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