Singapore Airport, Dolly Bird, Machine Guns

[Capt. Fantastic]

Greetings--

Totally unprepared, was I.

Ten hours from LAX to NRT, then a little over seven more to SIN. Eight hours until the flight to KUL. Thoughtfully-placed "rest areas" along with free Internet access kiosks. This Asian Hospitality thing has a lot going for it.

Found a corner (all the "rest lounge thingies" sported similarly weary travellers) and effected my "sleep anywhere, any conditions" skills honed most recently in Iraq.

"Can I see your papers, please?" Ignore... it is a dream. An insistant dream. I opened one eye to see a petite, quite stunning, Sweet Young Thing. Uniformed, with a clipboard. Accompanied by twelve (I counted) Silent Men armed with 9mm submachine guns, sidearms, evil-looking knives, pepper spray. I have seen Blackwater's Hired Guns carry less kit.

My first thought, a panicked: "Was I sleeping with hands inappropriately testicullary-placed?"

Instantly alerted to DEFCON 1, offered passport and other requested data. That cute face... it belongs on an airline advert not a Police ID badge. I enquired as to, "Is there anything wrong?" No, strictly routine at 0230. Data flowed from passport to clipboard, the former returned unto its rightful owner (moi), and another disarming smile proffered.

The cadre moved (tactically relocated?) onto the next somnolents who were-- I was reassured to note-- two be-scarved women. So such Reconnaissance In Force tactics do appear to be routine in some twisted sense of the term.

Oh, well, but four days to HKT and... beaches.

[andy50]

have a great time capt(hate to think what would happen if someone DIDN,T have the correct papers!)