Botanical Garden and Marina Bay Sands

On Saturday morning, I had to pack all my luggage and check out before joining the others for the day. It was my last day in Singapore o I left my suitcase at reception and put my hand luggage and changing clothes in Mba A. room. And then we set out for breakfast in the food court 2 blocks form the hotel, grabbing bread and buns at a bakery, and water at 711. There was not much opened, maybe because it was a bit early for a Saturday.

We headed out by cab to the Botanical garden for a picnic. it is north of town and looks pretty vast on the map. However it turned out the part we stayed at is very walkable. We met up at Swan lake, which was very refreshing with its shaded shores. I really needed to stay int he shades are the heat was once again getting to my system. I was amazed at people jogging at 11:00 in the sun...

 

The grass was a bit wet so we ate on a bench beside the pond, watching the turtles swam about. To digest, we started a stroll toward the orchid garden.  the greenery smelled sweet and the air was not scorching hot, even if I was mopping my forehead evry so often.

 

 

It was hilarious how on the map everything looked so far away, and then in reality we were barely 5min walk away. We got to the Orchid Garden quite surprisingly within 10minutes walk, passing by a misty small waterfall a very long banana set. We didn't visit the Orchid garden because it wasn't free, so we raided the souvenir shop instead...typical :)

Outside, a group of ladies and not so young men were dancing zumba, twisting their hips and torso to latin and club music. it was fascinating and quite shocking for me as they were not shy of the passers by at all, the same way people would to tai chi in the park quite simply.

Having finished browsing about we headed out to Marina Bay sands, the newest hotel/mall/casino development in town.

The inside was all white with huge glass walls letting the daylight inside and giving a soft light to the whole lobby. A group of 4 musician were playing lassical Chinese instruments in the lobby.

We couldn't really appreciate the shops in the mall because they were all completely out of our budget, and most of them weren't even opened yet and in construction. But we walked across some entertaining Las Vegas-like characters.

 

There was a nice view of the bay and the financial district from outside the hotel. After a while we took the bus to go a bit across the water toward the performance art building, which architecture is inspired by the durian fruit.

 

There is a grand view of the structure of Marina Bay sands from the outdoor stage. We rested a bit in the building and outside while the sun was setting slowly.  We also walked towards the sea lion, symbol of Singapore, so play in the shades and takes in more view.

 

We probably walked more towards Bugis mall, wherewe had an early dinner in the food court. I had a noodle dish, which the chef freshly made by cutting the noodle from a big dough. So hot and yummy! And dessert was in a popular street in the area, with all kinds of eateries, in a shop called Atchoo or atchoum. mango sago and a chinese jelly that helps digestion.

And with all the food and love from those friends, I was sent away back West, to the land of col and snow...I cannot remember what I did in the plane as I was too full and sad to leave....

West suburb and malls..

I woke up quite early to start going on my trip to Nanyang Technology University campus, in western Singapore. I bravely took a bus, hoping it would get me to Raffles or Central. But instead I ended up close to Clarke Quay and had to find the MRT station within a mall with closed up shops still (well, it was before 10:00). But eventually I made it to the train and I could appreciate the small rush hour of students and workers commuting. The weather was so fine, and the vivid colour of the blue sky and the green plants flourishing was really pleasant.

We passed through a Chinese garden which has a pagoda that can be seen from the station. I took the picture when there was noone on the platform, and quite nerously because I was not sure if it was legal or not (LOL).

 

On the way back, I had some time so strolled about behind the hotel with the street market and the temple. 

Later around lunchtime I met with Mba A. family from Jakarta and after resting a bit, we set out for our journey to shopping till we dropped. It was all good because there were so many malls and stores and decorations. And I got to meet cute A.  sooo cuuute! But she was acting quite shy around me.

We headed out to Orchard street, the ultimate shopping mall destination. The names of the malls eventually faded in my head, and as usual the food court is what leaves the most impression (in weight), but the sight of the decorations and illuminations was putting everyone in festive mood.

I ate s much bread and noodle that day I think I put up 3kg despite the walking around for hours inside malls. I managed to score 2 CDs from local artists, and polos for men...

