I ain't so bougie after all
There have been some fights as to whether I am "Boomer" (no, born in 1965, early X.) But the difference between simply enjoying some bourgeoisie habits and objects is in no way, shape, or means the same as a greed driven jackass. I am only a jackass.
The last time I was in the Malay world, it was Singapore. I stayed at the St. Regis. It was luxee and bougie beyond belief. I loved it
Simple wooden furniture. A view of the guardhouse and parking ramp. A surprisingly comfy bed but the couch is a wreck (so what, it sits just fine.)
Simple, sufficient, and oddly satisfying.
Alas, not quiet.
Tile floors everywhere...
Someone walks down the hall - I hear every footstep. And the odd rail-road like clickity-clack of rolled luggage crossing the grout. Housekeepers with carts and vacuums too.
The folks upstairs have a serious propensity to drag the wooden chairs across the floor -- they
There is a persistent drip in the shower drain. An indicator of the seconds going by and oddly reassuring in that regard. (Again, after I got re-centered.)
Oddly none of this bothers me much. (Now that I'm on the emotional mend. There was some serious teeth grating earlier. Especially through the Friday evening check-in window.)
The pool is hilarious. Kids everywhere, frolicking. Parents in the water watching carefully but smiling. This is a very Islamic part of a Muslim country (the west coast a tad less so.) So the swim wear is unique and modest. Men and boys wear what divers would call a "skin" - a Lycra body suit. At least to the knees. And they wear shorts and a tee on top of it. The women and girls keep their tudong (traditional headwear) on and are similarly modest. I cannot fathom it. But one and all, they seem comfortable and happy. And so, I am happy for them. And, happy for myself. And, comfortably so.
Oddly, the pool was packed before noon. It was packed at 0700. I went out for a beach walk at 1345. It was empty. Nope, no idea what's going on.
Confusion has happened a bit. Nothing important. Nothing that wasn't solved in 3 seconds when somebody whose English was better said something I understood. Most people smile. Everyone is happy to see a snowman in real life.
This is a resort for the locals. There are permanent residents too. It's not the best way to see anything - except the locals being happy. And, that's not just good enough. It's why I'm here.
The muezzin can be heard throughout the day. I like the sound of it. It means nothing to me but is audibly pleasing. Not all the noises here are annoying. There is a mark on the ceiling noting the Kiblat. The nearest mosque must, coincidentally, be in that direction too. The faith here is deep and centuries old. It is also peaceful. And, in harmony with the Buddhist, Taoist, and Christians that make up the other 3rd of the population. People just let each other be.
A smile is always a wonderful thing. There are many more of them here than at home.
Oddly none of this bothers me much. (Now that I'm on the emotional mend. There was some serious teeth grating earlier. Especially through the Friday evening check-in window.)
The pool is hilarious. Kids everywhere, frolicking. Parents in the water watching carefully but smiling. This is a very Islamic part of a Muslim country (the west coast a tad less so.) So the swim wear is unique and modest. Men and boys wear what divers would call a "skin" - a Lycra body suit. At least to the knees. And they wear shorts and a tee on top of it. The women and girls keep their tudong (traditional headwear) on and are similarly modest. I cannot fathom it. But one and all, they seem comfortable and happy. And so, I am happy for them. And, happy for myself. And, comfortably so.
Oddly, the pool was packed before noon. It was packed at 0700. I went out for a beach walk at 1345. It was empty. Nope, no idea what's going on.
Confusion has happened a bit. Nothing important. Nothing that wasn't solved in 3 seconds when somebody whose English was better said something I understood. Most people smile. Everyone is happy to see a snowman in real life.
This is a resort for the locals. There are permanent residents too. It's not the best way to see anything - except the locals being happy. And, that's not just good enough. It's why I'm here.
The muezzin can be heard throughout the day. I like the sound of it. It means nothing to me but is audibly pleasing. Not all the noises here are annoying. There is a mark on the ceiling noting the Kiblat. The nearest mosque must, coincidentally, be in that direction too. The faith here is deep and centuries old. It is also peaceful. And, in harmony with the Buddhist, Taoist, and Christians that make up the other 3rd of the population. People just let each other be.
A smile is always a wonderful thing. There are many more of them here than at home.
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