Singapore Part III

When we woke up, we realized that it was our first day in Singapore. The morning was unusually quiet. It was past 6:00 in the morning. The incense smell had already subsided and we have taken the sleep we desperately coveted the whole day. Our bodies wanted to lie down the bed the whole day, but of course, we can’t. The long day must be started.

It was a Saturday morning. In Manila, Saturdays would mean, lacksadaisical dozing off few sleep, and taking the morning breath little longer. But this Saturday morning is different. We took a quick bath, arranged our things, took the most important things we needed, documents and few bucks and other personal needs we would be needing through day. As usual, I never forget to bring our passports, should there be any emergencies, at least we have a document to let us out of the Lion City.

We went down the old rugged hotel and asked the attendant to book us a taxi. He gladly greeted us first and told us they prepared few morning fix for the guests. I was eager to eat breakfast but, I noticed that the breakfast was nothing but a self help of tasty bread, coffee, crackers and some choices of sandwich spread. I mean, it was not served on the table but you have to serve yourself and get some few fixin’. I told Donna, we can’t tarry so, we told that the attendant we can help ourselves later, but we need a taxi. He gladly dialed a number, and in few minutes, the taxi arrived in front of the old house hotel. Or whatever description that hotel might have.

The taxis in Singapore, as what I have mentioned are by far, the most efficient public transport system I have seen. From the hotel we asked our driver to take us to Henderson Road. We asked him to bring us to the specific address but, he told us he was clueless where the specific place is, but he knows where on Singapore, Henderson Road is. The car moved and we have seen in broad daylight the beauty and cleanliness of the city. We were appalled to see shades of trees and the tidy pavements of SG, we imagine that no country perhaps in the world is as clean and as disciplined as this country. We wanted to take pictures, but we were afraid that taking pictures while on the streets might be a road violation. Of course, we can’t afford to pay fines. We might end up beggars along the streets.

After 30 or 40 minutes of travel we finally reached Henderson Road, but we cannot find where 98 Henderson. We moved slowly along the road to check each building number but we can’t see any 98 on any of the building. The kind-hearted or rather, warm taxi driver (who told us that he had been to the Philippines wayback in 1986 to Baguio, and he enjoyed his stay), told us to call our destination. We looked at each other and looked at the clueless driver and told him “ we can’t call Singapore from our cellfones…”, the response of the taxi driver was suprising, or kind I must say, “no just use my cellfone…”he said. Surprised and impressed again for the nth time of the Singaporean hospitality, we thankfully took the phone and dialed EASB. But since it was just past 8am. No one is answering on the other line. So, since it was still early and we are already along the short stretch of Henderson, we just asked the driver to take us to McDonalds (SG).

ENTERING the people-empowered McDonalds.

Let us admit, that one classic example of MNC (multi-national corporation) is McDonald’s. The Golden Arch had already dominated almost all nations in the globe, and that includes Singapore, of course. The structure and the interiors of McDo were not different from their counterparts in the Philippines. But one noticeable difference is the people and crew of the fastfood as compared to the crew wayback home. When we reached the counter, we were greeted by somewhat 50-year old woman, and the rest of the counterpersons were old or on their thirties. The dine-in crew were senior citizens, and some were young teeners. So, it was descriptively inter-generational workplace.

That I find so different. Wayback in Manila, only the young people aged 18-25 perhaps can apply to any fastfood chains, definitely those over-aged people cannot take a short working stint at McDonald’s, Jollibee, Wendy’s or even the cheap burger stands.

The EASB Campus, the destination.

After our breakfast at McDonalds, we took a walk to find EASB and passing through some buildings, we found the campus. It was situated beside a vast acre-long soccer field. The trees along this road are so huge its branches reach up to the other side of the road. At anyrate we saw our destination, mission accomplished, we saw the pot of gold underneath the rainbow---EASB. Thank God! The school was somewhat hilltop, or to that sort. We took the steps upward and saw the school building. We noticed that it was still early around 9am, and I think no one is yet inside, adding to the fact that it was Saturday. There are no classes. So we took some pictures as souvenirs.

