Singapore – January 19th, 2016
We say good bye to Cambodia as we board our flight to Singapore.
What a week it has been, no matter how I have tried to capture it in words, there is no way to describe The Kingdom of Cambodia, its rich cultural and architectural history its Tragic Genocide years under the Khmer Rouge The stark poverty of its countryside, it’s rising middle class in the cities The beauty of its landscape The survival spirit of its people, the smile of its children.
Landing in Singapore all you can see were large high-rise apartment complexes and so many cargo ships on the bay that it reminded us of Panama.
In 1819, Sir Stamford Raffles founded Singapore as a trading post of the East India Company; after the company collapsed, the islands were ceded to Britain. During World War II, Singapore was occupied by Japan. The Republic of Singapore, is often referred to as the Lion City, the Garden City, is a leading global city in Southeast Asia and the world’s only island city-state. It lies one degree (137 km) north of the equator.
Singapore is a global commerce, financial Center, and 11th globally, on the Human Development Index, notably on key measures of education, healthcare, life expectancy, quality of life, personal safety, housing. Although income inequality is high, 90% of citizens own their homes.
Our ride into the city took about 25 minutes with our driver giving us tidbits about the city including the best way to go for chili crab a national dish.
No graffiti, everything painted and no trash – did I just woke up in a dream, after our last two countries this place is almost surgically clean.
Our hotel the Tang Marriott Center on Orchard Road is smack n the middle of the shopping district a mall, next door and across the street, Tiffany, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes……you named it is here.
Our first stop Chinatown via subway, you can eat off its floor and more shopping and eating places – this place you shop and eat and eat and shop, repeat.
Chinese New Year and the year of the monkey, Chinatown was buzzing with shops selling all kinds of celebratory paraphernalia and everything is 4 items for $10 or $5 dollars – LOVE IT.
We took an uber to go to the Changgol seafood Restaurant at Changgol, our driver ask us why there and we told him that our taxi driver had recommended it, he mentioned it was old school but he was glad that we did not eat in Chinatown. The drive took us under the bay and a 10-kilometer tunnel, they know how to move traffic in this city.
The restaurant overlooked the quay, chili crab, and a clam dish was ordered. David still feels under the weather, so he barely tasted the food, it was a bit spicy by the end of the meal my lips were on fire but all that was left of the crab was broken shells – glad to have tried but the garlic crab in Hong Kong was a better dish.
The highlight of the dinner was our waitress who picked my shopping bags and inspected each item Including making comments on the prices paid – David and just sat there in total bewilderment.
This city runs like a Swiss watch and will it will meet my mothers cleaning standard.
