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Things to Worry About in Singapore

posted at 6:42 pm
on Sep. 19, 2005

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When you’re bitten by a mosquito in Singapore, you ought to worry about dengue.  This is what the local newspaper has told me.

When you have breakfast in the Continental Hotel, and you want to get up to go to the buffet, do not leave your bag unattended.  This is what the sign on the table displays to me.

When you’re in a large crowd, in careful spontaneous lines waiting for the morning metro train to arrive, beware of pickpockets. Said pick pockets would have to be standing directly behind you wearing business suits.  The loud speaker warns me of their presence.

Though the national museum is approximately 800 meters from my hotel, I should not attempt to go there on foot.  There is a large impassable freeway in the way, and a taxi ride will cost 4 RM and take about 12 minutes.  The doorwoman at my hotel cautions me that walking there is impossible, and has never been done yet by a guest since they opened. (But I am welcome to try.)

Do not, under any circumstances, try to go shopping at a large mall in Malaysia on the weekend.  Finding parking will take upwards of an hour, and the crowds will be formidable.  This dire advice was repeated by several 30-year-old women we met.

Do not go into a grocery store in Kuala Lumpur.  The smell will be unbearable.  Two German girls on their way to Australia told me they think it may be dried fish that create this condition.  They were also stranded at the bird park in the rain.  Afterwards, they went to McDonald’s.



 
 

 

Previous entry:
A Day of Derailed Plans

Next entry:
Rain Bird Park

Overheard

“The sad truth is that most evil is done by people who never make up their minds to be good or evil.”

...who said it?

“Almost every American I know does trade large portions of his life for entertainment, hour by weeknight hour, binge by Saturday binge, Facebook check by Facebook check. I’m one of them. In the course of writing this I’ve watched all 13 episodes of House of Cards and who knows how many more West Wing episodes, and I’ve spent any number of blurred hours falling down internet rabbit holes. All instead of reading, or writing, or working, or spending real time with people I love.”

...who said it?

“Live a good life. If there are gods and they are just, then they will not care how devout you have been, but will welcome you based on the virtues you have lived by. If there are gods, but unjust, then you should not want to worship them. If there are no gods, then you will be gone, but will have lived a noble life that will live on in the memories of your loved ones.”

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