2011 - NZ To SF - Day 63

Day 63 (15 July 2011):
- Wake up ~8:30 or so, again, not fully realise when Matt left.
- Walk along main streets to Little India. Before entering, see Sim Lim Sq. Decide go. Charged by cab when crossing. He didn’t see or just charge me?
- Shops still closed, so just take quick look inside.
- Walk to Sri Veeramakaliamman. Typical Hindu temple. Monks inside with candles blessing people. Oldest Hindu temple in Singapore? Step inside quickly.
- Found restaurant with people. Village Curry. Didn’t eat at cheap Nasi Lemak place. Didn’t feel like nasi lemak. Spellings all a bit different: thosai vs. dosa, etc. Had puri with tea/chai.
- Walk into Tekka food Centre: Why always walk into good food courts right after meals?
- Food stalls & market stalls, incl. fish & meat. Loquat & jackfruit (redder version).
- Wander around Little India. Parts really like India. Unclean, open gutters, etc. Kind of surprised.
- Walk by a mosque to Mustafa Centre. Huge complex: has pretty much everything, incl. supermarket & restaurant. Open 24hr. Tie close bags on entry. Go to roof for view. Start raining.
- Some cool views: temples, on way to Lavender St. More hectic, less sidewalks.
- Lots of workshops & war / motorcycle repair shops.
- Find bus station, buy ticket for $20. Leave tomorrow at 11am.
- Rain starting to slow. Nice river & beachy part. Cat that approaches me. Scared its rabid since behaving strangely and following me.
- Just as shoes drying, see bus splash girl & bf ahead, then I get splashed in same spot.
- Dried umbrella as get to Golden Mile complex.
- Nearby signs have Thai.
- Ate noodle soup in a busy restaurant. Then realise many places are busy. Then run into another large “food centre.”
- Close-up view of the white building. Strange (UV?) violet glow from windows (reflection).
- Walk to the famous mosque. A service just ending. Lots of people & call-to-prayer like calls.
- Not as much Arabic words / signage as expected.
- Very stately-looking bld. with large statues, remind me of chat Ayn Rand is against of in “The Fountainhead.” Take photos, told no pics, so left.
- National library: 14 floors. Modern style bld, but outside could be maintained better.
- The puke in the bathroom. OK views of city from top.
- Decide go to Kallang on suggestion of Matt.
- While look at map in front of Raffles City, see/hear an accident in intersection. Mercedes Benz & mini-bus. Damage on Bumper. 3x bad things today. Hope is end of trend. It is.
- Bus 36, very smooth. Got off at correct stop.
- Found Kallang. Nice, but not as worth it as Matt indicated. Shoppes, restaurants. Matt also said many tourists, but I didn’t see any, and can’t find post cards!
 -Start raining again.
- Found the mall that goes from Kallang to bus stop. Remember for trip back.
- Hindu temple.
- After walk around, head to Ocean Promenade (?). Smell durian. Found durian ice cream in basement. However, found durian market in outdoor area across street.
- Packed, pushy people. People stare at me when use camera. Want to buy durian, but not sure if is polite to eat it there. Think of eating at park by ocean, but raining.
- Walk to park. See post office, but impossible to find post card. Eventually found post card at Borders, but post office closed - just closed as I arrive!
- Dodgy people at underpass to park.
- Nice park. Trails, trees, grass. Picnic tables & huts (occupied with people). Beach area with view of many ships in water. Person fishing.
- Bus to Dhoby Gaut. No stamps at 7-11, ask: no stamps other than post office.
- Nothing too interesting at food court of plaza Singapura. No real seating. Walk & found nasi lemak at small, empty food court. Food doesn’t look too fresh, but taste OK. Think “why settle when I’m in Singapore” So decide walk & find foo I really felt like. In Singapore, I find what I want rather than eat what I find.
- I even feel like shopping is Singapore! If I lived there, I’d spend at least ½ day per weekend browsing shops for cool cheap things.
- Head back ~7pm. Grandma let me in. Use computer. Matt comes back ~10 min. later.
- After a while, (Matt on laptop computer). I on PC & write, we head out.
- Look for stamp label for me at a machine that takes only cards, but min. purchase is $2. Matt say dad has stamp, so decide ask tomorrow.
- Walk by parliament to by the river & durian buildings. Didn’t go to “tourist” side of river. Nice views everywhere. Very bright searchlights.
- Lots of skateboarders under bridge. Matt: not many other places skateboarders can ge. Other side of bridge is Starbucks.
- Light show from Marina Sands. Searchlight from Art Science museum cool. Extra bright searchlights from CBD. Matt: Like duelling lightsabers.
- Heavy rain, wind, cooler. Matt: very rare this windy, cold, rain at night. Which is why Matt said no umbrella needed when I asked.
- Go through durian bld. to get away from rain. Show just ending. Cool wire people sculptures. Busy inside. The downstairs mall has lots of people, very diff. than empty mall during the day.
- Take bus to mall close to Matt’s. Rain stop. Walk back: ~midnight.
- Set alarm & sleep.