The Singapore Furmeet
Jun. 27th, 2009 12:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lupestripeTo the sound of Michael Jackson's back catalogue, which is being played on the TV screen in the foyer of the Youth Hostel to commemorate his sad passing, I guess I will tell you my tail of today.
The fact that there are Singapore furs surprised me, although I am not quite sure why. Apparently, there is a whole host of them in SE Asia and I have been given contact details to meet up with some more furs in Kaula Lumpur when I am there soon. Today, I met nine furs outside the Raffles Hotel in downtown Singapore and spent a very enjoyable six hours with them.
The meeting was set up by Joe, an American fur living in Singapore. He was the first one I met, his skateboarder slacker look slightly confusing me so I walked straight passed him. Others soon joined and when everyone arrived, I was presented with a can of Bandong - a fruity drink made with coconut milk I think. Like most drinks here, it was sweet and even better it was PINK!! It was a fantastic present - thanks guys :)
Then we headed off to the Singapore River to absorb some culture. We saw a statue of the lion/dragon hybrid creature that is the symbol of Singapore, as well as one of his rather freaky looking child. Both were spitting water into the precinct. We also saw the Kindness Lion who advises Singaporeans that they should be courteous to their fellow citizens and that adults should teach good manners to their kids - such campaigns are common here.
After this, we headed to an indoor Food Court where I tried some more Singapore food - guided through kind advice by my new furiends. I tried battered fish soup with noodles and onion in it before finishing with a desert of red cherries and frozen coconut milk combined with ice. I think there was some orange in there too. That was delicious - wish I could remember the name. Being the typical Brit, I was the only one drinking beer but it was yummy Tiger Beer. Whilst we were chatting, I was asked to draw in a sketch book so I drew a kitty with a huge cock and balls. Also, when I was eating, a few furs were looking at my fursuiting performances on You Tube. Eep...
Shortly after this, we headed to a local mall in which an expo was taking place in how to be a good parent. There was complimentary Play-Doh there so I was happy. After confessing painful blister pain on the soles of my feet, we tried to sort that out with blister pads but sadly it only got worse. Walking today was painful - I need to try and sort that out otherwise the next fortnight could be quite awkward.
I read my Chinese Horoscope (year of the dog, yeys!!) before succumbing to a tourist trap and walking around a fountain three times with my right hand in it as it symbolised good luck. I was urged to make a wish - I hope it comes true. After this we went to a French supermarket where my friends bought me the stinky Durian fruit to try. I also bought some stinky French cheese and Chinese crisps. All was nice and the Durian fruit was surprisingly tasty - it was a little like mushed up banana but had a faint cheesey undertone. Shame about the smell though.
We ate this at the Sky Centre, a place above a mall (there are numerous malls in Singapore) that specialised in toys and children's stuff. There was even a Cosplay shop there, which was most interesting to look around. Shortly after this, we had to go but on the way home I caught a glimpse of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) System's Courtesy Rap - where a blinged up idiot raps about how important it is to let pregnant people sit down and people off the trains first before boarding.
Before the furmeet I sampled some cheese and onion Chinese crisps and came to the conclusion that the Chinese must be very strong as I couldn't get into the bag at all. I had to rip them instead of open them. After this, I darted into a Singapore sex shop creatively titled S.E.X but it was disappointing, even by UK standards. Very little of quality and even less of interest. I also went to McDonalds and tried the McSpicy - a spicy chicken sandwich. In all honesty, it's just the same as what you get back home - there are no real cultural differences either. Perhaps the chicken was slightly spicer. I also got a free mug, which I had to leave as it would have been too much hassle to carry it.
I also went to Fort Canning before the furmeet, which was the recreational home of the first governer of Singapore, Mr Raffles. It had been by the sea but due to reclaimation projects over the last 20 years (Singapore is growing in area by 5% each year - it's one of the world's fastest growing nations in terms of area) it is now about 3km inland. It was turned into a fort in 1860, after a wall and moat was built around the original cottage. It had been fortified with cannons but it was never used due to Singapore being at peace until 1942, when the Japanese invaded. By then, military matters were settled elsewhere. There is still a light house and flag deeley there in commoration of it's sea-based history, even though now it looks a little silly it's there. Having said that, the lighthouse I saw last night right on the top of a normal looking tower block to the east of the city, showed remarkable ingenuity and creativity.
The Fort Canning House is a large hall that now holds the Singapore cooking school, randomly. There was also a sculpture park and a spice garden, extoling the virtues of the Ayurvedic tradition. I know a little about Ayurveda from my Transcendal Meditation days so it was great to get back in touch with it again. There was also a botanical garden on the site and trees that made a strange screaming noise. I still don't know what that was. The views into town were also fantastic as it is right near the CBD.
