A worthy adversary, this crab.
I guess I should write this sometime. The problem is, my trip to Singapore was a while ago now, so the details of the events surrounding the epiphanies are fading from my memory. But maybe that will help me get to the point more quickly. (Yeah, right.)
So the first day in Singapore was great. After arriving at the airport, I took a shuttle van to my hotel. It was cheaper than a taxi and easier than transferring two times on the MRT (subway). Plus it allowed me to talk with other passengers. As it turned out, everyone on the shuttle was in Singapore for the first time. Two were from Zimbabwe, two from Israel, and two from California (though not originally, I don’t think). So it was kind of fun to talk with them.
Got to my hotel around 2 PM, dropped off my stuff in my room, and went out to find a late lunch. Around the corner was a nice courtyard to a very fancy hotel (or perhaps a timeshare property) with various food establishments. Most of them seemed closed, but there was an Italian place open, so I had a margarita pizza.
With food in my stomach, I was now ready to look around.
My hotel was by Singapore River, which I followed out to Merlion Park (pictured two posts ago). Along the way, were some cool-looking buildings and a lot of restaurants (which I bookmarked in my mind for later. I always plan my day around food.) Also saw signs for events that would be happening that evening, like an Octoberfest, and a number of concerts along the river. All these events were happening later in the evening, so I continued to walk and look around for the next few hours.
I know, you’re waiting for the epiphany. But that didn’t happen til dinnertime. And I have to set it up first. I have to tell you how well the day was going first, before I tell you how it suddenly turned miserable.
But first, let me say this. One of the things I enjoyed about my experience in Japan is that I went there by myself. When you go places and do things by yourself, you don’t have to agree with anyone on anything. You just do what you want. I like that. I’m not a very flexible person anyway. Though, I am incredibly patient. And the two compliment each other nicely. People have criticized me for being inflexible, but I would argue that when you are inflexible (or uncompromising) and you have patience, you’re going to outlast anyone or anything that stands between you and what you want.
But inflexibility and doing things/going places on your own has its setbacks, too…
So, it was getting late. I started to follow the river back in the direction of my hotel and looked for a place to have dinner. I came across an outdoor seafood restaurant that sat on the river and decided to eat there.
I was pretty hungry, so I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. The stingray sounded interesting, but it looked too similar to a steak (the menu had pictures). I was recommended the crab. Sounded good. I hadn’t had crab in a long time…and I soon remembered why.
What followed was most enduring, painstaking process I’d ever gone through to acquire food. The amount of work that went into breaking this crab apart was not worth the small amount of meat I extracted from the shell. And the thing was covered with oil and garlic, which was tasty, mind you, but it made the process more miserable (I hate getting my hands messy).
But I’m a patient person. So I worked at it. However, when I looked a big clock across the river, I realized that I’d been at this for nearly two hours…and I was still hungry. I became frustrated. And that’s when it hit me.
I can’t do everything by myself. All the power I felt from having control of everything…being able to do anything I want whenever I want…seemed meaningless now.
But that wasn’t the epiphany. It had nothing to do with the crab or me needing help to eat it. Or if it was, it was only part of the bigger picture.
I needed someone.
I wanted nothing more than for there to be someone on the other side of my table. People have told me this before, but I’d rationalize my position. But when a dead crab on your plate reveals this to you, it’s hard to argue with it. But I’m pretty sure I already knew it before the crab even came. The novelty of doing anything I want and going anywhere I want is wearing off.
When I finished my dinner, I had eaten most of the crab. But it had won. I tried going to those other events mentioned earlier, but they were ending by the time I got there. It seemed time had a bit of a victory over me, too. I walked home defeated. And so ended my first day in Singapore.
But thankfully, it did not ruin the rest of my trip. And, really, it hadn’t ruined that day, either. I’m glad it happened. The next day, I went to the Singapore Zoo (perhaps I’ll write that entry next). Then the day after that, I had a second epiphany.
