Chapter 7
Festivities, fatter tummies, and farewell 2012!


Laura and Trent flew off to Kota Kinabalu for a week to meet Trent's Mum, cuddle an Orang-utan or two and relax in the sun.

Quick change of linen, and Chris and Sal arrive!


We decided to go to a Japanese restaurant for our Christmas Eve celebration.  Sangokai was a short cab ride from the apt.  Great meal and just what we all felt like. A reasonably light meal, in anticipation of what was to come, on Christmas day.

Each cab driver that transports us either to or from the apt, delights in telling us that we live in a red light district!  On one occasion, I had to ask what the going rate was, and this is what this particular cab driver told me..........
Under 25 yr old was $100, 25-30 yr old was $80, and over 30 was $60. Seeing as I was over 50, I assumed I would be $1.50, and Philip too readily agreed! Ouch!  Accommodation is on top of this!

Well, Christmas day arrived..........
We had fresh fruit and Mince Tarts for breakfast (Marks & Spencer's) and opened gifts around our 30cm tree.
Then we set about the task of getting "glammed" up for our lunch.
Frocks and heels were selected (by the girls), and off we trotted.
We thought we were under-dressed when we arrived at the hotel and boarded the lift with a guy dressed in a suit resembling a dead Friesian cow - 3 piece suit and all!  Sal had to touch it to see if it was real.  Felt like a dead cow too, but we were reassured it was a copy! 
Lunch was on the 70th floor of the Swissotel at a restaurant called Equinox. It was a feast for the eyes (food and view), as well as the stomachs. 
One metre-high ice carvings with seafood, a great mix of traditional and local foods, and a separate room just for the vast array of desserts. 

I think we did about a dozen trips, so figured we had had a workout while eating.
The four hour lunch was a "free flow" Moët, white and red wine affair...........we indulged.  There were magicians, balloon artists, a choir singing Singlish carols and of course Santa.......!  

We all thought it was superb food and very good value. (Thank you to Shirl for her kindness in paying for our lunch).
To round off the day, we took a cable car ride over to Sentosa and back. 
No dinner tonight!
Decided on a leisurely day on Boxing Day, so we ventured back to Chinatown to show our guests this interesting area. Philip was taking emergency calls from his team throughout the day, so did not completely relax!
The Botanic gardens and the Orchid gardens were the next day's choice of exploration.  We were a bit late starting, so first port of call was the restaurant called Halia, set in the lush central part of the gardens. We chose the outdoor terrace area, under the fans. Squirrels jumping through the foliage were entertaining, as were the beautiful butterflies dancing in the leaves. The orchids are a sight, and I am sure everyone that visits Singapore makes this a must on their destination list.

Even the exhibits had a familiar look about them...

We caught up with some family, (Sydo's cousin from Rye and his wife and daughter), who were passing through Singapore on their way back to Australia from Hong Kong.  Seemed odd to have a group of 7 people at the table, as it has been a table for two for a couple of months now. Had an Italian meal, which all got the thumbs up. A noodle in another cuisine!
Well, New Years Eve arrived, and we had the day all planned out.
I had spent many hours researching on-line and on-foot to find the right place.  We wanted a mix of location, cuisine and price. We were told Marina Bay was the place to be to view the fireworks. So, "One on the Bund", a restaurant on the water with a private deck, was selected. 
We are not very good at "lasting" till midnight, and have been known to wind our watches forward, do a mock countdown, and head to bed! Not this year.
We booked Gold Class seats to see Les Miserables, in the afternoon.  Good time-fill-in as it went for 160 mins.  Back to apt to get changed and have a glass of bubbles, before we headed into town.

The restaurant went to a lot of effort, with a selection of party items on the tables. 

The food was very "fine dining" Chinese, so portions were not large, but very tasty. We had pre-ordered the Peking duck, as suggested, and it was well worth it.  Here's a piccy of them being cooked in the wood-fired oven...

Our table was right next to the rear deck which had speccy views of Marina Bay Sands...