After few minutes, we entered the building and asked if the Curriculum Director, Mr. Prem Singh is there, because Donna has a scheduled interview. In a jiffy, a man came, slightly bald while the remaining hairs around his head curled up with gray color. His eyes were crisscrossed, short in height, but with a pleasing smile. He introduced himself as Prem Singh. Donna introduced herself. Mr. Prem is a practicing lawyer in Singapore, he is engaged in corporate practice before he joined the academe. He is witty, talkative, funny and very accommodating. In fact, I guess he didn’t interview Donna but talked and took someone to be his audience. Well, I must understand, lawyers are talkers. They dominate the scene, they can be hardly outwitted, outdone, and that was exactly the case of Mr. Singh. I don’t know if they also addressed their lawyer as Attorney. But to be safe, we addressed him as “Sir Prem”.

Sir Prem shook up our nervousness and made us feel welcomed. He toured us around the three-storey building. It was modest building comparable to a regular high school in Manila, we have been informed later that the Institute stands before a former grade school for children. Now I understand why, the rooms look like kindergarten pens, than looking professional-training halls.
We also meet Viktoria. A Russian business student inside the campus. Prem told us that the school, caters to different nationalities and that the need for an English instructor was urgent, and such instructor need not to be a Chinese or Malay speaking person because the students might code-swith the language. At least, if the teacher cannot understand Mandarin or Cantonese, the students will be forced to speak English, because they know the teacher wouldn’t understand any word they say. Fair enough for a professional school, I said.
Prem introduced us with the people inside the faculty lounge and set Donna for the actual interview. Since I cannot come inside and be there while Donna is being interviewed or grilled on oven-top, Prem told Viktoria to bring me to the canteen to get me some snacks.

Viktoria, is a typical Caucasian female. Not really stunningly beautiful, she was shy for a white girl. She told me that her parents are in Russia, where her place was 17 hours away by car from Moscow, or 2-3 hour plane ride. Russia, according to her has an unseen side. The roads going to her place are too bumpy they would shake your souls, and the buses were too old that one must pray that the vehicle wont get stuck up or pull-over due to engine trouble before you reach your destination. She was correct saying, that Russia is so big and the capital is too far from them. The climate in that part of Russia (it is near China), is freezing and schools were too far inept for a country girl to pursue. She admitted that Singapore has better roads, better public transport, better system than Russia’s. I don’t think she has anti-nationalism in her words, like me, who dreams that Philippines would be as great as other Asian countries, the biting realities of economies of our respective countries reflect a single thought: the wealth of our nations was not exhausted to improve the lives of its people. Sad but true. Viktoria told me stories about Russia. She went to Japan and other Asian nations, but she confessed of no having plans, not even in her dreams to go to US. And she retorted, “US is too crowded and to unsafe to tour…” take it from the Russian, whoa!

During our brief talk at the school canteen, where she treat me out a can of soda, Prem and Donna were done with the interview, they came and joined us, but Prem asked that he will be treating us to taste local food. Just beside the building of EASB is a local food stall, where all staple tastes can be found, noodle soup, dumplings, stir-fried vegetables and local tea. Prem bought us bread stuffed with flavored-cooked ground beef and eggs. I think it is very similar to our “empanadas”. The taste is not so distinct since, it taste so empanada to me. We talked briefly during the snack time in the food stall, we talked about politics, Prem’s experiences in the Philippines—the corruption and the bold shows in Ermita, the beauty of the country, the nice people, but he was not afraid to tell us how, easy-going Filipinos are. We want to agree more, but of course, we can’t sell out our own mother…so, we tried to listen and absorb as much as we can.

When Mr. Prem realized, that we have a flight to catch up later that evening, and we will be using the remaining time to stroll around the city. He comically told Viktoria, “Oh Viktoria, why are we keeping them long? They must enjoy the city and see the short-skirted girls at Clarke Quay…” Before leaving, Prem gave us instructions where Sentosa Island is, and how do we get buses from EASB to our destinations. Our first stop, Lucky Plaza, then the famous Merlion Park, then Sentosa, other places might be added if we still have time. We looked at our watch and saw it is already 11:00 p.m. we still have 13 hours before our scheduled flight at 12:00 back to Manila. So, like runners in the reality TV show, ‘Amazing Race’ we need to get to our destinations as fast as we could so that we can maximize our stay.

