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Published: April 2nd 2009
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Mark & The Merlion
Singapore's National Icon The National Icon Of Singapore
So after a much needed nights sleep, we were on the go again.... On the cards for today...? Firstly, to jump on to the Hop-On-Hop-Off sightseeing bus to get ourselves aquainted with the city because, so I found out rather quickly, sense of direction goes out the window when travelling on underground trains. It took us to some known destinations such as the Singapore Flyer and Orchard Road, as well as some ones we didn't realise like the Botanical Gardens. We spent an hour just doing the full circuit, sussing things out, before jumping off at the Flyer for some breathe taking views (165 metres or 42 stories taking 37 mins for 1 full rotation)
After seeing the city as if we were birds, we headed along The Esplanade (which is also the F1 racing track!!!!) towards the other two main attractions on the foreshore. The Theatres On The Esplanade is a recent development with two spikey structures almost in the shape of hemispheres. It was built at the cost of $600 million US and is the most expensive buildings in Singapore. The locals have nicknamed them The Durians after the popular (and
smelly) fruit.
The second "must see" on the foreshore is the answer to the question.... the Merlion. It is supposed to guard the river mouth against evil but all I saw was tourists everywhere so we took the obligatory picture and moved on.
Across the road is the Museum of Asian Civilisations, so while in the area, why not I say.
Dating back to the 1400's, it traces the history of Singapore as well as looking at the history of India, China, Turkey, South-East Asia and Indonesia. All-in-all, some excellent exhibits and before we knew it, it was 6.30pm and time to head home.
Now... at 6.30pm we expected maybe just the tail end of rush hour....
Boy were we wrong!!! Seemingly, rush hour here begins at about 4.45pm and goes til about 8pm!!! With us right in the thick of it!!!! All I can say is that if that's what's it like in Singapore, I'm not going anywhere near it in Tokyo!!!
Dinner came from our first street vendor experience around the corner from our hostel and I must say that the food was excellent, cheap ($4), and we both survived the night without a
mad dash to the toilets. Looks like they could be a goer in my books.
So a new day dawns with new things to discover. Today's itinery.... the Botanical Gardens (I can hear Mum, Gavin, Melissa and Mel licking their lips all ready), Orchard Road, and the Raffles Hotel for some much needed refreshment at the end of it all.
The Botanical Gardens were an oasis of over 62 hectares incorporating rainforests, lakes, palms, gardens full of frangipanis and the National Orchid Garden (the orchid being the national flower of Singapore). The trigger finger was in action and some fantastic photos ensued. Mel, you'll be glad to know that quiet grass, although greener, is still not as good as Perth's.
Well, what can you say about Orchard Road.... It's consumerism at it's most snobby. An interesting place to visit and go "OOOOOHHHH......AAAAAHHHHHH....." but I couldn't step foot in those places if my arse was made of gold!!! (Though lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe is always a bonus.) So the long trek down to the Raffles Hotel was followed by the one and only "Singapore Sling" which was oh so refreshing and wallet lightening at the same
time but at least I can now say I've had one where it was invented.
I think that's enough for now cause it's getting late and we're about to head out to try another street vendor store... fingers crossed.
Half the fun of the travel is the esthetic of lostness. ~Ray Bradbury
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