OK, just a little more before I get on with the pleasantries and photographic eye candy. The hotel I'm staying is fairly decent, but I learned just how nice the "premier" (I'm in a standard) rooms are today. My complaints are reasonable I think; all the lights are controlled but this weird control panel on the front of the bedside table as I think I previously mentioned, the tub is two feet off the ground and the foot space requires some deft maneuvers to keep from tripping, the carpet is stained, and there is a serious damp mustiness everywhere on the floor. The "work desk" has only one AC outlet and you have to shake the phone handset to hear the person on the other end (who uses land lines these days anyway?!?). The linens are nice enough, but the closet has those stupid "don't steal me" hangers that are short supply anyway. Everyday I'm made to feel less than adequate when I have to tell the servers at breakfast that I don't have a voucher for breakfast that's provided to the "Premier" level guests. Yes, they charge a bit more, but really?!? The premier rooms are just updated to current standards with a walk in shower, plenty of wall plugs, and no beam me up Scotty control panel for the lights. I know all this because I finally insisted the show me what I'm missing and well, now they're going to have to deal with me insisting on a free upgrade. It's the Buttrill way...Cindy, you'll appreciate this, I promise! Of course they couldn't do that until their manager comes in tomorrow. At least I have a PENDING reservation for 4 more weeks to use as leverage, and their sister property next door, the one with the roof top pool, yea, ALL their rooms are outfitted like this. I do my research, I work the system, and I get what I want. I can be very persuasive. Damn Buttrill!!!
I hope I haven't lost you yet as there IS more eye candy and positivity as promised. Today I was comfortable enough with the cab ride I could pull out the camera and snap some pics enroute.
Also, I excused myself from lunch so I could walk the campus of the Alexandra Techno Park to share with you.
As I mentioned, Singapore is a lush tropical paradise. Palms and bougainvillea are omnipresent. Everything is clean and green. I have to pass by the Interlace everyday and it still leaves me agog and awestruck.
Several tech giants share our "park"; Microsoft, HP, SAP, Sharp, Nokia and...Dyson - not a tech giant, but more about them later. The walk to lunch is filled with ... well, this..
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Lunch is not taken lightly here. Everyone gets here no later than 11:30 because the room starts to fill at 11:00. I spoke previously about my "food court" experiences here. How you can find every and any ethnic flavor and I wasn't kidding. America may have been called the melting pot at one time, but we're addicted to burgers, pizza, and french fries. Here, it's all about fresh vegetables, exotic meats, and rice and beans. This is a bit of a simplification of the extent of the variety, but hopefully the pics will help convey. Oh yea, they serve beer at the employee food court. NO, I didn't partake.
As I mentioned, my hosts are Malay, Hindi, Flip (sorry Rey), and Chinese and each one has their own fave. Today I settled for green curry, but no where near as good as my Step-Mom Joy's. The broth was good, but there were no veggies, and the shrimp were shrimpy and mealy. BOO! Tomorrow I'm trying the Chinese "kitchen sink in a bowl".
Back to Dyson...I've been resisting the urge to speak about this topic, but you should know a Buttrill can't resist commentary on plumbing. Sadly, they Dyson hand dryer is the only redeeming facet to the men's restroom. Suffice it to say, I don't understand why you need to install one of those toilet IN the floor things. The kind you straddle and ... well, I avoid it. Also, they left out some parts, or didn't properly test the "flushless" urinals. They just STINK. And that's all I have to say about that...except the floor below us, where Microsoft resides, has the working models and no stench. But they don't have the Dyson hand dryers because they're office is on our floor. I guess it balances out. That Dyson is one smart guy.
There you have it...and then some. I'm going to try to sleep past 4:30 today. Ambien isn't even working.
Peace and love to all!!!
Yes, Dear, you could smooth out the language a bit considering those pastoral-type people in Sparta are reading your blogs.
ReplyDeleteBuffy made a reservation for 2101 The Woods Dr. for the first two weeks in July. Hope you're here.
I'm really enjoying reading about your adventures and the pics are amazing. I love the Interlace!
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