Saturday, March 11, 2006

Singa-Dinga-Dong, my new best friends are gone...

Ok...back in Singapore again...but this time I finally got a chance to get off for the day. I did my morning gallery shift from 7am-10am, and then grabbed Grit and left for downtown in a taxi for a few hours...we got kinda lost...

kinda..

we found a riverside cafe and had some Thai food (aw god yes), and then had to run back to the ship so she could work.... we got back on time (2:45pm) but i still have til 7:30pm tonight off so i am walking around in the terminal (which is actually a giant !$!%^! shopping complex) and i stumbled upon this internet cafe...

I haven't much to write about....all I can think of really are my new friends that just left today. There was a group of 4 passengers from Australia (my age) and they have been on the ship for 2 cruises (14days)...through those 14 days, we grew to be best friends. Everytime i had a camera in my hand they would come and pose for me, everytime i walked by them they would run up to me and give me hugs and high fives....and then island night this last cruise I finally had a chance to go have a few drinks with them and party. We danced in island shirts and leis and hula skirts (and Kat, my favorite chicky of the bunch, even had a REAL coconut bra)....and we danced on the open deck all night....they even gave me a nickname: Mugshot Mike. And then the song came. And we danced.

"Hey Mikey, you're so fine, you take our pictures all the time, hey Mikey! Mugshot Mikey!"

And then last night as I was finishing my shift they all came up to me and handed me a photo. A photo Szymon had taken of the 4 of them with myself. They paid for the photo a few days before, and signed the back of it with emails and song lyrics and 'photograph my wedding, Mugshot!"...I was ....I dont know... I was in shock, i guess that was what I was. I just ...even now i cant think of what i was...my mind goes blank... i dont even know what i feel, although i know it has to be positive...its almost a blissful love feeling...but more shock than i have ever felt...sorta like .... ok, if you are really upset...to the point of hating the world, and then you see one thing, or hear one thing and in one instant....click.....the world just flips over and begs you to rub its belly...and you just sit there....and even though for me i wasnt really in a horrible mood to begin with at all.....that gesture just made it all a whole lot better. It was a "hey mike....you really ARE doing a good job on this planet...." Dont tell anyone but it actually brought a tear to my eye. If i thought of it i would have uploaded the photo of them today...but all in good time.

Kat, Chris, Amelia, Jaiya (sorry dude, i dont know how to spell your name)....in 14 days, you made my entire life. I truly mean that. And I know you will be reading this at some point, probably in the next few weeks...and i couldnt be happier for that.

Guys? *raises glass to the aussies* Cheers.

2 comments:

Michael Wachniak said...

Sandra I miss you guys! We are in Koh Samui tomorrow, and then Bangkok the day after...it just wont feel the same without the exchanging of "maps and other tidbits o' fun" lol.... tell everyone i say HI, and tell your daughter that she is a very amazing photographer ok? I went through all her stuff and fell in love with almost every single photo! Keep in touch with me, or else i will find you haha. cheers!

Michael Wachniak said...

Hey Sandra! No we didnt get to the grand palace...i had to stay on the ship for 2nd day in Laem Chebang (today) and yesterday I did that Nich Nook Gardens tour and had my picture taken with elephants and monkeys crawling on me lol... it was totally fun! in singapore i will try to get onto a trishaw and let you know... the ones in Mallacca and Port Penang were crazy lol...they just dont care where they drive..we were in on coming traffic (at rush hour) for about 4 minutes....i thought i was going to die... tell cousin IT i say hi heehee! keep in touch!