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Published: December 17th 2008
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Our two sons, Michael and Joel, have been off studying/travelling all year! Michael has been doing a Masters in Environmental Engineering in Singapore, taking time out mid-year to travel through the Central Asian Republics and Iran. Joel took a semester off and travelled for 5 months, mostly overland from SE Asia to Europe! He had a wonderful time travelling through India, Pakistan and Iran. I was blessed to have been able to catch up with them twice this year. The first time was when I met up with Joel in Kathmandu in April to do some trekking and the second time was when my sister, Linda, and I decided to take Mum on a holiday to Singapore in October to celebrate her 80th birthday.
Linda's son, Tim, joined us and we spent a week exploring Singapore and catching up with Michael and Joel. It was a special time and Mum was amazing, keeping up with us and always ready to go anywhere. We stayed at the YWCA at Fort Canning and we would certainly recommend it as good value for money. The rooms were great and we especially enjoyed the buffet breakfasts each morning.
Some of the highlights of
the week were ...
The Raffles Hotel and sitting in the Long Bar throwing peannut shells around! It's what everyone does there. A 'non-highlight' was spending $22 on a Singapore Sling! The Raffles foyer is always spectacular and it is like stepping back into the past. It reminded me of having High Tea at the Victoria Falls Hotel!
Shopping in
Chinatown and going back twice to get foot and body massages! If you want to shop in Singapore, give Orchard Road a miss and head for Chinatown where you can wander through stalls and pick up lots of bargains. Linda, Mum and I enjoyed the massages so much we went back for more!
Shopping with Linda in the
malls and buying some shoes, skirts and tops.
The Night Safari and the Jurong Birdpark where you can get up close and personal with the wildlife! The two bird shows are worth attending but we were disappointed at not seeing many birds in the big aviary. Maybe we were there at the wrong time!
Hippo Tour around the city and then taking in the light and sound show, Songs of the Sea, on Santosa Island. The show is
spectacular but don't sit too close to the front if a breeze is blowing or else you get soaked!
Wandering around
Clarke Quay with the boys, visiting a Moroccan Bar and a crazy bar called the C Clinic. It mimics a hospital with seating being either cushions on old hospital beds or wheelchairs arranged around tables. The waiters are dressed like hospital orderlies, lighting is in the form of operating theatre lights and you can even order your drink to be brought to the table in a drip bag!! We were amused by it but didn't stay!! Wandering around the river front with the boys discussing their future plans, after the others went home was fun.
Heading out on the MRT and buses to
Changi Prison Museum on my own one afternoon. The museum graphically recalls the horrors of WW11 and there is an amazing replica of the chapel that was built by the prisoners.
Exploring
The Battle Box again on my own at Fort Canning. This is the site of the former headquarters of the British Malaya Command and you can 'experience' the last hours before the fall of Singapore to the Japanese on 15 February,
Leaving for Singapore
With Mum, my sister, Linda and her son, Tim. 1942. This is well worth a visit.
Eating in a
HUGE hawkers Market in town where every type of cuisine is available and very affordable. I must admit I loved all the fresh fruit drinks available.
Chilling to the ambient music at
Cafe del Mar on Santosa Island one evening. This is one of Michael's favourite haunts; it certainly is a relaxing way to end the day.
Little India on a Sunday night when every man and his dog was out on the streets!
Buying a sari at
Mustafa's. We had a lot of fun here as everyone, including a couple of shop assistants, was helping me to choose a sari. I was very happy with my final choice. Thanks guys!! Michael and Tim had fun trying on 'way-out' shirts.
Checking out the boys' rooms at
Gillman Hights and Prince George's Park where they were living.
Listening to music late one night with Michael and Joel at the
Blue Jazz Club Wandering around the
Botanical Gardens with Mum and marvelling at the layout and the amazing display of orchids on show.
Rock climbing and bouldering with the boys. Michael and Joel have
done quite a lot of this in Singapore so it was fun to watch them and have a go ourselves.
It was a great time and special for Mum to be together with her two daughters and three grandsons at the same time!
Colin and I are leaving in a couple of days to meet up with the boys in Johannesburg before heading up to Botswana for three weeks. It is 11 years since we left Africa so it will be amazing to go back as a family. We then plan to go up to Tanzania for two weeks to attempt climbing Mt Kilimanjaro. My next blogs will be on our African adventures.
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Joel
Joel Meadows
Greetings from Singapore Airport!
We got a call 2 hours ago to say that our flight had been changed to 12.25pm instead of 3.30pm so packed in record time, got a taxi and just made it to the terminal with a few minutes to spare! now we're through have a bit of time to read over your blog and loved it! feels like you have seen more of singapore than i have and i've been here for 5 months now! looking forward to seeing you in joburg in 24 hours!