Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #8

Despite its efficiency and affluence and technological advancement, Singapore is not arrogant nor self-lauding. Instead, Singapore to me is like a responsible adolescent with well-groomed hair that I just want to scruff up all the time. I want to introduce him to all things fun even if they are sometimes improper. I feel he has a lot to learn if he just lets loose. However, spending time with him also forces me to question myself. Did this kid get it right and all along I was wrong? Is efficiency and and maximum productivity the best way to live? On the plane ride home, I think this over and I decide Singapore did a very big mistake to be who he is today. What happened to wonder, to chance, to truths to be discovered by opening yourself up to chaotic magical surprises? Nevertheless, I still respect him for his principles and decisions. I will never be compatible with Singapore the country. I can never live there. But it doesn't mean I cannot meet him once in a while to learn a thing or two and to be able to realize that no, despite its many flaws, I can never not love the Philippines more.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #7:

Our last day in Singapore turned out to be the third to the last. Before we went out, Majen and I discovered we had our departure dates wrong and missed our flight. We just had to live up to our self-imposed titles, hadn't we? How more tonta can you get than that?! Anyway, while Majen was semi-panicking, I just sat at the edge of Kathy's bed and told her to text Kathy. We talked her over our options and im'd Milan and Toni who helped us call our airline from the Philippines. I did not know whether to congratulate or whack myself for my lack of reaction. It either means I had grace under pressure or I just don't care about anything at all. We considered our options -- to stay one more week, save 50% of the ticket home and spend the saved 50% on food and other essentials, or pay the total of 100% and be in Manila in 2 days. I chose the latter. I would not be able stand Singapore with nothing to do in 5 days. Someone would have to restrain me as I might do more stupid things. Besides, I have an early morning plane to catch Nov. 1 for Tuguegarao. Majen can stay longer because she brought work with her but she also opted to fly with me, she says she's afraid she might throw herself out Kathy's window without me there.

So spilled milk on the floor, we waited for Kathy and went to IKEA. The place is a wonderland. IKEA is my candy store! I planned to buy this beautiful cutlery set for 45 SGD but opted to buy just one sample spoon from the As-is section. Also bought a Filicia throw rug and a work lamp. Of course we could not bring home furniture so we just inspected everything at the showroom and made believe.

The following two days we just killed some time: Continued snooping at Singaporean newspapers (the front page news of the day: 5 SPORTS STUDENTS EXPELLED FOR SMOKING), went to the Leica store at Raffles Hotel, spent Halloween at the Asian Civilizations Museum and wasted 1.5 hours lining up for 1 5 minute un-scary fright show--by far the scam of the decade. Finally did a courtesy call to Lolo Merlion and basked in the glow of the famed Singaporean city lights after eating at the real Makansutra where everything you turn, you hear a group of Filipinos chatting like it was just Divisoria. The Satay was good, too bad no Laksa.

While walking cross the lighted riverside path where hundreds of kids in costumes line up along a bar equivalent to the then Embassy, I was asking Kathy and Majen whether they have experienced being drawn to tears upon the sight of something beautiful like a landscape. They said they haven't. I have, I admitted despite predicting laughs and jeers--one time ago in a beach in Batangas. I was walking along a deserted cove then with my friends hundreds of meters away resting in the siesta heat. I just could not contain myself at the beauty of it all and teared up. How funny, I tell them, all these man-made grandeur, although overwhelming for most, does not elicit anything in me. I recognize all the human innovation and skill put into all these, all the planning involved, all the organizing skills, the science, the engineering. But I felt nothing staring at it. I was a bit bothered.

Perhaps the most fun Majen and I had, except for the zoo and the International Photo Festival respectively, is the quiet times at Kathy's place in Kembangan and meals at Hawker 110, our neighborhood hawker center. Majen loved the iced lemon tea.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #6:

- Time to do the touristy things. Majen and I went to Orchard just so we can say we went there. later, we went to Sentosa for the same reason. Rode the Luge which was okay. I hadn't done any exhilarating rides in a while. I imagine it would be fun for a groups of rowdy people. The beach sucked though. I had an urge to announce, "people, do not look too happy. you haven't been to Boracay yet" But that's just me being snobbish. Hehe.

- Bought a luggage bag on sale at Vivo City. My shopping crazy brother and aunt would love Singapore for all its consumerist wonder. I just felt poor.

