Because this blog does sometimes cover real-life events, here are some real-life updates in my usual untimely fashion.
10 signs a very professional hooker is staying at your hotel
#1 She has no life
#2 She never leaves the hotel
#3 Her room is pathologically neat and the bed is always made hotel-style
#4 She drinks gallons of water
#5 She goes through an enormous amount of towels (but they’re all accounted for when she leaves)
#6 She has no personal toiletries out
#7 The “Do Not Disturb” sign is always out
#8 She settles the bill in cash — all large bills or a huge collection of mid-size notes — all in perfect order
#9 She always knows when the Internet goes down
#10 She knows the maids’ schedule and tips them well
Okay, maybe the title should be amended to “10 signs Amanda is staying at your hotel.” Ladies, feel free to add to this list! It’s just a starter list. 🙂
fun with Singaporean PSAs
Singapore’s public spirit is strong and the MRT is always plastered with entertaining stickers about various things. None can top the new campaign against public nose-picking. I’m not stating that Singaporean-Chinese are the only people on the planet who pick their noses in public; it is something I’ve noticed a lot since arriving months ago. Though if the campaign wants to be accurate, the photo of the young actor should be replaced by one of a grizzled uncle in a stained singlet (American translation: old guy in a dirty wife-beater).
The blog I’m linking to also has a short feature on a Hep B campaign with clam costumes.
TIS (This Is Singapore)
singapore — bastion of enlightenment, sensitivity and tolerance
Singapore actually is a fairly tolerant place, except when it comes sexism, racism and a certain amount of ageism. There’s also materialism but it’s not anything near the levels of Hong Kong. Anyhow, I could not believe this store window display from Hermes. That they’re French is no excuse. Would this store window fly in America? I doubt it. Has it raised a peep in Singapore? Not that I can tell.
My Aussie roommate was shocked by these photos. Anyone is free to tell me that I’m over-reacting or taking this out of context (or even explain exactly what the context is). All I know is that my jaw dropped and I nearly tripped on the sidewalk when I first passed the store. I came back at night so the windows would be well-lit. Sorry about the humidity causing condensation on the glass.
I was planning this whole long post about the Singapore (and Asian) maid culture, but I really just wanted to post these photos!
new book possibilities
People keep asking me if I’m going to write a book about my travels. Honestly, I’d rather not. If you want to know why, here are some possible working titles I’ve come up with in case I did decide to write a book about it, whenever I’m done, whenever that is.
A Case of Bad Timing: Sex Working the World During a Global Financial Crisis, Burgeoning Flu Epidemic and Various Natural Disasters
Alternatively, I might title that one Plan Better Than I Did: How Not to Be a Successful Escort During a Global Financial Crisis, Burgeoning Flu Epidemic and Various Natural Disasters
I could also pen Hotel Rooms Around the World: They’re All Basically the Same, With Rare Exception.
Or I might write the ultimate travel-guide: How to Miss Places, Events and Things of Importance: All the Places and Things I Did Not See or Do Before I Died
This doesn’t mean I’m having an awful time — quite far from it. I just think my day-to-day experiences are meaningful only to me and completely lack broader appeal.