Wednesday, November 29
I gave my camera a rest yesterday in Singapore. I went to the hotel Gym which is a terrific place with all kinds of equipment...I rode the exercise bike and used some light free weights. This was my second visit to this gym in my 4 day visit. Then I walked across the street to visit the famous, classsic Raffles Hotel. I had lunch in their New York style deli and then visited the shops in the arcade. Since I had worn shorts I was not allowed in the Lobby...it violated the Gentlemen's Dress Code. Then I went to walk around a couple of shopping malls which were filled with people of all ages (school holiday right now). I saw the new Bond movie Casino Royale at a very nice cineplex where seat number & rows are designated when you buy your ticket. For dinner I went to the underground Suntec City Mall to a Chinese restaurant for Tim Sun (not a typo that's Dim Sum here)....very good.
Today I flew back to Bangkok and have got settled in at a hotel in a different section of the city from the previous stay. In the tourist Patpong district of bars, go-go clubs, street bazaar. A lot more "character" than the JW Marriott.
This hotel has slow wireless internet so I may have abbreviated entries for the next few days. It's slow to upload photos.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Monday, November 27, 2006
A Cruise
Monday afternoon Nov 27
This morning I decided to see the water front which is so much of the reason for Singapore's growth during it's first 160 years of it's existence under the British and still remains very important today...although finance and electronic technology has assumed at least equal importance.
I took a 3 hour cruise on a replica Chinese junk for views of the city from the Straits, observing some of the ship traffic in the Straits, and seeing some of the many small islands that dotthe coast and straits. It was also a bit refreshing to be out in a breeze on the water.
This a view as we left the Harbor with a resort island called Sentosa on the left. It can actually be reached from Singapore by a cable car.
Here is a view of the parade of ships out in the main Straits:
This is the Junk docked at Kusu Island which was about 45 minutes from the harbor. The water was actually quite blue-green a just a few minutes out.
And this is a pic on the Island:
This morning I decided to see the water front which is so much of the reason for Singapore's growth during it's first 160 years of it's existence under the British and still remains very important today...although finance and electronic technology has assumed at least equal importance.
I took a 3 hour cruise on a replica Chinese junk for views of the city from the Straits, observing some of the ship traffic in the Straits, and seeing some of the many small islands that dotthe coast and straits. It was also a bit refreshing to be out in a breeze on the water.
This a view as we left the Harbor with a resort island called Sentosa on the left. It can actually be reached from Singapore by a cable car.
Here is a view of the parade of ships out in the main Straits:
This is the Junk docked at Kusu Island which was about 45 minutes from the harbor. The water was actually quite blue-green a just a few minutes out.
And this is a pic on the Island:
Monday, Nov 27
Yesterday I took a walk around the central area of Singapore from my hotel to the old colonial section and then on across the small Singapore River to Boay Quay at the edge of the new financial and business center. And then returned via the Esplanade, a new Performance Arts Center on Marina Bay.
The walk took me by the Padung, a huge green playing field used for soccer, and rugby games as well as some lawn tennis.
This was preserved from colonial days and is a nice green space surrounded by skyscrapers.
I stopped into the Asian Civilizations Museum which is housed riverside in a former colonial administrative building. It was quite nice with collections of items from all the SouthEast Asian areas as well has very informative displays of historical information about migrations throughout the area during history. We don't learn much about the rich culture and history of this area in our American educations---mine was focused on European things.
From there I crossed a bridge to the other side of the river to find lunch at Boat Quay--a redeveloped area of former shophouses that used to take delivery and store and transfer much of the shipladen commerce in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is now riverside restaurants/bars that are on the edge of the new financial and business center, so much after work drinking and dining is accomplished there.
I ate at an Indian Restaurant and had a nice Tandoori lamb and vegetable steamed rice.
Then I walked along the Quay towards Marina Bay, observing Sunday afternoon strollers and even skateboarders.
Then I ended up at the Esplanade before walking back to the hotel. The Esplanade resembles a sleeping porcupine or armadillo on the exterior.
I then rested at the hotel for a few hours and went to Chinatown for the evening where I walked the narrow old streets and ate at Chinese restaurant.
Yesterday I took a walk around the central area of Singapore from my hotel to the old colonial section and then on across the small Singapore River to Boay Quay at the edge of the new financial and business center. And then returned via the Esplanade, a new Performance Arts Center on Marina Bay.
