Tonic Water

A fine morning. As usual, I was busy trying means and ways to escape from work at base. So when my PC asked for volunteers (for despatch), immediately, a hand shot up eagerly. What a convenient way of wasting time. Sat in the air-conditioned cabin of the 5 tonner truck and went to Nee Soon Camp.

After 2 hours of sorting out stores, I (together with my fellow slacking 3SG) took a well-deserved break at the famous canteen of Nee Soon, which sells non-Singapore Food Industry (read=edible) food. Went to the drinks stall after buying a sumptous meal of nasi lemak.

As I was in the queue, I noticed that two fellow soldiers in front of me buy 3 cans of tonic water:

"Uncle, wo yao san guan Tonic Water."

Hmm. I thought to myself. If the corporals in front of me seem to find tonic water nice, it should be quite a refreshing drink after all. Also seems to me like a healthy drink. Tonic. Wow. So I decided to follow the clouds:

"Uncle ah, same. YI GUAN TONIC WATER!."

Feeling happy that I bought something new today, (I always fancied eating new and delicious gourmet food; cost is not the issue) I went back to my table, thinking that the tonic water can complement my heavenly coconut rice, ikan bilis and fried chicken....

Bad mistake. At first, I tried to put up with the ...unique taste, eating my nasi lemak in between sips. Soon later, my sergeants noticed a change in face colour.

"Bwwaaaaaahhhh. WTF was THAT! @#$#@$#$@. HORRIBLE!"

Decided to take a look at the contents. water. ok. sugar. ok. added sweetener. ok (actually I can't tell the difference).............and quinine hydrochlorate. Took me 3 s to register. Quinine Hydrochlorate?!!! All this while, I was just drinking a can of glorified acid, while my friends are happily sipping their grass jelly+soya bean combo.

Returned to camp feeling extremely dulan(not a proper English word, but who cares), because 1)I am thirsty, 2)that I could get the same solution from Dr Chan. 3) and my damn nasi lemak which was supposed to be heavenly became hell. Oh ya, plus money wasted.

Moral of storey: NEVER buy Tonic Water. Or anything that contains hydrochlorate. Which I think coke or pepsi have.