Getting my ears lowered

The before picture.

On our last day in Singapore I only had one task to accomplish, get a haircut.  It had been way too long since my last cut and I think I was only a few weeks away from rocking a mullet.  Now I’m not saying there is anything wrong with having “hockey hair” but I don’t think Kelly would like looking at me too much if I was sporting an ape drape.

A Reservoir Dogs poster was a good sign.

I had talked to a student on our first day in port who told me I could find a $5 cut in the Little India section of town.  Kelly and I wanted to explore that section anyway so we made a fun afternoon of it.  It was an easy 15 minute subway ride there.  The subway system in Singapore was really easy to use and we were able to get the hang of it after only a few rides. 

As we exited the subway the smell of curry was immediate.  I’ve really grown to love Indian food lately so my stomach quickly forgot about the breakfast we had just eaten and eagerly awaited lunch.  We walked the colorful streets for a bit until I saw a $5 haircut sign on a small door sandwiched between local market and a closed steel garage door.  I was a little nervous but I figured hair will grow back so why not try.

The barber shop was very simple.  There was only one chair and one guy cutting hair.  A flat screen television on the wall was showing Indian music videos and the walls had American movie posters covering them.  I’m guessing to hide cracks or holes in the wall.  I waited for a few minutes as the barber finished up an Indian guy who was in the chair and then waved me in. 

He there a wrap around me and clipped it on the side and asked what I wanted.  Kelly was quick thinking and took him outside the door where he had pictures of different hairstyles.  She pointed to the Brad Pitt style but I’m sure he was thinking there is only so much he can do. 

Over the next half hour my new friend weaved his magic.  There was no small talk, just a man working his craft.  The most amazing part to me was he never used a pair of scissors or any water.  He would comb my hair over, set the comb in place and then use a pair of electric clippers to cut off layers.  When he finished with the clippers he simply used a comb and a straight razor to cut the top down and style it.

In the end it was one of the best haircuts I’ve ever had in my life.  We chatted with him and his wife for a few minutes after, she had been sitting on an old couch in the corner reading, and they asked where we were from and showed us pictures of their baby.  It was a wonderful experience and I’m really glad I pushed past my initial apprehension and went for it.

The after.

Singapore: A Fine City

The preport briefing for Singapore had one simple message, keep it clean in Singapore.  And with good reason, if you get caught spitting in Singapore and you get a $100 fine.  Smoke in the wrong place, you get a $100 fine.  Get caught with illegal drugs and you wish for a fine.  You get death by hanging, usually within 72 hours.

We were a bit on edge about doing anything that could even remotely be considered bad behavior.  It’s odd that just three days ago we were in Vietnam where jaywalking is a way of life and then suddenly we are in a place where that same action gets you a $100 fine.  The strict rules do create a city that is very clean and orderly though. 

Sadly we only had about a day and a half here and it seemed like just as we started to get the hang of the subway and the city, it was time to go.  I was the first person off the ship but it was because I had the important duty of making sure student’s immigration departure card was stapled into their passport.  So stapler in hand I saw the entire community venture out to explore before I was able to head out. 

Once Kelly and I got going we hopped the subway up to the Buddha Tooth Relict Temple in the Chinatown section of Singapore.  The four-story temple is home to one of Buddha Shakyamuni’s teeth and has a garden on the roof where 10,000 Buddhas line the walls.  We spent over two hours walking the floors and gazing at all the different Buddhas.  While there we learned of the Chinese Buddhist practice of selecting a personal Guardian Deity based on one’s Zodiac sign.  Every animal sign has a corresponding Buddha or Bodhisattva who has a special link with persons born under that particular sign and offers spiritual guidance and protection to them.  My protector, Vajrocana, was a fairly normal and peaceful seated Buddha.  Kelly’s, Acala, was a blue, demonic looking statue carrying a sword and surrounded by fire.  God help anyone that messes with Kelly.