- Aside from the involuntary study of human interaction in this country and the awe with which I find efficient things -- how that hell could someone or a group of persons have thought of that and actually made it happen (i.e. synched bus stops and mrt rides, tap-automated almost everything) and why the hell can that not happen in the Philippines in a million years-- what kept me enthusiastic for most of the stay is the food! Hainanese Chicken, Onion Prata, Kaya Toast, Indian Curries with Naan, Hokkien Mee, Springy Fishball Soup, Different kinds of Tofu, Cereal Prawns, Nasi Lemak, Braised Pork Pao, Iced Kacang, all permutations of coffee and tea, etc. I've tried. I still haven't tried the Chili Crab, Laksa and Satay though which I plan to sample tomorrow at Makansutra when we finally do the most touristy thing -- picture taking with the Merlion at the Esplanade. Egh.

- 6 days in to Singapore and I already am starting to tire of it. No wonder why I get a sense that people here sometimes look lifeless. Kathy and Fred admit they are more enthusiastic people in the Philippines. Singapore does things to you, they say. I tell them they should not let it. But internally I correct myself. Easy for me to say. What do I know, I don't have to work here for years like thousands of Pinoys. Only they know how it really really is. I've just been given a glimpse.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #4

- While Majen was working back at Kathy's house, I went to the city and headed towards Arab Street and Haji Lane. On the way I saw the Parksquare View tower and it reminded me of Ayn Rand and 1930's New York. I liked the gloominess of it. i also saw two glass buildings, I forget what they are called. Because they are shaped like toblerone bars made to stand, they look tall thin sheets of glass at an angle.

- Arab street and Ha Ji Lane are like a bigger Cubao X arranged around a Mosque. Rounded up the shops but entered just one which says "Used Books". I found interesting ones inside as well as Vinyl and LP discs of artists I would listen to. The person manning the shop had dreads past the waist. He was a welcome sight amidst all these properness. I also bought durian cake from a little shop where people lined up. Figured the cake was good just by that and the heavenly smell. Let's see when I get back to Manila.

- My real agenda coming here (aside from IKEA, that is) was the Singapore International Photo Festival. 8 shows, hundreds of photographs in different locations in the Bras Basah district! I was only able to go to 6 and i was reeling after. Also walking around the area, which is composed of Museums, Galleries, Art Schools, a mix of big and small contemporary buildings, although I truly enjoyed it, can make even a street walker like me ache in the calves. My other stop was the 2902 Gallery in the Old School, a design institute which was on top of Mount Sophia. It's just a hill in Philippine standards, but still. Good thing I asked the girl in the gallery how to get to the National Museum of Singapore the shortest way which is a long flight of stairs through an alley, much like the stairs in Ateneo going to Barangka but longer and more picturesque. I got to the National Museum 7:15 just 15 minutes shy of the free international screening of Tiong Bahru: Civic Life, a 20-minute film about a slice of Singaporean life in a hawker center. Watching it and the 3-minute films that came before it gave me a better sense of space-self connection in the Singaporean weltanshauung.

- Sigh, I really hope we have something like the SIPF in the Philippines also. I really do. It would be really exciting!

- As if the day wasn't giddily overwhelming yet, I met up with Majen and my cousin Seneca for dinner at Little India. I love the spiciness of Indian food. Soaked up the hustle and bustle of Mustafa Center and bought some souvenirs and made a long-overdue perfume purchase.

- Singapore does not encourage people in the streets late at night. At 11:50 p.m. we got left behind by our train (Red Line) and caught a circle line train (Yellow Line) to go to the Kembangan station (Green Line) which entailed lots of running. Hahaha. Majen and I also got left by the last bus and so we walked to Kathy's condo which was okay considering we were laughing like crazy with our take-away iced lemon tea from the hawker center.

- After that, I had to make a last-minute IT for Melaka for the next day. And as anyone would guess, Melaka would not push through.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #5

- Humidity, Majen's monthly period, my body ache from yesterday's adventure, cash just enough as in sagad to the cents for up to Saturday, Majen not so much interested in heritage architecture and walking compared to me--all led to our decision not to go and just squeeze Singapore of its juices.

- Went to Bugis Street market just to see what the ruckus was about and ate lunch there. Brought Majen to Arab Street and just lolled around in the humid heat. Went into the shops this time and struck a little convo with the Chinese Singporean Guy the Define Happiness Sunglass Shop about Ray Bans. Tried bandung (rose) juice. Majen did not like it. She said it was like drinking perfume.

- Was home early around 7:30. Slept like a log after.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #3:

- There's a lady in the Kembangan station who stands in between escalators and greets everybody everyday a good morning in different languages. Kathy said the first time she saw her, she said magandang umaga without batting an eyelash. This morning, I was greeted with Anyong Haseo and just a second later, Konichiwa. Looks like I gave her a hard time. Sorry lady, Pinay lah!

- Surged through Raffes Place Interchange during the morning rush hour just for the heck of it. If you close your eyes, and listen closely, you'd notice there are no murmurs or banter. They were like employees in combat boots or soldiers in high heels and leather shoes.

