Singapore: Botanic Gardens and then some

25-26Apr07:

Had my gentle early wake up call from Gus and Natalie who were sharing the room. They actually followed through with the offer to wake me up so that I could head off with them to the zoo (they're both vets coincidently, volunteering at the zoo). A very sweet gesture from them, however, due to shear laziness I hung back and took my time to get ready.

This lead to talking to another "roomy" - Adrian. A pilot for Malaysian Airlines who was only bunking on a bed at the hostel because there wasn't enough room at his relatives place. A KUL native with a Sri Lankan background, the conversation ranged from Sri Lankan and SE Asian current affairs, a pilots life, travelling, adopting, (insert Ule Brenner's voice) ecsetera-ecsetera-ecsetera, to attending his aunties funeral service IN the actual relatives' apartment on the 6th floor of the apartment block! The undertakers need to be paid a surcharge per floor for carrying down the coffin!!! They must use the stairs, the coffin won't fit in the elevators!!!


First attraction of the day was the Botanic Gardens. A lovely oasis in the city, beautifully manicured. I went a bit mental with the photos in the National Orchid Garden. So many colours and variety of orchids, bromeliads, tropical and cool climate orchids. You could spend hours there, it's wonderful.

Reluctantly leaving the Gardens I made my way to the Fountain of Wealth. Apparently it's the biggest single fountain in the world - Feng shui style, but it was dry during the time I went to visit :-(.

So moving on from that dissapointment, I strolled down to the Asian Civilisation Museum. Apart from the obvious museum tidbits, the following memorabilia caught my eye:


The following are my only pictures of the Singapore skyline just before a storm. Shame the colours are pretty murky

Had a relaxed last day, ran some erands, before heading off to the Budget terminal for my next destination

Click here for Singapore photos.

Singapore: Orchard Road / Little India

Ok, Observations and events on 24April:

* Singaporeans are pedestrian trained very well. They've got the queuing system for taxis and buses down-pat, the only thing with the latter is that they don't give back change if you don't have the right money. Also, it's so easy to commute on the MRT. The streets are very orderly, I don't think I've not heard a horn beep yet. Also, the air is SO clean and public amenities are so user friendly.

* Went to check out the tourist belt today. Orchard road was busy as expected with tourists and shopaholics weaving in and out of designer stores. From what I can see, the fashion retail here is in the same season as the UK. Everything I've looked at I'm sure I've seen in a London High St store, the only difference is that here the clothes seem more petite and 'girly' even though it's the same cut.

* Orchard Rd lead to me meandering towards Serangoon Rd - Little India area, thanks to the suggestion of a random guy I walked with and helped me with directions. Though random orchard road guy (RORG) started asking alot of questions, and before I knew it we exchanged numbers and he was really keen to meet up to "perhaps" watch the cricket world cup (which I secretly thought was a good idea as Oz was playing S.Africa to get into the finals).

Anyway, Little India was marvellous. It's a place of an "older" time with a backdrop of highrises. It's streets lined with local fruit and vege stalls, usual phone and electrical trade shops, mini-marts, lots of textile stores displaying incredible fabrics and saris, female accessory stores where rows of bangles/bracelets line the entire wall - a colourful heaven!



My primary reason for venturing into Little India though was to eat, so all the while I was on a mission to find a local eatery. Having asked for advice in a female accessory store, I was pointed in the right direction, and finally settled on Sri Beemmavillas. The two elderly running the store were an absolute treat. With their broken english, they were more than accommodating and their food was delish.

Singapore

Well, it's 11.15pm Singapore time and I'm sitting in a 10 dorm room in the Woodlands area of Singapore, which is about an hour away from the airport.

Backtracking a bit, my last few days in London were surreal and a bit stressful with regards to what crap to leave behind, and what to take with me. I am now living out of a rugsack yet again.

My lovely London "family" came to the airport to send me off...oh how sweet of them to make sure that I definitely left the country so they didn't have to bother with me being an illegal immigrant :-)
Nevertheless it was much appreciated - Little Missies / Mr Men I will miss you dearly. The obligatory farewell photos were taken with token celebrities in the background (Tiny bears fetish for 'Policeman'), but then thanks to Little Miss Porn Star we got our picture taken by one of the token policemen.
Cleared customs to literally bump into a mate which I knew was leaving from the same terminal but didn't imagine actually seeing him which was cool.

My flight wasn't very full, so I was lucky enough to get the 3 seater row all to myself and actually managed to get some sleep last night, but not before watching 'The Last King of Scotland' - interesting yet annoying as I'm not quite sure of the exact true story from the Scottish guys side, and therefore will have to find out from the book just how much was truth amongst the poetic/dramatic license.

Then the morning (which was really the afternoon) arose, and I watched 'The History Boys' which I found fascinating, not only because it was humourous and that Francis de la Tour is one of the cast members, but some of the dialogue between the boys brought to the fore traits and inconsistencies I've noticed with English guys, and now I can kinda understand why some Poms are real twats when they don't mean to be....if that makes any sense.

Anyway, landed in Sing'ers ok, picked up my luggage which was all intact considering not all of the locks work. Fluffed around at the information center, got supplies of liquid, fruit and things to munch on before waiting for the bus to Woodlands. Had to put up with surprised/bemused looks because of the size of my pack, before boarding and taking the 40-something minutes on the bus past some lovely countryside.

I got treated to a really cute kid behind me singing Insy Winsy Spider, but substituting the lyrics with Icky Icky Spider. After the 15th rendition though, it got a bit much.

This side of Singapore is where the 'locals' live, so 'local' prices as well. The closest touristy site here is the zoo.

A 10 dorm room sounds freaky, and for the people who know me, it's not my kinda scene, but this hostel is literally just this one room - no other rooms other than the shower and common area. Yang, the hostel manager is very friendly and approachable and offers great siteseeing advise. I've now tentatively planned my 3-4 days just going by his suggestions.

It's hot, I'm sticky, food is yummy, locals seem friendly enough; Singapore seems clean and inviting already.