Saturday, May 13, 2006

a day with the fiance saw us in the red light district.

we decided to walk from bugis to serangoon but took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up walking the whole nine yards. Not that I mind of cos. I would gladly walk anywhere with him, granted he holds my hand and entertains me now n then.

So anyways, en route to our targeted mustaffa center, we had to walk through this unlit row of shophouses. It was surprisingly quite full of banglas and who-nots given the lack of lighting and activity one could get up to under such conditions, or so I thought. (ah, so ignorance is bliss.... and it only lasted so long).

As though on cue, the ambience of the place somewhat changes as well. Instead of the usual jabbering in a multitude of foreign tongues, the atmosphere was disturbingly quiet, save for the shuffling of feet from passer-bys. Now and then, there would be some apeks and nyonyas standing at the side, making small talks with each other and blocking the entrance to each dim-lighted aisle of staircases. Occasionally, there would be pretty faces in thick make-up, long-flowing hair, tight clothing and er, raspy voices peeping from the staircases and lining the dark corridors, fags in hands.

im n I were walking in a single file with me leading the way, this jumpy yana. All the while, I was nervously twirling my necklace, my eyes fixated straight ahead amidst the row of men walking past me in the opposite direction. And occasionally, I would turn to the back to assure myself im was still right behind me. of cos later on, when I noted these things eyeing my fiance, I ordered him to stay by my side as I kepit him all the way out. Silly I know, but it makes me feel more secure that way.

we came to a point where I couldnt move ahead cos there was a human traffic jam in front of me. a few men were lined up in silence, looking past the gate leading to an aisle of staircase, where a few girls stood on the other end. it was the silence that was most unnerving. It adds a heavy air of seriousness to this whole shady business. I couldnt stand it, so of cos I had to break it with a loud, "excuse me, thank you very much," as I made my way past them.

Miss Prim says: Never forget your manners even in questionable situations.

i later learned tat these men were probably considering their picks for the night.

While I had a rough idea that I was in a seedy area where I should just shut my mouth and walk quickly, I din actually think i was right smack in the middle of a well-known red light district where the girls are not actually, er, girls after all. I could possibly be the only genuine specimen around, apart from the mama-sans. Of cos, this only genuine specimen is also the most modestly made-up and most covered-up of the lot, and not surprisingly the least bit, this genuine specimen got out safely through the whole stretch without so much as a bat of an eyelid from these horny men. Thank goodness.

It was nonetheless a scenic route from bugis to serangoon. Quaint, little, deserted shophouses along arab street, haunted-looking trees along balestier road, seedy little roads with neon signs flashing massage parlors and smoke-filled pubs past allensby road.

All along, I wanted to fish out my cam n take little snapshots of these places. Cos these places look dandy, and you have a very jakun (gawk-y) yana walking past them. only thing tats stopping me is the fact that I feel awkward, even somewhat silly, stopping and snooping around finding the right angle to take snapshots of random stuffs.

Yes, I m self-conscious like tat.

The other reason being, I was afraid 'something' else might be captured on film as I go around snapping these seemingly-uninhabited-as-far-as-the-eye-can-see places with my entry-level cam.

Yes, I m pengecut (ie: scared-outta-my-capri-pants) like tat.

I m dateless for today. Any takers? Call me. I shall be ambling down town in a bit if the weather lets up.

r.z 11:59 AM  0 comments