Singapore <<Photos>>
Has been described by some to be "sterile", but I have been fortunate to have made some good friends.
The island is small, very small, but for reasons best known to themselves, the local populous can think of nothing better than shopping and eating.
The daily weather forecast is "22-24 C today with some chance of rain between 2 and 4 p.m.". Be careful if you are out in a serious rain storm - Man, it really comes down.
As Singapore is virtually on the Equator, don't blink when the sun is due to set. Dusk is very short here, and I have been surprised that it is dark outside on more than one occasion - it was a bright sunny day when I last looked out of the window.
The integrated transport system is superb, as are the myriad restaurants and cafes in the great food courts. "Chicken Rice, Very Nice?" and Sugar Cane juice (from a bag, with a straw) were staples when I visited.
The locals seem unable to contemplate walking anywhere perpetually asking "You got taxi? or "You take MRT?", even if the distance involved is only 200 yards. I have a controversial theory that Singaporeans will un-evolve the use of their legs.
One of the advantages of being a Caucasian in this heavily populated part of the world is that if you are in a crowded Food Court and order something to eat, the vendor will not ask you where you are sitting, "We will find you".
The locals are incredibly polite - a tissue left on a seat in a Food Court means that it is taken, and in my experience this will not be ignored.
Strangely, however the locals do not seem to understand the "clear your table when you have finished" directive in fast food restaurants.
During my trips, I have managed to get around pretty much everywhere "normal" (well, a standard stopover is probably 2 days maximum and you have to do something) -
<<Photos>>
But, because I had so much time there I have been also had adventures and good times.
The Hard Rock Cafe is worth checking out, if only for the very oriental looking Elvis stained glass window and one of Keith Moon's drum kits.
Typical phrases:
"It is same, same...but different"
or
"Beer can can, bottle cannot"
Singapore is a favourite of mine which will, because of the people, always have a place in my heart.
(20 Nov 2013)
The island is small, very small, but for reasons best known to themselves, the local populous can think of nothing better than shopping and eating.
The daily weather forecast is "22-24 C today with some chance of rain between 2 and 4 p.m.". Be careful if you are out in a serious rain storm - Man, it really comes down.
As Singapore is virtually on the Equator, don't blink when the sun is due to set. Dusk is very short here, and I have been surprised that it is dark outside on more than one occasion - it was a bright sunny day when I last looked out of the window.
The integrated transport system is superb, as are the myriad restaurants and cafes in the great food courts. "Chicken Rice, Very Nice?" and Sugar Cane juice (from a bag, with a straw) were staples when I visited.
The locals seem unable to contemplate walking anywhere perpetually asking "You got taxi? or "You take MRT?", even if the distance involved is only 200 yards. I have a controversial theory that Singaporeans will un-evolve the use of their legs.
One of the advantages of being a Caucasian in this heavily populated part of the world is that if you are in a crowded Food Court and order something to eat, the vendor will not ask you where you are sitting, "We will find you".
The locals are incredibly polite - a tissue left on a seat in a Food Court means that it is taken, and in my experience this will not be ignored.
Strangely, however the locals do not seem to understand the "clear your table when you have finished" directive in fast food restaurants.
During my trips, I have managed to get around pretty much everywhere "normal" (well, a standard stopover is probably 2 days maximum and you have to do something) -
- Jurong Bird Park
- Haw Par Villa
- Sentosa Island
- The Padang
- Kavanagh Bridge
- City Hall
- St Andrews
- Ah...a gin and tonic in the Billiards Room at the Raffles Hotel (Singapore Slings were mass produced and served from a bottle, so had to be ignored. If you want one, pop into the Singapore Airlines lounge at Changi)
- The Zoo (weird seeing Polar Bears in 30˚C temperatures) and the unique Night Safari
- Snow machine being an epic fail in Orchard Road for the Christmas Shopping Extravaganza in October
- Oh, that all airports were like Changi !
- Immigrating to Singapore for a total of 50 minutes while returning to London from Jakarta so I could pass a laptop to our local man
<<Photos>>
But, because I had so much time there I have been also had adventures and good times.
- I have been chased by monkeys in one of the last remaining bits of natural "jungle" to the north of the city (two bus rides) at Bukit Timah.
- Visited a mushroom farm
- Played pool in West Coast, Clementi until the wee small hours
- Archery at Marina Square
- The Science Centre
- Visiting an island with a friend near Changi.
- Enjoyed food and drink in the beloved Peppers Bar at the Pan Pacific Hotel, now sadly closed due to "irregularities". By the way, we could not be given a knife if you are eating a meal in a bar - it was decreed too dangerous - however a fork is fine to stab somebody with. If we had moved 3 feet to the restaurant, it would have been fine
- Managing to avoid the Durian fruit (and the fines for taking one onto the MRT), but not Moon Cakes
- Fat Man Satay - gorgeous
- Leaving a Canadian colleague sobbing head in hands on Orchard Road longing for a Denny's restaurant - but of course, this was after a session on beer, zambuccas and rocket fuel
- Being accepted as a "family member" by unknown football fans during matches at the Tiger Cup tournament in 1997 is something I shall cherish, even if the football itself was lacking any finesse.
- The Indian meal I ate with my hands from a banana leaf in a restaurant in Race Course Road was fantastic, as is the Deer Meat and Broccoli on Boat Quay and the not so good memories of the aftermath of Zambucca chasers in the bars and the rushed bag pack before popping to Hong Kong / Jakarta / Bangkok for a couple of days business.
The Hard Rock Cafe is worth checking out, if only for the very oriental looking Elvis stained glass window and one of Keith Moon's drum kits.
Typical phrases:
"It is same, same...but different"
or
"Beer can can, bottle cannot"
Singapore is a favourite of mine which will, because of the people, always have a place in my heart.
(20 Nov 2013)