Singapore

It is my 4th trip to this city-state.  I thought last summer was my last but unforeseen circumstances have brought me back, this time for Thanksgiving Day and a special dedication service for Christian.
Some of you may not know where Singapore is located so I will assist you in finding this small but beautiful place. It is 6 1/2 hours southwest of Incheon airport (Seoul).  Since it is only a few miles from the equator seasons do not change and neither does the daylight/darkness time.  It is almost the same year round, unlike Chicago that changes by several hours from summer to winter.
 It is one of the most pluralistic cultures I have been to with people all over the Asian region located here.  On any given day you will see many kinds of religious dress and rub shoulders with Muslims, Buddhists, Pakistanese, Chinese, Malaysians, and the list goes on and on.  In the malls I certainly feel like a minority. 
Today I went to one of my favorite places for lunch, a Makan place named A-Ameen a short walk from our daughter's home.  It is an open air restaurant with awnings to keep rain out. The decor is yellow and green symbolizing that the food is prepared and served by Muslims for Muslims, although anyone is welcome to eat there.  My lunch today was prawn in a spicy sauce, with tomatoes, a few green bean looking vegetables, lettuce and of course rice, which is becoming one of my daily staples.  Delicious!  I had not had it before and did what I love doing, pointed to the picture on the wall and said, "give me some of that."  It worked, it usually does.
I then went back late this afternoon and looked for coffee.  I found a sign that read, "aromatic white coffee here."  I ordered it.  It was brown and tasted like a mocha.  Names are sometimes misleading. It only cost about $1.   When you pay you go to the cashier and tell them your table number and they pull out the bill.  Simple.  Being a Muslim place no smoking or alcohol allowed.  No problem for me of course.  I am treated very well there. Since I have no knowledge of their food they are very helpful and make sure I am happy.  I doubt many westerners go there, I have never seen any.
By now my readers know I love being in different cultures and experiencing different things and people. I seem most content these days eating what I do not know and being in new situations that challenges my communication skills. A place like Singapore certainly lives up to that kind of billing for me. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all and tomorrow we celebrate here in Singapore with part of our family.  To those at home, we will see you Christmas, unless of course, unforseen circumstances take us elsewhere.