.........and there off!


We woke up nice and early, taxi came on time, lovely, smooth ride to the airport without much traffic, go to check in and ........buggeration  five hour delay! Jetstar said they texted us in the middle of the night..... hmmm, there was no sign of any messages?

Oh well, best laid plans and all that. The price of the Jetstar flight, was a couple of egg coupons and a chocolate wrapper - so I guess we mustn't complain too much. 

Breakfast of champions!

We'll probably spend more money at the airport bar, than we spent on our flight! So now killing time - ogling horrid parents, fussing loudly over their kids and middle aged couples, in matching outfits (not us - quelle horreur!).

nothing like a 5 hour delay.

Day one  - Settling into Singapore

We found our AIRBNB digs with no problems. Our host Ola is away working. He has a flat mate - but we've yet to lay eyes on him. It's fun to be in the burbs, instead of a hotel. 

Our apartment, Kim Yam Rd

Kim Yam Rd

All though to be honest, it's hardly the burbs, as we are a one street from Orchard Road. The apartment is great, we have a massive lounge room, our own ensuite bathroom (a must at this stage of life!) full on air-conditioning and brilliant wifi. Oh and a massive 24 hour supermarket just up the road - Singapore, so civilised!

Our apartment is on the 11th floor so we have a great view of surrounding apartments and the city skyline. People here, leave their shoes outside the apartment, in the hall. We are fighting the urge to line up our next door neighbours, many pairs of shoes, on a merry trail to the elevator.

Go on ...move them!

We also have met a series of door men or should I say concierge at our apartment. Richie has been chatting with all of them. One is stalking us and insisting we try mutu curry (fish head curry apparently) before we leave Singapore and each time we return, he looks like he's almost going to burst into tears, when we haven't!  Our favourite one is always sound asleep, with his earphones on while guarding the entrance!

Had a great first day of holiday (it sets the tone - like the first day of school but a lot more fun). After a good nights sleep - we were shattered after the Jet Star fiasco, taking 14 hours to get from door to door - we caught the MRT to the Botanic Gardens as it seemed like a good place to recharge... 

Compulsory photo stop, Botanic Gardens

Selfie, Botanic Gardens

Spent a leisurely couple of hours enjoying the park, had a great lunch in the Botanic Garden Food Court and then caught MRT back to The Marina Bay Area. It is Singapore's 49th birthday (Christ, I'm older than a country now!) so we were fortunate to catch a few military bands, practising for the big celebration parade on the riverfront.

Waterfront stadium, set up for Singapore 49th National Day celebration.

Singapore, is without doubt a very impressive city. Let's hope our own Elizabeth Key in Perth, is even remotely close to being this fabulous, when it's eventually finished!

Art & Science Museum & Marina Bay Sands

We over-walked ourselves - even though we swore we wouldn't - so had to stop at Boat quay for drinkies before heading home. Planning on Chicken Rice tonight.





Day two - let's eat!

Chicken Rice, at last

Chicken rice last night was fantastic and only $6.50 - oh Singapore I love you!

Had a great brunch with our friend Lena. She  drove us around Tiong Bahru, a lovely area full of old shophouses and lovely old buildings. We went to a really fantastic cakey shop, called Tiong Bahru Bakery and we're planning a return visit for brunch tomorrow.  

Kopitiam, Tiong Bahru with Lena

Next stop was Brickfields Food Market - food was sensational and I rounded off my lunch with a very Singaporean desert - sea coconut jelly and ice - delish!

Yes please, I'll have some of that! Brickfields Market.

We finished the evening off with dinner in Little India. The same restaurant we went to with Beatrice (we missed you Beatrice). We had to wait for the Chef to break his fast before we could order, because it's Ramadan. 

We finally conquered the mad Mustafa Centre - it's a department store, designed by a mad person - how much stuff can be crammed into a massive space? Anyway we purchased what we needed - nail scissors ('cos we couldn't bring them in our hand luggage, soap and insect repellant for our next stop Tioman Island - incase it's as basic as they say - and a note book for me - that's right - I'm still working!)

We caught the 139 bus to and from our apartment - just because we wanted to see how easy it was and to feel like locals for a short time, plus we have our EZlink MRT passes, so convenient, tag on/tag off! We finished off the evening with a stroll down to Robertson quay, which is conveniently, at the end of our street.

Day three - let's get cultured.

Started the day with brunch at Tiong Bahru Bakery, (we discovered it's a chain, so we went to the closest one, located at Raffles City). It was about the same price as Perth, so a bit expensive for Singapore - but man it was good! We had a squid ink roll with smoked salmon and prosciutto and a pistachio and almond tart. yum yum!

It was super hot today, so we tried not to spend too much time walking outdoors. We caught the Annie Leibovitz retrospective at the Singapore Art & Science Centre. 

Annie ! I hope no birds were hurt?

There was also a dinosaur expo on, so fortunately all the screaming rug rats weren't at Annies show. 

There were some really interesting pics of famous people. 
It's easier to list the number of famous people she hasn't photographed, than the ones she has.     
                             
Overall, it was enjoyable, if a tad self indulgent, as the 
show included a lot of family photos and pics of her partner Susan Sontag.

Chinese Cultural Centre diorama (the person is real).

Next, for a complete change of pace, we visited the Chinese Cultural Centre in China Town. I really enjoyed that - it was full of dioramas and I love me some good diorama. 

Chinese family names, origin, couldn't find Ajayi?

The museum is located in an old Shophouse and they have two floors set up, showing how people lived in the 50's - ten cramped into one tiny little space. 


It is amazing to see how Singapore has changed in just one persons lifetime from cramped, slum living to a city The Jetsons would recognise!

Richie had a laugh with the ticket seller, "it wasn't like this in our day, you try and tell young people today," etc etc.... old bloke speak...

Had a very relaxed dinner up the road at a street cafe for a measly $10. Richie had a good time chatting to the old chap, who collected the plates. 72 and still working hard, but he looked pretty fit! He attributed his youthful vigour to still  being a bachelor and loving every minute of it. Still loving the heat - just need to find a massage place now - life's good.


Last few days

We spent an enjoyable afternoon at the Gardens by the Bay. Another impressive Singapore attraction. It was really hot again. Next time I'd visit in the late afternoon, as it's open to 8pm, and it would easier to walk around in the cooler evening. 

Lots of super trees!

Richie at Supertrees

I thought there were only 3 super trees - which is what you can usually see on the skyline, however it turns out there are an impressive15!

We joined Lena and her friend VJ for dinner, this time we went to the Foodcourt at Geylang. It was the usual chaos and confusion - note to self - don't go to food courts right on meal time - better to be a bit early. Had fabulous oyster omelette and more ice deserts - but took so long to get the food - we ate it before taking any snaps.

We only repeated two meals, (from our last visit in November) the first was in Little India and on our last night we went back to Swee Soon Khoo Chicken Rice (we missed you again Beatrice!). The service was as awful as ever and the food was even better than we remembered. Apparently Chicken Rice isn't even a traditional dish - it was invented for the British, back in colonial days, because they didn't like spicy food. Ahh the Colonial British - they weren't complete bastards  - they left behind great bridges, roads, beurocracy and some interesting takes on food - the first fusion food maybe?

Lots of eating and drinking, Robertson Quay.

So our Singapore journey is over, and its off to Tioman Island, Malaysia tomorrow. We've been to Singapore so many times, but on this visit we experienced a different side to the city. I'd definitely do an Airbnb stay in Singapore again, maybe even a bit further from the city centre, next time. The public transport is so easy to use, the food is fantastic, and there is always something new to see.

So long Singapore, 'til next time.