We are ready to go and explore a part of the world we have never seen!
Today, in a month’s time, we leave on three very long flights to head to Singapore. Our starting point.
We will be spending a week in Singapore with friends from Australia and friends from here while we are getting used to the 13 hour time change. Too much to see and do to worry about sleep anyway.
From there we will be getting on a cruise ship and for the next 13 days move along the coasts of Thailand and Vietnam to finally end up in Hong Kong.
After a day and a night on this island, we will head back on only two long flights this time, to Orlando.
We got an upgrade for the long flight. Seats that recline flat for 17 hours is a true luxury.
We now understand why Cathay Pacific is rated so high among airlines in the world. Service, food and drinks were all exceptional. Even on this plane which was an older one.
We are on the next flight. So bougie!The airplane has a camera underneath you can watch from your seat. The moment of lift off!The speciality wine list had wines from Chinese female wine makers. The Cab Franc was exceptional. Some people can sleep on airplanes. Jealous. Touchdown!
We arrived earlier than stated at Hong Kong and after figuring out transfer re-check (including downing a giant bottle of water) we were on the airport.
It felt good walking again so we just wandered for a while. Very few places were open yet, but we did find coffee!
After coffee we went hunting for a lounge to chill in. The lounges are either available for a visit of 2 hours max, or just 3 hours prior to boarding. We put together a plan to do some lounge hopping and found the first one.
Looking at our watches we noticed one says 4am and one is at 8am.
Since airport time is its own dimension of time and space, we got some wine.
Cheers!
HKGNothing is open yes, except Starbucks of course. Yup.
Our friends from Australia, one of who is born and raised Singaporean, took us around today to try and show us as much as they could fit into a day.
We started off with ‘Carrot Cake’ for breakfast, which is scrambled eggs with white radish and soy sauce. Amazing.
Then off to China town where we tasted ‘Bak kwa’ (a dried meat not unlike jerky), Michelin curry cakes and various other delights.
Next stop was Little India with more tastes of various things.
We toured through the Indian Heritage Centre, well worth the visit, and then had lunch at an Indian Vegetarian restaurant where the food is still served on banana leaves, and you eat with your right hand only.
No5 Emerald Hill is a charming bar where we stopped for a break, before going to look at the stunning Art Deco bar Atlas.
On our way to Clarke Quay we took an exhausting detour through Fort Canning Park.
After a rest at the quay with many refreshments, we headed back to the hotel area. The plan was to have dinner at the Maxwell Hawker Center.
Because of great double side trips involving hotel bars, we showed up at the Hawker Center too late to have the chicken rice I was craving. The food I had was really good. Even more so for just $4!
We made it back, and promptly crashed.
22,000+ steps in a day will do that to you.
.Carrot Cake for breakfast. The subways are amazing. Colorful temples. Cuttlefish at the wet marketEvery market has a shrine. Michelin curry pies. Rooftops seen from the Indian Heritage Centre. .Stalls. Lotus FlowersThe stunning Art Deco Atlas bar. We just peeked in.FORT GATE The structure before you is Fort Gate, the entrance of a British-built fort completed on this hill in 1860. The fort was named ‘Fort Canning’ after the then-Governor-General of India, Lord Charles John Canning. Its construction began in March 1859, and involved the labour of over 500 men. Fort Canning was built to protect Singapore from seaborne attacks. Fort Gate, the main entrance to the fort, therefore strategically faced the beach. This made it difficult for invading seaborne forces to breach the fort unnoticed. A second purpose of the fort was to provide refuge for Singapore’s European population in the event of local unrest. Fort Canning originally had a wall and moat running around its perimeter. The fort wall was low and thick, and constructed to withstand artillery bombardment. It had an outer face of granite and a brick interior, with an earthen fill in between to absorb the impact of cannonballs. Today, only a small fragment of this wall and the Fort Gate survive from the original Fort Canning.Clark QuayMargaritas at the quayThe Polo Bar. Dinner at a Hawker Centre.
A quick synopsis of the day:
Breakfast @ Tanjung Pagar Food Centre (Carrot cake and lontong)
Our friend Letch’s mom invited us over for breakfast this morning.
Prior to leaving for our nearly one-hour train and bus journey to the area where they live, Chris did the proper ‘charming son-in-law’ thing and got her flowers from one of the markets.
For breakfast she made one of Chris’ favourites. (Of course she did!)
To make the Appam, she had to start the previous day to prepare the rice flour since it takes about a day to make.
After our visit we took the subway back to a bar called ‘HopScotch’ at Gilliams Barracks.
What a fun experience that was, since every drink was a theatrical experience. And also happened to be good.
Since Letch’s nieces were still in school when we had breakfast with their grandma, she made a date with her sister that we will all meet at a hawker’s market for dinner at 6.
With a few hours to spare we decided against a siesta break and went out to meet up with the rest of the cruise gang, which arrived the previous evening.
After a few drinks with them catching up with our seperate adventures so far, they went back to their hotel and the two of us went for some light shopping in China Town.
We bought two bags of the irresistible ’bak kwa’ for snacks (or gifts)
We met Letch’s sister and her two daughters at the hawkers market near our hotel for dinner. Delightful kids, and we all enjoyed the visit.
After saying goodbye to the family, we went out on another adventure to another bar Chris wanted to show us. Anti:dote
Another great experience with unusual cocktails. A great way to end an adventurous day.
