Singapore Day 2

  Singapore, Singapore
Friday, November 14, 2008

We couldn't help but start the day out early again, wanting to get in as much viewing of this wonderful city as we possibly could before having to depart early tomorrow morning.

Beautiful greenery

We were on the street by 9am and in a cab, headed to Orchard Street with fellow ESDC members Skip Stacy and Jill Keeler.  Orchard St. is the main shopping district in Singapore, and there is a ton of wealth on display along that two mile stretch.  There are a ridiculous amount of stores along the way, and there are shopping malls everywhere.  These things are every bit as big as our malls back home, yet there is enough commerce to support one seemingly on every block!   It really is an absolutely amazing display of capitalism.  Oh, and Christmas is apparently absolutely huge here.  They were just getting started with rolling out all of the decorations, and it was quite impressive already.

Getting set up for Christmas

What was also cool though was the amount of small time shops intermingled with all the large more recognizable named stores.  These were little shops that sold local trinkets, electronics or the most common of all, tailor shops.  Yup.  You could have a suit made to fit and they would deliver it to your hotel later that very same day!  Very good prices, too. 

Green arches over every road!

The landscaping also made it just stunning to walk around the city.  It is amazingly well planted and very well tended, with flowers and tropical plants everywhere possible.

More greenery

There we never any bare, ordinary plots of land.

Beautiful greenery

And the shapes of the various trees were totally cool as well.  They arch over the roadways forming perfect canopies.

More greenery

    

Beautiful trees

Orchard Street opens late and stays open late to accommodate this giant city, so none of the shops were quite open just yet.  We settled down to a hearty breakfast at a place called Swenson's, which served good breakfast food but had a primary mission of selling ice cream desserts.  It reminded all of us of the old Ferrell's Ice Cream Parlors back in the US. 

After getting our fill of breakfast, it was time to start doing some shopping!  We were in for a beautiful day today, which was a nice change from yesterday's downpour.

Where was this machine yesterday??

We made our way down the street just enjoying the view, taking pictures and people watching then stepping into many of the shops that caught our eye.

They love their stuffed animals!

Pam also finally bit the bullet and got her nose pierced!  I have to admit that despite objections in the past, it looks really cute on her.  :-)

Pam finally did it!

We found a few little items to take home with us before finally getting our fill of shopping.

Next stop, Chinatown!

Chinatown

On the Chinatown pedestrian bridge

Although it didn't initially really interest us, it turned out to be yet another great place after all.

Chinatown pedestrian bridge

We were all sort of thinking that we've got the International District back home, so how different could Singapore's be.  We sure were wrong in many ways.

Chinatown pedestrian bridge

In true Singaporean fashion, the streets were beautifully decorated in a Chinese theme with flowers, pagodas and the likes everywhere.

Chinatown pedestrian bridge

Small shops sold all things Chinese (dried fish products, seaweed, and whatever else you could want).

Driec octopus for sale!

We also stopped into a Chinese apothecary, which had some pretty interesting stuff inside.  There were sidewalk eateries and markets everywhere. 

Chinatown market

Chinatown market

 

Chinatown market

Then there was the local market bazaar, which was really a neat place what with all of the colors, Asian styled architecture, lanterns overhead and such.  

Chinatown market

We spent our fair share of time in that area, picking up a few more trinkets along the way and turning down many an opportunity to get fitted for a new suit.

Chinatown commerce building

 

It was finally time for lunch.  Once again, we were hustled into a great little restaurant by the proprietor standing out in front trying very, very hard to recruit business.  All of the restaurants, bars and shops are like that here.  They are very assertive in their attempts to gain your business, we can only imagine out of necessity what with all there is to choose from.  They are all very nice and respectful, but trying very hard none the less to get you in their door.  Well, another excellent lunch was had, this time of the Sichuan Chinese style.

Chinatown lunch

  

Singapore river view of the hotel

We finally began to head back to the hotel on foot to enjoy more of the city, and we also wanted to get in an hour or so of packing before leaving for the Singapore Zoo's night safari. 

Local pedestrian bridge pn Singapore river

Our ten minute walk took us along the Singapore river, with a great view of our hotel in the distance.  

Singapore river view of the hotel

Pam did some last minute window shopping near our hotel.  

Pam window shopping!

Our new car should arrive some time next week!

I think she likes her new car!

Okay, maybe not.  :-)


Last stop of the day, the Singapore Zoo's Night Safari.  Flash photography is not allowed for obvious reasons so sorry, no photos for this segment.  Singapore was apparently the first zoo in the world to build and operate a night safari.  Basically, patrons ride guided trams through an entire area of the zoo dedicated solely to seeing animals in their habitats at night.  Lights are kept very low, but not so low that you can't see the animals. 

We spotted several varieties of deer, tapirs, a very large South American rodent known as the Capybara, giraffes, hyenas, elephants, tigers and lions.  It was an awesome experience!   After the tram ride was over, we had about an hour to eat dinner in the food court area, where we were treated to a large dance and fire breathing/swallowing show by some very crazy natives!   Everyone had a great time and before we knew it, the evening had come to an end and it was time to head back to the hotel. 

We had booked the safari thorough the hotel tour desk, so we were all on board a bus to and from the zoo.  That made for some good fun, what with all nine of us laughing it up.  This has been a great group to gravel with!  We've had so many laughs with them and look forward to the next time we might all be able to travel to some far off land again in the quest for excellent diving.

Back at the hotel at 11 with just a bit of time to pack and then off to bed.  The 6:15am airport shuttle is gonna be mighty early!  Goodnight and goodbye from Singapore!

Pam & Andy