Hot Babe Dancer

This weekend we did some touring around.

I don't know if you can read this in the photo below, but this pub is advertising its "Hot Babe Dancer". I guess they only have one. It seems frequently unclear which bars and massage parlors are regular bars and massage parlors, and which ones are a little more than that.


And speaking of Hot Babe Dancers:
Dave got all dressed up in his security suit to head onboard a ship on Saturday. I'll let him explain a little more about it if he has time.

We went to a hawker center (explained in delicious detail in Calvin Trillin's piece in the Sept. 7, 2007 New Yorker) called Lau Pa Sat for lunch.


This is Dave eating Laksa (look it up, it's amazing) and some Indian roti mixed with egg and other goodness (on the plate underneath):

From there we wandered around in the direction of Chinatown, stopping at the Thian Hock Keng Temple. It's still actively used, with people praying there and lighting incense. Signs specifically had to ask wandering white people not to take pictures of the more penitent visitors. So we didn't.




There had been people praying on those little red mats before I took this photo:


We then wandered through a little elevated park:

And into a downpour (happens pretty much every afternoon):

We made it to Chinatown under awnings:

And wanted to visit the Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple (Goddess Mariamman is apparently worshiped for her ability to cure diseases) but there was a long line in the rain (see the umbrellas at the door). So I just got a quick peek inside.


Later in the evening, we headed out to Raffles Hotel for a Singapore Sling, one of those "must-do" things in Singapore. To be honest, the drink was pretty weak, in terms of both taste and potency. Kind of like a candier version of cough syrup. Not to mention they cost $20 Singapore, which is pretty much $16 American (each). I guess you pay for the ambiance.
Though I think it might have all been worth it when the waiter showed up as we finished our drinks and asked "may I refresh your sling?" We politely declined.


After drinks we had our first taste of pepper crab. Oh my goodness.

Not easy to eat, but worth every second of the battle.

On Sunday, we did a quick tour of Orchard Rd., which is a huge pedestrian-packed road absolutely lined with massive shopping malls. Apparently shopping is the national past-time. At Louis Vuitton, there was a line to get in. No special event or anything, there's just that many people who want to go there and apparently some occupancy limits inside.



I've been spending most of my time swimming or reading or walking around staring at malls. I have a list of things that I must see, but my first requirement was a replacement purse-size umbrella. I got one today after an improbably long search. Now I am prepared for all contingencies. At least rain. I will try to take more photos on my solitary excursions.