Sorry for delays in posting- I've been having too much fun and some internet problems! I'll try to post pictures once I find my camera cord!
The last week in Singapore was a blur. Just when I thought it could wind down as things came to a close, it most definitely did not. Normally I take the 7:40am shuttle from the MRT station to base. However, Wednesday of my second to last week while up in the executive lounge of my hotel, I ran into a lieutenant and a few other fellows who were working on base for a week. Because they were special and doing high level cyber security, the base was providing 2 shuttles from my hotel to work each day. They left at the same time as I did but would arrive 30 minutes sooner! The lieutenant told me I could hitch a ride! I was so thankful! Because my usual shuttle group missed seeing me back-to-back days, a rumor started that I had left. When they figured out I was here- my social schedule boosted!
Friday night I went out with the SBT after bumming around their place doing laundry. Saturday I went along as Jon got his suits tailored. We then went straight on to the Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition. The Singapore Hilton was a sponsor so they had free VIP seats to give to guests. When the lounge staff asked me if I wanted to go, they said they figured I’d be free because I practically live here whereas most of their guests are “usually in town because they have something going on.” I felt so honored haha!
Our seats were valued at $300 a piece and came with a special entrance, lounge area and all the complimentary food, wine, beer, champagne that we could possibly want! I’d never been to a tennis tournament before, but this pampering would be hard to beat. We saw two matches, the second one being very exciting. #6 in the world, Sam Stosur, played against #20, Flavia Pennetta. Stosur won the first game in just 4 serves...it was looking like it was going to be a quick match. Pennetta eventually got her courage up and came back! She won the whole thing! Jon won was going for Pennetta because of her "nice personality" I was going for Stosur because of her sweet outfit. Our jokingly sparring made the match much more fun!
Jon had a friend, Ryan, from high school in town Saturday night. The guy was a private pilot and for visa reasons, had to leave Thailand for one night to be in Singapore. What a awesome coincidence! Immediately following the match we met up with him (he was staying across the street from my hotel) and had a great night out! We hit my favorite bar across the street, Muddy Murphy's before venturing over to the Orchard Towers. As they reunited they decided to bring over one of the ladies roaming around to have some fun. As I sat there watching this hooker flirt with them, I began to notice something....she was wearing a turtleneck, but when she laughed and leaned back a GIANT Adam's apple showed! I sat amused for awhile waiting for Jon or Ryan to notice but neither did. Finally, I decided to go swap my heavy purse full of tennis brochures and other junk for my evening appropriate clutch. My hotel was just across the street anyway. As I got up to leave, I whispered into Ryan's ear "your girl's a dude"....watched him and Jon both freak out and strolled away all amused as they tried to figure out how to ditch this ladyboy.
I got back to my room, switched purses, charged up my phone, and tried to get a hold of Jon but for some reason that we didn't find out until Tuesday, our phones were no longer texting or calling each other. The text would show sent but it never would get received. Not wanting to venture into a whore house for fun, I called it a night. It was already past midnight and I had been on the go all day. Plus the boys could go get into all the trouble they wanted with the ladyboys.
The next day I woke up and it was raining. I was going to go prawn fishing with Jon but our phones were still being weird. I was worried that something was wrong or that I pissed him off somehow. Either way, my plans were shot for the day, but luckily for you folk back home, it meant I got stuck Christmas/souvenir shopping.
That night, still in my rainy day funk/worrying about Jon, Janet came down to Orchard and we went over to Muddy Murphys. We met some fun British gentleman who had a shock-trick lighter and were quite the amusing bunch! The night ended in a "who's on first" kind of moment as I tried to close out the tab. The waitress kept asking for my last name, I kept saying Murphy, she kept saying that was the bar name...round and round but eventually I closed my tab.
Monday I woke up to more non-stop rain! I walked around malls but kept an overall low key afternoon. Geoffrey, the shuttle driver from base, offered to take me up to Malaysia for the evening. He picked me up and drove across the border. Even though this was my third time venturing over to Malaysia, I had never gone in a private vehicle. As you get close to the border, there are signs telling you to make sure you have 3/4 tank of gas. They don't want you sneaking over to the MUCH cheaper Malaysia and filling up there. They even check your gas gauge as you clear customs!
We got foot massages and dinner while in Johor Bahru. Geoffrey speaks 5 languages (claiming British and American as 2 distinct languages) and had fun messing with the Chinese masseuse by making up lies. We grabbed a good dinner, ate outside to the music of Shania Twain and Backstreet Boys as the restaurant closed down. Around midnight, when we were going to head back to Singapore, I decided to run back into the restaurant to use the restroom. Geoffrey waited outside and talked in Malay to the staff. When I came out, they gave me a SUPER excited waves goodbye. I friendly waved back to their gigantic smiling faces. When I got in the car, Geoffrey was smirking. I asked him what he made up this time. He said "they asked if you were a singer- so I said yes." I asked "why would you say that?" With a huge grin on his face, Geoffrey replied "I don't know what talents you have. Well they then asked if you were Adele- so I said yes. Then they asked how I knew you, so I said you were my girlfriend!" Haha oh Geoffrey! If you read any tabloid rumors of Adele at a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Malaysia....it's probably false.
Tuesday night I went out with some friends to a comedy show. They were hosting some Argentinians who were couch surfing so I did some minimal translating. Mainly I just repeated the Indian English slower for the guys, occasionally I had to say stuff in Spanish. Of the 14 comedians who performed, most jokes were Angry Birds, iPhone or race related- still a fun experience seeing comedy somewhere else. Wednesday night I had my final night out with Janet. I will miss her! She was good company in both Singapore, the office and Thailand.
The week came to close with many goodbyes! Jon and I went out on my last night there to use the rest of my Sing money up. I returned to my hotel around 2:30am which I was ok with because I figured I'd be able to sleep on the plane. I double checked with the front desk about my 3:30am and 4:00am wake-up calls. I had given my phone to Jon so his wife could use it when she visited so I had no back-up alarm. Well, around 5am I woke up on my own. Totally panicked, I threw my stuff into my bag and sprinted out. I had originally planned on being in a taxi to the airport at 5:15am. I stumbled out of the elevator full of luggage, look at the front desk and the receptionist immediately started apologizing saying the whole wake-up system was down. He didn't even make me check-out, saying he'd email me a receipt and helped me into the cab.
The cab driver was AMAZING. He kept saying in his heavily accented English "no worry- you'll be home for Christmas!" He shaved 20 minutes off a 40 minute drive- I was so appreciative!
Everything from then on went smooth. I flew through Hong Kong and arrived in SFO around 10:30am on 12/23 to my mom and sisters! So good seeing them again!!
Singapore was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot, made new friends, tried new things and had waaay too much fun. At the end of the day though, I'm SO happy to be home!
