Singapore Parkinson’s Disease Society meets Drive Around the World.

Journal and photo by Todd Borgie

We have hit Asia by storm. After being taken care of on a ship for 5 days, we have now arrived in Singapore. Chanda fixed us up with an amazing hotel called the Goodwood Park Hotel, and we all love where we are staying. Yesterday we had a couple of “Take Me With You” guests join us: Larry from Land Rover, and Sue Mead, an independent journalist. After recovering from their long flights from the USA yesterday, they are ready to join us today in order to gain a glimpse into our daily lives on the road.

A visit with the Singapore Parkinson’s Disease Society was scheduled for today. They knew we were coming, but I never quite know what the local Parkinson’s groups expect when we schedule a visit. I communicate our story, our program goals, and how they can help, but what kind of person would you expect to jump out of Land Rover after seven months of travel, especially one that is part of such a unique project like Drive Around the World?

This morning, six of us jumped out of taxis and entered the Singapore Hospital. After asking a couple of questions, we found our way the meeting place, slightly tardy. We first met Dr. Louis Tan, who unbeknownst to us, had worked with Dr. William Langston and the Parkinson’s Institute, the main beneficiary of this project. The meeting was great; it featured a slide show and words from many people in the Parkinson’s community including two doctors, two nurses, one social worker, and three People with Parkinson’s disease. They told us about their program, and we asked a lot of questions about the Parkinson’s experience in Singapore. It was Larry and Sue’s first time at one of these meetings, and it was great to show them first-hand some of the stuff we learn along the way. One of the Parkinson’s patients we met told us that Parkinson’s disease is one of the best things that have happened to him. Having been diagnosed six years ago with Parkinson’s, he believed that his condition allowed him to have a child, who is now four years old. He, along with his wife and other children, is able to take care of this child, one of the major joys of his life. The visit couldn’t have been better; I think Larry and Sue gained a much better understanding of the disease and what we are doing here on the road. Thank you very much, Singapore Parkinson’s Disease Society!

After returning to the hotel, everyone took off to eat; however, by this time, Nick had tracked down an elusive phone number and scheduled and appointment for me at the Tropical Marine Science Institute. I caught me breath and was off in a taxi once again. “Fourteen Kent Ridge Road”, I said to the cab driver, as I showed him the address. At 2:00 p.m. (the time of my appointment) we were pulling up to Cambridge Rd. It didn’t look like a university, so I asked if this was 14 Kent Ridge. He said, “Kent Ridge? This is Cambridge”, he apologized and soon we off to the other side of town. Twenty minutes later, we arrived at the University of Singapore, and a campus full of streets named Kent Ridge. I saw Lower Kent Ridge Rd, Kent Ridge Circle, Kent Ridge Crescent, and many others. After consulting several people and several maps, I arrived at my destination about a ½ hour late, uffda!

I learned much about much about the Tropical Marine Sciences Institute’s programs (www.drivearoudtheworld.com/education/sea/tmsi/FrameSet.htm).

The afternoon ended with a visit to Land Rover Singapore and finally to the famous Raffles Bar. This bar used to host the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Joseph Conrad. It was fun to imagine these guys having a famous Singapore Sling here, and it was fun to see the architecture style that has been copied so profusely around the world.

My favorite part of raffles was the fans. There was a series of blades (shaped like hand fans) that were attached to arms that moved back and forth. Four blades were connected over an area of about eight feet and in a straight line ( a blade every 2 ft). All they did was move back and forth; however, their synchronicity lured me into watching them. I want to build a fan like this in a house that I will own in the future.

We had our final team dinner, for our final continent. We have a lot of distance to cover on this new continent, but the mysteries it holds will be a great incentive to keep rolling.

Logbook for May 26th, Day 208
Start: Singapore, Singapore
Time: 8:00 a.m.
N: 01* 16.695
E: 103* 46.855
Finish Singapore, Singapore
Time: 12:00 p.m.
N: 01* 16.695
E: 103* 46.855
Mileage: 000
Notes: Team hard at work. TMWY! guests received an orientation briefing and then the team went out for dinner at Boat Quay, stopping for peanuts and a Singapore Sling at the historic Raffles Hotel.

(N.O.)

Help support our cause: The LONGITUDE Expedition is the longest journey ever attempted with a focus on Parkinson's Disease. The Drive Around the World team aims to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research by driving four certified pre-owned Land Rover Discoverys around the globe following lines of longitude. Readers are encouraged to pledge small amounts of money per expedition-kilometer via a pledge form that can be found on our Parkinson’s page by clicking here. 100% of donations received go directly to Parkinson's research and all who donate $10 or more will be entered into a raffle to win an expedition-equipped Land Rover Discovery.