Jan 30, 2014

SINGAPORE

Five great days.

Before heading here to Bali I was able to have a short stop at Singapore. I was so lucky to be able to stay two nights at my local friend's home and meet his family and brother and see a glimpse of the singaporeans life. I also met my Finnish friend after last time meeting her in Japan.

So after arriving on Tuesday evening we had a nice dinner at one hawker centre and called it for the day.

View from my friends home. So many apartments!

First night's dinner at a hawker centre.

On Wednsday my friend's brother was kind enought to show me around the city. It was such a joy to get to know him and get a general idea of the structure of the city and it's vibe. In the evening my friend Noora from Finland also joined us. The night view of the bay was very nice and relaxed.


"Sota" school for arts and a nice looking street.

Bugis and an open air garden on the 7th floor of the national library.

Marina Bay

Hexil bridge and the art science museum.

Such a cool facade material! when the wind moves the metal plates it creates the illusion of water and waves or this kind of organic flexible material.

Garden bt the Bay, just opened new sight with huge tree-kind-of buildings.

The trees and a canal inside the mall.

Hotel that looks like it has been rendered.

 The colourful facade of the Clarke Quay.

City view

Marina Bay again.

On Thursday morning I moved to a hostel in Little India to share the room with Noora. After dropping my luggage there my friend Daniel showed us around the Chinatown. He is such a food lover so he knew nice places and things we had to try. The highlight was the Kantonese dim sum place hidden in 7th floor of a normal looking apatmenthouse. In there the food was served from metal vagons that wondered among the tables.

Our hostel, Bunck, was actually very great!

With nice interiors...

...and breakfast...

... filled with Koreans.

The kitchen/laundry space on the second floor.

Downstairs eating area.

Reception and the buncks.

Chinatown with new year's decorations.

Hindu temple

Chinese temple



Me, Noora and Daniel at the Red Star Restaurant.

It was such a cool Kantonese dim sum place with vagons serving different kind of plates.

Chinatowns colourfull facades. As you might have noticed, I really like these :)

Ann Siang Hill, the hip district.

Haw Par Villa, a wierd theme park showing what will happend to people in Chinese version of hell.

And other stories too.




On Friday morning and afternoon we had a look around Little India and the Arab street with Noora. It is so facinating how the different cultures and styles walks hand in hand in this small country! But you can really get the indian Vibe from the smell of the spices or the Arabic atmosphere from the carpet and fabric shops. The midday we spent runing around the malls and I got totally lost when trying to find my way back to our hostel. But for the evening we headed to the Marina Bay Sands for a fancy cheese and chocolate buffet that is located on the rooftop right next to the infinity pool. The clubbing after that sweet overdose was a bit hard but still naturally worth it :)  

Arab street.

The playfull Haji Lane.



ION shopping mall.

Marina Bay Sands and the biggest infinity pool with prety great view.

Cheese and chocolate buffet.

with more than 57 types of chocolate things.

Great combination.

The view from our outdoor table.



But after a while you start to feel a bit sick :)

Of all that sugar and sugar.

But still it was pretty cool :)

Clarke Quay again at night, this time for clubbing.



On Saturday we just took it easy and visited some more shops and cafés. Nooras flight back to Bangkok was earlier than mine to Bali, so after seeing her off I still wonered a bit around, had lunch and headed to the airport too.

Over all it was such a pleasant visit and it was great to see my friends again! It was almost the time for Chinese new year so every place was filled with red and golden decorations and I really enjoyed that.

But thats about Singapore. I'll start posting about Bali soon, so stay tuned (or something lame like that :))

Jan 13, 2014