SaVanh, I'm In SaVanh...

People often ask me how I meet so many people in S'pore when I have been here a short time. I was nervous when I moved thinking I would be talking to my plants all day long, going a little stir-crazy from loneliness. I am happy to report that this is far from the reality. I joined what some people would call a "dating service" but this service is for people that have similar hobbies or interests.  It isn't to meet men, it is to meet people that have a common bond even though they are from different cultures and countries.

The real name of the service is called Meetup. R2 found these groups on the web and I have since learned they are not just in Singapore, but all over the world. Luckily, Singapore has hundreds of such clubs. I have joined about ten Meetup groups but some are more active than others. You can make yourself busy every day if you chose to join this forum.

Even swans do yoga in the Botanical Gardens

Every time I go on a Meetup, I liken it to a blind date. You get all pimped out in your best togs, make sure the broccoli is out of your teeth and your fly is zipped before you meet like-minded members. There are groups for wine aficionados, business women, financial networking, animal lovers, rain-forest hikers, worldwide travellers, singles, single parents, and yoga fanatics; the groups are endless.

The outings I enjoy most are the womens' get-togethers. I have met interesting ladies from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, China, Japan, USA, UK, Belgium, and even Canada.  Who knew? I am happy to report many of these women are fast becoming amigas and confidantes. Even though we are from a multitude of cultures, we have common issues; our husbands leave the toilet seat up, the humidity is killer on the coif, we compare the best travel deals to nearby countries, and we all question why are we paying these exorbitant rental prices. Everyone misses their creature comforts from back home but know there are unique friendships to be made and foreign lands to be explored in Asia.

I read about a Meetup recently that intrigued me.  It was called "How To Be Lucky on Friday the 13th." R2 was working in Hong Kong so I thought I would head to Club Street in Tanjong Pagar where a Meetup with over 80 people was occurring in a contemporary club. I love this enclave and I heard this was "the" place to be at night. When I got to the street, I had no doubt it was the happening place. Taxis, cars and beautiful people were everywhere. It was barely 7:00 p.m.  What would it be like at midnight?

Digital Nomad and Layna in Asia enjoying the Meetup

One of the four organizers of this Meetup calls himself a Digital Nomad, originally from Kolkata, India. He played host most of the evening, running between the door, posing for photo ops and making sure everyone was having a brilliant time. His goal is to make Singapore swing. He says this island has a reputation for being boring but not since the Meetup groups came to the country.

This night was anything but boring. It was packed to the rafters in SaVanh IndoChine.  I learned SaVanh means heaven in Laotian. I am not sure heaven will be that hot and sweaty; I thought that was hell, but this place was packed to the rafters. From the feng shui fish tank you perch on, to the two-story water wall, to the Asian statues and mirrored bar, this prairie girl was impressed. I kept wondering if the koi were getting an eyeful down below when the short skirts scampering by.

Great decor at SaVanh

We were instructed to dress in our finest club wear and not to forget our "lucky charms" for the thirteenth day of April. I saw people bring bottles full of vodka (I guess to get lucky), a florescent "hand" pen that brought luck, a pendant from a deceased grandmother, but the strangest one was from a young man who brought glass which he ate for luck.

It was hard to top the glass eater, but my lucky charm was my wedding ring. Singapore is the only place I have travelled I feel safe enough not to have my finger lopped off.  And believe me, when you are in a bar as packed as SaVanh, you want the wolves to see your trophy bling.

Tomorrow might bring Dim Sum with the Stay at Home Wives or I may venture out for a trek through the rain forest with the Singapore International Ladies Group. And if I get really adventurous, I may join the Elvis Meetup for a little Graceland fix.

All I know is that I am thrilled there are so many options in Singapore to meet people. If you are bored, it is only because you are too lazy to read the paper or search the web for all the happening events in this country. I need more than 24 hours in the day to fit all the outings I want to enjoy while I call the Little Red Dot my home.

(Follow Layna in Asia on Mexico on My Mind site for her perspective of travels in Mexico)