I guess I should write this sometime. The problem is, my trip to Singapore was a while ago now, so the details of the events surrounding the epiphanies are fading from my memory. But maybe that will help me get to the point more quickly. (Yeah, right.)
So the first day in Singapore was great. After arriving at the airport, I took a shuttle van to my hotel. It was cheaper than a taxi and easier than transferring two times on the MRT (subway). Plus it allowed me to talk with other passengers. As it turned out, everyone on the shuttle was in Singapore for the first time. Two were from Zimbabwe, two from Israel, and two from California (though not originally, I don’t think). So it was kind of fun to talk with them.
Got to my hotel around 2 PM, dropped off my stuff in my room, and went out to find a late lunch. Around the corner was a nice courtyard to a very fancy hotel (or perhaps a timeshare property) with various food establishments. Most of them seemed closed, but there was an Italian place open, so I had a margarita pizza.
With food in my stomach, I was now ready to look around.
My hotel was by Singapore River, which I followed out to Merlion Park (pictured two posts ago). Along the way, were some cool-looking buildings and a lot of restaurants (which I bookmarked in my mind for later. I always plan my day around food.) Also saw signs for events that would be happening that evening, like an Octoberfest, and a number of concerts along the river. All these events were happening later in the evening, so I continued to walk and look around for the next few hours.
I know, you’re waiting for the epiphany. But that didn’t happen til dinnertime. And I have to set it up first. I have to tell you how well the day was going first, before I tell you how it suddenly turned miserable.
But first, let me say this. One of the things I enjoyed about my experience in Japan is that I went there by myself. When you go places and do things by yourself, you don’t have to agree with anyone on anything. You just do what you want. I like that. I’m not a very flexible person anyway. Though, I am incredibly patient. And the two compliment each other nicely. People have criticized me for being inflexible, but I would argue that when you are inflexible (or uncompromising) and you have patience, you’re going to outlast anyone or anything that stands between you and what you want.
But inflexibility and doing things/going places on your own has its setbacks, too…
So, it was getting late. I started to follow the river back in the direction of my hotel and looked for a place to have dinner. I came across an outdoor seafood restaurant that sat on the river and decided to eat there.
I was pretty hungry, so I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. The stingray sounded interesting, but it looked too similar to a steak (the menu had pictures). I was recommended the crab. Sounded good. I hadn’t had crab in a long time…and I soon remembered why.
What followed was most enduring, painstaking process I’d ever gone through to acquire food. The amount of work that went into breaking this crab apart was not worth the small amount of meat I extracted from the shell. And the thing was covered with oil and garlic, which was tasty, mind you, but it made the process more miserable (I hate getting my hands messy).
But I’m a patient person. So I worked at it. However, when I looked a big clock across the river, I realized that I’d been at this for nearly two hours…and I was still hungry. I became frustrated. And that’s when it hit me.
I can’t do everything by myself. All the power I felt from having control of everything…being able to do anything I want whenever I want…seemed meaningless now.
But that wasn’t the epiphany. It had nothing to do with the crab or me needing help to eat it. Or if it was, it was only part of the bigger picture.
I needed someone.
I wanted nothing more than for there to be someone on the other side of my table. People have told me this before, but I’d rationalize my position. But when a dead crab on your plate reveals this to you, it’s hard to argue with it. But I’m pretty sure I already knew it before the crab even came. The novelty of doing anything I want and going anywhere I want is wearing off.
When I finished my dinner, I had eaten most of the crab. But it had won. I tried going to those other events mentioned earlier, but they were ending by the time I got there. It seemed time had a bit of a victory over me, too. I walked home defeated. And so ended my first day in Singapore.
But thankfully, it did not ruin the rest of my trip. And, really, it hadn’t ruined that day, either. I’m glad it happened. The next day, I went to the Singapore Zoo (perhaps I’ll write that entry next). Then the day after that, I had a second epiphany.
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