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Published: March 13th 2008
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We had an early start from KL for our flight to Singapore. The LCCT airport is quite far out of the city and very expensive to get to and from without using the local buses. Our flight out was 10am but it did mean we had to get the 6.30am bus from Puduraya bus station. Having the additional money in our budget to make these extra flights has been great but we really hadnt taken into account how difficult it can be travelling from the airports.
Like Hong Kong we have been to Singapore before 5 years ago although our standard of accomodation was somewhat different this time!!! We had booked a budget room off Orchard Road with a shared bathroom. This is the first time we have had to use a shared bathroom as the cost of our accommodation in Asia has been very low for what we have received. Singapore is an expensive place for rooms so we didnt really have a choice. We arrived after an hours flight from KL and caught the underground into the city. We remember being impressed with the cleanliness of Singapore last time and it is quite surprising how people do actually
abide by the many rules here. They use the ashtrays in the streets, they dont litter and they are all very polite people (even the taxi drivers let you cross the road with a smile). Chewing gum is illegal which we find quite funny but to be fair you dont see great blobs of it all over the streets!!
Apart from the fact no-one was at the hotel to check us in which we were not impressed with the room we were given was quite nice and there was a shared kitchen too which meant that we would be able to make ourselves meals if we wanted to. We left our things at the hotel and decided to take a walk down to the marina area past raffles hotel. Singapore has changed and grown as much as Hong Kong only they are being a little more tasteful in there approach. There is a real pride here for their heritage and the colonial buildings from the British reign are kept beautifully presented. They acknowledge that without Stamford Raffles Singapore would not be the cosmopolitan city it is today and a lot of new buildings and developments are still referring to
his name.
The last time we were here we are sure there was a large park opposite Raffles Hotel, these days it is completely dwarfed by larger newer hotels and department stores. It therefore makes it very difficult to get a photo. The marina area was small in its development whereas now it is undergoing extensive construction and land reclaimation to provide an outdoor theatre. A new road bridge has been put in and the Merlion Singapores symbol for many years has been relocated, now has water jetting out of his mouth and a proper viewing platform. When we last came he was a large figure sat on his own in the middle of no-where. There have been some major changes!! The merlion has the head of a lion and the body of a fish it was registered as the trademark of the singapore tourist board in 1966. The head of the lion represents the rediscovery in the 11th century of the island and the fact that a mystical creasture was seen here at the time which they later learnt was a lion. The king decided to call the island 'Singa Pura' meaning 'lion city'. The fish tail symbolises
Singapores humble beginnings as a fishing village.
From here we walked towards the business district by the river, passing the famous cricket club and ground along the way. Here we quite by chance stumbled across a multitude of bars and restaurants by the old harbour side. We couldnt understand how we had missed them the first time we came. They must have been here some years as the bar Nick Leeson mentions in his autobiography in also here. It is a truly lovely setting, nice and relaxing and great for people watching. We decided to stay for a few drinks and as we were both tired get an early night.
The following morning we woke to torrential rain fortunately whether rain or shine Singapore is always around 30 degrees. We waited to see if the rain would subside and although it became less heavy it rained the whole day. As we hadn't got a photo of Raffles we thought we would head back there and then have some lunch along the river. As it turned out we took a wrong turn out of the market and ended walking a good 20 minutes in the wrong direction. I think
our brains must be slighty numbed by the heat. It was quite depressing when we realised as I was already feeling tired. The one thing we have learnt in Asia is that your energy disappears quicker than Tim drinking a pint!!!! So we headed back through little india and eventually got to raffles sometime later. What made us both laugh is that we have a much better picture from our first visit and we only did it for the blog!!!!
We spent a pleasant late afternoon relaxing by the river again and even though it was raining it is still a very nice place to be. That morning we had been checking our budget and as this is the last port of call in Asia we decided as we had done so well we would treat ourselves to a good meal and a nice bottle of wine. So we settled down to a lovely indian and the nicest wine actually almost the only wine we have had since we left home!!!! Having enjoyed said wine we were approached by a rather scary lloking lady who offered palm reading. I took it upon myself to tell her to come back
in 30 minutes when we had finished our meal. Tim was not impressed but i have never had it done and he has when he was very young. Anyway, she did come back and I negotiated to pay half the fee which she wasn't pleased with and tim kept telling me I would get a really bad reading for being tight!! The upshot of mine was that I have a good heart, a big mouth (I dont think that was accurate?), I am slightly argumentative but strong willed and minded. Finally just to make me feel better she told me I was 70% intelligent and 30% stupid!! My only saving grace is that she talked Tim into having it done and she told him the same thing!! ha ha
I sit here writing this on March 2nd 2008 (it is still raining) as we prepare for our flight to Melbourne Australia this evening.............
****delayed due to photo download problems and lack of internet access - sorry****
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Kathy Baron
non-member comment
SINGAPORE
Only 30% stupid and no chuddy allowed!!!! how did you cope ? glad to see your both well ...... enjoy Aussie xx