What really impressed me about both cities was their mix of cultures. I'm hesitant to ever make these feel-good blanket statements about cultural mixing, like calling Hong Kong "East meets West" or America "The Melting Pot," but Singapore and Malaysia were so unique in this way! Chinese, Indians, and Malays. All working, living, eating, drinking side-by-side. No qualms about anything. All equally Singaporean or Malaysian. So cool. Makes you feel good about humanity. Alright, let's cut this "Heal The World" crap! Here is your....
TOP 5 SINGA-LAYSIA!
5. Part fish, part lion
All Merlion: A spitting lion fish. What more could you ask for in a symbol for a wealthy, tiny city-country?4. Doo, doo, doo, doo. Just Dance.
Singapore's nightlife was great! After a day exploring parts of Little India, the grimiest Singapore can really get, we hit the clubs along the Singapore River (more of a creek, if you ask me..). The music was bumpin' and the atmosphere electric. Side story: Doing one of my signature dance moves, I flail and hit a Singaporean girl in the face. Poor form. I apologized a lot. She was upset. The boyfriend came over, but we started chatting and talked for a good while! Meanwhile, girlfriend was looking on, stanky-faced as ever.
3. Flavor explosions
I thought I loved Malaysian/Singaporean food before coming. I still think this.2. Monkey See, Monkey Do (It).
One of the most incredible sites in KL was the Batu Caves, about 15 km outside the city center. Colossal South Indian Hindu statues greet you as you climb 400 steps into a cave.But, monkeys stood between you and your temple. They were ferocious! One women with a bag of bananas (kinda asking for it, lady) was attacked. When she reached for her bag, the monkey hissed and showed his teeth. Dude binged. Ate about 4 bananas in a minute. He then proceeded to another monkey and stuck his finger between its legs. As if to say: "Ok, female. Lock and load. Let's do this." The humping insued. The shock soon followed.
WARNING: Explicit Monkey Content Below.
The caves were spectacular. Random roosters crowing, an old beggar woman with 10-feet long hair, and colorful Hindu statues. All set in a picturesque jungle cave.
1. It's all about the Love, la?
Singaporeans and Malaysians have a habit of ending their sentences with "la?" Never annoying, it comes across as a genuine polite gesture, ending sentences like a question. I liked it. Not demanding or overbearing, just saying things how they are and inviting conversation. And the people (of Malaysia especially) love to strike up conversation. Our favorite cabbie, Arvid, talked to us about love. His love for Michael Jackson (and not for the Sultan of Malaysia), Swiss chocolates, and his three failed loves (sad!). I think our half-hour conversation with Arvid brought us closer to Kuala Lumpur--and people in general, really--than any other experience this trip.
Sorry for being a bit sappy in this post. Next time I'll be super tough or something...
Always,
Dans
P.S. Doesn't my new word "Singa-laysia" (copyright pending) make you want to remix Beyonce?
P.P.S. I was going for "All the Singa-laysia's" in case you were confused. Which you probably were.
When am I going to learn that I cannot read your blog without laughing out loud? And that I should not read it during class?
ReplyDeletero, i still have not learned that lesson.
ReplyDeletedans, why can i not read this without picturing you as mowgli in the jungle book http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TJkNFjZ8aY ?
ps. you are still hilarious. i miss it!
naur, why that scene?! terrrrifying. but accurate nonetheless.
ReplyDelete