- Nasi Lemak is love.

- I want to get to know some of the zoo workers and make a photo story of their daily lives. Yes, even when they are in their own HDB's. I just discovered that I adore Asian elephants. I particularly love Gambir and her mahout. I think their relationship is already worth one full story.

- I realize that about 40 percent of human speech in the Philippines consist of complaints. Even when a person is alone, you'd hear he occasional tsk, sigh, guffaw or obvious 'parinig.' One of the reasons people in Singapore don't talk much is that they have nothing to complain about. Everything works perfectly and things proceed like clockwork. The society is arranged in such a way that conversing with one another is minimized. There are signs everywhere for everything. The EZ link cards are your ticket to anywhere. I wonder how the bus drivers do it -- working whole day without talking at all. Majen thinks only a few societies have the concept of panis-laway. Yesterday I bought something in a shop but first asked for the price because i could not see any. The salesman apologized quite profusely for the lack of price tag. I smiled and said it was okay but what I really wanted to do was poke his side and kid him for 5 minutes for being such a worrywart until he really laughs.

- Perhaps the only thing I envy about this country is that it is so safe to use your gadgets in the streets. People use their iPads, phones and cameras everywhere, even in the train. You won't need a zippered bag here. Bringing something as accesible as a basket would be fine.

- Going to Geylang (brothel district FTW!) strangely felt like I was back in college going to my aunt's Malate home for the weekend to rush some papers using her computer. Many of the buildings resembled Sta. Cruz where i worked for a couple of months and one alley looked like my old neighborhood in Barangka. Strangely, Geylang felt like home.

- The MRT Love Your Ride Jingle gives me the Pleasantville creeps. By now I may be partly brainwashed by subliminal messages. If you won't recognize me when I get back, please for the love of all things true, slap me. Hard.

- I haven't done any shooting. Even if I want too, I can't shoot when I'm with someone. Tomorrow I'll be all alone in the big city so I will give it another go. Timely that i read this (http://blog.kevinmoloney.com/?p=650) tonight. I needed a reminder.

- Also, just to save some flying weight, I opted not to bring my (read: paper) notebook. First time to travel without one. Wrong move, indeed. I still cannot write down thoughts electronically. Doing so leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Tomorrow I will get myself a little notebook.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #2:

Same volume of people like in Manila in some places but totally different noise levels. I think this is because many Singaporeans are Buddhists and have a more serene and less aggressive disposition. After getting our feet wet in a Hindu temple during a massive ceremony today (uh, literally as we walked barefoot on wet floors and carpets), Majen Kathy and I immersed ourselves longer in a Buddhist temple. I liked the recorded chanting there. At first I thought it was real chanting and started to look for monks. I discovered small round ceiling speakers instead. Not bad those little things.

Las Turistas Tontas Status Log #1:

Singapore is so organized I wanna wreak some havoc.

think tank retrospective 30

i want this bag!!! well the gears too... but this bag is pretty awesome! fits everything you need, it's waterproof and inconspicuous too. oh oh oh oh oh! i want this bag!!!

this is the view from my former boss' new apartment in the netherlands. her husband who is also there doing some scientific experiments through a grant entitled his facebook album "view from a crappy place." i'd take a crappy place for this sight. i love the church! i know there are more beautiful and magnificent churches in the area but i like this because it is at the center of a clump of apartments which seem to be enveloping it in an embrace. reminds me of a setting for a musical. an extreme urge to belt out "where is love" from Oliver suddenly overcame me upon seeing this photo. lovely lovely lovely!

(photo by nath)

*image picked up somewhere in the intarwebz,

i can't remember where*

If I ever get to have a kid, I will teach him/her to memorize a few poems just like how my mom did with me. Look at this cute kid reciting "Litany" by Billy Collins. He's a natural at the performing arts. You can tell by his tone and the way he prolongs certain words. Amazing!

i held out my hand and my heart was in it.

I told you about the fool on the hill,
I tell you man he living there still.
Well here's another place you can be.

- j, p, g and r

a moment of clarity, a succession of new questions. age has taught me so many things and, at the same time, has proven that i don't know any more than my 12-year-old self did. life just gives a lot of examples to prove the thesis statement. yet even the simplest of truths has so many facets that any explanation to dissect the many layers of its meaning is left wanting.

this is what booze looks like under a microscope. almost makes me happily drunk just by looking at it. a simple overused "thank you" understates all the gratitude i feel for all the people who have loved me at one point or another all these 27 years. if not in words or in actions, i hope by some telepathic force or energy transference, i am able to send you back all the love i have received tenfold. life is good, salud!

*more booze photos here.*