NZ10+ : Day 03 : SINGAPORE
Wednesday 19/03/08
Back in the hotel now at 5.00pm,
after leaving to explore this morning around 10am. I had slept in, and so by
the time I got downstairs, breakfast had finished being served. So, I headed
straight out and ended up in a McDonalds, but before they had started
serving chips, so I had a hash brown and a cup of tea in order to get on their
free internet.
A bit miffed to see hardly anyone
replied to my email or Facebook. Guess I'm still getting used to being on my
own. There was a Swiss guy who I was trying to fathom the lift out with
yesterday, who had also been on the night safari, and I strangely saw him again
in a random Italian Bistro hiding from the rain (more on that shortly).
So, I headed down Orchard Road
and experienced the malls. A mixture of tall ‘Trafford Centre’ style super-posh-malls
on one side of the scale, multi-story ‘Longsight Markets’ on the other. Again,
quite difficult to just browse without being heckled or hassled.
As I was halfway up Orchard Road
I saw Singapore’s official Playstation Store… so headed there. It was a good
move. Had a lengthy mooch at some "proper" Sony gear and even queued
up for Guitar Hero III… Unfortunately, by the time I got a go, nobody was there
for me to "Wow" with my guitar prowess, until for a laugh I played
Dragonslayer and got boo'ed in front of a 10 year old. To be fair though, I
think he thought that I rocked. Good job I know I have no cash, else might have
been tempted to buy a PSP (Sony PlayStation Portable) game.
I carried on, and then passed a massive
food court, and although I was looking out for some kind of chicken/spicy
noodle, I saw tandoori chicken & lamb/sheekh kebab instead; turns out that
it was the best lamb kebab I've ever had, and certainly making up for
last night’s Biryani at the Night Safari.
Then I went outside. In the rain.
It started off light. I thought
it wouldn't be too bad. Reckoned I would head up to the "digital"
mall I'd seen (turned out to be more of the same as all the other malls) and
then onto Clarke's Quay. Got the tube and it was nice, easy and cheap! Could
our government please make transport four times cheaper than a pint? Got off
bus, and Clarke's Quay looked like it would be great… At night. Not at 3pm in
the afternoon in the pissing rain.
By now I had a choice. Head back
to the hotel to dry off, or stay out. I had the vague notion of actually buying
a Singapore Gin Sling in The Raffles Hotel… I decided that I'd only get wet if
I came out later on, and there was no point drying off twice… Five minutes
later, and I am pissed wet through with a see-through shirt. Hopped on a bus to
get to the Raffles Hotel, stood at its gates and then realised that a soggy
Mancunian was probably not the image or customer that they associate themselves
with. Thoroughly wet and miserable, I headed back to the hotel…
On the way, I then passed a curious street sign with Batman & Robin on it… Turned out to be a sign for a toy museum. No Transformers, but lots of Robbie Robots, Beatles memorabilia and strangely, lots of Gollywogs. Felt slightly uncomfortable…
On the way, I then passed a curious street sign with Batman & Robin on it… Turned out to be a sign for a toy museum. No Transformers, but lots of Robbie Robots, Beatles memorabilia and strangely, lots of Gollywogs. Felt slightly uncomfortable…
Got out of the museum and found
the rain had lessened. Was tempted to get a brew and share notes with what looked
like a film crew in the museum, but just headed back to dry. Bobbed into a
"real" net cafe run by an intimidating woman on the way. Got back to
hotel room to write this and now I feel like a nap.
Should venture out for tea later
I suppose, especially with the flight coming up, but I really can't be arsed.
Can't even find anything that looks like a proper pub. Probably a good thing
that I can't find beer. Anyhow, off to bed for a while, have to be on my bus at
5.30…
(Writing at 10:12pm)
Currently sat in the bar at
Queen's Hotel - the conjoined twin of the Allson Hotel where I am staying. Beer
is pricey here, but that could just be the hotel bar. Never thought I would
write this much. Is this what people do when there are no other people to talk
t,o and no phone to tinker with, in idle moments? Feel like I am going senile,
talking to myself. Or that I should write something profound…
Just went to a gigantic mall for
tea. The Suntec Complex. Three towers and loads of malls beneath the world's
largest fountain. Had a look for a more local dish, but wasn’t hungry (for
once) and ended up making myself eat a chilli bacon and garlic pasta. The most
garlic I've ever tasted.
