Sentosa Island

This morning we got a great start at the Coffee Bean Café, located not far from our hotel, the Rendezvous.



Since we arrived in Singapore we have tightened our belt strap and done free stuff like visiting the Botanic Gardens and exploring Little India. Today we felt it was time to let the dollars roll again. We took the train to Sentosa Island, Asia's favorite playground. There are an endless array of activities here, we had our eyes set on the Underwater world and the dolphin show.

The Underwater world has a really cool 83 meter long under water tunnel. We had ourselves a close encounter with sharks, sting rays and scary jelly fishes. It's not every day you see a shoal of piranhas swimming by if you look up! But to call this place a "world" is very misleading, it's more like a big room if you ask us. So we had 90 minutes left to kill before the dolphin show would start. They don't let you leave the underwater "world" to explore the rest of Sentosa Island so we had to stick around because the entrance is not the kind of fee you'd be willing to pay twice (read we were robbed).











Since we would have to wait for the dolphins we decided to do so in the what I guess you would call the VIP lounge. They have like 10 seats with comfortable armchairs. We get there and learn that there's a cover charge to sit there, you have to spend at least 10 Singapore dollars per adult, (50 SEK or 20 PLN). Fair enough, we do so on coffee and a sorry excuse of a cake. Martin jokes that he hopes it's gonna start raining now when we've paid extra to sit under roof. Two minutes later it's pouring down. Martin wishes for a million dollar and a house in Italy but it seems the gods are not granting us any more wishes today.



After a wait that seemed way longer then 90 minutes, the show finally starts. Ten minutes later the show wraps it up. We're still in chock. If you're gonna call it a show you really have to put on something longer then 10 lousy minutes. At the Singapore Zoo a show was 30 minutes plus (so go there instead). Not much left for us to do but leave. Obviously it's still raining. So kids at home, let this be a lesson to you all, be careful of what you wish for, it might come true.







Oh, and here some graffiti we spotted on our way back, seen in VivoCity, Singapore's largest waterfront shopping mall.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

No modern big city is of course complete without a set of lungs providing necessary oxygen to the people. Singapore's lungs is the Botanic Gardens and for more than one and a half century it has been "connecting plants and people" to quote their own slogan.

Walking around here at random equipped with some vanilla ice cream is a true pleasure reminding you that the best things in life can be, if not free, at least affordable.

It's perfect for picnics, dates and concerts. A part of the park near Symphony Lake is dedicated to the memory of Frederic Chopin, the Polish composer considered one of the greatest masters of Romantic music.

Singapore Zoo

Yesterday we explored the world acclaimed Singapore Zoo, known for its "open zoo" concept featuring animals in their natural habitat. It feels like you're in a rainforest with sidewalks. What a fabulous day out! We spent the entire afternoon there and still probably only covered around 60% of the place.

As we are very much into the "when in Rome" mode (plus we need to save a buck or two), we decided to go by MRT (subway) and then bus 138. It took us approximately one hour to get there but it felt right to use public transport when it's so reliable as it is here.

The zoo is spotless and beautifully landscaped. It is a huge place and large parts of it are surrounded by a lake, which makes it even more spectacular. Most of the animals are not caged so you can see them from a short distance which adds to the whole experience. At times we felt very small, especially while watching graceful but deadly white tigers. And we tried to be on our best behavior when we visited the elephants, because they don't forget you know. We also gazed at a jaguar, were up close and personal with a giraffe and starred eye to eye with a playful sea lion at the zoo's amphitheater. We also saw a jackass but that was a human and a completely different story.

Another favorite was the orangutans and chimpanzees. They looked like they were enjoying the day in the sun, chatting with each other, not far from what we humans prefer doing on a lazy afternoon actually. It was very touching to watch orangutan mothers taking care of their small children, giving them their entire attention with a loving look in their eyes.

Little India, Singapore

First thought that run through our minds when we exited the subway station in Little India was: it smells like curry. No kidding, it does!

It's a very charming ethnic neighbourhood in Singapore (if you don't mind curry that is). Totally different from the rest of Singapore, far from poshy Prada and Gucci flag ship stores.

Little India truly feels like a slice of India. Lots and lots of vegetables stands, beautiful jewellery stands and Bollywood stands frame the busy streets. But if you want peace and quiet you can do what we did and stroll down Serangoon Road and you'll reach the beautiful Hindu temple Sri Veeramamakaliamman dating back to 1881. Inside you'll find images of Kali wearing a garland of skulls and ripping out the insides of her victims, but also more peaceful moments such as Kali spending time her sons Ganesha and Murugan.











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Poor in Singapore

We’ve gone from riches to rags, damn it’s expensive here. There will be no more pretending we’re wealthy. Prices in Singapore have very much resemblance to what you would find on price tags in Sweden, and we’re not used to that anymore, not after eight weeks in Malaysia. Probably there will be no fancy dinners for us here; we’ll save that till next week when we’re back over the Malaysian border again. Check this out: first thing we did in Singapore was buying a subway pass, very economical and environment friendly!

After checking in at The Rendezvous Hotel we took the subway to Orchard Rd. All poshy brands are represented here; it’s Patrick Bateman heaven. Gucci is like Starbucks in Manhattan, one in every corner. But we didn’t shop much, no point really since we can find most of the stuff for similar prices in Stockholm, and we’ve never been that brand horny anyway. Plus our luggage already weighs over 50 kilo, (Nelly’s fault mostly).

Instead of shopping we will focus on doing what you can’t do back home, explore the sights that make Singapore beautiful and unique. We have heard good things about the Singapore Zoo, the Botanic garden and at Sentosa Island they have a dolphin lagoon, so that’s on top of our agenda now. More details coming as soon as we find an Internet Café that doesn’t charge 5 SEK (2 PLN) per minute.

Nelly’s new favourite hobby is standing up in bed (using the head board), and then on purpose losing balance, falling down in different constellations accompanied by a cheerful warning scream.

She’s remains the star wherever we might be. Still the center of attention in every store we enter, subway car we ride with or café we rest at. She’s gonna miss all the appreciation she receives daily from everybody when we are back in Sweden. Babcia and dziadek get ready to step up and entertain the diva!