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First stage of my epic journey to join Anita, Luke, Jo and Chris: complete. But not without a hitch.
I had bargained on spending my punishing 18 hour stopover in Singapore hanging by the pool at the airport. Unfortunately I discovered at 4:00am this morning that I would not be allowed into the non-budget terminal without a boarding pass - which I could not acquire for another 15 hours.
I passed the early morning hours with my newly made friend Devinder, who was unable to book into a hotel until a reasonable hour. He was also in transit on his way to visit his family in Northern India and had some useful tidbits about the culture including:
"Imagine Hinduism is like a parliament... there is a central prime minister (God) surrounded by ministers (demi-gods/esses)... Hinduism remained undefined as a religion for many centuries. It was a way of life, or a community structure. It wasn't until Buddhism arrived in India that Hinduism became a religion."
The Hindu god is an idea of an undefinable greater being, with demi-gods attached to worship this god through. Also, Hinduism has no prophet like the other major religions of the world: Jesus, Muhammad, Buddha - but has formed from a community structure and by the myths recited by priests through the ages.
Other than helping me out with my understanding of spiritual India, he is also an Aviation lecturer at ECU and ex-Singapore Airline pilot. What I learned is that I should never ever fly Tiger Airways again. He explained, that while Singapore Airlines owns them - they don't run Tiger - and Tiger outsources EVERYTHING - including safety procedures... ouch. And that all budget airways make themselves cheap enough by skimping on fuel. Ouch again. Oh well. 3 more flights to go.
I eventually made my way into the city and ate a lot more (it's Singapore!) / found a book fair / watched a movie and now about to see if I can find the Gallery. Anything to keep awake for another 6 hours until my flight.
Foodies: Read On
Devinder also showed me a food mecca hidden within Changi airport...wait for it....the staff canteen! Extremely cheap, authentic and delicious food. The public are allowed in, but the clientele is mainly made up of the workers of the airport with appropriately low prices.
You access it by heading into the carpark to the right of Terminal 2, take a left, follow the signs to the staff canteen, take a lift up to 3M and you're away! I felt like I'd died and gone to hawker food heaven. I got the most delicious dumpling soup for $3.50 (AUD2.75).
- comments
Di Well Hawker Heaven in some way makes up for the posh hotel swimming pool you couldn't use. xxxDi