The tiring tour-walk around the city

Prem and Viktoria accompanied us at the waiting area below school campus, and told us to alight Bus No. 16 to take us to Dhouby Gout, where Lucky Plaza is, and where we can find Merlion and later Sentosa Island. So, we took the first bus in Singapore. Singapore buses are different from Manila buses. First, you need to pay the exact amount in the bus’s collection box-cashier as you alight. You will only enter the first door near the driver and get off at the door at the back. If you don’t have any coins, the buses have card terminals where you can swipe off the card to charge your fare. The minimum bus fare is SG$2. That is around 60pesos per ride here. So much for the conversion.

We enjoyed the public transport in Singapore. Donna and I planned to take the train later so that we can taste all the public transport in this new place. My mind went back to Manila, I realized we can learn so much from Singapore. We need to copy perhaps many of their systems because, I have noticed the streets and climate, and the population there is as crowded as Manila. But minus the lack of discipline, minus the eternal lingering of public buses and public utility vehicles in the roads of Metro Manila, less all the tantrums of the passengers and minus all the smoke-belching cars, Singapore city is like Manila, improved 10 times.

Singapore is a multi-cultural embrace, like the Philippines, it was once third a third country, almost without any ricefield or any water supply, except the ocean, it remained one of the wealthiest economies in Asia. Why can’t we? The cleanliness and discipline of people who can hardly move with their crowded places, why can’t we be as disciplined?

I don’t want to discredit my native land, but one can’t compare this miniscule state to relatively larger Philippines. Singapore has no farmlands, no native product, no local breed industries. The whole city is a concrete jungle, and a vast business district, but its economy is one of the biggest in the entire world.
And where did our country go, when all of these countries rose from their ashes like Phoenix resurrecting from its own death? These nations were far behind us, wayback in the 60’s and now, were way way far still, far far behind. I felt a surging loneliness for my country. For my own homeland.

Our first destination in our “state visit” is to see the most photographed site in Singapore and the country’s symbol—the Merlion Park. It was the belief that during the early days of the Malayan Kingdom, a fish with a head of a lion was seen guarding the seas of Singapore. The Malayan and other vessels would see the Merlion and went back in fear of the creature. Today, the Merlion was statued in stone expelling waters from its mouth, out to the sea of Singapore.

How we went to Sentosa

After some picture-taking from the Merlion Park, we walked along the Esplanade to the Singapore Opera House. There, we walked and asked some directions how do we get to Dhouby Gout all the way to the station, where Sentosa Island buses are stationed. So, asking some teen lovers, and a janitor, and taking some bold steps, we reached our destination. I was just thinking that time that if we were in Manila, for sure, we have lost our way. So, to make the long story short, we took the train for 2 dollars and stopped at the (I forgot the name of the station)and walked our way to the yellow buses to Sentosa. It was 5 dollar fee but it was one time fare, and that is inclusive of all the fares inside the theme-park Island. So, just few kilometers and we were already inside the Main Station of Sentosa. The directions on where to go was clearly indicated on the island map and what bus to take so, you’ll never go wrong.

I told Donna that I really wanted to take the cable car. I feel so amazed being inside a cable car, and being hoisted on air, with a mere cable holding your safety and your very life. But, the ride was expensive. A round-trip ride cost 12 dollars so, we need 24 dollars for the two of us. But we must gamble a little. This is what we want to do, so we must give it a splurge. We bought tickets and took our very first, cable car ride. The car went on moving but I didn’t realize the height because it was still around 20-30 feet, manageable, but the car went on moving higher and higher until we reached more than a hundred feet above the sea, literally floating on air. I suddenly become nervous. I felt shaky and so afraid. It was too high, oh my gulay! My excitement turned into fear, that if I fall on the seas, or on the ground, I’ll be back home, without a skull.

After the ride, we took a coffee at our favorite coffee shop beanery, and toured the Island. We went to the white sands of Siloso beach and walked around the Imbiah lookout and some places. We weren’t able to go Underwater World because, obviously our funds will not permit us, but the Sentosa experience is a wonderful one.

We were not yet tired so we have get much of the remaining time to get around Singapore. So, we took the MRT and went to Chinatown. When we get off the train walked outside Chinatown, I have noticed that it was not really different from Ongpin’s street or the Chinatown in Santa Cruz, Manila, only that the roads are wider and cleaner. It is almost 7:00 p.m. but the sun is still up so we decided to take our supper. We went to a local Chinese restaurant and ordered noodles in chili soup (and it was hooootttt!), seafood rice and two bottles of water. We took a stroll around the Chinatown and bought some diced hopia from a local Chinese bakeshop, it was yummy, the treat cost 50 cents, the supper for 12 dollars so we still have some money to splurge on something very cheap. Before leaving we decided not to buy any stuff because we are on a tight budget.

