Saturday 3rd March. I arrived on Friday, after an easy 4 hour coach journey and border crossing from Melaka. Making my way first to a bank to change into Singapore dollars and I then negotiated the excellent MRT (under ground system) to China Town where my hotel is located. As I arrived it began to rain and was glad of the umbrella I'd bought a couple of days earlier.
My intial impression of my hotel was gloomy as it is located down a passge full of toilet rolls, very small (twice the size of the single bed) , the carpet looks dirty, a 12"x12" window and it smelled of damp. Nevertheless it had all the facilties claimed i.e aircon, ensuite shower/wc and TV.
Rather than depress myself I decided to get out but it was now torrential rain, so I amused myself on the internet, planning some of the activities I want to do in Australia. Eventually the rain eased off and I went out to explore the city, first with a walk through China Town and visit to the China Town cultural museum. This is an old house restored to the multi-occupancy conditions it was in in the turn of the century. This made me feel somwhat better about my hotel room.
I then made my way down to the Quays which is the newest tourist bars area located on the river about 1km north of China Town. The bars were busy with thousands of office workers and tourists. I had a pizza and a drink in the Penny Black, Boat Quay, before going back to hotel for a good nights sleep. The hotel room seemed better in the morning.
Next day, Saturday, I set off for the Australian Tourist Board only to find it closed. After a breakfast in a MacDonalds (I do feel ashamed about this but I couldn't resist) I then walked about 1 km down to the Orchard Road, the mega-shopping area of Singapore. There are more shopping centres than I've had hot dinners (but less than the beers I've drunk) on this trip. It is hot and humid and I eventually reached the old city centre on the riverside where Raffles established the City. The time it takes to walk around is not so much the distance but the pace you want to walk in the heat and waiting for traffic lights to change. Many roads are very wide and there are stiff fines for jay walking. Such is the culture of Singapore.
After taking in some of the major landmarks I went back to the hotel for a rest and shower before meeting Matthew's good friends, Doug and Jette. Doug comes from Reading and Jette is married to Jette, who is Danish. They have recently moved to Singapore from Brisbane.
Doug and Jette took me to the Swisshotel 70th floor cocktail bar and then to the Chijmes (sic) which is a Church and cloisters turned into cafes, bars and
restaurants. As we discussed at lenght the stae of the world, travel and foreign living we could hear the ooohs and aaahs of Manchester United vs Liverpool.
My intial impression of my hotel was gloomy as it is located down a passge full of toilet rolls, very small (twice the size of the single bed) , the carpet looks dirty, a 12"x12" window and it smelled of damp. Nevertheless it had all the facilties claimed i.e aircon, ensuite shower/wc and TV.
Rather than depress myself I decided to get out but it was now torrential rain, so I amused myself on the internet, planning some of the activities I want to do in Australia. Eventually the rain eased off and I went out to explore the city, first with a walk through China Town and visit to the China Town cultural museum. This is an old house restored to the multi-occupancy conditions it was in in the turn of the century. This made me feel somwhat better about my hotel room.
I then made my way down to the Quays which is the newest tourist bars area located on the river about 1km north of China Town. The bars were busy with thousands of office workers and tourists. I had a pizza and a drink in the Penny Black, Boat Quay, before going back to hotel for a good nights sleep. The hotel room seemed better in the morning.
Next day, Saturday, I set off for the Australian Tourist Board only to find it closed. After a breakfast in a MacDonalds (I do feel ashamed about this but I couldn't resist) I then walked about 1 km down to the Orchard Road, the mega-shopping area of Singapore. There are more shopping centres than I've had hot dinners (but less than the beers I've drunk) on this trip. It is hot and humid and I eventually reached the old city centre on the riverside where Raffles established the City. The time it takes to walk around is not so much the distance but the pace you want to walk in the heat and waiting for traffic lights to change. Many roads are very wide and there are stiff fines for jay walking. Such is the culture of Singapore.
After taking in some of the major landmarks I went back to the hotel for a rest and shower before meeting Matthew's good friends, Doug and Jette. Doug comes from Reading and Jette is married to Jette, who is Danish. They have recently moved to Singapore from Brisbane.
Doug and Jette took me to the Swisshotel 70th floor cocktail bar and then to the Chijmes (sic) which is a Church and cloisters turned into cafes, bars and
restaurants. As we discussed at lenght the stae of the world, travel and foreign living we could hear the ooohs and aaahs of Manchester United vs Liverpool. Doug and Jette's generously offered meet up again on Sunday evening and to do my laundry.
1 comment:
Glad to hear that you managed to get in contact with Doug & Jette [hi guys, hope things are good with you].
For those that were there, Doug read one of the readings at my wedding.
love
matt + clare
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