Chapter 68: March 18 – Singapore (1)
The day went surprisingly smoothly. We arrived in port at 1 pm and the adults all but threw the high schoolers off the ship so they could corral the younger students who were not going to be allowed any excursions. Suddenly I had a lot of volunteers for chaperones, but Mr. Parnell had already set the schedule.
Our first stop on our guided tour was Arab Street, the smallest of Singapore's ethnic quarters and a pedestrianized tourist market strip with shops hawking all manner of Middle Eastern and Islamic goods. We were allowed a photo stop at Sultan Mosque and Istana Kampong Glam. I must admit that our students are clever. They made a big deal out of following all rules and then trying to one up the adults. It was like a game with them. Nothing obnoxious but perhaps a way for them to lose the anxiety my lecture may have caused.
After Arab Street we headed to Little India, the lively ethnic Indian district of Singapore. Here we strolled through the Indian restaurants and fruit and vegetable stands, and checked out what was called Little India Arcade, a bazaar-style shopping area where vendors sell the same things you might find in Mumbai or Delhi. Souvenirs, Indian street snacks or sweets and being temporarily tattooed in henna are what you can find and try there. I was happy to note that the girls all looked but didn’t seem interested in being tattooed themselves. I later found out that they weren’t allowed anything that appeared to be an affiliation, even a temporary tattoo, as their parents worried it might be used against them in the media.
We made a quick food stop at Chijmes, formerly a 19th-century convent & school. Then boarded a bumboat for a leisurely ride on the river that took us passed the landmarks of the Raffles' Landing Site, Asian Civilizations Museum, row of old shophouses along Boat Quay, Fullerton Hotel, Esplanade Singapore, The Merlion Park, Singapore Flyer and the last attraction Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort. We landed at Clarke Quay and meet our driver to visit Chinatown.
In the city plan of Stamford Raffles, four ethnic areas were designated for the different ethnic groups that lived in the city. The ethnic Chinese were allocated the area southwest of the Singapore River and Chinatown was born. Within Chinatown, each dialect group occupied distinct areas and built social institutions such as clan associations to serve the collective needs of each dialect group. During our walking tour of the area we saw Thian Hock Keng Temple, Singapore’s oldest Chinese Taoist temple; and, Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. We also got to taste some of Chinatown's hawker food market then head to Garden by the Bay for a short photo op then it was back to the pier.
I’m glad the students had to stay on board from that time of day forward. Only adults could leave the ship after five o’clock. To make it seem like it wasn’t what it was, they were surprised with a “teens only” party and a movie. Lord I am so glad I didn’t have to chaperone that event … some of the parents did and I heard that it went off well all things considered.
I had just walked into the cabin when Vit rushes in behind me, throws a garment bag on the bed and encourages me to hurry up and change. That man. One of these days his “surprises” are going to cause my first gray hair. We were going out with Yegor and Polina because HR basically told her she was to take a few hours off the ship … or suffer through stress counseling. The garment bag held another surprise … civilian clothes. Casual civilian clothes.
“Vit?”
“I know they may not be to your liking. Barney picked them out.”
“Barney picked these out?!”
“Yes. She said that she had ordered similar clothes for Sofia.”
Well that explained it.
When Vit came out of the bathroom he stopped short and simply stared. “You … you do not look like yourself.”
I snorted and finished putting on some make up. A little heavier than I normally wore it. And my hair was less severe as well.
“I dressed like this in college. And don’t look so dismayed, everything is covered and will remain that way. And there is a lightweight jacket to go with this. But Vit?”
“Hmm?”
“Next time let me choose what I’m going to wear, and you won’t look like your head is about to fall off and roll around on the floor.”
“Er … yes. Agreed. Men will be looking at you. I will not like this.”
Ignoring the fact that what he said meant that men would not have been looking at me before I chuckled and said, “Well the women always look at you Mr. Studly so if I can take it without blowing a gasket, you can too.” He blinked but then smiled.
“I will simply have to look more and harder than the others so you will not notice them.”
“I haven’t noticed anyone since the day I met you,” I told him. “And I was trying very hard not to notice you if you’ll remember. Your Cossack ‘charm’ won me over anyway. And I hope you didn’t pay for this, I have no idea when I’ll ever be able to wear it again,” I said pointing to some chunky jewelry that was supposed to go with the outfit I was wearing. “Or even wear it for the first time. I don’t want to be a target from a snatch or grab.”
