Sizzling Singapore

As Adrian Cronauer said in Good Morning Vietnam, it's hot....hot ....damned HOT!
I'm not sure what I was expecting but things sure have changed since I was last here in 1974 as a wandering backpacker. At the time my hair ( which was more luxuriant then) was not past my collar but my Pommie travelling companion, John Fraser Dunfield's was... so he wore a short wig so they would let him in. No hippies in Singapore in those days!
That part hasn't changed. It is still clearly very highly structured, organised, tidy and clean....some might say sterile, with rules, rules and more rules which makes it a nice place to visit but I'm not how it would be to live here.

After an uneventful flight, apart from the gridlock getting to the Int. terminal (hint- don't fly on weekends), we arrived and settled into our quite comfy digs in the centre of town. The first day was a dedicated sightseeing day starting with a tour of the city on the "hop on - hop off" bus with a very informative commentary on the history and features of this modern city. It certainly is a beautiful garden city smothered in flowers and Bouganvillias everywhere.... essentially tropical greenery and trees make it very attractive to the eye and we wondered if Penrith Council might take a few pointers in this regard.
The architecture is really impressive with tall, shapely, buildings and creative structures mixed sympathetically with the historic buildings and bridges creating a timeline of history and settlement.
We visited the Gardens by the Bay, entering through the huge Marina Bay Casino and Resort which just dominates the skyline from all points of the compass. The architecture and engineering just blow the mind but not to be out done, the gardens were really something quite special. Giant Boab inspired structures create an eerie, strange vista as we headed to the domes holding the Cloud Gardens and Flower Gardens exhibits. Doesn't sound too exciting but it really was something quite special....a must see on any agenda in this part of the world. From huge waterfalls and mountain mists to deserts and lakes of carnivorous plants, this man made attraction is something to behold.

We spent the afternoon experiencing the local MRT system to get to the cable cars that go to Sentosa Island and the Mount Faber Peak lookout. The views were really good but Wendy got a bit "clutchy" when the gondolas started to sway and from the peak the haze was very noticeable....we think maybe because of the burning off season in Indonesia.

This is is a "still" old one at the peak.

Our hotel is well located in the heart of town not far from an eating strip called Boat Quay. Lots of restaurants and bars with touts vying for customers. We had a very nice Chinese meal, and even got a free Singapore Sling for choosing their establishment.

Our restaurant was the one on the far right with the red Chinese lanterns.

While here in Singapore, and as part of our Battlefields theme, we took the opportunity to visit the Changi Museum and Chapel located next to the existing prison near the airport. We travelled by train and bus as the system is really efficient and signs are in English and probably saw more of the "everyday" Singapore than many tourists.

The museum was small but really well organised and presented a sobering account of the experiences of the soldiers and civilians who suffered under the Japanese occupation. Not many visit such an out of the way place but by the entries in the visitors book, those that do experience a moving account of that time.

Wendy's grandfather's brother, Ernie Pieper, was in the 2/29th Battalion and a POW in Changi. From accounts we have heard from family he was well renowned for providing extra protein in their meagre diet by using snares to catch rats in the camp, a skill he learned as a boy on the farm.

We have enjoyed our stay in Singapore, and certainly the opportunity to break the long journey, but now we are packing up to head to the airport for the next part of our Battlefields Tour in France and Belgium.