Arrogant and Ignorant: A Quick Post from Singapore

As I write this (and likely as you read this), I am sitting in Changi Airport, in Singapore, half a world away--again. I am sitting in a lounge, the Rainforest Lounge, on the third floor of the airport. I have paid for the privelege of sitting in this lounge, and using their internet, and having a jacuzzi and shower and some breakfast (well, a damn lot of coffee and diet Coke and a roll with some jam). All of this cost me a cool $44 Singaporean ($1 USD = $1.53 SGD), which is about my budget for the day--actually, for about two days.

Ah, yesterday was a lost cause--lost to hours of airplane travel. Seventeen such hours, spent in the ever delightful economy airplane seat, four different security checks in three different countries, and three in-flight movies (The Devil Wears Prada, Mission Impossible III, and X-Men, whatever part three was subtitled). The only thing I learned yesterday? Always order the vegan meal. Why? Well, you get actual fruits and vegetables, and, more often than not, you get served first, so that the flight attendants can get you out of the way. Now, what's not to like about that?

Okay, so, I'll have more to write about later. This is just a quick post to let you all know that I've arrived as safe and as cynical as I ever was. Maybe even more so, when I consider the twelve-year-old-looking airport security guards, each of whom accessorizes their dark blue uniform with a matching machine gun.

Welcome to Singapore.

Fun Singapore Fact: Chewing gum--the sale and use of--is illegal here, but you can buy every conceivable kind of mint and chewy candy in the world. Seriously, there were three aisles of the stuff in the 7-11 in Changi Airport.