A$100 per night got us a room at Hotel Asia just 15 minutes walk from Orchard Road (blokes, don't ask), on Scotts Road right next to Newton Circus MRT Station and just round the corner to Newton Circus Hawker Center (more of which later). There's even a nice view out of the window:
We arrived late on Saturday night so we checked in, went out for a couple of drinks and then crashed. We had until 8.30 pm Monday before flying out again. Sooo, what to do with yourself for 48 hours in Singapore. Well, a hell of a lot actually.
Sentosa Island, Raffles, Shopping & Food:
Sentosa Island is Singapore's fun park. Access is by bridge or cable-car (and it looks like they're building some sort of light rail). On the island, all the buses are free and there is something for everyone - too much, in fact. On a short trip like this, you need a plan. We decided on a visit to Fort Siloso - cause we both like history stuff - and a quick shufty around some of the pretty bits.
Fort Siloso formed part of the naval defense of Singapore Harbour and saw a lot of action during the Japanese invasion. Were the Japanese to have launched a sea assault, there is every chance they would have been repelled. However, the sneaky buggers went round the back and all the guns were pointing the wrong way. You just can't trust some people!
Today, a lot of the gun stuff has been very well restored and some of the tunnel complexes are open to the public. There is also the Surrender Chambers waxworks featuring the Alled surrender to the Japanese near the beginning of WWII, and the Japanese surrender to the Allies at the end.
Right, on to the pretty stuff.
Here's Kim sitting in front of the Great Big Merlion (like a mermaid but without the chest-lumps). (Hmmm, I am, of course, talking about the Merlion's chest-lumps - or rather the lack of them. Kim's chest lumps are just fine). (OK, just to be clear, Kim - with the chest-lumps - is in the foreground. The Merlion is in the background and doesn't have any chest-lumps because it is a Merlion, not a Mermaid. Were it to BE a Mermaid, I would probably need a more detailed explaination of the difference between Kim's chest-lumps and the Mermaid's chest-lumps. But I don't because its a Merlion and they don't have chest-lumps. It's all very easy, really.):
 Merlion |  Kim |
A few scenes around Sentosa:
 Terraced Garden |  Ferry Terminal |
 Fountain Path |  Bird Show |
That's enough of that---on to Raffles Hotel. This is a kind of cheesy tourist must. An elegant hotel, to be sure, and I'm sure it's housed some real characters over the years. Today, we are off (orf?) to the Long Bar. This legend is where the colourful low-life used to gather for major liver slaughtering sessions or, at least it would be were it in its original location and hadn't been repackaged for the tourists. Still, needs must and a beer is on the cards about now.
I must say, it's all very elegant and desperately colonial. There's fans on the ceiling (not the rotating type mind, swaying paddles - these days operated by electric motors rather than some poor local with a bit of string - and completely uneccessary; the bar is air-conditioned!), lots of dark wood, wicker furniture and bowls of unshelled peanuts on every table. The drinks cost an arm and a leg (this in a city whose alcohol prices are enough to drive a Scandanavian to suicide).
Mandatory 'me at the bar' shot - despite the goofy look, that is actually my first (and only) beer:
After this, we went shopping. Full report here.
That evening, with enormous anticipation - and chili crab in mind, we hit Newton Circus Hawker Center.
Well, what can I say. In a country renouned for its food, Newton Circus being touted as the very best in seafood, it certainly didn't disappoint.
This is what we came here for:
More where that came from:
We'll try all the other stalls tomorrow:
Link to the Night Safari.
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