“Nii. Nor do I wish it to bring notice to your … er …”
“The neckline isn’t that low. You’ve just grown used to me being tied up in my daily uniform. I reserve the right to wear a trash bag however if Polina comes looking like a grown up while I look like a Bohemian college freshman.”
“Ah … er …”
I laughed as he tripped over himself looking for what Angie calls the “man trap” in my words. I was still laughing when we left the cabin and it was with some satisfaction that a few people in the hallway did a double take.
Vit was recognizable because he always looked suave and handsome whether he was in uniform or not. But the white shirt and black canvas pants and top sider shoes certainly made him look more casual and relaxed than he normally did. I had on stone wash jeans, gladiator sandals, and a traditional Singaporean blouse with colorful embroidery edging that extended up the button front and around the collarless neckline. My hair was a loose fishtail braid woven into an even looser chignon updo. A few wispy bits of hair were already coming out so I brought along a hair band and a couple of hairpins for the likelihood that the humidity would have more hair sproinging out like mattress springs before the night was over.
When I saw Polina I nearly chickened out and ran to change but there wasn’t time. As we went through security I grumbled, “Why do I always wind up looking like the bratty baby sister?”
For some reason that made Polina laugh.
“What?”
“I was the bratty baby sister as well. It is good to remember. Enjoy it while you still can. Soon enough life will take the chance away even if …” She looked away and I saw a shadow cross her face.
Yegor must have seen it as well so he says to Vit, “So what is this excursion you mentioned? And is there food involved?”
That brought Polina around. “You just ate!”
“A real man can always eat.”
Polina rolls her eyes and with reason. To have the appetites that he does Yegor is whipcord lean. To prevent an argument Vit leads us to a four-person tuk tuk with our guide holding a sign with DYMTRUS printed on it. When we got into the vehicle we faced each other so we could carry on a conversation when there was a lull between our guide’s monologues. Our first destination was Chinatown.
Our guide finally parked the Tuk Tuk and we started the walking part of the tour. We walked along bustling streets lined with restaurants and market stalls as our guide told us the history the district, dating back to when early Chinese immigrants arrived here. At a medical hall, we got a glimpse into the traditional medicine practices that the Chinese have been using since ancient times to help regulate their yin and yang. I was surprised to see I wasn’t the only one checking the various herbs that were for sale. Yegor is an herbal hobbiest … amateur but Polina said it saved them from having to wait in long lines at the state-run medical facilities when they are stationed at home. We also heard about tai chi, moxibustion and acupuncture.
Then it was time for food as we headed to the Night Market. It was already quite crowded. Vit had fun bargaining with vendors and Yegor and Polina used him to help them purchase a few things as well from some of the many stalls. I even got Yegor to try Tiger Balm and before the end of the night he had plans to get more. I picked up orchid perfume and Vit smiled. I thought it was because he liked it, but I was to find later there was another reason.
We left the Night Market with our packages and our guide chauffeured us to Clarke Quay where we traded the Tuk Tuk for a bumboat, a modern replica of a traditional riverboat once used to carry cargo up the Singapore River. Once on board, we glided along the river and admired Singapore’s illuminated skyline, including Marina Bay Sands Resort and the Merlion statue.
Yegor, replete with his latest “snack” asked, “Do I wish to know what a merlion is? Is it edible?”
We all laughed and the teacher in me took over. “The merlion mascot of Singapore is a man-made creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish. The lion head represents Singapore's original name, Singapura, which means "lion city" and the fish body reveals Singapore's origin as a fishing village. Oh for heavens sake, I’m doing it again aren’t I?”
My grimace caused more laughter but it was with me rather than at me. After the boat ride was over I was in for another treat and Yegor and Polina were agreeable to join us even though Polina looked tired and something about her eyes made me worry.
The Singapore's Botanic Gardens is opened from 5 a.m. to 12 midnight every day and it was nice to be able to do something so grand so late at night. Better yet there is no admission fee, except a small one for the
National Orchid Garden that is within the grounds of the botanic gardens.. More than 10,000 species of flora is spread over its 82-hectares area, which is stretched vertically; the longest distance between the northern and southern ends is 1.6 miles. Even as late as we were there were plenty of other people strolling around as the Gardens receives about 4.5 million visitors annually.
