Singapore

Trip Start Aug 14, 2008

Trip End Jan 24, 2009

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Where I stayed

Grand Plaza Parkroyal Singapore

(Singapore hotels)

Flag of Singapore Singapore, Singapore
Friday, August 15, 2008

Singapore - touched done at 5am Friday 15th Aug local time, Changi airport. Walked past the armed guards with semi-automatic machine guns to immigration, then collected our luggage and looked around for customs. We asked a security guy and apparently we had already walked straight through customs without anyone asking us for our passports, a bag check or anything? Got our transfer to Park Royal on Kitchener Rd. Hotel was really clean and new. Checked into hotel and caught up on some sleep til lunchtime. Headed out to look at a few shops next door and caught a cab and Suntec area. Had some lunch at a noodle bar where we got in touch with the local cuisine. I had the laksa with chicken, liver, chewy gizzards and quail eggs. Sheree went for the vegetarian option. Walked around Suntecs new shopping malls and Wishing Fountain then headed down past the Festival Centre and over the bridge to the Merlion. Past Raffles Quay to the main part of the city which is a maze of new highrises. At 6pm we met our Red Lantern tour in China town.

Took in the history of the area where all the Chinese and Indian immigrants settled and lived and worked in the many shops and as rickshaw drivers. It was also a social place for the men who drank whiskey and smoked opium. From 1880-1930 there were more than 3000 brothels. Today there are just a heap of markets, in amongst some of the oldest Chinese and Indian temples and the China Town underground train station MRT.

Sat 16th Aug- we took a city bus tour. Went from the Singapore Flyer through the cbd to a Chinese temple. Headed up through the public housing areas to a gem museum. This is where artists make these pictures by combining small gems. After that we went to the Botanical Gardens and had a walk through the orchid garden. Returned to hotel had a swim in the hotel pool, had some dinner and packed up our stuff. Onto Egypt!