Day 7: Last day in Singapore
Trip Start
Apr 16, 2009
1
4
24
Trip End
May 31, 2009
Today is my last day in Singapore. My continuing flight to Hong Kong is scheduled for 3.45pm, which is in four hours from writing this entry. Last Sunday, as mentioned in my previous entry, we visited Kai's and Elin's official wedding ceremony. I had the chance to borrow a baju kurung and sempeng, which make up a traditional clothing for Muslims. Wedding highlights: hundreds of people come by, stay and have something to eat, congratulate groom and bride, and leave again. Not much attention is spent to what is going on else. Karaoke is part of the ceremony, with really splendid singers, but also with others who are not. For the groom and bride, this day actually was a very busy one: they change clothes several times during the day, are available for several photo sessions and always have to have a smile on their face. Amazingly, many of Elin's friends from couchsurfing came to Singapore just for the wedding which resulted in a strong community picture and performance: we all sang Abba's "Dancing Queen" upon my proposal. In karaoke, though, we have not been the best :)
On Monday then, I met up with Birgit from Austria who moved to Singapore with her husband Viktor last August. We had a wonderful walk thru the streets of Chinatown before resting and eating something. I then visited the ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum) which had an exhibition on the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Becoming rather tired due to a lack of sleep - my guess - I decided to have a walk thru downtown also taking a look at the amazing construction site at Marina Bay. They build up three to four huge hotels there, including a Casino. Construction stopped several times during the last weeks and months due to the financial crisis and the lack of money to continue. Nevertheless, construction sites are everywhere around here in Singapore. The thing is also that buildings only last for about 20 to 25 years. Afterwards, due to the high humidity in the air, they have to deconstruct and rebuild them as the material starts to break and loses stability. Likewise, cars here only have a lifetime of approximately five years as humidity starts to "kill" many parts. In the evening, Birgit, Viktor and me met again for a very nice dinner at the "Yantra" Indian restaurant in Tangling Mall, near Orchard Road.
Yesterday, I visited the beautiful Botanic Gardens and made an evening trip on Mt. Faber (height: 106m) for an awesome view over Singapore.
On Monday then, I met up with Birgit from Austria who moved to Singapore with her husband Viktor last August. We had a wonderful walk thru the streets of Chinatown before resting and eating something. I then visited the ACM (Asian Civilisations Museum) which had an exhibition on the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing dynasty. Becoming rather tired due to a lack of sleep - my guess - I decided to have a walk thru downtown also taking a look at the amazing construction site at Marina Bay. They build up three to four huge hotels there, including a Casino. Construction stopped several times during the last weeks and months due to the financial crisis and the lack of money to continue. Nevertheless, construction sites are everywhere around here in Singapore. The thing is also that buildings only last for about 20 to 25 years. Afterwards, due to the high humidity in the air, they have to deconstruct and rebuild them as the material starts to break and loses stability. Likewise, cars here only have a lifetime of approximately five years as humidity starts to "kill" many parts. In the evening, Birgit, Viktor and me met again for a very nice dinner at the "Yantra" Indian restaurant in Tangling Mall, near Orchard Road.
Yesterday, I visited the beautiful Botanic Gardens and made an evening trip on Mt. Faber (height: 106m) for an awesome view over Singapore.



Comments
Thanks
for the great pictures, peter.
i canīt wait to read and see more. :)
i seems you have a pretty damn good time over there. keep enjoying it. :)
read ya soon
tommy
btw
the 'baju kurung' looks great.
i will suggest this as 'Kleiderordnung' in the office when you are back. *g*
Re: Thanks
oh yes, I do enjoy and have a good time. Many thanks and greetings back to home. I do not miss the office at all ;-)