We have seen China in SG, so now we have to see the Little India. And, going there, we literally rub elbows with Indian-Singaporeans. When we arrived at the Little India past 7:00 pm, we were amazed at how Singapore changed with every step. The place is literally India. The clothes of women, the men in turban, the sarong on sale, the miniscule pots used for offerings for Indian gods, the incense, the candlesticks and Indian favorite vegetables lined along the streets. The plump large tomatoes, cucumbers, radish, onions, head of cabbages, and a store solely intended for spices and relishes. We walked along the area and as if in no moment we were transported to Bombay or Calcutta.
It was such a nice experience.

But its getting late and we need to get back to the hotel for our midnight flight to Manila. So, we took an MRT to our last stop: The Clark Quay area. This is similar to baywalk in Manila or Harbor Square in CCP Complex Pasay. But, it was relatively different. The rivers are not that smelly as the lovely Manila Sunset bay. We walked around the area and took some pictures. The area was full of lights and gay, but the rain started to pour so we need to pass around the whole stretch and mind you, this is like the Malate of Singapore. There were a lot of boutiques, restaurants, bars and beer-drinking pubs around (I don’t know exactly if those were beer pubs), but our tired bodies and our wanting to take a short nap before our flight that very same night will not permit us to enjoy any festivity there, plus the fact that still, our budget won’t permit us to buy even a can of Carlsberg (I don’t exactly know if they have San Miguel, anyway both of us don’t drink anyway).

So we just walk around and passed through a nearby mall of gadgets. I was so thrilled to see cheap digicams, laptops, iPods, and latest MP4’s. But the whole mall makes my eyes swell with so much want to buy anything---good thing. I don’t have anything. Not even a credit card. It helps to travel with a little money on hand. You tend to control your own appetite of spending. We walked a bit until our feet ached and decided to buy dry noodles with beef toppings on it. We took a cab and finally we are heading back to the hotel.

Upon arriving, we arranged our things, laid our tired backs and swollen feet, walking around almost the whole day, and took an hour or two rest. Around 10p.m. we went downstairs and asked our hotel attendant to book us a taxi to the airport. Now we are going home.

The painful flight back home.

The cab came just right on time. And similarly, our time is also over. Our short trip to this place will culminate, less than 36 or 42 hours we were like diplomats paying a brief state visit. But we need to go back. We still have life back home and a ton of tasks waiting. We entered the doors of the airport and upon checking, we saw numerous kababayans perhaps, concluding their own trips too. After we have checked in, we exchanged the remaining SG dollars to pesos. This time, I was surprised to still get around 1, 500 pesos. Our budgeting was totally successful. We managed to get our things done, the way we exactly planned it.

The Cebu Pacific flight was delayed for an hour or two I guess, so, when we boarded the plane we were too tired and exhausted. The flight again made my ears pop in pain. But the gentle cajoling of Donna made it more easy. We landed Manila at around 2 a.m. Very few flights that early morning and we were very few inside the airport. It was not that busy. After few checks we went outside the airport and took a cab back home.

My thoughts in Singapore will be permanent in my mind. Whatever happens to Donna’s application, I told her I did not regret going with her. We had a grand time together and I realized we go well with each other and realized we had so much fun. Going home perhaps will make you think, like what Alice in Wonderland thought of, when he went back to the old county in Kansas, the Wonderland was so enchanting a place to live by, but there is no place like home. Like a coward lion in the story who needs bravery, we managed to muster all courage to take our trip alone, with almost no funds whatsoever but it did happen. A tin soldier who needs a brain, a scarecrow who needs a body, and Alice who needs a home. I saw Manila again, for very few hours, things have changed. It made me realize so many things.

For sure, I will leave Philippines for awhile to travel or to work elsewhere but I will be back and I must come back. If the turtles need to go back to the shore where they were hatched, I need to return to the very sands that make up the grains of my being. I always feel the need to. No matter what.

As Donna leaned on me, tired, inside the taxi to take us for a sleep. I just told my self quietly, “There is no place like home, no beautiful place on earth than your own land and there is no greater comfort than being in the arms of your loved one”.

Photo Credits: taken from www.travel-here.com picture gallery/ http://www.hoteltravel.com/ for maps.