So I have been in Singapore for a
couple days and the weather is hot, hazy, and humid. Walking outside
is like walking into a wall...a wall of stickiness and sweat. It is,
in fact, so hot that I have become emotionally involved with my air
conditioning unit. Okay, I'm kidding, but even the locals complain
about the heat!
In addition to the heat, thunderstorms
are common. They are about as common as finding Starbucks walking
down the street back home, though much less popular. Unfortunately,
they do not appear to take away from the heat and only add to the
humidity. A lot of the people I've talked to have unanimously agreed
that the weather is the worst thing about Singapore.
On to more interesting things though: I
have started my internship. Amidst the piles of journal articles and
lab equipment though, I realized I needed supplies. No, not pipettes
and the list of chemicals from the back of the orgo text book. I
needed things like 2-ply and soap. So I asked some co-workers to
point me in the direction of the nearest supermarket. Note: I did not
ask for directions to get to the supermarket, I am incredibly
talented at getting lost with or without instructions. Also,
according to my post-doc buddy, being a married guy, he doesn't have
to know where to get groceries. Lucky guy.
So, I began walking until I came upon a
field. Now, I have been encouraged at points in my life to step off
the beaten track. That forging a new road would be rewarding and
fresh. Well, someone beat me to it...
Now as far as tracks go, I'd say this
one looked quite beaten down. It was also, well lets say, moist, it
was very moist. Also, it was filled with snakes.
Now I apologize, I don't have any
pictures of the snake that hissed and lunged at me. My fight or
flight response does not have a “take picture of offending threat”
option included. I don't think that would've have been evolutionarily
beneficial either. Talking to a co-worker
later, it seems that the snakes in Singapore are somewhat common and
usually aggressive. Hopefully they're mostly ferocious garden snakes.
A little ways further...
An example of how cross-cultural this
country is.
Finally...
Ah the familiar stinky sock smell of durian that accompanies nearly all chinese grocery stores. And to the victor goes the spoils! Also, green bread!
Apparently pandan is a plant that produces the chemical that gives white bread its distinct aroma. Adding it to bread seems a bit redundant I think, but hey! Green bread! Now if only I had some green eggs and ham...
Oh, also, there was a train station
around the corner...doh!
