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Hey You, 48 hours before we landed in Singapore, I received an email from Booking.com confirming our accommodation for the two days we were to be there. Great. That box ticked. Once our bags were loaded into the boot of the Singaporean airport taxi, off we sped to our destination, supposedly some twenty minutes away. As we drove up to the entrance of the hotel the image we had expected didn’t quite match the reality in front of us. Everything was in darkness and there were two male government employees sitting behind a desk outside the hotel. I rolled down my window to be informed that the hotel was being used as a COVID-19 facility and was therefore not open to tourists. Okay. This is the part where the mind goes into a state of disbelief. You know that feeling – the one that says, this shouldn’t be happening as you try to assess the situation and scramble for possible solutions. It’s dangerous territory because our default mind often seems to be blame and resistance. Anyway, the two Singaporean employees gave me the space I needed to sit in the back of the taxi and check all my accommodation apps. They also made useful suggestions like doing a search in my inbox for emails received. They stood outside the cab quietly and respectfully, giving me all the time I needed to find the elusive email which would give me the information I sought about out alternative hotel. Now, whilst these two men were helping me tap into emotions of gratitude and kindness, my cab driver friend needed me to be, well, let’s say understanding and compassionate. Although the meter kept ticking and he was going to be paid the same amount whether we were moving or stationary, he was becoming more and more agitated as each minute passed. The government employees spoke to him kindly and asked him to be patient. This was a challenge for him.Eventually, I found the email and before we drove off to our next hotel, I thanked the men for their kindness and support. One last words to me were, Enjoy your stay in Singapore mam.So, some twenty minutes later, with the somewhat annoying sound of the cab’s GPS constantly telling him to make a U-turn, we arrived at the second hotel. It looked all too familiar. Everything was in darkness with the same barriers positioned out the front. By this time our cab driver had had enough of his Australian couple’s plight. He insisted that the entry was around the back. Picking up on his strong desire to flee, I paid him the $40 we owed and apologized for the inconvenience.We were now greeted by two Indian Singaporean security guards – one male and one female. They informed us, more than once, that this hotel was being used as a Yellow Fever Facility. Yep, I kid you not. So, whilst the boss man, Jimmy, took our passports and tried to work out where we were supposed to be, I got talking to the guards. We spoke about family, Indian weddings and Singaporean Juanita even recounted the story of how she came to have a Spanish name! After Juanita told us she had family in Adelaide and Melbourne, she volunteered to walk us to a nice hotel that was close by. |
Off we set on foot with our luggage to hopefully what would be our resting place for the night. We were greeted by a lovely receptionist who informed us that she did indeed have a room for the night. Thank goodness! There was just one problem – it was going to cost us double what we were prepared to pay. Ok. BIG breath in, BIG breath out. By now it was about 11 pm Singaporean time and 1 am for us. Remember, everything happens for a reason. This is an opportunity to trust and have faith in the bigger picture; I said to myself. Again, the receptionist was so kind. She gave me the hotel’s wi-fi password so that I could search for accommodation nearby. With the additional helpful comments from the local security guard and upon seeing the four star rating, I decided on the Santa Grand Hotel in the East Coast District. The kind receptionist rang the hotel and asked them to hold the last room for us. She then offered to ring a taxi and off we set again to our fourth hotel. The elderly cab driver told us how he loved driving at night when the roads were calmer and less congested. He shared with us his love of ghost stories and was listening to one in Mandarin on the radio as we traveled along the almost deserted highway.  |
Finally, we arrived at a white colonial looking hotel, Santa Grand. If ever in my life I had empathy with Mary and Joseph, it was at this moment. The warm water from the shower was amazing, as was the feel of the clean fresh sheets on my skin. Good night world. When we woke up the next morning, we were delighted to see that the hotel was in a vibrant area with lots of bars, cafes and shopping centers. What’s more, it was only a 10-minute walk to green bayside parks and white sandy beaches. We also discovered the hotel had a roof top lap pool and spa. Perfect!  |
So, in the end, the universe led us to where we were meant to be – just a bit later than we expected. Traveling/life seems to want to teach us the lesson that no matter how well we may plan and map out our desired daily itinerary, we will also be challenged and tested to preferably deal mindfully, calmly and respectfully with what is actually happening now. During this 3 hour saga, I got to connect with some beautiful souls. Some of them behaved in a way that brought up emotions in me like gratitude, whilst others needed my understanding and compassion. When I look back at what took place that evening in Singapore, I smile at our little adventure. What I do know is that my and others’ attitudes of kindness, empathy and respect (rather than blame and resistance) made all the difference to the unfolding of the present moment. As I say in my poem, This Moment: |
This moment now, An opportunity waiting. Welcome it in and Feel the vibrating. Wherever you are, Get rid of the should. Accept what is here And rejoice in the good |
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Thanks John Lennon for reminding us that, Life is what happens to you when you are busy making other plans. Keep Swimming. Travel safe. Jen 😊 |
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