Friday, November 2, 2012

Bodyflight and Singapore Slings

Thursday, Nov 1, 2012

My head is not into blogging. I want to just experience. But I know there are some folks who want to know what I'm up to so I'll try and bring you up to date.

Sylvia arrived yesterday afternoon. I got out for a long walk down to the famous Orchard Street shopping district: all the clothes I'd never want... 5 story shopping mall...people of every color! Then walking back, looking for a plastic bag to put my fanny pack in to keep things dry, I stepped into a local food court and got lunch. $4.50 for a plate of Pad Thai, can you believe...and I was the only caucasian in the place. Fun! I hustled my way back to the hotel (thank you for my wonderful sense of direction - I never get lost) and in time to greet Sylvia and Myrtle (her trike) as they unloaded from a van. Sure is fun having a friend touring with me...and I think she's feeling the same way. Lots of laughter and craziness! But first SLEEP. And since we both hadn't had much the last few days, a nap turned into a night's sleep. But not all night.

Ya, about 3 am we found ourselves wide awake, so I got the bright idea to go wandering the streets. Why not? There's a nightlife out at that hour, no traffic, and it's safe...it's Singapore! So wander we did. Eventually hunger overcame us and we had the challenge of finding a place to eat at that hour. With several suggestions from people on the street that didn't pan out, we managed to find an Asian place open that was an upscale hotpot place with hot plates built into the table to keep you hot pot simmering. We didn't try that dish though. A flock of young Asian women came in about 5am all dressed in black for Halloween:) Watching them eat these hotpt soups with a medley of ingredients to plop in them was a treat. Theywere so bubbly and spunky before the meal and somber and sluggish afterwards.

After breakfast at the hotel later that morning, Sylvia agreed to join me to go out to Sentosa Island and iFly SIngapore. I got this crazy inspriation to try flying in the world's largest wind tunnel they have there! I've always wanted to skydive but don't know if I could step out of the plane. Still don't. Didn't have to:) So me and 10 kids and 2 young adults suited up to try out our wings. We had some flight training consisting of learning how to conform your body best to stabilize: arms up, back, and bent; legs spread and bent; and chin up with back arched. When asked if I had any neck or back issues, I, ofcourse said NOPE! Not gonna miss this opportunity because of a little neck and back pain..The first kid out of the box did great and flew alone without the training holding him after he got the feel for it. The next kid was panicking and kicking - not so smooth. Keep watching. WHat's the most common error. Gotta keep legs straignt. We learned hand signals from the training so he could communicate with us because its so noisy in there: legs bent, legs straight, chin up, have fun, and I want out. When my time came, I was so nervous, partly because you're in a glass tube and everyone is watching. I didn't want to be that crazy gramma! So I cross my arms, lean into the wind, he grabs me about the waist...and I'm flying!!!! Incredible feeling. I stabilized well and he was able to let me go. Not much control but what a high!!! Round two was just as much fun! I was not willing to pay $30 for another chance, but if it were cheaper and close by I could get addicted!!! Before we did our stint in the tunnel there were teams of people doing maneuvers in there - choreographed. When we finished, our instructor did some acrobatics: fipping, hanging upside down, flying up and down the walls. He said he's a "tunnel rat"!


(Unable to post video of flight here. Will try and post it to Facebook. It's on Picasa (along with tons of photos), but I don't yet how to provide link. Oh so much to learn...:))

Back to the hotel for our afternoon nap. So hot and muggy. Might as well sleep until it cools off. That was after getting a couple of Mango Lassis over at the Indian market.

Dragging our groggy selves out of bed around 7, we found a local Indian eatery for grilled veggies and naan. The streets of Little India were alive with lights and music and people celebrating Deepavali Festival. Wild! Then we hoofed it about a mile over to Raffles, the most famous hotel in Singapore and home of the Singapore Sling. A grand hotel built with that British Colonial tropical feel. The drink was EXPENSIVE, paying for the experience! But when in SIngapore...


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