20 February 2007

Singapore - Day 3

Took the MRT to Chinatown, emerging on Pagoda Street - right at the heart, and on the eve of Chinese New Year! Lots of people and colourful stalls, yet the area was still very clean. Quite a contrast to Little India (of which more later).

A little way down the road, we stopped by the Chinatown Heritage Centre, which was free with our Sentosa ticket. This is an excellent and informative museum of Chinatown's history and development, with very authentic looking mock-ups of bedrooms, shops and even whole alley-ways. I’m glad the toilets in Chinatown are much improved from the turn of last century.

After exploring the touristy kitsch in the stalls, and buying a refreshing coconut (with straw), we reached South Bridge Road where we had a look at the local mosque, and went inside the Sri Mariamman Temple. Taking off one’s shoes (I stashed mine in my bag, because I wasn’t comfortable leaving them out in the street!), you enter past the intricately carved gopuram (gate statuary) above the entrance and the nonchalant cow statues perched on the roofs. It was pretty quiet, but we enjoyed the colourful artwork.

Afterwards, Anna got a henna tattoo, and we walked by the Chinese herbal medicine shops and through the food markets, looking for the Tea Chapter, which was unfortunately closed for New Years.

After sweltering in the heat, we MRT’d to Orchard Road and retreated into the humongous air-conditioned shopping centre, Ngee Ann City (also known as Takashimaya). Unlike America's malls, which occupy acres and acres of land, Singapore's scarcity of land forces its malls to develop skywards, as you can see from the photo of the escalators. Poked around the mostly high-end boutiques (Tiffany, Cartier, Louis Vuitton etc – all my favourites, of course) before having a dim sum lunch at Singaporean-Chinese chain Crystal Jade.

Made an effort to look in a few more malls, but neither of us were interested (Lisa and Andy would love it!) so we MRT’d to Little India. Wow. After spending the afternoon here, neither of us are sure we could handle India proper. Dirty, crowded, and everything for sale being mostly crap, it was a far cry from the rest of Singapore. Still, it was very interesting…

Started in the Tekka Centre, a large wet market that sells all sorts of fresh meat (from NZ too!), fish, fruits, vegetables. There are also a lot of cloth merchants on the upper level. Headed next into Tekka Mall, Little India's first and only air-con mall.

More interesting was the Little India Arcade next door, with its collection of small shops and stalls. Started walking the long way back to our hotel via Serangoon Road, the central artery of Little India. Endless little shops selling gold bangles and Bollywood music. Also saw Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, which dates back to 1881, and went inside the crazy-busy Mustafa Centre. Managed to avoid buying anything (nobody in Singapore sells the GP2X!).

Gratefully returned to our hotel, and went to the bar for several tasty and refreshing G&Ts. Were rather embarrassed when they brought out a band, and we were the only people there!

FYI: Our flight back to the UK was on a British Airways plane, and it was horrible.

Singapore - Day 2

Tried roti prata for breakfast. Basically a savoury pancake, which would be nice, except they put sweet yoghurt on it. After this and my durian ‘experience’, I have sworn off trying new things.

Went to Jurong Birdpark for the morning, and had a good time admiring the colourful parrots, flamingos and so on. Saw the tallest man-made waterfall (which is only 100 feet anyway). Highlights included feeding a thrumming flock of bee-eaters, and seeing our first puffins.





Had lunch at an Indian version of Burger King, and then enjoyed bad guts for the rest of the day.

Spent the afternoon getting in a good riverside walk.

Passed Cavenagh Bridge (the oldest bridge still standing), the Fullerton Hotel (formerly Singapore's general post office)...

Anderson bridge...

Singapore's official committee-designed symbol the Merlion...

A Chinese New Year display...

The Esplanade (two odd-shaped domelike buildings)...

...and Empress Place (now housing the Asian Civilisations Museum) with its statue of Sir Stamford Raffles (the iconic founder of Singapore).

We got caught in a heavy tropical storm (with lightning!) and had to wait it out, under an awning, for about 40 minutes. After it died down, we went to Funan IT so I could look for electronic goodies, before returning to the fascinating Asian Civilisations Museum.

Crossed back over to walk along the long strip of restored, brightly lit and bustling shophouses by the river, called Boat Quay.

Dodged all the touts, and went back home to the hotel for room service!

Singapore - Day 1

Still tired from our flight, so were a little slow to start. After a nice buffet breakfast (a curious combination of eastern and western foods), we decided to spend our first day at the Sentosa Island Resort. This is a self-contained tourist spot with lots of activities, and was a good way to ease ourselves back into sightseeing mode.

We started by figuring out how to get around on the Singapore underground (MRT), which has its own peculiarities. For example, every ticket is a plastic card which can be returned for a dollar. There was also a video playing on our carriage warning against possible terrorism, and graphically depicting the carnage from other regional attacks! Lovely.

Anyway, got out at HarbourFront and had our first look through one of Singapore’s famous malls. Was nice to see decorations everywhere for Chinese New Years (Year of the Pig). Headed up to the 15th floor of the building for the cable-car ride to Sentosa (via another nearby hilltop, called the “Jewel Box”).


Wow. That thing is really high up, and not for the faint-hearted.




However, wonderful views of the Port of Singapore and the massive ships at the Cruise Center below. After climbing even higher to a tower we began our descent to the jungle of Sentosa.

Started our touristy outing with a visit to the insect and butterfly house…

…followed by Underwater World, a giant Kelly Tarlton’s. We got to touch a boa constrictor (outside), and stingrays and baby sharks (inside). We were fascinated by the Japanese giant crabs, and the playful dugong.

Decided to try some exotic food, which was a terrible, terrible mistake. After hearing all about the magnificent durian, “king of fruits”, at Emma and Frank’s wedding, I decided to buy some. Look at the photo - it’s the yellow stuff next to the frogspawn, and it tastes like death. Seriously. I tried a tiny little bit, and couldn’t get the evil taste out of my mouth for the rest of the day. It also stinks. Be warned – do not ever try this stuff! (But by all means slip it into someone else’s fruit-salad and watch for laughs.)

Fact: it is illegal to carry durians on public transport.

Next stop, the waxwork “Images of Singapore”, a kind of potted history of the island...

...followed by a walk around a flower show, and a trip to Dolphin Lagoon. This is basically a sub-par version of SeaWorld’s dolphin exhibition, but the novelty here is the native pink dolphin!

Afterwards dipped our toes in the sea, before it started raining for a while.

That was about all we could take, and we returned to the mainland (via a fitfully stopping and restarting cablecar – lots of fun, you can be sure) for a swim at the hotel.

Later in the evening we went on the night safari at the Singapore Zoo. This was actually quite rewarding, and we had a good time walking around and spying on lots of odd nocturnal beasties, including porcupines, flying squirrels (!), the fishing cat, the leopard cat, fruit bats, wolves, lions and tigers, oh my!

19 February 2007

Family

Roxy (on a good day):

Tobes, the most gentle-natured cat on earth:

Jade with Auntie Anna:

Tez chilling out at Allen's:

Allen's very photogenic cats, Misty and Megan:

Travis family farewell dinner at Iguacu:

Emma and Frank's wedding

Congratulations and Mazel Tov to Emma and Frank!

Whatipu

Our intrepid adventurers before their journey:

Panorama:

En route to the beach:

We had a nice feed of sun-warmed wild blackberries. Mmm!

Fording the lagoons:

Take photos, leave only footprints: