Walk this way

One of the identifying factors of being in Asia for me is the directionless meandering which seems to be done at a snails pace and drives me to distraction. I am sure I have ranted about this previously and probably will again, but bare with me.

I am not sure about people's walking habits and I never really analysed mine until I realised that I would come home from a trip to the shops, cursing and fuming about the way people walk here.

Please, I am not having a go at anyone in particular, except those of you who walk real slow and seem to be drawn to any other moving force on the same footpath as you. And there it is, that's my frustration right there.

I am used to walking with direction and a pointedness. Purpose. I know where I want to go and stride away. I own the footpath. And this works in most western countries where the rule of the foot path is basically the same as the rule of the road. As I don't drive this can be rather confusing sometimes.

When in a new country, I often find myself happily exploring. Wandering in a thoughtless manner as I stare up at the buildings around me or stop in the middle of a crowd, because something bright and shiny caught my eye. Yes, I am a hypocrite. But at least I know it.

For the first few months of being in Singapore I found myself muttering under my breath, "Walk! One foot in front of the other". And things like "pick a lane, any lane." "Can we speed it up just a notch? I am going to lose my balance walking this slowly." I do hope it was under my breath. Hubby says that I can mutter rather loudly at times.

As time has gone on I am beginning to have a vague understanding of why people walk this way. It is HOT. Too hot to be walking at the brusque trot that I was used to in my former homeland. Also everyone here is also looking for shelter. Whether it be from the sun or the rain.

I am happier to walk out in the rain then then sun. At least getting wet cools me for a second before my clothes turn into a sauna. You can almost see the steam rolling off them.

Many of the old shop houses have a '5 foot way', which was introduced in the town plan of 1822. This was designed so that in the front of traditional shop houses there was a footpath which was 5 feet wide and was laid so that the over hang of the building covered the walk way providing shelter from sun or rain. Now days these are often built like covered corridors/walkways. Here is a link for more information if you feel the need to go all historical on us, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_foot_way.

I am beginning to see the sense in walking at a slower pace in the tropics. Less sweating, actually not really, but a lot less frustration at fellow footpath inhabitants. And really what is the rush?!

 A heritage shophouse in Singapore.

Looking front on to the shophouse

 Decorative tiles on shophouse

 Newer 5 foot walk

Today a moan........

After being for 5 months I have realised that I really need to sort out my wardrobe. Coming from a more temperate climate, I have very little clothing that is suitable for living in the tropics. Even my holiday togs, the ones that only ever saw the light of day when we left NZ for a holiday or I was brave enough to head to the indoor pool (don't let me get started on that), are giving up and need an overhaul.

Now that I cast my mind back a few years. Ok almost 20 years, I am not that old! Really. I have vague memories of moving back to NZ after having grown up in Australia and being very cold as we had no suitable clothing. I guess after living in a place for a long time on and off you adapt to the environment. Well it's time to do that again.

My first priority was my son. I sorted this before leaving NZ. It is easy to pick things up for him. He doesn't need to spend hours in the changing room trying things on.

Have you tried clothes shopping with a 2 year old? It is a nightmare. I still haven't discovered half my local mall yet. It's just not worth the trauma. Which brings me to my point. Yes, there is one.

I get between 10am and 12pm to myself Monday to Thursday. The perfect time to update my wardrobe, you would think. But you would be mistaken.

The only shops open at this time in my local mall are Fairprice (supermarket), parts of the Kopitiam (food court), Bread Talk (sells bready things) and Metro (department store). A coffee shop or two is open as well, but that's not what I am after.

I have two precious hours to shop until my heart is content and can't manage it. This is the shopping mecca, and yet totally unattainable, well for me, when I want to do it.

Most clothing shops will open between 10.30am and 11am. By which point I have lost my will to shop and am itching to come home and enjoy an hours peace and quiet before chaos reigns again. They will also be open long into the night.

Having moaned, I have found that most of the shops at Vivocity are open if I go there right after dropping my son off. This might be because it takes me 20 mins on the MRT and it is around 10.30 when I get there. Also the shops in Tanglin Mall are open at this time. I guess because it is a child focused mall and in an expat/tourist location.

I guess I have two options. Go and have a coffee and chill out and wait for the shops to open, or wait until hubby has come home in the evenings and head out then.

There is the 3rd option of having a live in helper, but that discussion is for another day.

Today I have spent my shopping time writing this instead. Oh well, the holey shorts will have to do for a bit longer.