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Published: December 31st 2008
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Just a nice, short, sweet blog on Singapore. I'm gonna put a few short blogs up over the next few days so keep checking if you want to keep up to date! Basically, I'm doing one for each Country.
Tuesday 09th December Arrived Singapore airport and caught a Sky-Train (a bit like a monorail) to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) station and rode that into town. It's like the London Underground - but good. Took a short walk to the Hostel. It's in an area called "Little India" but we're tired so we just head straight to the hostel without paying any attention to what's around. It is 40S$ (Singapore Dollars) which is about 18 quid for a 10 bed dorm. We thought it was a 4 bed dorm! Ah well, it's only for one night and we'll be asleep in 10 minutes.
Wednesday 10th December Breakfast included! Unlimited eggs, toast and coffee. Changed to a double room with TV and DVD player for 59S$ (26 quid). Went to see some of the sights: The Sri Krishnan Temple where I said a little prayer and made a wish. They also tell your fortune. You get a cylindrical brass vase
with 50 or so wooden sticks in it. You shake the vase until a stick pops out, then take it to a guy who gives you a piece of paper with an explanation of what the stick signifies - a bit like a long version of a fortune cookie! We saw the Taoist, Leong San See Temple, built in 1917, and the Thai Buddhist Sakaya Muni Buddha Gaya Temple (a.k.a. Temple of 1000 Lights) with a 15m high Buddha. We also popped into the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple which is dedicated to the goddess Kali, where they seemed to be blessing a small, elephant statue with talcum powder! Went to a food hall for lunch and had a big Chinese dumpling (bao), 1.60S$ (73p) for two. Had a general look around Litte India. You can easily see where the name comes from - it's like Bradford. Loads of Indian mosques, street stalls, music etc. I blessed our money in some sort of smelly fire - I don't know what it does but I saw some locals doing it! Got a take-away from another food hall, 2 naan, 2 curries, 2 rice and 2 free samples of other curries for 9.00S$ (4.10
In a Temple
with the Skyscrapers behind quid). We're quite tired so had an early night with a DVD.
Thursday 11th December More sights today:- Singapore Arts Museum, Chinatown's Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapores oldest Hokkein building which is the Thian Hock Keng Temple. It then went from glorious sunshine to heavy rain within about 30 seconds. Luckily two minutes later it went back to glorious sunshine just as quickly! We walked along Marina Bay (a building site at the moment), across Singapore River to see the Old Parliament House, the Old Supreme Court and the "spaceship style" Norman Foster (is he a sir?) designed New Supreme Court. We then wrote New Year messages/wishes on big, white beach balls which will be tossed into the Straits of Singapore as part of the New Year celebrations. Then Raffles Hotel for a drink - yeah right! On our budget? It was 22S$ (10 quid) for a Singapore Sling or 16S$ (7 quid) for a small beer. The heavens then REALLY opened and we had an early evening thunderstorm. We had to get the MRT back. Round to a food hall again for tea - Chinese tonight, crispy duck, pork, noodles, rice and steamed vegetables for 10S$ (4.50 quid). Nice.......
Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple
The blessing of the elephant with talcum powder Friday 12th December Went to catch the bus to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It cost 64S$ (29 quid) Business Class which is about the same as Business Class on flights, with air-con and took 7½ hours. The bus stopped at the end of Singapore where we had to get "exit" stamps, then over the Straits of Johor into Malaysia where the bus stopped again for our "entry" stamps. This time we illegally smuggled apples, eggs, and chewing gum. (It is quite legal to take night-sticks and tasers across but not apples or gum). Obvioulsy if there are any "officials" reading this we didn't
really smuggle anything! We're just pretending to highlight the irony of what can/can't be taken across borders.
And that is where I will leave you for now. Don't forget, the Malaysia blog should follow in a few days or so! Have fun!
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