There and back again (a borrowed title)

View of the Singapore Flyer and the Marina Bay Sands. Beyond, the multitude of
 floating cargoes off the coast of Singapore.

Two weekends ago I made the trip down to Singapore for a colleague's wedding. It was a quickie affair.

The trip I mean.

I'm currently living in that space between the shock of adulthood, and the ascension into the finally-I-know-what-I'm-doing phase of my life. You know, the time when all you're really doing is running around trying to figure things out. But every now and again, when you take a minute to step away from your own life-shattering problems, you'll find that actually, most other people seem to have things worked out.

So when one morning, my colleague who was in town for the day strode over to my desk to sheepishly ask me to attend his wedding, I literally got the shock of my life. I didn't even know he was dating someone. Granted, he is new to the firm, but that is no excuse for me not to even know his full name (I learned this when I read the invitation).

Shameful.

So I accepted smilingly. It might even impress you to know that I didn't even check my calender. That's how committed I was to this wedding. The whole time I was fiddling with my credit card while buying the air ticket online I was chanting to myself: "I am not a terrible human being. I am not, I tell you".

Why not, I thought. Half our KL office was flying down so I would have good company. And I might as well ring up my (nearly) long lost friends for a brunch to catch up.

What I did not count on was the thunderous snowball of a week I was having just prior to the trip. I had slept a total amount of 5 hours in something like 4 days resulting in an epic migraine the entire time I was in Singapore that no amount of cafergot could hope to cure.

But I was determined. So there I was in a 3-month old dress I had bought on a whim which suddenly didn't fit me anymore (it's a conspiracy I tell you) and shoes that were probably made of nails.

And then I entered the ballroom of the St Regis.

Everything just melted away. It was just lovely being amongst friends who enjoyed each other's company, laughing, joking, just catching up. Everyone dressed up in their crisp tuxedoes and floor length ball gowns that I always wondered who would wear. For those three hours I felt at ease. Happy to be laughing again.

The after party proved too much for me though. So I could not stay longer than the cursory 45 minutes. But being at the 70th storey of an otherwise boring looking hotel had its charms and an unmistakable one is the view it afforded.

Which takes me to my photo of the week: New Asia Bar, Swissotel, Singapore. A must visit for a view of the much talked about Marina Bay. Say what you will of Singapore and its terrrarium-esque city planning, these guys have got it right. An interesting vista - though I won't comment on the exact character of it - is definitely what makes a city.

***

Tomorrow I am off for a new adventure. Even though I technically have to be up again in about two hours, it will be worth it when these nails are done. Yes, a trip anywhere is nothing if a proper pedicure is not in place.

Even though it's bloody 1 a.m. in the morning.

At least I've packed