Singapore

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Spent 11 days in S'pore which went by rather quickly. Most of the times were spent with old friends who were very hospitable (especially Stella). It is quite amazing how I haven't seen these guys in 5 years (some a decade) and yet we all seem to gel back very well.

Also it is nice to be in a city that speak English and is run with western efficiency after our brutal bus ride to Krabi from Surat Thani. It took as 8hours (instead of 3hr travel time) thanks to being driven around to bus driver friend's restaurants, tour companies, etc. Also we were forced to share the backseat of a mini van with an caucasion couple which resulted in very cramped 3 hr bus ride. To add insult to injury, because of lack of trunk space, I had a 15lb rucksack on my lap the whole time. Nevertheles, an unforgetable experience and will chalk it up to how things are run with the "nevermind" thai attitude.

The downside of Singapore is that it is very expensive compared to rest of asia outside HK, Shanghai, and Japan. I managed to spend quite a bit there even without hotel fees (thanks to my sweet aunt and uncle) so I am really having to cut back in HCMC to stay on budget. Thankfully, the next few countries I'll be are quite shoestring(Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia) I am also seriously doing my exchange in S'pore and even perhaps later practice there. One more issue with S'pore, the food is so damn good and clean so I put on weight at an alarming pace (4-5lbs in 10 days).

I saw a lot of movies (Posideon, Da vinci code, X Men 3) at the super comfy theatres there usually taking refuge from the hot sun in there. The theatres far superceed Cdn movie theatres in terms of cleanliness, quality and large comfortable chairs and are at less than half the price. BTW X-Men is awesome!

My only regret in S'pore was not having the camera with me when Yanru and Shama took me out. Miss soooo many great shots of S'pore skyline from the top of the Esplanade. Ok enough: here are the pics.

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Photos

Merlion
Half-lion, half fish, it symbolizes S'pore Tourism Board tackiness to create a unified icon for S'pore. My thoughts on it: since its bottom half is a fish, it won't be able to survive on land because of lack of locomotion and since its half lion, it won't be able to dive so probably starve to death. No wonder it doesn't exists in real life, Darwin won't allow it.

Clarke Quay
They renovated old godawns (wearhouses) into swanky (read exp. western) restaurants at Clarke Quay.

S'pore skyline
From 75th floor. The lift was surprisingly fast, it only took 44sec. (door opening incl.) to get from ground to 75th floor.

McPherson Primary School Friends
After considering that I only spent 2 years in school with them, it is amazing how close we are.

Me @ Clarke Quay
Looking swanky before a big night out.

Zouk
Those are S$12 drinks that we are holding. S'pore charges heavy sin tax on alcohol and tobacco products. Compare it to Thailand where $12 buys you a 350ml bottle of wiskey and mixer.... here is the good part in a club!

Me outside Zouk
This time, I economized by pre-loading the big gulp with rum .... lots of rum. BTW a 350ml btl of Bacardi is S$30 ... yikes! but much cheaper than $12 per drink.

@ Hawker Centre at Esplande
Featuring popular local dishe bbq'd sting ray (pictured on the left) is amazing!

Eating!
How Stan got his Lbs back pt1.

Eating!
How Stan got his Lbs back pt2. mmmm... bbq jumbo prawn... when its this big, its not a "shrimp".

More Friends
My childhood playpal Mann and his frind Tanny

More Friends
From left to right: Julia, Stella, ?, Yuanhui, and his gf Lilly.

Esplanade
New S'pore play house nick named the iron durian for its spikes. From an arial vintage point, it looks like one of Madonna's weird bras in my opinion.

Blurry @ Fullerton Hotel
At the steps at Fullerton Hotel which is an old colonial style post office turned into a five star hotel. Blury but one of my fav pictures.

Fullerton Hotel
Note the man jumping into the river.