An appam or hoppers is a type of thin pancake originating from South India and Sri Lanka. It is made with fermented rice batter and coconut milk, traditionally cooked in an appachatti, a deep pan similar in shape to a wok. It is part of Tamil cuisineand Kerala cuisine found in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and in Sri Lanka. A quick shopping detour(Clockwise)
Blood and Tears
This drink honours our forefathers. Incorporating salt representing their blood, sweat, and tears poured into building this nation. An otherwise potent and bitter cocktail representing their strife but ending with a sweet finish to celebrate the fruits of their labour.
Assassins Teapot
The teapot became famous when it was used to poison potential targets. The teapot has two different compartments, which allows it to dispense different beverages. This cocktail is served with two drinks, one “poisonous” and one not for you to have fun with.
Summer Fling
The “Summer Fling” cocktail draws inspiration from the popular “Iced Jelly” dessert, a refreshing Taiwanese treat perfect for summer. Blended with dry ice, it momentarily freezes the alcohol, creating a light and invigorating edible cocktail reminiscent of this beloved shaved ice delight.
King of Pop
Tau Huey and grass jelly drink, two beloved local favourites, blend seamlessly in this delightful dessert-inspired alcoholic cocktail, other wise known colloquially in Singapore as “Michael Jackson”. A delightful blend of hot and cold using molecular gastronomy techniques.
(Clockwise)
Last Man Standing
This cocktail pays homage to Singapore’s dwindling street chestnut roasting trade, now preserved by a lone vendor in Chinatown. With a rich coffee and nutty aroma, complemented by smoky and earthy flavors, it revives nostalgic memories of traditional street foods lost to globalization.
Birds of Paradise
Derived from Singapore’s emblematic avian marvel, the Peacock, this drink epitomizes dignity, rank, and beauty within Chinese cultural tapestries. Its plumage once graced imperial officials with the highest honours. A light and refreshing tipple with a deep and sophisticated bouquet.
Secret Remedy
Secret Remedy is inspired by Singapore’s famous Chinese herbal cough syrup. Highlighting the distinctive flavour of loquat fruit, it mirrors the soothing experience of the traditional syrup, often dissolved in cold water to relieve the throat, offering a comforting twist on a familiar remedy.
Wish Upon a Lantern
Inspired by the Chinese Lantern Festival, this tradition began as a military signalling tool, evolved into a farmers’ practice seeking bountiful harvests Now, it’s a popular event where people write wishes on lanterns an release them into the sky, hoping to have their desires fulfilled.
Bak Kwa is the Hokkien (Fujianese) word for dried meat. It is actually more like wafer thin slices of barbecued pork jerky. Unlike beef jerky which is usually dehydrated to remove the moisture in the meat, Malaysian Chinese style pork jerky is moist and grilled to perfection over charcoal fire.Laksa for dinner. So good, and when you ask for extra spicy, you better be prepared for it. Anti:dotePassing the war memorial late at night.
We met up with the other half of the group at the Gardens by the Bay.
The ‘Skytrees’ are much better in real life than in any of the pictures we saw prior to coming here. They are HUGE! And there is a whole ‘forest’ of them.
The largest tree had a terrace on top where you could see all around the bay and the city. Stunning view!
Next up was the first domed botanical garden: Cloud Forest. Absolutely breathtaking.
They created a full mountain ecosystem from forest floor all the way up to mountain top. ‘Floating’ pathways helped to understand the changing environment from close and from a distance as you went down.
Next was the Flower Dome with plants and flowers from all over the world.
After a quick lunch at Satay on the Bay we headed to the Arts and Science Museum, the one that looks like a giant lotus flower.
Sadly, they had ‘technical difficulties’ and most of the museum is closed this week.
Back in the city we had a ‘refreshment break’ before heading to the Singapore Flyer for our sunset champagne flight.
As luck would have it, our group ended up in a capsule by ourselves. A private flight.
The sights and views of Singapore from up in sky at sunset was such an indescribable experience.
All in all, a memorable and fun day packed full of ‘tourist’ must-do’s.
Our hotel is like a little museumThe MRT (subway) is one of the best and by far the cleanest we have ever seen. A poster in the subway of the destination for todayWe’ll see you later!SkytreesView from the Supertree Observatory Looking down at the walkwayLooking up the walkwayCloud Forest
Our mountain path leads to one of Earth’s most fragile vegetation types. Cloud forest represents just 2.5% of the world’s tropical forests, but this habitat sustains exceptional species diversity.
Discover endemic, rare and endangered plant species that grow high up in the mountains, surrounded by mist.
A fantastic diversity of exotic orchids, resourceful bromeliads, fantastic ferns and mosses grows in habitats where moisture is always present.
Orchids from the Land of Smiles
Many of the Thai orchid species have developed fascinating characteristics to cope with a wide range of habitats, to attract pollinators and to conserve moisture and nutrients. These fascinating characteristics are often accentuated in a display of these orchid species and their hybrids, leaning towards a more naturalistic appearance. For instance, many Thai orchids, such as vandaceous orchids, are epiphytes that are found growing on tree trunks and forks, absorbing scant moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water, or from decomposed leaf litter accumulating around it using long aerial roots. Mounting these orchids on tree trunks allows a cascade of long, trailing roots that creates a visual flow and gracefulness that is organic and natural. Dendrobiums, with their arching flower sprays, are often used to create a mass of colourful, eye-catching flowers arranged in long, curved lines.
He He – Monkey Dads!Backside of waterCloud ForestMiniature OrchidsEntry to Flower DomeCherry blossoms are bloomingAloes in Wonderland The Arts & Science Museum looks like a giant lotus blossom. The Sing-Sing GangSubway RoombaIt is always after 5pm in this bar. Ready to board the FlyerNearly at the topSingapore at SunsetSeeing the light show across the waterHow did he get in there?In the MRT (subway) station late at night.
