4 Feb 2007 — Oh wow, happy days. Just very recently, I was so fortunate as to have a Singaporean couple here at the resort and spa! Not just that, but they turn out to be the absolute sweetest loveliest people ever. Absolutely gorgeous! I must admit, when my receptionist first called me in the back office to say there’s a Singaporean couple who would like to meet me, I was like, “Huh? Erh… okay.” But within seconds, yep, absolute seconds(!) of meeting them, the winning smiles and embracing warmth of Chin Wen and Elaine just completely won me over. They made me feel so, so, so welcome! Erh, yah strange, like are they the guest or me?!? But that’s exactly how they made me feel. Really, they were so kind and friendly and warmhearted, I almost want to cry just recalling it (Cue: long sigh + melodramatic wipe of make-believe tear from eye).

Here they are. Don’t they look genuinely nice?

We just hit it off straight away, yakking at the reception desk until the therapist tore them away for their massages, and later when they were done, we continued chatting till damn(!) I had to go for my nutrition workshop. We made a pact to meet for drinks at Rangali Bar later that night, and once again, for a good solid four hours from 9pm till the bar closed at 1am, we were talking and talking about everything under the sun! This is a first for me I tell you, the last to leave the bar. Usually I’m in bed by 10/11+pm; in fact, just the other day, even my manager Tara told me I should get out more!?! Well, I definitely lived it up that night. I don’t know about Chin Wen and Elaine, but me, I was oblivious to everything and everyone around me apart from them. I was completely satisfied to bask and soak in pure, unadulterated Singaporeaness; shamelessly flaunting my Singlish and broken Mandarin like there was no tomorrow. Didn’t give a damn either that it was movie night, and to be heard, I had to practically scream at the top of my lungs. In fact, most people who know me should know that when I get excited, I naturally speak very loud AND FAST anyway. Yeah, I don’t really talk, I screech, and man… I was more than happy to do so that night.

There was really no subject left unturned. From the NKF saga to Ah Beng Ah Lian fashion, from how fighting fishes make excellent low maintenance pets to “Mee Siam mai hum, mai hum, mai hum, mai hum”, from old dusty secondary school teachers (such a small world, Chin Wen turned out to be not just a RV junior, but also a NJ junior! Hey Ade, you recognize him? From your year one.) to thwarted proposal plans, there was just no end to conversational topics. And you know what else? It was SO effortless, I didn’t have to try for a single sec, unlike at those tiresome guest cocktails, or come to think of it, it ’s even less tedious than meals in the staff canteen. Yep, these people I’ve barely known for 12 hours were turning out to be my bestest friends on the island!

And not just cause they are fellow Singaporeans, though needless to say that has a lot to do with it, but aside from that, this couple, they are the most unpretentious, genuine, down-to-earth people I’ve met in a looong time. One other thing that struck me was also how well-mannered they were. Like even though I’m staff and they are guests, not for one second did they treat me as anything less than a peer. I was particularly impressed by Chin Wen’s promptness at making others feel at ease; he was so very very considerate at all times. I kept thinking if I were his parents, I would be very proud to know that I’ve raised my son so well, such a gallant young man. But actually Elaine too, also very sweet in a quieter, more reserved sort of way. Haiyoh, 我们Singapore的年轻人真是年轻有为! And I’m not alone in my enthusiasm. They’ve certainly left a positive impression on other staff members as well, cause lots of people keep coming up to tell me that in their contact with Chin Wen & Elaine, they’ve found them to be perfectly amiable too. Even though we’re practically strangers, for some reason, I’m riding on their wave and beaming with pride. Yah lor, we Singaporeans are very likeable one…

Sadly though, my newfound source of joy was not to last. Barely have I gotten acquainted with them, and it was time to say goodbye. Yep, the very next day, they were on a flight back home. I got special permission from Tara to send them off at the air taxi platform. And of course, we made full use of whatever last few moments we had to continue with our incessant chatter. Haha! In fact, we were so 叽咱 that they were the last to board the plane, everyone else was already seated and waiting, oops! And with that, they were gone. Oh well… 不在乎天长地久，只在乎曾经拥有. Hopefully when they go back home, they can’t stop raving about the place to their family and friends, so before you know it, lots more Singaporeans will be heading this way! Heh heh, now that I’ve had a taste of kindred blood, I can’t get enough of it. So yes, take this as an open invitation to come all you people!

As for you, Chin Wen and Elaine, congrats again on your nuptials, and thanks for our short but sweet time here. I truly enjoyed your company. Hopefully we’ll see one another again in May! Take care and all the very best.

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 4th, 2007 at 4:13 pm and is filed under General Ramblings. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.