Monday 15th BEDBUGS
Aaaargh. These things do happen in
the tropics and with backpackers coming from all directions, often from bodgy dodgy
lodgings, it is occasionally inevitable. J had settled into the lower bunk and
banished me to the freezing wasteland upstairs in the full blast of the
ecconshner, which she turned down to 23. So she enjoyed the full attention of
the little monsters and got thoroughly gnawed.
We have shifted the luggage into a
storeroom, hoping not to have picked up any hitchhikers L This is exactly the stage of
a trip you do NOT want to pick up bedbugs because, annoying and uncomfortable
though it is to be bitten by them, it is utterly insignificant compared to the
disaster of taking them home with you! You can spend tens of thousands having
every scrap of clothing and furniture transported to a fumigation site while
the house is being bombed with toxic chemicals. Eeeew.
We borrowed a scale to weigh the
bags last night and were alarmed though not surprised to weigh in at 73kg.
There’s lead in them there Tshirts! And the fridge magnets don’t help. Luckily we know rule 1 – wear the weight – so
we shall board the plane bedecked in the heaviest clothing with sleeves and
pockets stuffed with the heaviest items.
Just got a reminder from the
airline, which includes the aside that it is extremely important to stay in the
allocated seat, thereby assisting the airline and the authorities to maintain
the highest standards of passenger safety – horse’s arse – so that they can
force you to pay for the privilege of sitting next to your partner.
They had cleared a room next door
by 10am and we moved in there while they fumigated the original room. They have
taken our clothes for washing and (cross fingers) there have been no further
bites so far today. J fires up in response to these things and erupts in big
red blotches that itch fiercely.
We had Indian lunch at our usual
Singapore haunt and enjoyed watching our tablemates thoroughly massaging their
food by (right) hand before eating it. We tend to eat with both hands and
whatever implements are available and wonder whether they are aware that we
have different hygiene practices or whether they are appalled by our behaviour.
They are pretty well caked in rice and relish up to the knuckles by the time
they get the food in their mouths.
Our neighbours were each hacking
into a large banana leaf rectangle loaded up with white rice, a pile of mixed and
minced vegetables (looking not unlike Dad Mash), several dollops of sauce or
relish and then 6 separate side bowls containing different sauces. The whole
thing is covered by a huge crispy pancake, which they tend to dip into a mix of
the rice, blended, rolled and massaged with various of the available relishes.
We then wandered down Race Course
Road to the Mustafa centre – a large and crowded shopping centre. We managed to
exchange most of our accumulated foreign currencies (5 of them) – they didnt
want Israeli Shekels. The rates were surprisingly good and no fees.
On the way back we dropped into a
few stores and could not resist buying just a FEW pairs of shoes (including
black and red crocks) and some bits. We watched
a bit of Pearl Harbour on DVD, which was poignant having just visited the site
and stood in the monument over the wreck of the USS Arizona.
We had dinner back at a fascinating
restaurant we passed this afternoon. The exterior is done up to look like a
jungle setting and the outdoor tables and chairs are made out of rustic lumps
of wood to contribute to the Tarzan image. The waiters are all done up in khaki
with Sam Brown military belts and pith helmets. I thought I had walked into a
re-enactment of a 1950s Delhi Police HQ. It was very striking – as much so as
the Hospital Bar/Pub at Clark Quay, where the waiters are dressed like nurses,
the drinks come in medical drip bags, and the furniture consists of clunky old
chrome hospital beds, wheelchairs and operating theatre lights.
Anyway, we went to the jungle
restaurant this evening. It was a bit pricey by our standards but very
delicious – the Rogan Josh was excellent – fully flavoured and a warm glow in
the mouth with a slight beading of sweat around your nose (the sign of a really
good curry). J was ready for an early bed after taking a couple of
antihistamines.
It's Diwali (or Deepavali) time when little India comes alive with lights and markets. The Festival of Light is celebrated mid Oct to mid Nov.
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