A Singapore Monday

I really had nothing planned for my first Monday in Singapore.  I was still a day away from my student pass appointment at the ICA building.  Furthermore, I had previously begun contacting Realtors for an apartment to live in but was currently playing the waiting game as they got their showings organized. I figured, if anything, it was time for a massive, sweaty hike around the Singapore downtown.  Supposedly there was a Taco Bell hidden somewhere in those concrete canyons which I needed to find for shits and giggles and a burrito.

I began by retracing the steps towards downtown that Candice and I had taken on our way to the kaya toast cafe.  I then pursued a path further down the road into the heart of what appeared to be the financial district of Singapore.  I criss-crossed between streets, dodging suits, and generally looking completely out of place with my raggy Drop Kick Murphys t-shirt and beat up blue sneakers.   I walked past malls, eateries, and hawker stands.  I climbed stairs and explored the various hallways and shops of the stores and food centers.  I hoped to eventually find a black, straw, short-brim hat to ally my head to breath better this in this heavy heat and humidity, but no such luck.  My fat Scandinavian head could hardly fit in any such hats I found.

Upon crossing a bridge over one of the waterways - I found myself gazing down at the water embankment to an Indian woman meditating on a bench.  She looked so calm and peaceful in that shaded area that I was inspired to sit down and rest for a bit.  As I walked down the pathway to the benches, a Buddhist monk approached me.  He motioned to me with palms together as a sign of greetings and peace.  I returned the gesture, putting my palms together as if in prayer, and smiled.  He came up to me holding out a gold piece of paper.  I took the gold piece of paper, which I realized was a talisman, and then the monk put out his hand to shake mine.  I wasn't sure where this encounter was going, so I shook his hand, which had some of the longest cracked finger nails I've ever seen on a man, and he smiled.  He held onto my hand, reached into his bag, and pulled out a bead bracelet which he quickly slid onto my wrist.  I looked at the bracelet while the monk pulled out a notebook with a sentence written in English stating he would take my name and pray for peace for me.  Here is when he's going to ask me for money, I realized.  He then showed me a picture of a temple in mid-construction and then a log of people's names, where they were from, what they wanted a prayer for, and the amount of their donation.  Their donations ranged from 100 to 50.  I was shocked - fuck that!  He then handed me a pen.  A very subtle desire to withdrawal crept within my mind - I should just hand back the talisman and bead bracelet and just walk away, but instead I took the pen and signed my name, where I was from, my prayer for peace, and then hesitated on the donation amount.  I pulled out my wallet to see how much I had - 14 dollars.  The monk said, "100 dollars?" I shook my head. "50 dollars?"  I said, "I don't have much money - how about 10?"  He looked disappointed as he took the bill, "Any more?"  I told him I'm poor, "Look, only 4 dollars left!"  The monk looked into my wallet as I showed him the rest of it's contents and the plucked out the remaining dollars.  I laughed and shook my head - whatever.  The monk then walked along to find another sucker.  At least this sucker wasn't taking for 100 dollars.  I considered it a $14 education.

I found an ATM and refilled my wallet.  On my way back towards Chinatown, I found an Irish pub called Molly Malone's.  Since I was covered in sweat and feeling mighty parched, I decided a $12 investment in a pint of Guinness was understandable given the situation.  I sat in the cool bar, drying off, and sipping my icy, cold Guinness.  When I walked out, I was completely dry, refreshed, and just a tiny bit buzzed.  I carried the buzz all the way back to the hostel and did some follow-up emails to my Realtors.

Later on in the evening, as I sat typing away on my computer, the ever growing gang of NYU Tisch students showed up.  This time I was introduced to Eric, Rosie, Yo and Russell along with the previous gang of Candice, Amy, and Chris.  I pulled out my bottle of duty free Hendrick's gin and passed a few glasses around before we decided to invest in some cheap Tiger beers in the restaurant below the hostel.  We were later joined by Matt, Shreyom, and Annalise.  The group was ever growing - and it was interesting to see the personalities come out, for better or worse.  This was an interesting group of strong minded artists - heads are inevitably going to butt.  As we had drinks, and our conversations were carried along various paths, I saw who was going to mesh and collaborate, and who was going to argue and antagonize.  Subtle lines were already being drawn and the motions towards alliances were being observed.  I intend to stay neutral and stressed to many parties that obviously we are all coming from different backgrounds, work ethics and beliefs - to be successful, we're all going to need to practice patience and tolerance.  Goes without saying, but this film school experience is definitely going to be interesting.