Singapore by night

Dinner time at 20:00 was set and I was eager to finally get access into the local food. Mr D. and I set out from the hotel by bus (with A/C yes!) towards Chinatown to eat sting ray. Light rain was falling as we arrived in Chinatown, just few steps away from another block of very high and modern buildings.I let myself tempted into getting a stamp with my name, which the vendor said would be ready by 22:00, when the store closes. On our way onto food street, officially known by another name of course, I saw many fans, charms, jade trinkets, incense, chopsticks stores, and also glass bowls painted from the inside. Because it was raining, the streets were empty, save for the river of water draining from the stored opened on the cobbled streets. it was a nice feeling and the temperature was fresh and pleasant.

We ordered a small sting ray from a street stall and settled outside under a big umbrella. It was so good I can still taste it. The spiciness was just right and with the hot sticky rice and greens, it was the perfect meal. Soon it was time to pick up my name stamp, so we wrapped it up with a photo sent to Mba A. and off we went on strolling.

We first passed a Hindu temple full of cow deities on its fence and roofs, right in the middle of Chinatown. Then we passed a nice old Chinese temple, with a street level elevator and not-so-century-old underground parking lot....I was having trouble adjusting the lighting on my camera so ultimately didn't give credit to this venerable building.

 

Just a block from the Chinese temple lies an area with quaint European townhouses, holding boutique bars and hotels. We even stumbled on a bar that catered to golfers, as you could practice your swing inside with a huge screen and a wii-like golf club to swing. Mr D. explained that hidden rooftop bars were in this area, usually filled with expatriates.

We then walked around some construction sites to end up across Clarke Quay, where crab restaurant were enticing the passers by with their live crabs outside. Unfortunately, I was told I could not take a picture as they were private property...huh? Never mind.
We crossed over the bridge to immerse ourselves in the lights and nightlife at Clarke Quays. There were interesting bar concepts, such as the Clinic, in which your drinks were served into intravenous hospital pouches...further along, there is the Beer Exchange, where you could see from outside the live ranking for the most popular beer served that night.

After escaping a public embarrassment of slipping onto my buttock on the wet pavement (noone saw me, I think) near the Singapore art museum, my feet took me eventually back to the hotel. It was almost midnight and I was feeling a bit tired.

Autum in hot Singapore

My plane landed at 02:00am and I barely spent 30minutes in the airport! The baggage claim hall was so beautiful, with a huge bright cascade taking up one whole wall, from roof to the ground. Looking up, palm trees and other leafy green trees are hovering from above. My suitcase came out within 5minutes and after 5 more minutes I withdrew Singapore dollars from the ATM to get myself a cab. There were only 4 people in the queue so I only felt the sticky hot weather for a few minutes before getting into the cozy air-conditioned black car. If I knew the car make, it would have been nice to put it here, but alas, I can also say it looked like one for those VIP cars.

The ride was smooth and the lit up road let me know it was a completely different climate there. More palm trees, bougainvilleas, and other warm country plants were lining the streets. I was sweating profusely in my woolen tights, sweater and ski jacket. The smell of town was much sweeter, like jasmine tea mixed with dim sum and Indian curry.

The reception at the hotel Ibis was not refreshing as it was pretty cold for a service. Even the taxi driver was commenting that they didn't even get out to welcome me or help with luggage and asked me not to tip them. I dragged myself and my luggage up to my room on the 5th floor, facing the back of a temple and another high rise building. I remembered that being seen naked even in the privacy of your own house was illegal so I closed the thick window, turned on the A/C at its max, and stripped the layers of winter clothes...

After a shower, which I hope was not illegal that late at night, I tried to sleep. I was too excited though and probably stayed wide-eye-opened until dawn.

Some daylight took me out of bed and I felt ready to jump into the middle of town, armed with only a map and my phone. I remembered seeing a 711 around the corner and I set out to walk outside. As soon as I got out though, the heat flattened me down to a blob of sweat and I lost my breath after 10m in the sun. I managed to walk 2 blocks, past the Nanyang school of fashion and another design university, to end up all dehydrated in a 711. I asked for a sim card for my phone:

-"hello, could I please have a prepaid sim card?"
-"gfrbgrlbjlrkgj;ewfkef?"
-"eh...what, sorry?"
-"fvrwvjnlk grgrkrgfgbrtoytqw?"
-"sorry, I really didn't get that"
Another clerk, younger, jumped in
Her:"what company?"
Me:" ah yes, of course. Singtel will do"
Her:"passport please"
Me:"huh? oh ok. here it is"
Her:"You can sit over there and wait 10min"
Me:"In that case, can I have this COLD juice please. How much is it?"
Her:"that's 1 dollar. You can also have these buns for 1 dollar. Very good"
Me:"uh no thanks. I'll go and wait"

