The East Coasts (Nov25)

Not to be wondered at the young accountant recently in from NY finding the heat punishing. Five years in the Big Apple and four plus in college over in the States leaves a shock here on the Equator. Late 20s, wife & mother at the Al Wadi outdoor table. As soon as he leaves the hotel wet through. Camping out in Orchard presently, looking for an apartment in these SE parts. Chief requirement, proximity to a MRT, don't really matter where. Sorry to find the market opposite closed and not re-opening until November. The only surprise in this case the nationality—Indonesian; Chinese-Indo from the Jakartan furnace. Complaining about the heat? Decade in the States, East Coast. OK, maybe. What would a bule feel though, hey?! Innumerable the biz-admin-techno class here relying on the genius of aircon—the greatest invention of science, according to the former, recently departed visionary. The saviour of the ice-box flitting between apartment, train, office tower & mall. The gym. Tennis courts, certainly out in Orchard. Indispensable for the good work in the republic and the wider region. East Coast here by Marine Parade a short walk away, popular among the foreign talent and local aspirational equally. (The whole of that portion of the island reclaimed: earlier in the year they were raising one of the roads in the vicinity a metre.) Yesterday rain throughout, torrential early and then showers remainder of the day. Today's cloud cover made it more than comfortable. Chap might be in for a proper walloping, KAPOW, shortly.