The East Coasts

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 same range and mother at the Al Wadi outdoor table. As soon as he leaves the hotel wet through, chap complains. Camping out in ritzy top-end Orchard presently looking for an apartment in these south-eastern 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-Indons 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 leader. The saviour of the ice-box flitting between apartment, train, office tower and mall. The gym. Tennis courts likely fanned too, certainly out in Orchard. Makes it manageable-tolerable. Indispensible for carrying out 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 aspirationals 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.