Singapore

Recently we were in Singapore and we had a wonderful time there. We stayed at Hotel 81, Dickson Road in Little India. It is a pretty new hotel, the rooms are small, probably 11ft x 11ft but clean with attached shower. Hotel prices are pretty steep in Singapore so either go during non-peak season or go for hostels.

Little India is a colorful place, by day you can see many Indian style grocery shops selling very fresh produce. At night the nearby pubs come to life catering mainly to the local Indian immigrants and backpackers.

1. You can observe the "buah kelor" here, they are the tall sticks placed standing up. I've tried it once in Malacca. It is cooked with curry. Quite nice.

After checking in to our rooms we headed out to visit Singapore Art Museum (SAM). I've been there before and loved their exhibits. The last time I've been there they were showcasing art from Korea, this time round they were showcasing art from 2 countries, Philippines and Mexico. We had a lovely time just walking and appreciating the paintings.

2. The winding staircase leading to the 1st floor of SAM.


3. I was surprised to find out that the Philippines has a pretty long history in Arts. This painting you see here was very beautiful. I thought it was from Europe but in fact was drawn by a Filipino. The drawing depicts discrimination against women set in Rome, it symbolizes the oppression faced by Philippines while under the rule of Spain.



4. Statue outside SAM. Note the dark gloomy sky, it was raining on and off while we were there.



5. One of the buildings of Singapore Management University (SMU) along Stamford Rd. Near the National Museum of Singapore.



6. The above is the reason Singapore is called a garden city state.


7. Inside National Museum of Singapore. The building was by itself beautiful. We were very fortunate to be there at 6pm on Thursday as at that time there was no charge for visiting the museum.


8. There are many escalators in Singapore. This was heading to the lower levels of the museum.


9. A display on the tools used to make local food, quite similar to those used in Malaysia. Shown here is an ice shaving machine to make 'Ice Kacang', 'ABC' or 'Cendol'.



10. A reflection of the ice shaving machine set in the middle of tea-cups with many logos of the sponsoring company reminiscence of the traditional kopitiam.


11. Pictures of the many nationalities that made early Singapore their home.


12. I just had to include this. It is a Mamiya Super 16mm miniature camera. Beautiful!


13. See through lock box. You can be nosy without being too obvious.


14. Underneath the dome of the museum.


15. The museum building bathed in lights.


16. Clarke Quay. Popular watering hole.


17. Reflection of Riverside Point along Clarke Quay.


18. We were greeted by skyscrapers as we exited Raffles MRT.


19. The Fullerton Hotel. Very grand.


20. Ion Orchard with one of the biggest Christmas tree I've ever seen. There are entry points around the tree where you can enter and admire the lights. Notice the nutmeg? I wonder what is the significance behind having it there.


21. Perspective.


22. Ion Orchard


23. More of the big tree.


24. Orchard in motion.


25. MMU gang...almost.


26. NTU Surf n Sweat Club posing for a photo while they were promoting their club.


27. Boasted as Singapore tallest vertical mall, Orchard Central has a beautiful garden on its roof. If you're scared of heights I'd suggest taking the lift as the escalators are scary!


28. Reaching for the skies.


29. Moving with the wind.