We called Sasha and Tim a few minutes past 9pm, which was 2013 in Australia, to say Happy New Year.  We had to SMS Laura, as communication to Kota Kinabalu is not wonderful.  She sent a photo back, of their celebrations.
Well, the fireworks were well worth it.  

Unfortunately not great for pics, as there were so many let off that it was quite smoky. We hot footed it home and I think lights were out by 1am. A memorable night for the four of us!
So........Happy New Year to all our friends and family. We hope 2013 brings much happiness, and something off your bucket list!
Love 
Annie xxxx

Chapter 6

Culture, cravings and a Clewlow reunion........

We decided to tick off something on our "Bucket List". The ballet!
We attended a performance of "Sleeping Beauty" by the Singapore Ballet Company.

We were a bit apprehensive about this. It's not that we don't enjoy classical music, it's just our preference is to see more contemporary productions.  
We had really good seats, in yet another outstanding auditorium, called the Esplanade Theatre.  The building sits on the edge of Marina Bay, and is likened in appearance to the Durian fruit.  Costuming, set design, choreography and interpretation of the story were excellent.  We would like to see Swan Lake now!  There were many "princesses" in the audience looking for their Prince Charming! This is the only princess picture we could take without looking too obvious.

We did a return visit to East Coast Hawker Village, as we were craving the BBQ Calamari we enjoyed previously . We upped the size to a $12 serve this time, it was so good.  Our new taste sensation was a carrot cake, a Singapore delicacy. This dish is called Chai Tau Kway, and confusingly contains no carrot and is not a cake. It is finely diced Daikon or white radish in an omelette mixture with prawns. Good gamble.  

It's communal outdoor eating, so we sat with 3 lovely locals.  After chatting for a while, we found out that one of them, called Uncle Foong, was a massage therapist.  He grabbed my hand and after some pressure point analysis and manipulation, told me I had issues with my knees.  True!  When he took Philip's arm and pressed his forearm, it made his middle finger stick out, and concluded that he did not need Viagra!  True or false?   We have his business card now, and will make an appt for a longer consultation.  Who knows what else we will find out.  
We attended a dinner at the American Club, with Vivek and Gauri, (Varun and Nicola's family)  who reside here in Singapore. This is a private club that was established after the war in 1948 with about 100 American members. Today it has a diverse membership totalling 3600.  It encompasses everything that you would expect, including tennis courts, pools, gyms, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, business centre.......
The meal was outstanding, and we appreciated their generosity as hosts.
They ironically are off to Australia the day Laura arrives, and are due back the day Sasha and Tim arrive.  
Thursday saw us at another Hawker venue called Chomp Chomp. Much smaller than others that we have been to, but well patronised.  We ordered while we tried to find somewhere to sit. 

Every time we eat at a Hawker place we keep saying how Alan Gerloff would love it. We enjoyed a number of dishes before heading out to Changi to collect some precious cargo.
Laura and Trent arrived at 9.30 pm

We are so excited to have Laura in our nest, and we are now ticking off the days till Sasha and Tim arrive!  We are very good at counting now.
Laura and Trent headed off to Universal Studios the next day, and had a ball. Dinner was at Clarke Quay where we had some Tapas (a rest from noodles) followed by a walk past a huge swing which we stuck L&T in...

After they collected their stomaches, we continued walking and Trent announced that the tapas didn't quite fill him up.  So we went to Lau Par Sat - another hawker food place, and had some satay and Singapore noodles.

Saturday we met with our friends, Chris and Sal, who had arrived the night before, and went for a spin on the Singapore Flyer. This is the largest observation wheel in the world, and the birds-eye view of Singapore, as we slowly rotated, was really enjoyable.

We had lunch after this at Sky on 57, all 6 of us. Good value for lunch. It would be even better value if we didn't drink! Consumed another 1.5l of Whispering Angel French Rose.

Food as good as it looks...

