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Maybe not Gordon's last trip
Well the picture that should come with this card should be of one of eighteen, five storey shopping malls which sit on only one street in Singapore. This city must be the most conspicous centre of consumerism in the entire world. Every name from Ashley to Zeigna in shop after shop after shop. I had to have a look but after a couple of hours of coming across gaunt eyed western men trailing in the wake of flat shoed, determined looking, spouses I had to head for the river and, of course the food.
Whatever I think about the shopping I have to pay homage to the smooth way in which the system treate the user. Doors open effortlessly, water flows asked from taps, hand dryers dry, blowers blow, bus stations broadcast messages on arrival and departure...........everything is there to make sure that nothing interferes with the shopping experience. And even if you feel that 'nature' may call you and your credit cards away from the streets of dreams, don't worry, there are free toilets to be found on virtually every corner and every floor of every store.
My little cards fought to get out of the dark but all I bought were some camera knick knacks. My spending was restrained to food experiences, the capital being Chilli Crab..........a dish of large Sri Lankan crab cooked in chilli and tomato. It was messy but it was worth every cent. Enough garlic to knock over a horse and enough chilli to get it on its feet again.
Religion seems pretty liberal.....its the first time I remember being asked to convert to Buddhism and Mormonism in the same day which leads me to the sign of the day:
Jesus is the reason for the season.
That said it is a bit bizarre listening to Doris Day asking to "let it snow, let is snow" and disco versions of Adeste Fidelis when you are sweating your way down between the air conditioned malls.
One place above all others............The Esplanade....an arts and theatre complex which puts the Sydney Opera House and the Glasgow Armadillo to shame from the outside, and from the inside is quite fantastic with a theate, concert hall and galleris under one roof.
Off now to Jarkarta.
Just as I get the georgraphy of one city, and its currency under control, I am off to something, somewhere else but.............I am not complaining, far from it. Sorry to all of you 'well wishers' who are asking for some bad news.........but the fact is I am having the time of my lifetime I suspect.
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