The Singapore Times Exclusive: A DAY OF REST AND SHOPPING SINGAPORE STYLE BEFORE THE SINGAPORE WESTIE OF THE YEAR CONTEST
The penultimate day prior to The Singapore Westie of the Year contest! Bobby Jr. had explained to me the events of the competition and as for Vermin and Rat Hunting you may recall Bobby Jr. gave me some training chasing rats at pathways near the Elias Mall in Pasir Ris. Vermin hunting is instinctual and I had the best instincts. Nearly nabbed a squirrel and a rabbit in Toronto before my abduction!
Bobby Jr. and I had our breakfast in-suite at the Singapore Shangri-La. Bobby wanted to ensure I was fully hydrated for the upcoming competition as the events were outdoor ones and Singapore can fry both canines and humans in a flash. I should revise that to “melt” due to a combination of high heat and humidity. So plenty of cool watermelon on my plate with my beloved chicken congee. Love that stuff.
Off in Bobby Jr.’s Mercedes to the Peranakan enclave in the Katong Area. Singapore’s Peranakan heritage refers to the rich and unique culture of the Peranakans, also known as the Straits Chinese or Straits-born Chinese. The community has a distinctive heritage combining elements of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian cultures. The term Peranakan refers to the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay Archipelago, including Singapore between the 15th and 17th century and intermarriage created a unique hybrid culture. We visited a combo museum and sweet shop where we heard about the history of the Pernakans and preparation of the traditional kueh chang a bite sized tart filled with pineapple jam. Bobby let me have a nibble of the kueh chang despite Madame Fong’s instructions of “NO SWEETS”. I could have gobbled a couple of these delicious sweets. Bobby Jr. had his 12 Monkies Cambodian tea with his sweets and Evian water for me.
Bobby drove us to a huge high rise shopping mall called Ion which I think he said was once the site of the Thai Embassy. Shopping is part of Singaporean culture and on Madame Fong’s to do list. Bobby purchased some clothes for our upcoming trip on the Eastern Orient Express. The shops treated Bobby Jr. like the King of Siam pouring Champagne and serving delicious treats in private showing rooms. All paid for with wads of cash.
Eleven floors of shopping bliss and my fist ever trip to a “shopping mall”. Locals, well heeled types, and tourists from all over the world. Two floors of high-end restaurants and the “food court” in the lower level was spectacular with all varieties of well-prepared Asian food. I had a tiny bowl of chicken ball soup with a spoonful of lightly spiced Singaporean noodles.
A tiring day so back to the Shangri-La for an in-suite light supper and a wonderful Disney Film “Reggie the Egyptian Rescue Dog” I have seen a dozen times before but could watch a dozen times more as after all the novel of the same name and the screenplay was written by Bob. If only he could watch me at tomorrow’s competition! If only he could be here now….but he isn’t….no time for sentimentality!
I drifted off to sleep overhearing Bobby Jr. in a long discussion about the most effective poisons?
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