SINGAPORE

THE RACE

So – I flew off to Singapore for a week. The purpose for my trip (as if one ever needs a “purpose” to go to an exotic place!) – was the F1 race. I arrived after a million hours in flight – at 1am in the vibrant, hot, humid city – which I learned is also a country, island and a capital.
So I knew it was going to be a lot of walking, waiting, excitement.. but I had NO idea it was going to be this much fun – more than I ever imagined. There was such elation and excitement in the air, even people who had no interest in the actual racing on a regular basis bought expensive tickets to see history in the making. Formula One has advanced and changed over the years, it is currently the most technologically advanced sport in the field and the drivers are of worlds’ best athletes, extreme talent and cute too! Young guys earning millions in the most watched sport on the planet.
Anyway, my love for Formula One goes way back to the era of Michael Schumacher, I came in after Senna died, but was hooked ever since. So with program, maps and plans in hand, flat shoes and my racing gear on – head out to all the practice sessions, having cocktails in the hotels where the drivers and the teams are staying (yes, like a stalker!). It paid off since I met and got autographs of all the drivers – except for Lewis Hamilton (whatever – NO comments!!!!)
I cannot even describe how beautiful the city is, the track which is only one of 3 road circuits – runs right through the city in between and around the malls, lit up and from the aerial view looks like a streak of lightning shooting through this magnificent city surrounded by the ocean. I got onto the “Singapore Flyer” which is very similar to the “London Eye” and managed to see the whole city as far as the eye can see. Beautiful – high sky scrapers a densely populated city, advanced technology, beautiful modern buildings.
I cannot even find words to describe what race day was like. We got to our places at about 3pm for the 8pm race. Camped on the grounds and waited, ate, chatted, met interesting people, had naps, whatever it took to pass the waiting time. Yes, it’s not just a sport for me – it’s a passion. If I could go back in time in my life I would definitely try to get into the sport, unfortunately the only drivers my age are already either dead or retired already!!
So that was the race, a historical moment – one that is so firmly planted in my memory as one of the best experiences I have had!

THE CITY

So apart from the racing – I did manage to see some of the city. I had no feeling in my feet left by the time I got onto the plane to go to Tokyo – seriously, I just wanted to see and do everything, ofcourse, jetlag is the weirdest thing, you get to bed at 4am and then you think you will sleep till like 9am and get going, but your body is wide awake at 6am and after 12pm you are ready for bed again! Some days I took the train from the track and went back to the hotel to just nap for an hour to obey my bodily needs. But when it mattered I was wide awake, smiling, happy and feeling like a pig in Palestine!
The first morning after scoping out the track, I walked through some of the malls. Singapore has the most shopping malls in one strip than I can remember seeing anywhere. Everything is accessible. English is the language people use for business and administration although there is such diversity in Singapore. I was quite surprised to see old familiar things too – everything is SO British! They have all the British shops, banks and the underground works much the same. They even say: “mind the gap”!!
(Man I miss London!)
Anyway, I booked a city tour as well, saw some of the cultural markets, the temples and ate some really weird food – everything is awake and alive until 3am in the city – so the jetlag worked in my favor. I saw how people live, saw the beauty of nature and the orchid gardens, the churches that are used not as churches but rather as a wedding venue and nothing else. The old mosques and temples. Walked through a Hindu temple as well – it was so pretty the temple is open, no enclosed walls and it was raining outside while people were inside preparing for prayers, it was very romantic. The many cafes and restaurants. I didn’t do too much shopping, I bought a few things, but I was more interested in walking the alley ways, meeting the people, seeing the architecture, tasting the food, seeing their art and creativity, trying to figure out what people there are passionate about. I often stand at the traffic lights in new places and just close my eyes, take a deep breath and just savor the smells of the city, of the people, listen to the different dialects, listen to how the cars drive by, their footsteps.. seeing how people dress. It’s just amazing to me – to be absorbed in a new culture, it makes me feel like a foreigner, yet as though I am part of them. One with the new world and it with me. I want it to become a part of me – not just a place I once visited. I went to a Chinese artist’ store who had the most incredible works of art made by his own hands. When you see the mind and heart of someone in the physical form of written words, hand crafted art, or hear it in a piece of music, it moves me. It makes me want to know and see more.
The city works very efficiently , the transport etc.– it is clean – clinically so. One of the shocking and disturbing things that I noticed when I just arrived through passport control, they give you a card to keep with you, which says: “warning: death for drug trafficking”.. these are things you see on movies and wonder how real it is! I have always been intrigued by Asian culture, the people are so docile, they are lawful and kind of move to the beat of the same drum, I guess it comes from a history and culture of being forced to obedience and militant ways of discipline, but there is something admirable about it too. At the race, everyone walks in the right lanes; everyone sits where they are supposed to. There is no violence or hooliganism… when you see people being disruptive – you know it’s the tourists!!
Well, anyway, I don’t want to be too long winded about it – I just had a fantastic time. A time of adventure, fun, reflection and rejuvenation. I come back with a mind full of memories and a heart full of appreciation. Changed and enriched.
Hey mum – I got you heaps of spoons! I will mail them soon ;-)
To recap my travels thus far, these are the countries I have now been to:
Gabon
Swaziland
Zimbabwe
Italy
France
UK
Australia
Dubai
The Bahamas
USA
Hong Kong
Bangkok
Thailand
Singapore

So many more to visit – my next hopeful destination: Barcelona.. we will see how I can make it happen!
My dream is to follow the F1 circuit one year – take a year off and just go to every race:
That would be:
Melbourne
Barcelona
Cataluña
Italy - Monza
France
UK
Brazil
Monaco
Bahrain
Spa – Belgium
Germany
Singapore
China
Japan
Canada

Malaysia

Budapest

One day.....