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.