Laura and Trent headed off to explore on their own, while the oldies took a leisurely Bumboat ride down the Singapore river. Marina Bay Sands to Clarke Quay.

Newton Circus was the dining choice for the evening. A good introduction for the new arrivals into Singapore Hawker food.
The next day we explored the Battle Box. Again this was an oldies event! (Laura and Trent headed off to Sentosa to explore) This is located at Fort Canning, and is a bomb proof bunker that was Britains HQ, Malaya Command, during WW2. It is 9 metres underground and was the site that they made the decision to surrender to the Japanese in 1942. 

We learnt a lot about this time in history. Gordon Bennett was involved in this, and now we know where the saying comes from.
He interestingly, was born in Balwyn, where Philip and I grew up.
Dinner this night was at a place called Chijmes.  Many diverse eateries built on what used to church grounds, around a beautiful church. 

Another craving for a wood fried pizza saw us at an Italian restaurant.
Well, today is Christmas eve, and Santa comes tonight, so we will try and be good all day, so he leaves something under our tree.
Next blog we will be 5 kg heavier after our Christmas lunch.
Merry Christmas to you all. We love you and miss you.
Love
Annie xx

Chapter 5

International roamings.......

We decided to visit the Kranji War Cemetery.  We have visited a few war cemeteries over the years, including Italy and France.  I find reading the ages of the fallen soldiers quite disturbing - 21, 22, 23 and so on.  So much that these brave young soldiers have missed out on.  And to see gravestones with "Unknown Soldier" is also so sad.  Their families do not know where they now sleep.  Lives cut too short.  I think of my gorgeous nephews, and how they are filling their lives with new experiences, and with so much more to do. We are fortunate that they are not put in situations like this.  As with the other cemeteries, they are immaculately maintained.  It feels as though Mother Nature is caring for and cradling these boys now (but well done to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission!).

We stopped off at the Chinese and Japanese Gardens on our way back. Beautifully laid out with pagodas and lakes and of course the positioned rocks.
Unfortunately our stay there was cut short with a Singapore downpour. We will return.

Now Arab Street was a great haunt to explore.  Quite lively and colourful.  Full of textiles, leather and caneware. Many good food stalls and restaurants as well. 

This area is the focal point of Muslim life here. Some wonderful architecture too. Many of the original buildings have been restored, which gives the area that sense of history and connection.
We enjoyed a wonderful meal here, at a restaurant called Bumbu.  Our new taste sensation was Kang Kong. A delicate water spinach that was deep fried and served with lime, shrimp and minced chicken. Yum!  This was washed down with lime juice on this occasion.

After this we decided to walk up Orchard Rd to see the Christmas Lights,  as it was a beautiful evening. Yes, we previously did this by cab, but so much to take in, we had to do the snail version.  Some accompanying photos will do it more justice than me!  Let them speak for themselves.

I plan our weekends outings, so as a part of this research,  I have "Googled" the top things to do in Singapore.  As you know with "Google", you get many variations, and the game is to find the right one to suit.
One took particular interest!
Number #4 on a list of 10, was to have Plastic Surgery with a knife being wealded by Dr Woffles Wu................  Oh dear!
When I looked at the source, it was an American site.
I suppose the great food, architecture, history, gardens etc,  are not what are important.
Philip and I will look in the mirror and see what needs nipping and tucking. The "Woffles Lift" may be a consideration, while we are here.

Well, we had our day out to see Jersey Boys, and had a wonderful time.  It really is great music and the theatre at Marina Bay Sands was another masterpiece.
After the show we indulged ourselves with an English style afternoon tea, sitting amongst potted palms and orchids.  Fine china, white linen and silverware added to the atmosphere. 
Problem was, how do we choose from over 800 types of tea? They brought a thick book to the table which named all the different types of tea. Help!

We steered away from one variety, which was $85 per pot!  This tea is apparently harvested on one mountain, on one day a year with gold scissors!  It sells in the loose form for SGD$150  for 50 gms.  If not all true, makes a good tea time chat.
With advice from the waiter, (and after discussing our likes and dislikes),  I chose " Heart of Happiness",  and Philip had "1837 White China Tea".  Good choices, and a change from Dilmah.


