Four nights in Singapore on route to New Zealand
It's a fourteen hour flight on Emirates from Heathrow, with a change in Dubai....
... so we arrive all out of sync and explore Clarke Quay near to our hotel. Great view from our hotel when we come to after crashing out for a few hours.
We recover...
We walk the (riverside) walk for a couple of miles taking in the sights as we go... and they are really breathtaking in their way. Massive investment no real surprise but the style , engineering and architecture is cutting edge; even after our 'prep', we're taken aback. Even more surprising is the colonial feel of many areas with British street names and bridges retaining the names of significant entrepreneurs of the colonial period.
We head for Gardens by the Bay and experience the sights here, including the Bio-domes, Supertree Grove , the OCBC Skyway and the wonderful roof top observation deck, Sands Skypark. We grab some Satay at Satay-by-the-bay and finish up with a riverside meal on the walk back.
Supertree Grove... disguised biofuelled cooling and energy system, driving the park
Nearly killed by rampant selfie-sticks...
Sands Skypark... atop of three towers...
...and this is the view of reclaimed Gardens by the Bay from the observation deck..
Looking north towards the Singapore Flyer (big wheel).
Laser light show projected onto water sprayers in the river: clever, that.
Ending the day with a meal with a view..
In complete and utter contrast with all of this is our day spent in Little India and Chinatown, trying hard to understand the history and culture of these areas (and probably failing miserably). Still, the street style food and Tiger Beer was great, as were all the people we met. We visit mosques and temples, both Hindu and Buddhist and, as ever, I reflect on the human mind and the devotion to belief. What a fascinating place Singapore is. Oh, we mastered the metro, too; very easy actually - and most impressive.
It is said that here is kept the left canine tooth of the Buddha. It's called the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple....
Contrasts in Little India
...and still we venture on...
Despite a really hot humid day, we visit the Botanical Gardens, although we can't see the famous Orchid Garden as it's unexpectedly closed for an event. Judging by the number of police with machine guns, it's for some pretty important people. We're using the metro today as we're running out of energy and we can cover more ground, too. We eat in Holland Village, which is favoured ex-pats - or so our lonely planet says.
We complete a hectic day by walking the Helix Bridge and riding the Singapore Flyer and finish up in Raffles Hotel, drinking a Singapore Sling - What else!
Enough of all that.... How about some pics...
The Helix Bridge
View from the Helix Bridge
View from the Singapore Flyer
Yes, it's Raffles...
...and that's my Singapore Sling
Flight to Sydney this evening which gives us time for a final day of contrasts.
We finish the afternoon with a visit to the shopping mall in the main shopping area, Coleman Street. It looks great on the outside but it seems like a (very large) rabbit warren to me, admittedly with some particularly expensive shops. Has to be done I'm told...
The interesting bit, though, is our three hour visit to the truly excellent National Museum of Singapore. It details the history of Singapore from the early days as a trading post, the involvement of the East India Company and subsequent Colonial Rule, the invasion by the Japanese, the return of British rule, through to the abortive union with Malasia and reluctant independence as multi racial country that has built tolerance and success.
A moving and fitting end to an enjoyable and fascinating visit.
The National Museum
Hanging pans art in the National Museum
Sydney then Christchurch tomorrow – which means the end of this post.
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