Friday - Singapore Botanic Gardens

Interestingly the Chinese student pilots had to leave the country (Singapore) for three or maybe four days because of their visa.  (We weren't required to have a visa.)   Consequently, Ted was scheduled off Thursday - Sunday so that meant four days to sightsee together.  The first day we spent on Pulau Ubin.  Today we started at the Botanical Garden...took a million pictures of flowers but will try to spare you most of them.  The gardens were first conceived in 1822 but was established at it's present site in 1879.

Some sort of cute little bird hiding in the foliage.

Swan swimming on appropriately named "Swan Lake".

Another of those brides (they seem to be everywhere) with her groom.

Vanda Miss Joachim Orchid (the National Flower of Singapore designated 1981)



There is a VIP section in the Orchid Garden where some hybrids are named for celebrities.



Orchid Garden entrance (Garden is free but fee for the Orchid Garden - only $1 for seniors!)

We were excited to see a St. Louis connection - at least we assume it is!

The Shaw Amphitheater where concerts are held (unfortunately our timing was off and there were none scheduled we could attend together).

The ladies open air washroom was lovely!


Sorry about this, but while we are on the subject of washrooms... I love the US but seems like all the ladies' bathroom stalls in Singapore have indicators to let you know whether they are occupied or not (like an airplane bathroom).  No bending down to see if you can see legs/feet already in the stalls.  Could we have more of that in the US PLEASE!!!

posted by sharon

Thursday - Pulau Ubin

Thursday we took a bumboat to Pulau Ubin - that's an island a short boat ride away where where you can get a taste of undeveloped Singapore.  The island is best seen by bicycles.  The trails lead past old fruit & rubber plantations, mangrove swamps, water filled quarry pits and old wooden houses.

Our bumboat (no life preserver in sight!)

Pulau Ubin - largest of Singapores outlying islands (population: 200)

Everyone wants to rent you a bike - lots available on weekdays!






An island dwelling.



View from a lookout at Chek Java Nature Preserve.

Another view of the preserve.

No bicycle ride is complete without lunch (and a beer).

View of the little village.

You do encounter some suspicious looking foreigners!

posted by sharon

On my own!

 

some random views of Orchard Road



Southeast Asia's largest bookstore - you can wander for hours (i did!)

Oops!  Got in trouble for this one - the security guard in front of the store said "No Pictures!" but I'd already snapped it.

Ted worked 9 -5 Mon - Wed so I was on my own.  Spent Monday walking around Orchard Road the main shopping district in Singapore--window shopping for me as everything seemed expensive!  I did buy a walking tour book of Singapore & then tried to follow the Orchard Road tour and had a helluva time!  I cannot follow a map--DAMN guess i wasted that money!



 I spent most of Tuesday at the National Museum of Singapore.  Very nicely done museum--$5 seniors rate (YEAH-I'm a senior?!?).

National Museum of Singapore (built as the Raffles Library & Museum in 1887)

Some "people" hanging around outside the museum.

And Wednesday I went to Little India & Bugis, a couple of neighborhoods with discount shopping institutions--thought I should have a look...didn't buy just wandered aimlessly in the heat & humidity! 
posted by sharon

Sunday

Sunday was another day of sightseeing downtown.  The Singapore Open Badminton Tournament Finals were on Sunday, so thought we would take in some of the local flavor.  The highlight of the tourney was Lin Dan the current Olympic Champion & the #2 player in the world.  This is the first time he has made it to the finals in Singapore.  We watched a mixed doubles & the women's finals and as we waited for the men's finals..... the announcer said that Lin Dan was ill but he wanted to say a few words to the spectators.  Well, LD barely opened his mouth to say a few words (in Chinese) and the crowds began booing him.  The people behind us said that the crowd was not buying what he was saying.  His opponent was Chinese and it is said that the Chinese decide who will win and that means throwing the match sometimes.  In fact in the newspaper the day before, LD was interviewed and they said he did not show any excitement and he even said that since his opponent was Chinese "it didn't matter who won".  


Lin Dan graciously posed with us!

 The day after the newspaper said that LD has been "ill" in four of his finals previously!?!  Poor LD he was the postor boy for the tourney--with his picture plastered everywhere.