We took a Bumboat ride down the river to Clark Quay after this, to wander and find somewhere for dinner, later.  We decided to walk a bit further on to Robertson Quay as it is a bit quieter.  Had a great dinner at a place called "Brussels Sprouts"?

We walked back to Marina Bay after this to see a water and light show called "Water Full", all choreographed to music.  Amazing again!  Pics below

Thanks to all of you who have brightened our Apt with Christmas cards. The cards are being slid under our door, and it's a nice surprise!  Much appreciated.
So now we have a Christmas tree, with battery operated lights, and presents underneath and cards!  How does that song go............"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........"

Till the next blog

Annie
Xxxxxx

Chapter 4

Birthday Blog

The first of December heralds in the first day of summer, (in Australia), but in our household it is time to celebrate my birthday! 
All matters of Christmas are put on hold till I have enjoyed this special day.
Bit different this year as I did not have my girls with me to kiss and hug. But soon.
My family have instilled a great importance on birthdays, and we all gather together to celebrate everyones birthday as a family. The family is growing bigger now, with son-in-laws and partners. Think last count was 13! And if Sydo was here, he would have evened the number to 14. We do miss him.
My family, generously,  have shouted Philip and I to see Jersey Boys here, so we have booked tickets for next Saturday.  We saw this in Melbourne, and it is a show we always said we would see again.  Thanks........

Philip and I celebrated the day on the 57th floor of Marina Bay Sands Hotel, at a restaurant called Sky on 57, for dinner.

Restaurant was at the 'stern of the ship'

The views across Singapore from this level were a little hazy as we had had a huge thunderstorm, but amazing all the same.
We sat on the terrace prior to dinner enjoying a drink, while watching the day turn to night and all the lights of the city transform  Singapore to a fairyland.
Philip played "James Bond", and had a Martini. Not sure if it was shaken or stirred! I had a French Rose, which was quite delicious. Our mode of transport there was not an Aston Martin, but a Hyundai cab!

The dinner was beautifully presented and the staff very attentive. Our soft shell crab was a dish we will return to eat. So moorish.
The highlight of the evening, was a Singlish rendition of Happy Birsday (sic), sung by 4 of the waiters. They ceromoniously carried  a platter of mixed desserts to our table, and stayed till the " flare" attached petered out. 

This was a surprise to me of course, but typical of Philip to play a trump card! (Is that another James Bond segway?)
A memorable evening, and one I will treasure.

Now that we are past the first day of December,  I can concentrate on Christmas and all the guests that will be joining us.
Time to buy a little Christmas tree, and pop some presents underneath.

This is another important time for our family. I love tradition!

Till the next blog...........

Love Annie xx

Chapter 3

Peeling away the layers of Singapore

We are beginning to explore further afield, and going to train stations we have not been before. Zipping around with ease. We use trains nearly all the time, and only use a cab if there is no train station near our destination.

A new discovery is a Hawker Centre on the East Coast, ( a suggestion from a cab driver) and  about a 15 minute drive away from the Apt.
These places are always buzzing with people consuming a wide range of dishes. Some we are not game to try! After doing a lap of the 60 plus stalls, we settled on a pretty mainstream menu.
10 satays for $6, a plate of BBQ Calamari $8, and a plate of BBQ pork noodles for $4. Washed down with a Tiger beer.
It is situated next to the beach, so quite family oriented.
They have a  waterski/wakeboard lagoon beside the Hawker centre which was fascinating to watch. This is a 360deg cable system that pulls the skier along. No need for a boat!  ( Thought of all the Fordhams and how much they would love it)

We did a reconnaissance trip to Sentosa, so when the girls come, we can allow enough time for the travel from the Apt to the island, for them to play.
They both want to go to Universal Studios!  Hope the partners do as well.
Philip and I raised the adrenalin bar while there, by going on a chairlift up Faber Hill, and then raced to the bottom on a Luge.  It was fun, and quite daring for me.

