Singapore stories. Actually.

I know, I say I'm going to post photos and then I don't. I've let you down. Again. And what's worse I've let myself down. I hope my apology makes up in some small way for the disappointment you must have felt when Monday came around and there was nothing from me. Maybe in the fullness of time you can forgive me.

But enough delay, here are some of the photos from my time in Singapore. It really was a nostalgia tour. I went back to my old haunts around and about Singapore. Lots had changed, lots was different and lots I had forgotten about.

The Sights

Ra ra Singapore. It was National Day when I was there. It celebrates their independence from Malaysia in 1965. When I lived there Clare, Derek, the girls and I went out for dinner and walked through Botanic Gardens, which as the celebrations happen mostly by the river, was strangely quiet. This year I went to see Harry Potter. Hmm. It's not that I'm protesting her independence from Malaysia, although I appreciate it may look like that.

I love this view. Old and new Singapore. The little houses are just opposite where Raffles first landed (apparently. At least that's where they put his statue). Now, they're all bars and restaurants. The big buildings are, well big buildings, MNCs, banks and the like. Incase you're interested, these are the big buildings that sit behind Rico Hizon, albeit from a different angle, when he does his asian business report on World Business Report at silly o'clock before BBC Breakfast comes on. No, probably not.

One of my most favourite places in the world, East Coast Park. The day I went it was quite dark and grey. Although of course I still sweated as I cycled through.

I went to Sentosa one afternoon. They missed out one crucial weather forecasting tip. Stone losing half its body weight in sweat - Crazy Singapore heat.

Singapore's newest shopping mall, ION Orchard. (Those who have been to Singapore will know of Singapore's desperate need for yet another shopping mall.) I'm not sure whether it's supposed to be like an eye on Orchard Road, or a funny way of saying I'm on Orchard, but one thing I know is it's much bigger than an ion. The funny bubble thing at the bottom is the new entrance to the MRT (underground rail). Fancy eh?

You used to be able to cross this street, but not any more. You have to use that fancy bubble entrance and walk through the hordes of shops in Ion. When I was there it was just open and so half of Singapore could be found beneath Orchard Road shuffling along. Singaporeans are not known for their quick walking. ION makes Wheelock Place (the cone on the left there) look a bit sad and old. No doubt it'll only last another five years then before they knock it down to make way for another newer shopping mall.

Like I said, ION was just new. Any time I was past during my three weeks there, there was never not a queue outside Dunkin' Donuts. Never.

Memories

Roti prata, chicken korma and lime juice. Worth the airfare alone to go back to my local Indian. Food in Singapore is truly great and I had some great eating when I was there. Indian, Japanese, real Chinese (including kai lan, Hong Kong noodles and dim sum), Mexican and even steak...I could go on. Imporantly though, I did not eat at the school canteen. Still stinking by all accounts.

This moving walkway in my former local supermarket is the scene of an event that's in my top 3 funniest things I've ever seen (the other two are a man's wheel falling off his bike as he rode along the Champs-Elysees (his onions went everywhere!) and a man's own dog peeing up his leg. I think that gives you a good indication of what I find funny and perhaps you'll see why I laughed at this next one). A woman pushed her elderly mother who was in a wheelchair on this moving walkway ramp thing. Thing was the grippy magnetic thing only works for supermarket trollies and the woman couldn't hold the wheelchair back from accelerating down the slope into the vegetable stand at the bottom. I know I shouldn't have laughed, but it was hilarious. If I think back hard enough I can still hear the shouts from the women for people to move out of the way and I can still see stunned shoppers not knowing which way to move.

This always made me laugh when I lived there. Ah beauty industry tell us how we should look and then create products for us to buy so we can achieve that dream.

Who remembers my love for the circular escalator. Ok, so no one except me. And I though I should remind you.

These don't really fit in either category but I thought I'd show them anyway

Thank goodness. I was looking for someone to tell me it'd be ok to steal a bike.

Is this Mr. Tayto's Asian cousin? I think so.

The best bit of the whole trip was of course going back into school. It actually became ridiculous, it was like I couldn't stay away! I was genuinely surprised and chuffed with the students reactions to me being back. They were very sweet. It was nice to be able to see how they'd grown up but also how they were still like the students I remember. My timing in many ways was crap because I just missed the school play. My old Year 4s made up half the main roles (Sandy, Rizzo, Jan, various T-Birds, heck even Vince Fontaine) but I did get to sneek into rehearsals to see them!

So there you have it. No, I know, I don't know it took me so long to put them up there either.