Marina Bay Sands from a distance (the white building on the left that looks like a tulip is the Science Center)

After that we walked to the Marina Bay Sands, it's a huge hotel, casino, shopping, entertainment complex built by the Las Vegas Sands Corp.  It has three towers and perched on top of the towers is what looks like a boat shaped floor.  For a fee you can go up to the "Skypark" which is more than 57 stories high.  It holds 3900 people (it's all outdoors - except a couple of restaurants).  It is longer than the Eiffel Tower laid down and is 12,400 sq meters (i don't do metric but they do here).  Anyway, we paid the fee and it was an amazing view.  There is also a pool there for hotel guest and looks as though they are swimming with the skyscrapers. 

View of one Tower Lobby

57th Floor Rooftop Pool (see the Lifeguard in the Foreground)

Swimmers look like they could float off the top of the bldg!

After that we ate dinner at one of the hawker stalls -- haven't had a bad meal yet!

posted by sharon

American fast food & signage

Just in case you think that American fast food doesn't have a presence here:

McDelivery? - Is that available in Ferguson?

Have also seen KFC, Pizza Hut & of course Starbucks (haven't been to one yet but have been sorely tempted!

 Now as far as signage, here's a few that made us smile--probably leftover from the Brits & they sure have a way with words.

This one was at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd--expensive to park in the wrong place!






And just in case you thought Ted was kidding about the price of beer here:

And last but not least, remember how Chicago had their cows around town a few years ago.  Well, Chicago has nothing on Singapore.

Singapore has not only cows, but also dancers (?) hanging from trees!?!

posted by sharon

Saturday

Headed downtown and as Ted says the public transportation here is pretty amazing.

Bus #29 (we're @ beginning of line which accounts for the emptiness)

The buses, MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) & the LRT (Light Rail Transit) are all clean, run frequently, colorful and best of all cheap!  The only downside is that is does take over an hour to get from the hotel to downtown (probably about 12miles).



more of the ladies' room





<><><><><><><><><><><><>

<>

<><><><><><><><><><><><>

Ladies' Room @ Fullerton Hotel

 

Fullerton Hotel 1928

 Started the day at the Fullerton Hotel originally a General Post Office.  The lobby was WOW and even the "powder rooms" were picture worthy--can't imagine what the hotel rooms looked like at $600 USD.  

Raffles Hotel 1887

Thought you might like to see the bridesmaid dress!

Another wedding we were not invited to!

Then on to the Raffles Hotel.  An impressive landmark that doesn't let the riffraff into the lobby.  And once again rates are around $600 USD. Legends such as Rudyard Kipling, Noel Coward & Somerset Maugham have been guests here. 



Singapore Supreme Court Bldg.



Cavenaugh Bridge-built in Glasgow, shipped to Singapore & reassembled 1869 

St. Andrew's Cathedral (Anglican 1862 - built by Indian convict laborers)

Chijmes (restaurant & bar complex) - formerly the courtyard of Convent of the Holy Name of Jesus - people used to abandon babies on the nuns' doorstep



1904 Deconsecrated Chapel of the Holy Name of Jesus Convent (still have weddings & private affairs)



Singapore Philatelic Museum - who knew that meant stamps? (a museum & still a working post office)

Cathedral of the Good Shepherd (oldest Catholic Church in Singapore 1847) can't find picture - so later maybe

We basically did a walking tour of the Colonial district - above are some of the pics.  

Then we went to church at Sts. Peter & Paul (you know we love those double saints churches!) and besides we liked the 5:30 timing better than the cathedral's 6:30.  Mass in English, but we realized after shaking a couple of hands at the sign of peace that everyone was putting their hands together under their chins and bowing their heads at each other--awkward!







BEERBUST ASIA!

Doubtful (even if we should find ourselves in Singapore!)

After church, it was on to the Beerfest Asia (or as Ted refers to it now the Beerbust Asia).  Didn't seem to be as advertised.  We were clearly two or three times older than most of the people there.  It was pricey to get in but you got two coupons for beer, but turned out only a few beers were eligible for the coupon and were probably 10oz beers.  Anyway, it was really noisy with two bands and tons of kids partying.  Ted read about it in the paper and seems like some crucial info was omitted!  Oh well, live & learn! 
posted by: sharon