 

We visited Sentosa 8 years ago when we had a stopover on our way to India.  It is certainly a different place today.  They have done a complete overhaul. Many luxury hotels, white sandy beaches, restaurants, bars, an indoor flying centre and activities, as well as Universal Studios.   We thought about going on a Segway around the island, but one adrenalin rush for the day was enough!
You can get to the island via Monorail, cable car, or a lush boardwalk.  The Monorail (which was our choice this time) leaves from yet another shopping centre called VivoCity.  We came back to the food court here to consume a Char Kway Teow and a Prawn Noodle dish for $4 each after our exhausting day!

We headed into Clark Quay to absorb the atmosphere one evening. A vibrant precinct on the river,  full of restaurants, bars, and of course another couple of shopping centres. This will definitely be a destination for all visitors.
After a long walk we sat and enjoyed a chilled white from Chile, while watching the boats and people come and go.  Quite convivial. 

Temp sits at about 26 at night.
We jumped into a cab after this and headed to Orchard Rd to cruise from one end to the other to see the Christmas lights.  They are switched on mid November till early Jan each year.
The effort is amazing, as it is well over 2 km, and each year a different colour theme. We will do this on foot as well, as it is a sight.

Chinatown proved an interesting destination. Many old temples and buildings and markets.
One temple, Sri Mariamman was amazing. A Hindu temple built in 1827.

Next door to that was another temple - a Buddhist one called Buddha Tooth Relic temple.

Our guest list is growing, with confirmed dates from Laura and Trent, and Sasha and Tim.
Our friends from Sydney, whom we have shared holidays with in France and Portugal, are joining us as well, for 10 days over Christmas/NewYear. I have booked a very special Christmas lunch with them. 

Thought I would splash some cash, as we now have set up a local bank account, with credit card attached!
Shoes are out, as my feet are bigger than the main bulk of buyers here.  Philip thought this was great.  I will keep searching though, it's  my duty as a female!

As the family knows, and I will now share with you, Philip is allergic to Marks and Spencer's. This is an English store, where he spent many hours as a child. His allergy causes nausea and palpitations. (so he says).  Well, I got him into one here, and he has lived to tell the tale!  He did not avert his eyes though, just walked through.....in one door straight through to the other. 

When we shop at home, he always asks for the " husbands" chair. Not a shopper.
I will return on my own, it's better that way.

Birthday celebrations tonight, so will report back with the extravaganza we have planned!

LOVE ANNIE XX


FYI.........


Postal address
P & A Clewlow
27 Lorong 41 Geylang
#602 Redwood@Central 
Singapore
387828

Chapter 2

Getting to know Singapore

Now that we are fit and well, we are spreading our wings and starting to explore.
We still cling to our Melbourne life though. I read the Age newspaper each day on the iPad, so can catch up on local news. (And yes Mr Walker, do something about those rail yards!)
I also brought my digital radio with me, so can fill the apt with music, and international talk back stations.

We have ventured to Changi Museum, a short train trip from home.
How incredibly sad and humbling this was.
Hushed tones as people walked around reading stories of a time in history that we could not imagine being a part of today.  One particular story was of an Englishman, Jack Sharpe, who endured more than 100 men should.
Torture (mental and physical), weight down to 4 stone due to diet and dysentery, but he rose above it to return to England to see his Mum again.
This story tugged at my heart strings. Family is so important in your life, and time together so short.

Philip could not wait any longer, he had to see the new James Bond movie "Skyfall".  We booked our Gold Class tickets on line, caught a cab to yet another shopping complex and settled in.  Our snacks were a bamboo steam basket of wontons, dumplings and spring rolls ($8), and a pot of tea each.
As we left the centre we indulged in a small tub of ice cream, ( very expensive here).

