February 2, 2007
SINGAPORE
Orchard Road, Singaporean Wedding
Today was another long day, but every bit as exciting the night before. After wrapping up my morning lectures, I caught the MRT to Singapore’s Immigration services to pick up my identity card and Singapore visa. Being the idiot that I am, I realized when I was boarding the metro that I forgot my passport. Rather than waste time heading back to my dormitory I figured I would give it a go and hope for the best.
As was to be expected, I was not able to pick up the visa without my passport. It was a bit of a bummer because it means I will have to come back another day, but these things happen. On the bright side, two of the attendants at the MRT information desk recognized me and called me over for a chat. I was fairly shocked they remembered me, but I had asked them how to find Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday and we had a great laugh over the build-up to the Singapore/Thailand match. When I told them I made the newspaper on Tuesday they couldn’t believe it, declaring Singaporeans “should not trust this scoundrel, he cheers for Thailand” (reference to my goading from Monday)!
I next headed over to the “lively heart of Singapore”, Orchard Road. This is the densest shopping district in Singapore with all kinds of people showing off their fashion and justifying their existence with mindless shopping. I would equate the district to what the world’s biggest shopping mall would look like if you removed the roof and built a meticulously kept roadway as the backbone. Obviously, I am not particularly keen on over-priced shopping districts, but I was meeting a friend and I accepted that this is a part of Singapore I must know.
We ate lunch at the Asian equivalent of McDonalds, Mos Burger. One difference in Singapore is everyone eats their burgers and sandwiches holding the wrapper rather than the sandwich. I quickly learned why as there was no bread for my prawn burger, but rather two compact pieces of rice (similar to what the rice from sushi would look like if it was shaped as a slice of bread).
For the next couple of hours I toured the shopping malls in search of a dress shirt for a wedding dinner I was attending later in the night. Beyond looking respectable, I don’t think it is all that important how one dresses – I would much rather spend the evening with interesting people than “eye candy.” However, wedding dinners are a big deal in Singapore, and this was to be an exclusive night at a chic restaurant.
The search for a shirt proved futile as we could not find anything better than what I already have. It is extremely difficult shopping for clothes in Asia because my body type is much different from Asian men. I am far broader and any shirts that fit my shoulders are huge at the waist. It was somewhat humiliating trying on clothes tailored to Singaporean men and seeing Sheryl try to suppress her laughter. This has only added fuel to my loathing of shopping centers and fashion lines.
I headed back to my hostel late in the afternoon to prepare for the wedding dinner. After transferring a couple times I arrived at Hui Shi’s house, the friend who invited me to the wedding. She looked terrific, and she was kind enough to iron my shirt (the first time it has seen daylight since being packed in my suitcase a month ago).
Rather than giving gifts to the bride and groom, it is custom to give a "red packet" that contains money (basically to cover the expenses for the night). I was very grateful to be invited because it meant that Hui Shi's parents gave an additional 80SD (55USD) for my place at the table.
We arrived at the restaurant, Legends, and spent about an hour chatting and people watching before food was served at the traditional time of 9pm. I was the only angmoh present, and as was remarked to me throughout the night “people keep stealing looks at you!” I cannot complain because I enjoyed winking at the young girls who would turn three shades of red as they ducked behind their parents for cover. One of the funnier things that continued throughout the night was that I received exemplary treatment from the waiters. They would clear my plate first, place my napkin on my lap, continuously refill my glass, and so forth - basically giving me VIP service. It was a great deal of fun goading Hui Shi because they would ask me if I would like wine and completely ignore her.
Dinner consisted of a ten course meal that was served along with Chinese tea, beer, and red wine. The food was terrific, and it was the first time I have tried the famous shark fin soup. It was every bit as good as I hoped, but I am worried about accumulating bad karma by eating shark. For any who may not know, I have a mortal fear of sharks that includes at least one nightmare a month. I do not know where the fear came from (Jaws or Florida shark attacks, perhaps) but I will keep an even closer eye out for the bastards next time I swim in the ocean.