Moving away from my general business like tone on my blog , apart from being interested in soft furnishings and interior decor , I love to cook. While I was perusing the home decor section at Takshimaya in Singapore, hidden amongst aisle containing kitchen products, I saw Bobby Chinn from Cafe World Asia !. My excitement was of course uncontainable and bordered on lunacy...after rambling on like crazy , I can't even remember what I was saying to the guy, but I do remember thinking ,' he must think I am nuts'. My husband -the sane one, decided to take a photo so we could leave the guy alone. Bobby Chinn was the sweetest guy, he waited while we changed the batteries on our camera and when that didn't worked, suggested we try using our mobile phone ( yes yes we never thought of it) , which died immediately after I took this photo. So here it is, enshrined on my blog for all posterity.And here is some sound advice from Bobby Chinn for travellers:
- Never ask to get seated as close to the black box as possible, it is not funny and they notify security.
- Have an extra couple of scanned copies of your passport with your luggage.
- Keep the big notes in the left pocket and smaller notes in the right (depending if you are left or right-handed of course).
- When you haggle, always smile and act a little mental - they might feel sorry for you and give you a better deal.
- If people that you do not want to deal with come to talk to you, are trying to sell you something or hassle you, pretend to be deaf - they generally leave you alone very quickly.
- Never say you are an American, if you look like one, dress like one and are one, say you are from Canada, If they ask you where, tell them a very small town 60 miles north of British Columbia, then make up a name.
- When travelling through the Middle East, learn the phrase ‘Allah uh Akbar’ means ‘God is Great’. If you hear someone scream it… duck!
- When travelling through Asia, always offer your passport with two hands and bow your head down as a sign of courtesy. Just do it, and observe, it is fun to watch and gives you an opportunity to get a sense of a culture quickly.
- Carry a handbag (this includes men). Most terrorists do not look gay so you generally get processed at security checks quicker. It is also much quicker for you to put all your metal objects in a bag quicker then trying to remove them from the stupid silly plastic baskets they give you.
