1) Go to http://www.traveling-stories-magazine.com/jail-in-japan-tales-of-pocket-knives-bathtub-antics-and-utter-cluelessness/
-->or just Click Here
2) “Digg” it by clicking the “digg it” button to the right of the title. If you have never digged anything before, you’ll have to register, which is no fun, but is also fast, free, and easy. Proposed kick-backs, bribes, and underhanded dealings with the $150 prize will be entertained.
Of course you can read the piece, too, if you have time for a laugh. It’s easily the funniest thing I’ve ever written because the material is so good that it writes itself.
The events chronicled in the story took place 17 months ago, as I’m sure most of you know, and I just finally got around to writing it up about two months ago. I submitted it to several online writing sites and while most expressed interest, they have been slow to actually publish the story. TSM emailed me a few days ago to tell me that it qualified for their contest, so we’ll see if it’s good enough. Hai!
Just spent four very quick days in Singapore – not nearly enough time – and did CouchSurfing for the first time. I was hosted by an awesome young couple, was shown around the city by several friendly locals, and had too much fun every night (and on into the mornings) with my new CS buddies.The food in Singapore certainly lived up to its reputation: this place is definitely the food capital of the world. The famous street grub has mostly been confined to large food court deals and concentrated wet markets, so you can go around and grab lots of different dishes to share. While Malay, Chinese, HK, and Indian fares are the most prominent, there are also various dishes from all over the world. You can find anything and everything you want, and better yet, what you haven’t ever heard of before.
Also as reputed, Singapore appeared to be very clean, efficient, and conservative. Chewing gum was a problem years ago because kids would toss it on the street, so now it’s illegal and you can’t legitimately buy a stick of gum anywhere in the city. Smoking cigarettes in public places, littering, and eating on the MRT all carry heavy fines (500 to 5000 Singapore Dollars). Drug use gets you as much as a year in jail and drug trafficking carries the death penalty. These guys are no bullshit.
But at the same time, while the face of Singapore is incredibly conservative, the younger generations appear to be fairly liberal. Some people risk jay-walking (a big boy fine), will carry a cigarette through a mall corridor, and even pile 6 people in the back of a car to ride through the downtown streets. While these are not big risks elsewhere, they’re significant infractions here – if you get caught. Perhaps the sense of knowing that these small time improprieties are pushing the bounds prevents people from doing anything more serious. This way you get your “fight the man” thrills from doing petty stuff…Housing is really interesting: you cannot buy an apartment or any place to live unless you’re married or older than a specified age (35, I think). The government subsidizes the cost if you are married, and then subsidizes it more if you move close to a parent. I find that incredible that the government promotes family values through housing cost incentives. Ok, starting to ramble… Go ‘digg’ my crap so I can win money :)
2 comments:
great. i'm mentioned collectively as "some people". yes, cheap thrills. STICK IT TO DA MAN!
and impressive memory, however what we told you may have been bullshit but i like the way how you wrote them as though they are facts. :D
i thought the anonymous "some people" would be better than mentioning the names of those who might not like to be mentioned :)
naw, you wouldnt bullshit an unsuspecting traveler, would you? seemed true enough to me!
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