Hello, Singapore

Fingers and toes crossed — it’s my second attempt at travel overseas this year, and we know what happened three days before the last trip.

This time I am packing my heels and curling wand and heading to Singapore. Or as I have recently heard it called ‘Sauna-pore’, due to its climate.

Each year I host Miss Pole Dance Australia, Australia’s leading national pole competition at the Enmore Theatre. It’s a huge event with competitors preparing all year. The standard is amazing and I’m often left speechless, as some tiny girl is hanging by her earlobes from a pole.

The Australian Pole Studio has opened two new studios, one in Kuala Lumpur and one in Singapore. They are doing their very own Miss Pole Dance Singapore, and are flying over the core production crew from the Australian comp.

Hostesses included, which has gotten my eyelashes in a curl.

As excited as a pig in, well, you get the idea, I had been preparing for the trip when friends started to put their two cents worth in.

“It’s still illegal to be gay over there.” “Don’t walk around in drag.” “Aren’t you scared, what are you going to say at the airport if they look in your bags?”

So many things that I didn’t think would matter started to sprout fears in my mind. So I googled hard and fast, and found out that there are quite a few gay clubs in Singapore. Although gay still isn’t officially allowed, the authorities don’t really enforce the law.

Like any country you visit, you have to respect their culture and beliefs, and I wouldn’t put myself in a situation that would warrant any problems with locals. The hotel I’m staying at is just three minutes from the venue, where I’ve been assured there are air-conditioned change rooms. The pole studio is three floors above the club we’re performing at, so on paper it looks quite simple.

I received a message from the organiser which made me laugh. One of the papers in Singapore had done a story on the event, running through the fabulousness of pole-dancing and then spoke about the transsexual hostess Maxi Shield.  A later message from the organiser was more for her own peace of mind. “Your number … you won’t be taking your clothes off will you? It’s just they think you’re a tranny.”

With a few minor touches to complete packing, I will soon be loading my vanity case into the A380, and leaving Sydney for a few days.  Alhough the show is only for one day, my friends have set me a ‘to-do list’ that is as tight as a fish’s … you get the idea.

Singapore, here I come. Watch out!