Got into Singapore on Wednesday just before 12am, conveniently when the taxi rates increase by 50%. Small wonder you can't find one between 11:30 and midnight. It's now Thursday afternoon (Feb 6, 2003), hot-and-hazy (other choices here are hot-and-sunny, and hot-and-rainy). I've got the worst case of jet-lag I can ever remember; it may well be that I'm out of practice, or just don't remember how bad it feels. You can't sleep, and you can't stay awake. I've learned from years of travel back and forth between Boston and Asia that exercise (and sunlight) help shorten the period spent in sleep-purgatory, so I push myself to get out and wander the city. Then slept most of the afternoon, waking not once but twice in response to an "oh my gawd I overslept" nightmare. Would that it could have been true, that I got some quality sleep time.
Singapore, for those who don't get out much, is that amazing little economic miracle [although it hasn't survived the recent economic downturn unscathed either] in southeast Asia. I've come to S'pore probably 50 times before, so I myself wonder why it is I'm here again. I did plan it, it wasn't an accident. Frequent Flyer Fate brought me here, and it will take me away in another two days. I'm not really sure what to do with myself — "old haunts" always meant the workplace, but that workplace has left me behind, and most of my ex-colleagues are off doing other sorts of things. My old "boss" of sorts here (Ken Kan) lined up most of the old crew for a dinner last night, it was special to me both because of the nostalgia-factor and because its Chinese New Year (Year of the Goat), spirits are high and everyone seems in an especially good mood. We met at a popular seafood place and had a dinner that couldn't be beat, and quite a bit of well-received beer. It was great to see the old mates. All are doing well. These are all high-tech folks, so having a job means doing well, and having an enjoyable job is just plain wonderful. All seem to be enjoying their jobs. I don't miss the job, but I do miss the people. And the income, and the First class travel. But I wouldn't go back to the "world of work" for the perqs.
Friday AM: I'm staying at one of S'pores 3 YMCAs, which is actually a lot nicer than you might think; yet it's all of $50 a night including breakfast. Good location, clean and with pleasant staff. I've stayed in a few Y's around the world, this is possibly the best. Smallish room, but with just me there's plenty of room. Slept (well medicated) for about 7 hours last night which really makes a difference in my temperament. I almost feel human. The breakfast is identical each morning. I'm all for the comfort-factor that comes with something consistent, but in fact the breakfast is lousy: liquid scrambled eggs, generic white toast, little hunks of hot dog with just a glint of warmth to them, coffee identifiable only but the color and labeling. The rice gruel ("congee") is the best of the lot. Always go for the local stuff, its invariably better. Fortunately in Singapore there is food everywhere, its safe to eat, and its cheap. Walked another several miles, ate another several interesting things, drank a great deal more expensive coffee.
Tomorrow Bangkok. I have a 9:00am flight from Singapore to Bangkok. It's a short trip, about an hour and a half if memory serves me right (which is entirely in question at the moment). I'll be returning to a hotel I've stayed at previously by the unlikely name "Bel Aire Princess". There is little Princess-like about the place, but it's clean, safe, conveniently located, and cheap — $50/night including breakfast. Try that in Boston.