American Final Frontier. When someone mention Alaska, images of snow capped moutains, leaping salmons, grizzly bears and glaciers spring to mind. Not the ideal location for a 'sunny boy' from Singapore. Before the trip, I bought long johns, scarf, jacket, sweater....basically extremely useless stuff in Singapore context. However reliving the piercing cold in Taiwan (Ah Mei wasn't wearing jacket when she did the advert! Bloody swindlers...) I feel that a little kiasuism is good this time....
After a gruelling 26 hours flight (SIN-TOKYO-SEATTLE-ANCHORAGE) we finally arrived! Collected the rental car and together with the bus provided by our USAF counterparts, we head for our dorms.
Oh btw, pictures intensive. Modem users beware.
This is my accomodation. The room is huge by SAF standards. And let's not forget...the view!
The moutain ranges and the sun creates quite a view under different times.
What is so special about the trip, about Alaska, you may ask? My friends were not very impressed with the assorted moose nugget (i.e. dried moose droppings) derived souvenirs I've gotten for them. Yes, yes, they're pretty useless but it's still 100% made in Alaska! But it's still a fact that I suck at buying gifts that are appreciated, at least. So be warned, for those reading this blog. State explicitly what you want (or don't want) else just prepare to get what my warped mind fancy. "Pink, cute and useful" does not work!
Hmm...what's my most memorable experience? Besides the 2 lap dance (hehe....) at the ABC, I have the privillege of falling sick on the last day. Splitting headache, a total lost of appetite, a perpetual feeling that cold air is circulating my ribcage....oh t's terrible. The 30 fucking hour long flight back was already a torment to my healthy flight mates, so guess how glad I am when we finally arrive at Singapore at 0100 am on Monday.
Of course, I didn't know then but I was actually nursing the great Singapore epidemic - dengue fever. A blood test 3 days after I touchdown in Singapore confirmed that my blood platelets are way to low to be considered normal, and off to SGH A & E. I was actually feeling pretty ok that day, with my fever subsided and me reluctantly dragging myself to work. They believe I was infected just before my Alaska trip, and 1 week later a ful blown dengue has developed, wit me getting a high 39.2 degrees fever. Well, I'm glad I'm in Singapore when it struck...imagine stuck in Alaska because of a bloody mosquito!
Anyway, it was an...interesting stay in the hospital. I wisely rejected the suggestion to go to the horrid NUH and chose instead to cram myself in a C ward in SGH. I think it's a pretty good stay (although the food will make NS cooks proud) and 3 days later, I'm discharged! With more days of MC to enjoy my Harry Potter and FF VII Advent children, I'm quite glad actually.
And now here I am, completing this entry that started in Alaska and completed in Singapore 9 days later. 3 Harry Potters done, watch FF VII twice, picking up the FF VII game again and most work promptly ignored, and all I can think of Alaska is how miserable I was during the sick period. "Home sweet home".... and thanks for the 'dengue holiday'!
