THE PONY AND THE CART

It is raining right now and by rain I mean torrential downpour, full thunder and lightning show. Apparently we are having a late monsoon season (for anyone wishing to book holidays in South East Asia monsoon season is usually January/February) so instead of hanging out by the pool I write.

Friday was a very exciting day for Mike, for he learned that Singapore has an American Sports channel that he could watch the Canucks game on. Now you need to understand I like hockey and enjoy watching the Canucks play but we live in Singapore and nobody cares. This channel is not exactly cheap compared to Singapore standards, is $20 bucks a month. However after a few negotiations it was decided that Mike could rent the channel for the duration of the hockey playoffs.

Mike = giddy

This then lead to most of Friday night dinner conversation revolving around the Canucks, the depth of our offensive and defensive lines, how Mike couldn’t believe he didn’t pick Samuelson for his hockey pool and how excited Mike was that the US channel was showing the Canucks game.

Now flash forward to 3 am, 5 am and 7am conversation

Mike – Risha you awake?

Risha – what’s wrong

Mike – oh nothing I was just thinking about next years draft picks and what it would mean for our team

Risha – The computer is in the living room go sleep on the couch

10 am – After a few pre chats about the game over Skype, Mike sits down to watch the game.

10:02 – I hear a load NOOOOOOO and come out of the bedroom to find Mike with a look of pure disgust on his face. The American channel, which apparently “promised” to show the Canucks game, is showing the Detroit game instead.

Mike = no happy.

I laughed.

Saturday afternoon was spent at the ponies i.e. the horse races. One of Mike’s work colleagues wanted to go so we took the MRT out to Kranji and went to the Singapore Turf Club.

Horse racing was introduced to Singapore by the British during the colonial era and remained one of the only legal forms of gambling after its Independence. Horse racing is still one of the most popular forms of entertainment with the local Singaporean men. Which was very apparent as I was one of what seemed like maybe five women at the track who didn’t work at the horse track at either one of the hawker stands or taking bets.

The races were an interesting experience - it is one of the few places in Singapore that you are allowed to smoke anywhere on the premise and are constantly in a cloud of haze. You will also find that the line ups to place bets are extremely short to no existent as it appeared that no one really used them as most bets were done on the side amongst either friends or in some case what one could only classify as a bookie. Meaning there is one guy with a big wad of cash and another with a calculator and a writing pad taking down bets. We sat beside these guys and watched as men handed over money (and not small amounts) and placed their bets. Also the number 4 in Asian culture is equivalent to our number #13, it is said to mean death, so at times you would often see the race would not have a number 4 horse or would have terrible odds.

As in terms of our own success well lets just say Mike and I will need to return to the track to clam our fortune.

Sunday involved a trip to the wet market (think farmers market but not so glamour’s) most are usually held at the bottom level of a parkade or an equivalent area. From where we live it is about 1-2 km walk. Now I have been bugging Mike since we have got here to get a bag lady cart. Normally I would make fun of this item but after hauling bags of grocery from the supermarket, wet market only to be covered in sweat and seeing that all the locals have them I figured in these circumstances it would be okay to own one. So while at the wet market I found one and 18 Singaporean dollars and a little bit of haggling, Mike and I were the owners of a bag lady cart.

A very proud moment

Until we started on our way home

You see part of the reason Mike like’s it here is that all the Singaporean’s comment on his height and how “tall” he is (Mike is only 5’9) but has no problem seeing over everyone’s heads.Most Singaporean’s average around 5’0 and most amenities are built around these guidelines, sink levels, shelves and our cart. In my excitement over the cart I never bothered to open it until we were leaving and sure enough it is built for some one who is 5 feet tall. With our backs hunched over Mike and I took turns dragging our cart.

This was not what I would call a loving moment in our relationship.

Between the comments of

“This is stupid”

“I can’t even throw this thing into a ditch as I’m going to get fined”

and

“I bet that little Singaporean who sold you this cart is laughing at you tall white lady right now”

It was decided that since Mike is shorter then me by an inch the damage done by dragging our cart home would be less sever to his back then if I dragged it.

So to sum things up we are now the proud owners of a bag lady cart made for a midget.

Should anyone know of anyone needing a cart please let us know as we promise to give you a good deal? Only used once, please see picture below.

Cheers

Risha