SINGAPORE 2004 Part 2

This trip of mine was so long ago, so, I can't remember everything happened but what I've got in my pics & clips gallery. However, my colleague didn't like taking photo much on that day (he's loving it by now, I'll show you later). So, please feel free to leave your comments to share your experiences.

You can also find part 1 of this series here..

**@ the heart of Singapore**

On my last day @ Singapore, we decided to find the original Merlion, the famous symbol and the must visit place of Singapore. It's located just off the eastern shore near the commercial zone. We travelled, again, by MRT to the nearest station. The nearby location are good for walking. Even the bright sunshine, it was not too hot for a walk and for taking some good pics. Handsome guy in the first picture is my colleague. Again, I revealed my colleague in the last part...I may do it faster next time ^^

++MERLION++

Finding the Merlion is not that easy for those who go there on foot. We lost a few times before getting to the destination. The VOMITING Merlion is old and if compared to the other attractions, it's uncomparable due to its small size. Only one thing to keep this tourist attraction alive is that it's the Singapore national symbol, I think. On the other side of the Merlion, you can see the Esplanade Theatre, the building with 'DURIAN' shape. I wondered whether it contains durian smell, if so, I'm the first to regret entering the building ;)

++The Raffles Place and Singapore River++

After visiting the Merlion, I and my colleague travelled back to the inner land for a little and started to find places for gathering more photographes. Finally, we arrived at the Raffles place. Raffles is the name of the founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles. From his far-sighted eyes, Singapore is the great economy hub in Asia.

'Raffles Place is the financial heart of Singapore. It is located within the Downtown Core and the Central Area and, as such, is home to the some of the tallest buildings and landmarks in Singapore. It is situated south of the mouth of the Singapore River.' (From Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raffles_Place)

Started from a bridge that cross over the Singapore River to the Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. 'The Durian' is located here, too. There're many strange statues. See them below.

++Before the end of the comfort Trip++

Since I can't see any stray dogs or cats in Singapore since I arrived, I felt quite strange because they're everywhere in Thailand (Some foreigners in Thailand call stray dogs as 'Soi Dog' because they live, normally as a gang in that Soi). Finally, I found this cute cat sleeping near the Singapore River. If you carefully look at it's ear, you'll see the stamp. This might be the way the Singaporians is using to control pets and animals. The stamp might be as a marked of implanted microchip...

This trip of mine was comfortable with a lot of good experiences there, unlike the Indonesia trip. But I think you don't expect me to have trouble everywhere I visit, right?

'Till the next trip...

SINGAPORE 2004 Part 1

Hi, all. Welcome to my another series. This time it's Singapore, my first time abroad (by plane). Although it was on the year 2004, there are many points and pics to share with you. I'll try to shorten this trip into 2 parts.

**FIRST DAY @ SENTOSA**

It's like the dream!!!, I thought.
After working for 2 years, my boss decided to send me abroad for training and it's the ISPE Singapore, at that time, who gave one complimentary seat in their Conference, which worth more than 1,200 SGD, encouraged my organisation to send 2 people in such conference: Mr. Praphon, my senior colleagues, and I.
My trip was started on 16/4/2547 morning, I and my colleague catched the TG plane (at that time...from Don Muang Intl.) and arrived at Changi airport at about 1.30 p.m.

 (credit: wikitravel.org)
++Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN)++
(credit:WIKIPEDIA; http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/23/Singapore_Changi_Airport%2C_Control_Tower_2%2C_Dec_05.JPG)
The Changi airport was quite new at that time, it was fully equipped with modern facilities. Do you ever visited the Singapore Changi International Airport? It would be helpful if you can share with me and others by posting your comments.
SINGAPORE DOLLAR or SGD or S$ is the official currency in Singapore. The rate is 1.4395 SGD per 1 USD (reference: DBS Singapore, 27.10.2007). The rate is not much difference between each exchange point and many currencies have good exchange rate there...no worry about having to carry USD into Singapore.
We took taxi to our hotel, Grand Plaza Parkroyal, near the city hall area. It costed us approx. 17 SGD. After checking in, we're so hungry, so we hurried to the Raffles City Shopping Centre for a luncheon (around 5-6 SGD in fast food area). Sorry, no photo ^^
After the lunch, we agreed to visit Singapore's ultimate tourist attraction ++Sentosa++ on that day.
Sentosa is the popular island resort in Singapore, visited by millions of people every year. We took the MRT and the cable car to reach the island.

The sea between Singapore mainland and Sentosa, although there is a sea port there, the water was very nice, as you can see from the picture above.
We arrived the Sentosa with ease and then took some times looking at the island's map and planning our 6-hour trip. It was not possible for us to go to every interesting spot even some of them are very interesting, such as, the Underwater World.
At last, we decided to have a full walk course, starting from the station through the theme park to the big Merlion statue, then have a look around the front of the island. We walked 'till it's begin to dark. There're many beautiful scenaries there, some of them are in my pictures below.

Even most of the things in Sentosa is man-made, I also wandered how beautiful it is. In my point of view, the Sentosa shows the creation power of mankind whose destructive power was proved long ago.
In the evening, I and my colleague went to the musical fountain to see the water and laser show. I tried to record a video clip of them but because it was too dark...the video is of s.c.uk quality (Do you have night vision goggle for camera?)
The show was in English. I, who understood only half of the story, felt okay about it since the story is not heavy for a comfort sit & rest & watch after the long walk but my colleague didn't think so. He started losing his patient and asked me to leave.
So, we left the musical garden at about 8 p.m., travelled back to the mainland by the same cable car. The view of the night is completely different from the day-scene.


**CHINA TOWN & HINDI TEMPLE**
On the next day, we've the workshop in the afternoon, so, it's means a half-day trip again. We decided to visit the China town where has not much interesting places to go in the morning. We spent our time walking around streets and roads, as well as many almost lost ;). There's only one thing to be speculated at that moring, let's look at this picture and try to find out why I think it is different;

I know you may see the different as well as I did. Firstly, this Small Mobile Enterprise (can I shorten it to SME?...^^) is licensed. Another thing is that he wears glove!!!
I found a Hindi temple not far from the China town. It's crowded...'seems like there is an event there' I thought. We're right, there's a music play there and everyone was listening with their full interest. I've a picture and a clip and they can describe the event more than my 1000 words ^^



'Till next part...