Selamat tinggal - Good bye
Trip Start
Jan 17, 2007
1
12
13
Trip End
Feb 01, 2007
Singapore,
Singapore
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
We headed back to Chinatown - Jim got his Thai Coconut and he headed back to the hotel and I headed towards Pagoda Street to pick up a few things that were on my list. I made my way back to the hotel and retrieved two of the suitcases and the fun began. We got those packed up and took them downstairs and exchanged them with two more - got one of those packed and taken back and then kept the fourth one for the morning
Back Alley Shrine
. Off we went - thinking that we could figure out the way to get to Raffles Hotel using the MRT - a little unclear on which stop to get off at - and of course - to make a long story short - I screwed up - I had left the map in the room. Now we needed to find a taxi to get us out of my mess. We wait at the taxi stand and then we get in - only to get stopped in traffic by the procession of people headed to the Hindu Temple to prepare for their Thaipusam Celebration. It starts at midnight - so everyone is on their way to the starting point. We were lucky to catch a glimpse of the preparations. Here is a summary of what the celebration is about - I copied this from a Singapore publication:
Thaipusam is one of the most colourful and ritualistic festival celebrated in Singapore. This annual event is held in honor of the Hindu God Subramaniam (Lord Murugan). It is observed as a day of prayers, thanksgiving for wishes granted, fulfillment of vows and for good health. The ceremony starts in the early morning where devotees carrying milkpots and wooden Kavadis leave Sri Perumal Temple. The elaborately decorated spiked Kavadis set off in the later part of the morning and continue till late night. These devotees will undertake a 3km walk from Sri Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple
BarberShop
. On reaching the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple, the devotees get into a joyful frenzy as they offer the milk they have been carrying to Lord Murugan.We made it to Raffles - we headed up to the Long Bar and had a Singapore Sling, a Tiger beer and some peanuts. The place was packed. We then decided to stay and have dinner there in the Billiard Room - (Really we were looking for a tiger Will - but looks like all the tigers were out in the garden maybe - or if you remember what happened on the last page of your book - maybe the tiger is decorating the floor of a suite upstairs now.) They had a buffet and it was pretty extensive - including big lobsters - oysters - mussels - sushi and King Prawns - other seafood concoctions - a pasta station - salad station - outdoor grilling area with Prime Rib and grilled seafood and fish - bread station - soup - vegetables and then a large fruit and dessert station. It was pretty good - we weren't that hungry but did enjoy a little - just the setting was an indulgence. Sorry - no photos - I didn't think it would be appropriate.
Got back to the room - said goodbye to the bellmen and staff - told them that we would see them again soon and reconfirmed our wake up call and taxi. We are now counting down from three hours until our wake up call.
Good night.
Comments
Were you there?
Enjoyed everything, but.....are you sure you went on the trip - I can't recall seeing any pictures of you?! Maybe all this came out of a travel brochure.
Mom
Selamat Tinggal
Well, another wonderful trip and how we have enjoyed being right along with you. Great Job, Steph!!!!!! Singapore has made our A List, thanks to you two.
We know that you made it back to Portland and were passing over Idaho on your way to Detroit. Your mom has kept us posted. Rest up and get Ready for Some FOOTBALL!!
Have shared your Travelpods with Debbie and Shelley. The family is mighty impressed!!
Welcome back to the USA and Fox News,
Sandy