“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I asked the other three when it came time to decide whether there was time for the orchid garden. They didn’t so in we went. I was in awe and Yegor got really interested as well. Polina told me that the stories go that Yegor’s family were once gardeners for the Czars and that one of his great-something grandfathers bred flowers that would only grow for Catherine the Great.
“We do not speak of it very often,” Yegor added. “The politics make it too complicated.”
An understatement for certain.
Since 1859, orchids have been closely associated with the Gardens. The Gardens' orchid breeding program began in 1928. With over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids on display, the splendor of these gorgeous blooms is absolutely a sight to behold. I took what pictures I could but I’m not certain how they will turn out due to having to use the flash on my phone.
Eventually all good things must come to an end and all four of us have a full day tomorrow. On the way to the garden’s entrance to catch a taxi I walked with Polina while Vit and Yegor carried our packages. I had an ulterior motive.
“Polina, tell me to butt out if it is none of my business … but … are you okay?”
I thought at first she wasn’t going to answer, simply ignore me but then she sighed. “My son would have been seven today. He never even saw his first birthday, but he would have been seven. So much time has passed. I almost forget his face, his cries.”
I put my arm through hers and said, “You don’t have to see him with your eyes or hear him with your ears. You’ll always have him in your heart.”
“Perhaps.”
“No perhaps. My parents started fostering after they lost a child to a hit and run driver. He … he didn’t die immediately. It took him a month. Momma didn’t talk about the brother I never knew very often as I was growing up. I didn’t even know of his existence until I was ten years old. It was too painful to share her memories of that time is how Poppa and Derrick explained it to me. But when she was … when she was dying she spoke of him often. Not when the others were around. Certainly not when Poppa was around. But she told me about him. And she said she expected that he was waiting for her and she’d …” I shrugged trying to keep my emotions from seeping through. “I … I don’t know what you believe Polina. But in my heart I know that Momma and Poppa both are with Josiah, the son they lost way too soon. And that it was Josiah that met first Momma and then Poppa when they … passed on. Your little boy … he’s there too and … there’s no more pain, only joy for him.”
“You … truly believe that is true?”
“I do. I know I might not always act as I should but … that’s what I believe.”
She was silent for a few minutes more and finally said, “I do not know what I believe. My father and his newfound religion or the State that tells us none of it is true and the only thing we have is this life and the State. But … if we do have a Creator … I choose to believe that even if no other finds the place called heaven, certainly the innocents of this world do. And … and I will choose … will choose to believe that you are right. He is no longer in pain and only has joy and … and I must make that enough.”
“We all grieve,” I said quietly. “But those we love and who truly love us would never want our grief to consume us. Love isn’t like that.”
“No it is not. If I know nothing that I do know having watched my parents go in opposite directions over my brother. My mother does not understand why I do not cry and beat my breasts. I … just do not have it in me.”
“We all grieve differently. Maybe she fears that if she stops actively showing her grief it’s all over. People will forget and she doesn’t want anyone to forget.”
“Perhaps.” Then she gave me a slight smile and said, “My bratty little sister.”
She seemed to turn the corner after that and it was only then that I could see how Yegor must have worried because when it was gone I could see he too seem to lighten a bit. Back in our cabin I asked Vit if he knew.
“Of the child they lost? Yes. Yegor told me. The boy’s name was Feliks.”
“Polina said that they won’t have more children because they risk them having the same cancer that he did.”
“Ah … that is what she said?”
“That’s not what Yegor said?”
“Do not judge her. That is what the doctor’s said in the beginning. But another doctor told them that the chance is much less than what they were first told. But Polina … she cannot seem to believe it. The boy was born with the cancer. It was a rare neuroblastoma. And there were complications at the birth. Yegor thinks the doctors did not do their best because they chose not to abort the child when they found out late in the pregnancy. He has been worried for Polina for a couple of weeks. This is not a good time of year for her. And you are certain that she seemed … better?”
“I think for now yes. But ultimately she is going to grieve how she chooses to grieve. It took you a long time to … to find peace about Anitchka.”
“Yes,” he said solemnly. He still occasionally brings her up but at least now his thoughts are not always dark. He speaks more of when she was a little child than of the way she died.
I’m glad I am friends with Polina. Even if I am the “bratty little sister” stand in. She’s been a good friend to me. I hope that I can continue to be a good friend to her. Everyone needs a friend.