The Singapore Airlines flight was quite bumpy and after seven and a half hours we arrived in Singapore surprisingly earlier than expected.
My cousin Lee-anne was there to meet us and take us back to her apartment by metro and taxi. John wanted to get new glasses so Lee-anne had located a place in her local shopping centre where we could have them made while we waited. They had about 1500 pairs on display and he managed to get a couple of pairs for a fraction of the price he would pay in NZ.
We also had time to catch up with a Couchsurfing friend who had stayed with us in NZ a few years back. Sze Ping was recently married and we were happy to meet his wife Fiona. We ate near the Singapore River in an area frequented by ex-pats. Lots of these families came by with their kids on skateboards and scooters as they lived in apartments nearby.
The next day we had breakfast at an Asian food stall called Ghim Moh market. It is so common for everyone to eat out in Singapore. Some of the food stall holders have been operating for a long long time and of course people have their favourites. It is such a fun way to get a variety of food and catch up with all your friends and neighbours.
There are 5.41 million residents in Singapore on land the size of our Lake Taupo, of that 3.8 million are Singaporeans. They enjoy visits from 15 million tourists per year.
We enjoyed our lunch in the Chinatown area and strolled the area reading the historical notice boards telling of the previous merchants. We were guinea pigs for Lee-anne's River tour as she has some conference visitors that she has to take on a walk. She had recorded all the historical information about the people, events and bridges on the walk. The city has done a great job presenting the area with eating places, parks, gardens and sites to visit.
We wanted to get some toys for our grandchildren so we took a bus to Orchard Road and some of the shopping malls there. The last time John was in Singapore was 1977 so the place is unrecognisable from then. In fact, we bought our wedding rings there at that time for US$10 and a can of coca cola, as it was the custom after a transaction to offer a drink.
We walked through the Marina Bay Sand Hotel, a structure that had 3 towers of accommodation and and looks like a ship. We took the lift to the bridge and walked down into Gardens by the Bay area.
We were lucky enough to see several families of otters come up on shore and entertain us with their antics.
In the evening we watched the light show that happens twice a night at the Supertrees. There was also a display for the Chinese lantern festival so the place was buzzing with visitors. Astoundingly everything we did and saw was free! The rates that the citizens must pay must be pretty high.
After that light show we went across to the Marina on the Bay Mall to see another light show that was also free.
We visited Lee-anne's place of work where she manages the data base for the OMF- Overseas Missionary Fellowship. It is situated opposite the Botanical Gardens so we popped over to look around the orchid garden and recognised the smiling face of the Turkmenistan president receiving an orchid presented to him.
Lee-anne took us to a Peranakan Chinese restaurant where we could try the dishes from these minority people.
Lee-anne was taking a small group of visitors to Little India so we went there to try out a restaurant that she had been recommended. The area was busy as it was also Diwali festival time. The streets were lit up with neon signs.
We were thankful Lee-anne had taken time off to show us around and be able to learn a lot from her about life in Singapore and our last stop before returning to spring in NZ.
My cousin Lee-anne was there to meet us and take us back to her apartment by metro and taxi. John wanted to get new glasses so Lee-anne had located a place in her local shopping centre where we could have them made while we waited. They had about 1500 pairs on display and he managed to get a couple of pairs for a fraction of the price he would pay in NZ.
We also had time to catch up with a Couchsurfing friend who had stayed with us in NZ a few years back. Sze Ping was recently married and we were happy to meet his wife Fiona. We ate near the Singapore River in an area frequented by ex-pats. Lots of these families came by with their kids on skateboards and scooters as they lived in apartments nearby.
The next day we had breakfast at an Asian food stall called Ghim Moh market. It is so common for everyone to eat out in Singapore. Some of the food stall holders have been operating for a long long time and of course people have their favourites. It is such a fun way to get a variety of food and catch up with all your friends and neighbours.
There are 5.41 million residents in Singapore on land the size of our Lake Taupo, of that 3.8 million are Singaporeans. They enjoy visits from 15 million tourists per year.
We enjoyed our lunch in the Chinatown area and strolled the area reading the historical notice boards telling of the previous merchants. We were guinea pigs for Lee-anne's River tour as she has some conference visitors that she has to take on a walk. She had recorded all the historical information about the people, events and bridges on the walk. The city has done a great job presenting the area with eating places, parks, gardens and sites to visit.
We wanted to get some toys for our grandchildren so we took a bus to Orchard Road and some of the shopping malls there. The last time John was in Singapore was 1977 so the place is unrecognisable from then. In fact, we bought our wedding rings there at that time for US$10 and a can of coca cola, as it was the custom after a transaction to offer a drink.
We walked through the Marina Bay Sand Hotel, a structure that had 3 towers of accommodation and and looks like a ship. We took the lift to the bridge and walked down into Gardens by the Bay area.
We were lucky enough to see several families of otters come up on shore and entertain us with their antics.
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| Lanterns by day |
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| by night |
In the evening we watched the light show that happens twice a night at the Supertrees. There was also a display for the Chinese lantern festival so the place was buzzing with visitors. Astoundingly everything we did and saw was free! The rates that the citizens must pay must be pretty high.
 |
| Dragonfly bridge |
After that light show we went across to the Marina on the Bay Mall to see another light show that was also free.
We visited Lee-anne's place of work where she manages the data base for the OMF- Overseas Missionary Fellowship. It is situated opposite the Botanical Gardens so we popped over to look around the orchid garden and recognised the smiling face of the Turkmenistan president receiving an orchid presented to him.
Lee-anne took us to a Peranakan Chinese restaurant where we could try the dishes from these minority people.
Lee-anne was taking a small group of visitors to Little India so we went there to try out a restaurant that she had been recommended. The area was busy as it was also Diwali festival time. The streets were lit up with neon signs.
We were thankful Lee-anne had taken time off to show us around and be able to learn a lot from her about life in Singapore and our last stop before returning to spring in NZ.
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