Feeling dizzy from the language barrier, I perched myself on a bar stool. While sitting at the bar facing the windows, I people watched and tried to imagine their lives: young men taking a smoke outside their offices, drinking cold juice from 711, who were not even sweating! Of course they are used to it, but also they are wearing cotton shirts and trousers. It was only around 09:30am at the latest. After 10minutes, I paid for the sim card, got my passport back, and just prayed it was not hacked. On my way back to the hotel, I stopped by a food mall which was not completely opened yet, but I followed the yummy smell and got to this bakery that had lip licking good looking buns. Two ladies invited me in and I asked for cold milk tea, which the waitress found really strange so the other lady explained how to make it: make tea, add milk and ice cubes...
I happily drank and ate, while my body dried and returned to a non-combustible temperature.
After that, I walked another block to the hotel to have a pee break after all that I drank. Restarting my journey, I walked toward the other direction to discover there was a 711 in the same block as the hotel. DUH.

I got myself a nice cold bottle of water and just walked about, following the shades and the street crowds. Stumbling on some street market, it was fun browsing for clothes and cheap trinkets. At a crossroads, a snake charmer was courting a white flat head snake...yikes! I walked past as fast as I could and ended at Bugis junction, which reminded me of Camden town market. The smell in the air was of Chinese mushrooms, rained on soil and various food.

After 15minutes of walking and sweating, I dropped into Bugis Junction mall and bought myself 2 t-shirts at a Marvel goods store (one Supergirl blue shirt and one yellow soft and thin cotton one). I saw quite a it of that mall while looking for the restrooms. Walking another block towards an unknown direction brought me to Iluma mall, which has a really nice outside look. It was only around 10:00 and stores were only slowly opening.

I found a really nice beach clothes shop on the 2nd floor, and was attempting to choose an outfit from the all so bright colorful choices. Sadly though, the shop keeper informed me that they were not my size and they would be too small...Somehow I was ashamed but perked up when thinking that at least they were honest and didn't try to sell me something that would be hideous on me...SNIFF still!

And so I continued on outside again, with my drenched t-shirt under my summer dress. Somehow I ended up at Raffles City mall, and located the food court, which is in the basement. The surrounding buildings are all high rise financial offices of some sort, and the hip crowd in the mall were very different from the crowd at Bugis Junction. AT Raffles, suits, barely stable stilettos, satin and silk tops were worn by pampered businessmen and ladies. I was disgusting in my pink military camouflage dress on top of a t-shirt glistening dripping with sweat. Luckily the smell of food masked every body odor I may have diffused, and the A/C was doing its job in refreshing my aching skin. I walked around the food court twice, undecided on what to buy for lunch. Eventually I got into a grocery to grab a sandwich but ended up buying coconut juice and more water.

Tired of my lack of decisiveness, I went back up to the ground floor and entered a Japanese fusion bistro (tapas of Japanese dishes), looking outside the mall and perfect for people watching. I needed food in my empty stomach and a bit of rest. Raffles City mall is more of a luxury mall, with brands like Hermes, Chanel, etc...Just watching the people entering the mall was an experience in itself, and the size of the queue at the taxi station outside the mall was even more impressive.

My plans for the afternoon was to explore little India area but it was a bit of a walk. I could get in line and take a taxi, but I was more interested in taking the public transportation. Localizing a bus stop that had the correct bus was easy enough. however I realized I had no change.So I went underground into the closest MRT station, bought a 3 day pass, and hopped in the train, not before hearing the public announcement reminding passengers that eating, drinking or smoking in the train or on the platform is prohibited...well, no wonder everything was so clean.

I alighted at Burgis station, and kind of followed the crowd to end up on known territory at the Chinese mall next to the hotel. I had a shower, drank all the liquids I bought, and crashed of heat exhaustion. outside, the weather had turned into a thunderstorm and I slept with that sweet feeling from my childhood, safely cuddled in bed while the elements were fighting outside and cooling the temperature. My alarm was set for dinner time .