HKKL#8

I've spent the whole week in Singapore and was very focused on work but had the good fortune to be able to wander around the city a bit. Singapore is really interesting and has a very different feel than KL and Malaysia in general. I had a couple very funny experiences while there including questioning the very busy nightclub across the street from the Hilton. According to BL, the club is a haven for ladies of the night. Silly me, I thought that stuff only went on in the red light district of Singapore.

Singapore is very orderly and I find it fascinating that no one crosses the street unless the green ped light is on. In fact, my jaywalking tendencies could get me a Sing$500 fine as could drinking or eating on the MRT, littering, or chewing gum. Everyone has heard about the chewing gum thing but I am not certain that is really that big of a deal, just don't litter with your gum and don't expect to see it in the shops.

Singaporeans are 70% Chinese and sightings of the tudong are noticeably fewer than in Malaysia. To the opposite in fact where much of the style is quite minimalist with lots of hyper short miniskirts and tiny spaghetti strap tops. It is certainly a contrast from KL where at least half of the women are wearing karu barong and tudong.

Only a little over a week until my first visitor arrives and I am so looking forward to it. KW and I worked together on the project in London. We are going to be in the state of Terangganu for a few days including a trip to one or several of the islands. I certainly hope to have some amazing pics as the islands are supposed to be one of the most beautiful places in the world.

I was very happy to return KL on Friday and found that the buzz of the week had left me quite exhausted. It was so nice to swim in my pool on Saturday and have a relaxing afternoon. The weather is a bit fickle at the moment with unusual thunderstorms in the morning and gorgeous clear afternoons that are not very hot. Then it can get very stuffy again late in the evening. There doesn't really seem to be any pattern so always a wise idea to be prepared for anything.

I would really like to open my windows but have concerns about the dust and there is plenty of that in KL. If my flat is cool in the evening, I tend to shut the air cond off at night which seems to be working pretty good.

Pics of the week, Singapore and henna hands....check them out!!!

CM, one of my coworkers based in Singapore did my hands. Are they awesome or what? I am certainly no hand model but just love the henna. I am going to do my own feet next. It was such a lovely experience having it done as well, almost a sort of meditation watching CM work with the henna. It dries into a bit of mud like paste and when the mud crumbles off, the lovely reddish stain is left. It is not customary in India to henna the whole body but I think it would be amazing!

Happy Soltice!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/hellokittyinlondon/HennaHands

http://picasaweb.google.com/hellokittyinlondon/SingaporeJune08