Surprise, Surprise!

The sky blackened and the palm leaves waved,
I went down to Boat Quay just for the day
The restaurants were many, the decision was tossed.
I do declare there's a lizard in my red Thai sauce

We had an eventful weekend. I had fixed an egg casserole for breakfast. Often on weekends, we sleep in till nine (usually up by 5:30 am). By getting up at nine, your days seems half over already. But nothing opens here until ten (and that's just a number painted on the door). Nothing really gets going until eleven. They like to party late-that's when the business happens. I happen to be a morning person or was until I left the States. Now I have nothing to do from 5:30-11. So I've started the habit of going back to bed after my poor husband leaves for work. I was so late getting up this morning that when I opened the bathroom door, the maids were making up the bed. Surprise, surprise! They did let me get dressed. I could manage that without their help.
They washed the dishes, emptied the trash, and commented on my knitting and quilting. I told them I must have something to do. Tammy (my neighbor) and I think we should become maids ourselves. Just to fill up our spare time. The apartments here are short on help.

The Weekend. After breakfast, we headed down to the MRT (Subway) where I saw a freshly hung poster on people stealing wallets and purses. Has crime sneaked into this paradise? Anyway, we headed to the Indian section of town. Sweating like pigs in the 105 deegree weather with 100 per cent humidity, we quickly found the Buddhist temple I was looking for. It was large for Singapore standards with a large ceramic Buddha that was two stories high. We took off our shoes and wandered in as tourists. I am always struck by the irony of the Buddhist religion. It never took off here in this part of Asia because Islam subplanted it. Worse, the Chinese influx brought in a form of taoism that combines mixed up forms of Chinese gods and Hindu gods plus a great dose of astrology and whatever came their way. In this temple, there was a list of the eightfold path and four laws of suffering. On the other side there was a wheel of fortune that had lucky numbers on it and so for 50 cents could tell your fortune. We watched as a lady paid for an oil ointment, was sprayed by God knows what, and had a bell rang for her. Then she touched the finger of the large Buddha. In the background I could see Hindu idols.

You see, Buddhaism is all about ceasing to desire things so the suffering ends. Chinese religion is all about getting everything material you can. Lucky this or that. Luck flows to you if you set up the right statues, give the offering, burn your prayers (for millions of dollars) to the heavens.

Then we went to another temple that had a jade buddha. There were lots of offerings all around, candy (Buddha has a sweet tooth) fruit, rice, etc. A monk wandered out, collected the goodies on a tray, and disappeared in the back. Time for breakfast!

I must admit that I am confused by this type of religion. I pointed out that the Jews also made sacrifices (meat) and then the priests ate it. After Jesus, no sacrifices were needed. He was the ultimate one. That's how the Christians look at it. I also realize this religion is thousands and thousands of years old (speaking of the Hindu gods here) and the Chinese mish mash. But I find it hard to take in that the elephant god is still active in the world. That luck flows like wind. That someone is keeping score on how many oranges are sitting on a plate.

That night, after soaking our feet and everrything else in the pool, we went to Boat Quay to look at the scenic river and get something to eat. There are rows and rows of eating places there. Every five feet we were stopped by a person (physically putting their hand on you to stop you) raving about the food in a certain booth. Free beer! Free Wine! 30% off. We were finally pushed into a Chinese place overlooking the river to eat lemon chicken and pepper beef. We had enough left over for another meal. The wine was cheap and a very small glass (Chinese Gallo). We were lucky to escape with our lives. Steve said he could sell alot more Lycra if that guy selling the food was his employee. I thought he could sell alot of cars. The biggest selling point-the place was next to a bar where all the prostitutes hang out looking for Westerners. We enjoyed watching their business techniques. As quick as we could, we escaped to the othe side of the river where they asked you if you had reservations. If you didn't, you were scum. I think scum is better.

This experience is getting us ready to go to Thailand this weekend, Bali next month, and finally Cambodia where I read in the paper they are so aggressive they open your wallet for you. I bought a fanny pack this weekend to keep the purse at home. Got to go watch it rain. Bye. Donna