Intercontinental Paint Thinner

The hotel in Singapore has decided to do some basic maintenance on each floor, including additional staining to the wooden walls (which are everywhere) and near the elevators. The net result is an odd combination of epoxy and paint thinner smells, which makes me think that it must smell very much like home (with the floor refinishing). Strange parallels.

I've noticed that restaurants here don't seem to want to let you leave - as soon as you finish your meal, your server vanishes. If he reappears, he manages to avoid making eye contact. Happened to me twice today, so I can only suspect that it's a Singapore requirement!

I'm sleepy beyond comprehension. I walked and walked and walked and walked today... I was in a random, wandering mood and had the luxury of time. I became happily lost in Singapore, found my way back, and discovered an Italian coffeehouse which specializes in rich frothy Italian hot chocolate. Wonderful place - I must look them up when I return to Singapore, as they also have homemade gelato.

I'm reading a book by Paulo Coelho, who wrote the Alchemist (one of my favorite books of all time). This one is called the Zahir, and it seems to exactly reflect many of my own questions and doubts. Sometimes a book clicks with you at exactly the right time - this is such a book. I highly recommend it.

Off to Thailand tomorrow morning!