All in all, Singapore tried me a little. The trekking aimlessly in the hot & wet, and heavy hand luggage on day one, took its toll. A companion, or purpose in my wonderings, would have improved things. Just not many social places here, all shops. Still, despite pushy sales, the people are wonderful (women beautiful) and the city itself is gorgeous. Makes you wish the UK and Manchester would get tough on civic pride.
Onto the next leg now. Will I
miss a hotel room? Probably.
Final note: saw an "English
Chippy." There was nothing English on it. Cheesy Sausage Pancake. Yuck.
SOUNDTRACK: "Why Does It Always Rain On Me?" by Travis.
BECAUSE: I got pissed on.
COMMENTARY:
Two things immediately strike me about this diary entry. The first, how the diary brings back memories that I had totally forgotten about (which is the point, surely?) – meeting a Swiss guy in the lift? Would never have recalled that, and maybe I haven’t? Perhaps I am just imagining it now, as my brain was not in record-mode then? Who knows. Swiss guy, if you are reading this, holler Yo.
Secondly, I think I’ve been a bit harsh on Singapore in my sign-off
there. In retrospect, I can’t wait to go back!
I’m sure that my dour diary entry was almost entirely due to being on my
own, and remembering that (unlike modern trips and holidays) back then there
was no mobile internet or readily available Google Maps. I never really had a
‘picture’ in my head of Singapore’s layout, and so I probably did wander around
aimlessly, as this part of the trip had not been researched or planned. If I
was to go again, I now know exactly which parts of the city I would revisit,
and which parts to explore that I had missed previously.
I’ve also got to say, my photos of Singapore really do not do it justice; my heart must not have
been in a lot of it, and I’ve no idea why there are no photos of that amazing
food hall. I hope the ‘cleanliness’ and modern vibe of the city do come through
though.
Other things about Singapore not photographed or mentioned in the diary…
1) The subway stations have doors on the platform; no “mind the gap” notices here, and no danger of falling in!
2) The 30 or so Singaporean College Girls, laughing their knee-high socks off at me at Clark’s Quay – they found the idea of a soggy Englishman whose nipples were showing through his shirt quite hilarious.
3) The THUNDERSTORM. As I left one of the malls, and first encountered the deluge, bolts of lightning were firing thick and fast. I’ve never seen weather like it, and I honestly don’t know if that is the reason I may not have bought a brolly. Carrying any form of metal stick felt like it would have invited death-by-lightning conductor. The rain was non-stop for many hours. The storm itself was shorter, but had a physical presence that made itself known for the 20 minutes or so I spent trying to hide from it.
In memory, I loved the second day (it was really
the only full day of the two, due to half of the first being lost to jet-lag)
and it was a fantastic entry to the realities and experiences of travelling. I
would love to revisit! It was a
serious contender for Hazel and I’s eventual Honeymoon. We ended up
inter-railing Europe instead, and so the Singapore return is on the backlog. Best
start saving…
1) The subway stations have doors on the platform; no “mind the gap” notices here, and no danger of falling in!
2) The 30 or so Singaporean College Girls, laughing their knee-high socks off at me at Clark’s Quay – they found the idea of a soggy Englishman whose nipples were showing through his shirt quite hilarious.
3) The THUNDERSTORM. As I left one of the malls, and first encountered the deluge, bolts of lightning were firing thick and fast. I’ve never seen weather like it, and I honestly don’t know if that is the reason I may not have bought a brolly. Carrying any form of metal stick felt like it would have invited death-by-lightning conductor. The rain was non-stop for many hours. The storm itself was shorter, but had a physical presence that made itself known for the 20 minutes or so I spent trying to hide from it.