, and a number of other hyphenated attractions (have I used that line before?). Apparently it is remarkable. I wouldn't know; I didn't go. Instead, I boarded a slightly more outdated ferry for the two and a half hour trip to Tanjung Pinang on the southern end of the island. While the northern end of Bintan is essentially an extension of Singapore's style and grace, the rest of the island is, well, developing. Now, keep in mind, I do not mean developing in a negative sense. Rather, I welcomed the chaotic streets, fragrant foods, and overall dusty nature of my point of disembarkation. As expected, and characteristic of every developing country I have ever been to, I was met by two things upon arrival: stray dogs and a throng of local 'tourist guides' seeking my attention. Well, a guide named Raymond finally earned my attention, but it wasn't easy. I suppose I am become a little bit more skeptical of people's intentions in my old age. When I was younger I would just toss my bag in the back of a car and head off to whatever hostel they claimed to represent. "Oh, you said it was called 'Mugandleavefordead Youth Hostel'? Sounds nice, let's go!" Now I actually ask questions. For Raymond, he earned my business by accompanying me from place to place while I ran various errands and concurrently asked inane questions about Bintan, Indonesia, and his life. I figured any would-be thief wouldn't have put up with such crap. So off we went to the east coast of Bintan, to a promised resort with huts on the beach where I could spend a couple of days relaxing. However, after an hours drive what we came to was a very shady shack-of-a resort with a old Englishman and a Malaysian prostitute playing cards on the front porch. Bad vibe. After promising Raymond that I would pay his commission in exchange for a less-than-shady place to stay, we hopped back in the truck and headed back along the coast to a number of less, well, brothel-like locales. So what did we find? A group of thatched-roof huts on stilts situated a few hundred yards out in the middle of the South China Sea. A slight upgrade, to say the least.
The weekend was full of reading and, well, reading. On Sunday Raymond returned to the east coast to pick me up and take me on a tour of Tanjung Pinang. There we found a fisherman whom we paid to take us around the Indonesian port town in his boat. For several hours I was able to visit mosques, temples, and churches before finally catching my ferry back to Singapore.
Whew...Indonesia. So, a week later I was off again, this time to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. For some reason Kuala Lumpur, or KL, has always seemed like one of the more exotic cities on the planet. And it is, to an extent. The prevalence of very cheap luxury hotels and shopping malls is not necessarily exotic. However, as a Muslim country, both the people and the number of mosques made KL a unique destination. I should note that while Indonesia is a Muslim country, the island of Bintan isn't overtly so. However, Malaysia, as another Muslim country, was, which made it all the more interesting. It was the first country I had ever visited in my life where seeing a woman in a burqua was not uncommon whatsoever.
So...KL. I was pretty much on a Mosque hunt, trying to take in as many religious sites as possible In addition to the mosques, I spent a significant amount of time at the KL city centre, which includes the world famous Petronas Towers and a man who was adamant that I befriend his daughter and take her back to the states with me. My weekend was punctuated by a visit to a phenomenal Chinese restaurant in a local shop house. I had passed it many times on my way to the subway. While seemingly simple, consisting of a number of tables in what was essentially an open garage space, I noticed that it was always extremely busy. Following the travelers rule, which is that the best food is always found where the crowds are, I decided to visit for lunch. To say that I wasn't even remotely disappointed would be an understatement. The chicken curry rice that was recommended to me was phenomenal, as was the ice coffee and frenetic atmosphere of a local's hotspot. That restaurant was the highlight of my weekend.
And finally, my last week, which was spent working in suburban Chicago and celebrating with my best friends in the city. The work week was spent in meetings with people who prior only knew me as a voice on the phone. It culminated with a presentation to the executive group on the work that I have completed for the summer. The weekend was about fun. I was lucky enough to spend it with my best friends celebrating the upcoming marriage of Jonathan Greer. Debauchery? Yes. Fun? More so.
Of course, between these trips I have explored Singapore. I have found that beyond the seemingly sterile surface lies a flavorful mix of Asian culture. I suppose, to further explain, if my trip back to the States did anything for me it was that it made me realize how much I am really enjoying my time here in Singapore.
So, what's next? Friday morning I leave for a long weekend in Cambodia. Afterwards, in just a couple of weeks, this dream will come to an end. I am reaching the twilight of my summer, which means that I am on the precipice of my return to the real world. I suppose, if you think about it, graduate school isn't real at all. Did I pull the Golden Ticket for the summer? Yes. How? No clue, but I would be remiss to say that I wasn't grateful for it.
Looking at the clock I realize that it is 3:50 am. Over the past two-plus hours I have written my blog, ventured downstairs for some instant ramen and a beer, and become tired once again. Until next time...
