Singapore - Clarke Quay and Boat Quay

The travelogue about Singapore is long due. With a little free time on hand, I am able to continue the log now. I started with:

• Singapore 2009
• Exploring SG

Later in the day, we went to Little India for our lunch. Ouch, we got down one station prior to the Little India station, and walked a long distance to find Ananda Bhavan! We saw a slice of India - vegetable vendors, florists, and departmental stores. The Little India mosque is stunning. The Mariamma Temple was under renovation. We walked past the Mustafa centre, but didn't venture into it; kept it for another day. With a full stomach, we returned to our hotel.

Metro station

In the evening, we took a taxi to Clarke Quay and Boat Quay, and wow, did we love the place! That's THE place for the party goers. We had dinner at Boat Quay; it's interesting to watch the competition among the eateries to attract customers. Choice of food for vegetarians is kind of limited. Seeing live crabs, fish, lobsters, and prawns made me cringe. But it's a delight to a person who loves sea food. 

At evening, the Singapore River and all the establishments long this river are absolutely stunning. Harry's Bar tempted the visitors with the live Jazz music. IndoChine is another world class restaurant. Don't forget to see the Extreme Swing or try it during the day. Ah, never miss the taste of Turkish ice cream! We loved it. Also, walk on the bridge, feel the air, count the lights, admire the street art, and soak the beauty of the night.

Next blog: Sentosa

Regards,

Asha

Singapore - 2009 - Exploring Singapore, on Feet…

Ram and I walked from Raffles City Complex towards Merlion, at our own pace, exploring anything on our way. As we walked past the stadium (Padang), we got a glimpse of the St. Andrew’s Cathedral on the other side of the stadium. What caught my eye was something strange – a stick with Red chilli and onion thrown on the payment. See the photo. Is that some voodoo stuff?

 *Padang

We saw the Cenotaph, which was build in the memory of those who perished during World War I and II. It has the words, ‘Our Glorious Dead,’ on it. By this time, the Sun was shining bright, and we were expecting drops of sweat to trickle down.

Our next stop was the Indian National Army monument. To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, this monument was erected. The Lim Bo Seng Memorial (1954) is dedicated to Major-General Lim Bo Seng who led the anti-Japanese resistance movement and was killed. At this memorial, we have three other people who were posing for photos. Otherwise, the road and monuments were deserted.

We also saw the Tan Kim Seng Fountain and the Civilian War Memorial. Our Memorial Walk was successful!

*Esplanade Bridge

What next? We continued walking (in the Sun); towards Fullerton Hotel and Merlion. The river looked inviting and the bridge looked majestic. The Fullerton Hotel stood still and sophisticated; behind which stood gigantic buildings.
 
The Fullerton Hotel looks enchanting during the evenings. Please check it out from Boat Quay side. For details about the hotel, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fullerton_Hotel_Singapore. By the time we reached Merlion, we were sweating and hoping the Sun to spare us. At Merlion, oh God, what a crowd! The place was filled with tourists that were having photo sessions. It was amusing to see them pose.

The Merlion onlooks the river. Behind it is the Fullerton Hotel. Beyond which is the Downtown. You can see HSBC office building and others. That’s a totally different world. The blend of nature and modern building is what makes Singapore unique and attractive.

Next blog: Clarke and Boat Quay

Regards,
Asha