We spent the weekend getting ready for the Court family adventure in Asia. The apartment is clean, the laundry is done, food and drinks are purchased. The one item eluding us is what is turning into my white whale in Singapore. My Moby Dick if you will. For over 6 months now I have been trying to track down a Singapore national team soccer jersey as a present. I failed at Christmas, I failed in the spring, I was determined to not fail again this time. You wouldn't think it would be that hard, what other national teams are there here? I don't see anyone walking around in Singapore Slammers basketball gear. I found a Malaysia soccer jersey in Penang the first time I looked. Alas, call me Ishmael.We knew Sunday was going to be a big day, so we started it off right, coffee and fruit at home and then breakfast at what may now be our favorite breakfast place on the island. "Hatched' is all things eggs in Holland Village and actually has reasonable prices. Even better, its an all day breakfast so showing up for brunch at 1:30 is not frowned upon..... its welcomed. After a cappuccino and corned beef hash eggs benedict, I was feeling good. First stop afterwards, Queensway Shopping Centre. Apparently this is the place to go if you need sporting goods in the area. 8 stores later and feeling like we were wandering through a flea market vs. a mall, we left dejected and empty handed.
Back on the bus we pulled out the iPhones and started doing some more shopping research. All signs pointed to Orchard Road, Singapore's high end shopping district, which we had really been hoping to avoid. Any day that area is a little crazy, but when the maids have the day off and want to hang out somewhere, all bets are off. When tracking the unattainable beast, however, sometimes you have to steer the ship into rough waters.The first nugget of information we had turned up directed us to the Wisma Atria mall. Upon arrival we consulted the mall directory, but no Nike store was to be found. Since all the malls are connected underground we moved next door to Ion Orchard as rumors had it there may be a Nike store there (Nike is the team sponsor). There was not a Nike store, but there was an Adidas, Converse and Puma store. Perhaps our source was confused? Finally, we got lucky. In mall #3, there was a Nike store. Our pace quickening, we rode up the escalator thinking we had finally hit paydirt. Sadly, when we rounded the corner, the entire store could have fit into a Nike shoebox...... and it only sold basketball, tennis and running gear. Almost out of hope, the store clerk directed us to one more Nike shop down the street.
At this point we were hot, tired, slightly cranky, but at least there was hope. Also, there was ice cream! In yet another one of those Singapore pardaoxes, there are ice cream vendors on the street selling ice cream sandwiches for $1. Yes, $1. I don't know how its that cheap, I don't even care if its real ice cream or not. That. Is. Awesome. Refueled and refreshed we had the energy for store #4, but would it even exist? Yes! Larger than the last one and even looking like an actual retail outlet, we thought that our persistence was about to be rewarded. We scoured the soccer racks, but didn't see what we had come to purchase. Upon asking the store clerk he gave us the incredulous "Why we would have one of those here?" statements. Hmmm, unkind words about the previous store's clerk popped into my head that I muttered under my breath.Defeated.... for now.... we headed home. At least there was ice cream though, so it was a minor win for the day. Major adventures to come beginning Sunday.... and likely, more ice cream.
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