Chinatown New Year 2015

In Singapore, Chinese New Year is the major event on the calendar.  Weeks before, anticipation begins.  It is a time of traditions, family, food and NO WORK.  Singapore literally closes down for at least two full days, as families reunite and celebrate.  And you must have all the proper foods and joyous decorations, as traditions are the key to this period.  No better place to pick up all your flowers, nuts, pineapple tarts, Bakwah and noodles than the center of Chinese New Year....Chinatown!

It seemed like the perfect time to hop on the MRT (which I messed up and got on the wrong train initially) and spend a little time in Chinatown in Singapore on the day festivities were about to kick off.  Putting it mildly, it was a happenin place!







Check out this video!

Singaporean Rain

Coming from Southern California to Singapore results in a lot of getting used to, on a lot of different fronts. Cuisine, culture, and especially cataclysmic weather fronts.

Having grown up in the Northwest, I have no reason to be enthralled with rain.  There a wet day was as common as being called to dinner.  We went days, weeks, even months without seeing the sun all while being dripped on by those Alaskan storms caught over Puget Sound.

So why has Singapore's rainy season been such a lure.  Late November and all of December are rain days.  Everyday. Sometimes in the morning, more likely in the afternoon and evening, but always daily. Perhaps the shear intensity and instant effect have me completely under their spell.

I recall seeing an old Sean Connery movie where he played a scientist in the Amazon.  One of the scene featured an "instant on" rain storm, and I thought, what a Hollywood effect that was. Now, I stand corrected, and I totally get it.Tropical rainstorms are magnificent works of Mother Natures art.

Water drops the size of Brazil nuts, thunder and lightening pummeling the atmosphere, all packaged in a relatively quick interlude, make up storms I only saw occasionally in places like Chicago and New York.  Here they're taken in stride, literally and figuratively.

Just for fun, here are two I captured recently.  One at night and one in the afternoon.  Use you're super headphones to take in the 5.1 surround sound on the thunder.

Bangkok Night & Day

Being close to so many countries in the Asia Pacific area seems to make it impossible NOT to travel.  So I bit the bullet and booked a bombardier to Bangkok, Thailand for a quick two nights and days.

I'd heard the good, the bad and the ugly about Bangkok, but also learned it was a tourist savvy and welcoming country, despite the current government/military unrest....and occasional bombings. It's cheap, has incredible food, with good western hotels and shopping malls, transportation directly into the main part of Bangkok from the airport and more noise, smells and sounds than you can shake a stick at.

I booked a great room at the Holiday Inn Siam ( about $75 a night super deluxe upgrade all in), crammed my backpack with enough clothes to get me through a sweaty weekend and off to Bangkok I headed.  As I was on the train from the airport, it looked inviting to depart at a local station rather than the end of the line.  It gave me a chance to walk the streets on a hot Friday night with just the locals, exploring side streets and dark alleys (well I'm getting dramatic now) and taking in the sense of being deep in the heart of this energetic and non-stop city.  Here's what it looked like the night I arrived............

Now, to be fair.....Bangkok also has a daytime.

  

You can spot the teams of women who come to shop in Thailand at their huge malls.  Whereas you'll find NO DEALS in Singapore, you'll find tons of them here. The dollar is strong and the Bhatt is weak.  Figure it out.  However, and I wish I had taken one more picture, after seeing all the western brand name stores at all the malls, you have to walk through another huge, long mall at the airport....with the same stores.  It's like "honey, I forgot to pick up a $25,000 Guicci watch in Bangkok.  Let me just grab one here at the airport".  Really?

The Grand Palace, Bangkok Thailand

 There are many things considered a sin in Bangkok.  But missing a tour of The Grand Palace might be the biggest.

During my quick weekend to Thailand, I made it a point of getting up early and being among the first people in on a Sunday morning.....a heavy tourist visiting day to the G.P. It opens at 8:30....I was in line at 8:00.

The Grand Palace is a combination of sacred Buddhist Shrines and Temples and the Halls and offices of governmental Thailand when used by the Kings and Queens.  It's all on one big area.  Like Disneyland and California Adventure all in one spot.  This complex was established in 1782, so its got some waters under the bridge, so to speak.  There's nothing like it in Singapore, or Florida, so I found this a fantastic journey.....until all the crowds hit.  Then it was a fantastic body pack.

