Thursday, July 14, 2011

2011 - NZ To SF - Day 62

Day 62: (14 July 2011):
- Wake up just after 7am. Realise Matt already gone.
- Prepare for day, leave at same time as parents & brother (Luke).
- Breakfast: $2 for noodles, paid by them. Dropped off at St. Andrew’s Cathedral, where dad was picking something up.
- Discuss how to get to Malacca & if JB interesting. Family all say JB is a dirtier, less safe version of Singapore. Apparently a common opinion, including president.
- Talk about water issues with Malaysia. Threaten to cut off water. Singapore treats & sells back water. Dam rivers to creat giant reservoir. No junk boats there anymore.
- Story about her meeting a random friend in Mississauga. Sick, doctor not sure what’s wrong. Gave her book of religious stories about women. She feel something while reading the book. Next time she see doctor, she is well.
- Not sure when the topics were discussed: talk to mom a lot the 1st 2 nights,
- Brother: Luke, went to U. Penn on the gov. scholarship. Just “released” from being “bonded” for 6 years.
- Quick look at cathedral. Metal gate in front of main entrance & no photo in nave. Nothing extremely worth mentioning. So didn’t go in. Looked inside.
- Walk by city hall & parliament. Old parliament now a complex that includes a restaurant.
- Supreme court & city hall appear bigger than parliament.
- See the landmark buildings of Singapore, including the new Marina Bay.
- Walk to by the river. Cool old bridge. Close view of the skyscrapers. One Raffles Space has beautiful angular quality.
- Cool area of small restaurants & bars.
- Walk along New Bridge Road to Chinatown. Big yellow prominant-looking building.
- Nice area like a bazzar/street markets. Tintin shop.
- Lots of things still closed. Apparently most businesses open only ~10am.
- Wandered to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Museum. 5 levels.
- Ground: Hall with statue, dragon mural. Monks & chant, people follow at seats, with books. Schedule indicates constant chanting throughout most of the day? Donate $1, light incense.
- Mezzanine: Galley of Singaporean Bhuddist leaders. Can see down into main floor. Reed blinds give some privacy. Hear chanting loudly. Ancestor room with lots of golden tablets.
- 2nd: Gift shop & small gallery. Seems to be about the temple.
- Strange lack of time on signs & info boards.
- 3rd: Museum. Story of Buddah & future Buddah. Well done. Nice artefacts. Small area with small spuerical relics of different sizes, colours & opacity. From different parts of Buddah. 4 brain relic colours: red, blue, green, clear. Each “pile” of relics in a small container, drop-shaped void in middle, illuminated by small light. No photos. Very impressed, donate $2 more.
- 4th: Viewing room for Bhudda tooth relic. Can’t see very up close, looks like a piece of bone. Beautiful gold floor tiles, stupa, intracate lamps.
- 5th: Rooftop garden & wals of small Buddhas lighted by small lamp (LED?). For sponsorship. In middle, a pagoda with world’s largest (supposed) dharma wheel. Quite hard to turn, bell rings with each turn. Wood handle ring for turning.
- Visited in order: 1->4->3->2->m->5.
- Continue to Sri Mariamman Temple. Typical Hindu temple. Oldest in Singapore? Monks blessing people inside. Candele, water, etc.
- walk by Canadian embassy. Just flag, otherwise unremarkable office bld.
- Continue on & had early lunch at Market St. Food Centre. Hungry due to jet lag. Sliced fish noodle soup. A bit bland but OK with the pickled hot peppers that seem to be a ubiquitous. Hot & humid. Sweat when outside. Soaking wet. See others in collared shirts, dress pants & shoes. How are they not soaking in sweat?
- Beautiful modern buildings. Gold patterned facade & skybridges.
- Try walk towards Marina Bay, walked into Lau Pa Sat. Should have ate here! So many food stalls. Had sugar cane juice at beverage stall. Notice many food courts have fruit stalls, were you can buy prepared, cut fruit in cup or on stick.
- A few small malls in area. Malls are everywhere.
- Continue to Marina Bay Link complex. Biggest complex I’ve seen in years. (NZ, Aus, etc.).
- Walk in underground mall to cool down & cross street.
- Nice view of Marina Bay Sands & durian bld. in distance. Large sun shelters with fans. Best fan i saw here in the fan with two small fans rotating on central arm.
- Cool modern lotus-like Art Science Museum.
- Here to Merlion: Lots of tourists, take each other’s puotos. From many countries.
- Walk through Marina Bay Sands mall. Underground river in mall. The oculus raincatcher & fountain. View of Merlion. Casino, separate entrance for Singaporean & foreigners. (Pay reasons since Singaporeans are charged for gambling?)
- A bit of rain.
- Mall not yet connected to hotel. Cross road. See tree-lined skybridge (how to get to?).
- Hotel lobby extremely impressive. Chamber orchestra playing. Restaurants & bars.
- $20 for skypark access (no pool access). South(?) gardens also only for guests.
- 1st impression: see chat is hundreds of cargo ships parked in water. Huge construction project below. Matt’s mom: Gardens. Large blds to “attract people.”
- Nice view of Singapore, large docks, JB & some islands, cool buildings.
- View of pool (blocked by guarded cordon, only for hotel guests.). Hotel guests wandering around. Jacuzzi with “hotel guest only” signs.
- Can only access ~1/2 of length of sky park. Bar & restaurant available.
- Walk to Marina Bay & around malls a bit. Didn’t see the “Helix.” Should have taken that rather than read bridge. Nice, but nothing spectacular.
- Found way to durian buildings.
- Walk to Merlion Park. A bit tacky, amazing amount of tourists. Standard pose appears to be spitting or catching the water with mouth.
- Eat at Lau Pa Sat. Pig organ soup & rice noodle thing: only <$4. The rose water drink.
- Have drink at small tent bar/restaurant by river. $3 happy hour Anchor’s. Enjoy warm glow of sunset.
- Going to an interesting part on map, came across Central & Clarke Quay. Stalls set up on pedestrian bridge across and along river for the food festival, but now closed.
- Clarke Quay is very cool, trendy-looking shopping area. Large vent decorations, fountains.
- Walk through Fort Canning Park. Nice walkways & bridges. Nice views of city (on both sides). People exercising. Lighthouse. Try to find reservoir, but is now covered.
- Find way to street through a very fancy restaurant.
- Getting very tired due to walking and jet lag. Struggle with left foot rubbing on flip-flop. No issue on right foot, but had to switch to shoes for a week.
- Pic of “no durian” sign on subway.
- Explore the malls of Orchard Street. The presidential palace/residence?
- Ate at Food Republic at Orchard Central(?). Lots of shopping centres with Orchard in its name.
- Very large shopping centres, 7-8 stories. Skybridges with restaurants, busy, etc.
- Wander back ~10:pm. Matt get back late due to some Bible study group. Talk to Matt & mom. Sleep ~ midnight.

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