We talk to our girls nearly every day (and my sister a couple of times a week ) on Skype or Facetime.  Shirl is now set up on Skype as well, which she loves.
 To see them as well as hear them is amazing and makes the world seem smaller some how.

Shopping is a breeze as well, with plenty to choose from.  We have had Risotto with Norwegian salmon, English sausages and mash, chicken cacciatore, and even an Aust sirloin, although to eat out is so much cheaper and less messy!!  Happy to hang up my apron for half the week!

Each time we "cab it" we find out as much as we can from the drivers.  They are a fund of knowledge, like anywhere in the world. Where to eat, where to go, and what to see that is away from the madding crowds.  We now have a few Hawker sites lined up to visit, that we had not heard of before. Just need to find the specific stalls selling Chilli Crab, Steamed fish and Claypot Chicken, that will be our challenge.

 A recent festival here called Deepavali saw us head to Little India one night to join the throng. This is a festival marking the start of the Hindu calendar. A celebration of light over darkness or good over evil.  The streets are filled with lights, music and magnificent aromas.  We indulged in a wonderful curry dinner, walked around then headed home.

Another trip out was to the Gardens by the Bay. 250 acres of rare plants, sculptures, and water features. Two huge 3 acre glass domes are filled with displays of exotics, (including Boab Trees,Bottle Brush and Kangaroo Paw, just to make us feel at home) and waterfalls 30 metres high.  

They are located in the city, next to the harbour on reclaimed land. To add dimension to the area they have added "Triffid" like Supertrees, some of which are 50m high. These come alive at night with lighting, which we will return to see another time. They also store water, and are solar collectors. So clever.  The elevated walkway gives a perspective of the size of the gardens and layout, as well as views across Singapore.



We enjoyed a traditional Singaporean breakfast of Kaya last weekend, which is toast with butter and sugar, 2 eggs on the side, and your choice of hot beverage.  All I can say is "different"!  I did bring my Vegemite with me, and that would be my choice on toast. 
We tend to head out early, as it rains mid to late afternoon for about an hour. This freshens up the air, so we open all the doors of the Apt.  No "flying bugs" here. Have not seen a fly yet. 

We visited the Singapore National Museum, which was wonderful. We were given mini iPads to guide us through the many rooms explaining all the events affecting Singapore pre-war and post-war. 

We walked through Raffles, where we stayed (before it was "modernised"), when Laura was 4 years old.  Tried to work out where the pool used to be, as it is now on a roof, not in the garden as we remember. Think Somerset Maugham would prefer the before and not the after as well!

A new exhibition at the Arts and Science Museum is called "The Art of the Brick".  This is a Lego exhibition, by an American, who in a previous life was a lawyer. Some of the works had more than 30,000 bricks.

Annie and her Lego mate!

There was even one of Philip and I ,( or what could be).

Everywhere you look in Singapore, there seems to be another outstanding building that we want to discover.  They seem to be quite "out there" with the designs, and spare no expense it seems. 
An example is the Art & Science Museum, which is modelled on a Lotus Flower. Its actually called "The Welcoming Hand of Singapore". It floats on a 40,000 sq ft lily pond, and its surface is the same material as the high performance racing yachts. It even collects water in the centre to supply water to the washrooms!
Each exhibition or museum we visit is very reasonably priced. About $15 each on average.

Arts and Science Museum, or Melbourne Cup hat?

Laura has booked her flight to Singapore, and will arrive on 21 December.  Yay. She will spend 3 days with us, before zipping off to Kota Kinabalu for a week, then back to us for 4 days before she heads home. I am hoping she does not adopt an Orang Utan!
Sasha and Tim will be January visitors, as Tim has a research project to complete for his Pharmacy course.

Philip off to KL tonight, so I will be keeping the home fires burning.
Very safe in the Apt, with Security Guards at the door, and swipe keys to enter building and lifts and Apts.
Where to next.............

We miss our life in Melbourne, and would love to cuddle my girls right now, but are absorbing all here, while we are here.

Love to you all

Annie xxxx