Honestly, unless you are steeped in reverence and can enjoy the meditative and prayerful  aspects, The Grand Palace complex, all 218,000 square meters of it, becomes a super visual experience with overwhelming structures and colors.  You just plain need to walk around and take it all in as best you can.  And try to kiss up to the Guards for a close photo.  I felt secure here, considering two Thailand military guys also took the picture.  This guard never moved. 

Let me give you a quick tour............hit the button.

Always lots to do in Bangkok, but start one of your mornings off early and enjoy The Grand Palace.

Putting the Boy Oh Boy in Botanic

Now with over a month and a half of Singapore in my veins, I am finding it a bit challenging to come up with something to do on the weekends. 

There's always the Malls, which are in full Christmas swing.Or some other ideas......................

Malls on both sides as far as you can see on Orchard Road

Candy Canes in 85 degree weather

Buy fresh fish at the grocery store

Start a delivery service

Look at buildings around town

Ride the bus around town all day

Singapore Botanic Gardens

 Or I could finally go to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, one of the recommended tourist and local things to do on weekends.  So, Lewis & Clark move over.  I'm now officially "Botanical", at least in my mind.  Play the video and see the grass.   
It is a great reminder that walking around in Singapore is more about glowing with perspiration than enjoying a leisurely stroll.  In fact, a leisurely stroll induces perspiration, so you basically just sweat.  The nice thing is, so does everyone else.  Somehow being in the calming green of the Gardens made it more tolerable.
-Exeunt-

Buying a car in Singapore is not for the faint of heart.

Singapore has so many unique aspects to it, that everyday seems to provide a gutsy look at  world governance and dealing with success. This country has been forced to be inventive, collaborative, staunch and visionary because it has no natural resources, borrows water from it's neighbors and sports a thriving and growing population, who view all people as equal and deserving of respect.  Singapore also takes on tough questions and rules in favor of sensible decisions.

Take owning a car, for instance.

Here, the roads are in perfect condition, beautifully landscaped and designed so you can easily make your way around the country in a variety of directions.  So, who wouldn't want a car to take in all the vistas and causeways provided?  Well......maybe it's not a question of what YOU want, but what the government has figured out to keep the country from choking on increasing traffic congestion.  They put their foot down.  Public transportation is everywhere and superb.  But how do you force people to use it?   Watch this.

So, scooters for everyone! 

A couple of additional points. The C.O.E. is an actual bi-monthly bidding function.  You basically sign up for a lottery on your new car purchase.  In addition, it is only good for 10 years.  No hanging on to the old Mercedes 190.  If you want to keep your favorite beater, after 10 years, pay more....again. Then that little device stuck on your windshield, sends a signal to automatically pay your daily road tolls, parking and whatever else, all of which just keeps adding to your costs.

Will driving be elitist in Singapore in a decade or so? Only for the most wealthy?  Perhaps. But already I pick up in conversation from people at all levels,  owning a car in Singapore is not a necessary lifestyle fixture.  Yes, it's great for showing off your wealth, if that's your "thing". But  other than that, save an immense wad of money and just use public transportation. Walking, subways, buses and taxis are an ingrained part of Singaporean life.  Cars.  Well, not having one is not the end of the world.

Think of how much spending green you'd have in your pockets each year without payments, insurance, maintenance, gas costs.  But, I live in L.A., so forget that model.

Continuing to Explore my Singapore "hood"

There just are no bad areas in Singapore.  Especially in the City portion where I'm located.  Literally you can walk outside, spin around and just start moving and I guarantee you'll find a park, Mall, Hawker Center, forty 7/11's (all the size of a phone booth here), fruit stands, and whatever. It's safe no matter what time and where you are.  No begging allowed. Relatively zero bugs. But always humid.

So, I walk around on weekends and explore.  My biggest concern here is forgetting they drive on the other side and I'll forget to look before I walk. Wipe Out !!!!!

Here are some random shots from all around.

The famous "Singapore Sling" at Raffles Hotel

The "Long Bar" at Raffles where they serve the $30 Singapore Sling

These two bartenders made me the best drink at a restaurant called Bacchanalia

These are my worker friends Wai Loon and Audrey at an "American Burger" restaurant.

Interesting clouds outside my hotel window

Sushi layout at a super market.  Food is expensive here.

Massive indoor garden called Gardens by the Bay

This is across the courtyard and it's called the "Cloud Dome" You walk around up on those ramps.

This is the Supreme Court Building in downtown. 

Fresh fish, anyone??????

the veggie section