Saturday 3 September 2016

Not Italian but Local

Today we woke up by a very annoying kitten. Somebody who sleeps all day is obviously playful around five o'clock. John went up to fill the dry food bowl hoping that this would quiet our greedy cat. It did not. We heard him nibble some pieces and when it stopped I dreadfully lay still waiting for it.

Meow. MEAOWW! MAAAAOW!

After we unsuccessfully ignored Ymir for one hour we left bed looking out the window. It was a fine day and we had plans to meet some new friends. I dressed in yellow and black and John in green and blue. As the colourful couple we set out to explore three completely new areas in Singapore. The first was across the busy street we pass regularly. At the bus stop on this fine looking location we got picked up in a car containing two men. One of whom we had met before.

He drove us past an area in which we spent the first month. The giveaway was the big IKEA-sign. The feeling was giddy, so nice driving with locals and actually recognise some places and know where you are on a map. As we continued our driver pointed out sightseeing buildings along the road. Passed the building in which young men of Singaporean origin must apply to the army at the age of eighteen and do their physicals.

Eventually we made it to a unremarkable place. We exited the car and felt the heat. The AC was immediately missed. Walked after the surprisingly slow talking Asian friend and ducked under Asian-adapted roofs. Emerged into a small food court and sat down by a table. Small talk started. The Asian-driver-slow-talking-friend ordered food for all of us. Before it arrived we were joined by another man.

We ate brunch and were made sure to understand that this was a classic place. There is no food like this anymore anywhere. Not quoted. John bought two lime juices, very sweet and not so tasty, and also a shared Coke. Good enough! I could barely taste any different between the carrot cake, the noodles and the... other thing that felt exactly the same to me. It was good never the less, although I was still hungry when we left.

Back in the car we almost died of heat exposure. The sun had almost burnt up the car with its powerful sunrays. Now we were five in the car and John was crammed in the middle, I was pressed against the window. Not for long, luckily enough, as we soon arrived to another destination. This was even closer to the area where we used to live a few months ago. An ice cream place called Creamier. I am missing the Italian ice cream but this local style was a suitable substitute. The three guys had one scoop in a waffle. In Sweden this would have been ridiculous to buy. John and I ordered two scoops. It was a bit too much. It was almost lucky we did not eat ourselves full in the food court. I had pistachio and honey lemon sorbet, John took strawberry and butterscotch.

I used the bathroom in this location and was genuinely surprised by the freshness of it. I opened the door and was greeted by scented sticks. Sat down and another puff from up above let another smell drizzly down. While looking up I noticed the fan slowly waving over my head, keeping it cool. There was plenty of papers for being a public restroom and even a hand-shower to wipe your ass if you do not want to use paper (also known as a bidet). I do not actually know what these are for but very common in Asia apparently since they are everywhere. Except in our own bathroom.

We then got inside the second burnt car, this time I took the front seat since being unsure of the full stomach in hot car situation. It lasted only a few minutes though, we were let out with another guy at the Farrer Road MRT. Parted with the newly met friend and took the MRT to the next station. Headed to FairPrice to buy some essentials then took the MRT back again. Now you may think it was lazy of us since it only takes about fifteen minutes to walk, but it was one o'clock which is the hottest hour of the day in Singapore. It was cruel to stay outdoors for too long.

Good day.


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