I am off to Indonesia tomorrow, which is the world's most populous Muslim country. It promises to be an interesting and different experience. I just hope these blisters can clear up.
The fact that there are Singapore furs surprised me, although I am not quite sure why. Apparently, there is a whole host of them in SE Asia and I have been given contact details to meet up with some more furs in Kaula Lumpur when I am there soon. Today, I met nine furs outside the Raffles Hotel in downtown Singapore and spent a very enjoyable six hours with them.
The meeting was set up by Joe, an American fur living in Singapore. He was the first one I met, his skateboarder slacker look slightly confusing me so I walked straight passed him. Others soon joined and when everyone arrived, I was presented with a can of Bandong - a fruity drink made with coconut milk I think. Like most drinks here, it was sweet and even better it was PINK!! It was a fantastic present - thanks guys :)
Then we headed off to the Singapore River to absorb some culture. We saw a statue of the lion/dragon hybrid creature that is the symbol of Singapore, as well as one of his rather freaky looking child. Both were spitting water into the precinct. We also saw the Kindness Lion who advises Singaporeans that they should be courteous to their fellow citizens and that adults should teach good manners to their kids - such campaigns are common here.
After this, we headed to an indoor Food Court where I tried some more Singapore food - guided through kind advice by my new furiends. I tried battered fish soup with noodles and onion in it before finishing with a desert of red cherries and frozen coconut milk combined with ice. I think there was some orange in there too. That was delicious - wish I could remember the name. Being the typical Brit, I was the only one drinking beer but it was yummy Tiger Beer. Whilst we were chatting, I was asked to draw in a sketch book so I drew a kitty with a huge cock and balls. Also, when I was eating, a few furs were looking at my fursuiting performances on You Tube. Eep...
Shortly after this, we headed to a local mall in which an expo was taking place in how to be a good parent. There was complimentary Play-Doh there so I was happy. After confessing painful blister pain on the soles of my feet, we tried to sort that out with blister pads but sadly it only got worse. Walking today was painful - I need to try and sort that out otherwise the next fortnight could be quite awkward.
I read my Chinese Horoscope (year of the dog, yeys!!) before succumbing to a tourist trap and walking around a fountain three times with my right hand in it as it symbolised good luck. I was urged to make a wish - I hope it comes true. After this we went to a French supermarket where my friends bought me the stinky Durian fruit to try. I also bought some stinky French cheese and Chinese crisps. All was nice and the Durian fruit was surprisingly tasty - it was a little like mushed up banana but had a faint cheesey undertone. Shame about the smell though.
We ate this at the Sky Centre, a place above a mall (there are numerous malls in Singapore) that specialised in toys and children's stuff. There was even a Cosplay shop there, which was most interesting to look around. Shortly after this, we had to go but on the way home I caught a glimpse of the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) System's Courtesy Rap - where a blinged up idiot raps about how important it is to let pregnant people sit down and people off the trains first before boarding.
Before the furmeet I sampled some cheese and onion Chinese crisps and came to the conclusion that the Chinese must be very strong as I couldn't get into the bag at all. I had to rip them instead of open them. After this, I darted into a Singapore sex shop creatively titled S.E.X but it was disappointing, even by UK standards. Very little of quality and even less of interest. I also went to McDonalds and tried the McSpicy - a spicy chicken sandwich. In all honesty, it's just the same as what you get back home - there are no real cultural differences either. Perhaps the chicken was slightly spicer. I also got a free mug, which I had to leave as it would have been too much hassle to carry it.
I also went to Fort Canning before the furmeet, which was the recreational home of the first governer of Singapore, Mr Raffles. It had been by the sea but due to reclaimation projects over the last 20 years (Singapore is growing in area by 5% each year - it's one of the world's fastest growing nations in terms of area) it is now about 3km inland. It was turned into a fort in 1860, after a wall and moat was built around the original cottage. It had been fortified with cannons but it was never used due to Singapore being at peace until 1942, when the Japanese invaded. By then, military matters were settled elsewhere. There is still a light house and flag deeley there in commoration of it's sea-based history, even though now it looks a little silly it's there. Having said that, the lighthouse I saw last night right on the top of a normal looking tower block to the east of the city, showed remarkable ingenuity and creativity.
The Fort Canning House is a large hall that now holds the Singapore cooking school, randomly. There was also a sculpture park and a spice garden, extoling the virtues of the Ayurvedic tradition. I know a little about Ayurveda from my Transcendal Meditation days so it was great to get back in touch with it again. There was also a botanical garden on the site and trees that made a strange screaming noise. I still don't know what that was. The views into town were also fantastic as it is right near the CBD.
I am off to Indonesia tomorrow, which is the world's most populous Muslim country. It promises to be an interesting and different experience. I just hope these blisters can clear up.
