So that was Singapore

It seams very disrespectful to start to write this , thinking that we can write this off as another place that we have seen, another tick in a box, when I know that is what it feels like this morning.

I guess that is because we don't have time to do much else than stick to seeing areas within the centre and not getting out to the surrounding areas, after all its not that big-- but yet I guess that Singapore's reputation is that it is one of those countries over the years that is a stop off , a place that you briefly pass through on your way some where else and has been for centuries, so I suppose that I shouldn't feel so bad, but knowing it is home to many friends in our company , it feels a bit like that.

Hey ho, as they say-- onward and upward.

So yesterday was a great day with some traditional tourist stuff throughout the day and then some traditional Lynda stuff in the evening when it comes to having a mission and sticking to it until it is completed.

I am gonna have to be a little selective with the photos as we took so many, but they started with the River cruise and Raffles tour---

 The start of the riverboat cruise and what were the old harbour buildings that are now good restaurants.

 I couldn't resist this just looked very Architecturally Civil to me--

 Probably now the most photographed building in the world--well you have to don't you-- not sure what the designer was thinking of but I gues a boat on a stand is as good a guess as any---

 Very touristic with our little stickers on, but a nice photo anyway--

 And the obligatory one of the Boss with that building ( the Marina Bay Sands ) in the background--

 Don't know , so don't ask-- I am pretty sure that it is pretty meaningful but having a rain cloud shedding water was pretty apt for our visit anyway--

 This building is the Victoria Memorial Building and I took the shot just because I liked it so much-- a real mixture of colonial design with the most beautiful windows either side --really stunning--

and the Fullerton Hotel that was also one time the Island /City main post office-- bit grander than the one in Carshalton high street --

And finally for the river trip, the Bumboats, which is what we were travelling on -- something to do with the way that they were moored I believe-- ok well whatever---

 

So, that's the river and now for Raffles and when you are soaking up all the modern design and architecture -- and probably getting a sore neck in the process, this is most definitely stepping back through a time machine, to a time preserved, to help people feel that they were the Raj - that they were special and spoilt-- well you would wanna be spoilt at 1500 SD a night--

 The only thing missing from the guy above was a very large curved sword by his side-- but he was still a fearsome looking chap --

  We were told that the only reason the it was not destroyed in the second world war was that the Japanese soldiers liked to maintain this as their officers club-- well they would wouldn't they -- the |British had been doing the same fore decades before---

 Very nice high tea it was too--

 
 And very posh we were too, for an hour or two- including the obligatory Singapore Sling -- well it would have been rude not to---

 

 

Nice place and had to be done

 

And for the second day running we met some really nice folk from back home and yesterday it was Mark & Nicola from South Wales stopping off like us before pushing on to Sydney---

 

A very nice couple who are definitely making this a trip of a lifetime with a very posh stay in Sydney-- nice to meet you guys and share the moment and we hope you have a great time in Aus.

 

So after this it was back to the Hotel for an hour or so before deciding that rather than waiting till today for the shopping mission that we would grasp the bull by the horns and head of in the evening and "Go for it"----

 

Skechers

No so difficult you would think in what we saw was a shoppers paradise in Orchard Road -- an amazing array of Lights, people and cars -- a cacophony -- not bad for the kid my English teacher sad would never amount to much-- of noise and visual displays so here is a small selection of that.

 

 Apart from Trafalger Square this is the biggest xmas tree I have ever seen.

 

Well, after nearly 2 hours of looking around the Orchard Central shopping centre we finally found a Skechers in the second basement level of the Takashamyshi department store-- something like that any way, but the relief in my master was audible.

So, 3 pairs of trainers later -- ok 1 were mine-- and we were ready for dinner.

Found a great choice in a place named Gusto and had some of the best Squid and sauce-- a chilli mayonnaise and proper fish cakes before getting stuck in to the best chilli Prawns and noodles I have ever tasted. 

 

So that's it for Singapore, but I would like to just mention that this place has a very violent past and for those who were here in the 2 nd world war, suffered unimaginably , whether they were soldiers or civilians.

But what Singapore has managed to become is remarkable, when this has to be such a strong economy, a place with zero unemployment, where there is no litter and graffiti, and drug dealers face the death penalty and where there are some of the politest people I have met, -- maybe a few of us civilised western countries could do well to try to emulate---another one for the teachers of Philip Andrews--- So thanks Singapore , been a great experience and a Gaday to where we will be tomorrow.