The walk took me by the Padung, a huge green playing field used for soccer, and rugby games as well as some lawn tennis.
This was preserved from colonial days and is a nice green space surrounded by skyscrapers.I stopped into the Asian Civilizations Museum which is housed riverside in a former colonial administrative building. It was quite nice with collections of items from all the SouthEast Asian areas as well has very informative displays of historical information about migrations throughout the area during history. We don't learn much about the rich culture and history of this area in our American educations---mine was focused on European things.
From there I crossed a bridge to the other side of the river to find lunch at Boat Quay--a redeveloped area of former shophouses that used to take delivery and store and transfer much of the shipladen commerce in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It is now riverside restaurants/bars that are on the edge of the new financial and business center, so much after work drinking and dining is accomplished there.
I ate at an Indian Restaurant and had a nice Tandoori lamb and vegetable steamed rice.Then I walked along the Quay towards Marina Bay, observing Sunday afternoon strollers and even skateboarders.
Then I ended up at the Esplanade before walking back to the hotel. The Esplanade resembles a sleeping porcupine or armadillo on the exterior.
I then rested at the hotel for a few hours and went to Chinatown for the evening where I walked the narrow old streets and ate at Chinese restaurant.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Bangkok Airport to Singapore Hotel
Sunday afternoon Nov 26Yesterday afternoon I flew to Singapore which is about 900 miles south of Bankok at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. The new airport named Suvahnaburmi was opened 2 months ago and is quite an architectural item. Mostly very modernistic built of metal and glass.
I was picked up at the Singapore airport by a friend that I made on the internet named Moh, a Singaporean of Chinese descent. He took me my hotel in the center of the city after a driving tour orienting me to the city.
These are some pics from my hotel room balcony of the famous Raffles Hotel across the street in which the Singapore Sling drink originated at the Long Bar.
And a view down the street.
We walked around the surrounding area and ended up on the border of the Indian and Arab neighborhoods where we went to a neighborhood Halal Indian restaurant for dinner. Halal is the name for the dietary rules of Islam, very similar to the idea of Kosher. So we had Indonesian fried rice, Chicken Bryani and mutton with egg in a fried pancake....very interesting and very good tasting. It's good to know a local--I never would have ventured into that place on my own.
Singapore is a fascinating multicultural, commercial totalitarian democracy. It is extremely clean and well designed. It is located on the Melaka Straits where all sea traffic between China/Japan and India/Africa/Europe must pass through.......that's how it got it's advantage in trade. It was a British Colony until the late '50s when it was granted independence along with Malay to form Malaysia. In 1965 Singapore separated from Malaysia to form it's own independent city-state on it's small island. The same guy, Lee Kwan Yu, was Prime Minister from 1959-1990 and now his son is Prime Minister. It's government is a somewhat benign democratic dictatorship that has mostly worked well because Lee Kwan Yu has usually had the best interests of the people and state in mind. And he is smart. He has kept up with or been ahead of most commercial trends in the world and has been sure to build an educated, technology oriented populace.
We walked around the surrounding area and ended up on the border of the Indian and Arab neighborhoods where we went to a neighborhood Halal Indian restaurant for dinner. Halal is the name for the dietary rules of Islam, very similar to the idea of Kosher. So we had Indonesian fried rice, Chicken Bryani and mutton with egg in a fried pancake....very interesting and very good tasting. It's good to know a local--I never would have ventured into that place on my own.
Singapore is a fascinating multicultural, commercial totalitarian democracy. It is extremely clean and well designed. It is located on the Melaka Straits where all sea traffic between China/Japan and India/Africa/Europe must pass through.......that's how it got it's advantage in trade. It was a British Colony until the late '50s when it was granted independence along with Malay to form Malaysia. In 1965 Singapore separated from Malaysia to form it's own independent city-state on it's small island. The same guy, Lee Kwan Yu, was Prime Minister from 1959-1990 and now his son is Prime Minister. It's government is a somewhat benign democratic dictatorship that has mostly worked well because Lee Kwan Yu has usually had the best interests of the people and state in mind. And he is smart. He has kept up with or been ahead of most commercial trends in the world and has been sure to build an educated, technology oriented populace.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Day 4 to Singapore
Saturday morning Nov 25
I leave for a 2 hour flight to Singapore later this morning. I'll be there until Wednesday.
Yesterday I went to the Grand Palace with a professional guide named Sorawut Witwitwon or "Pop" as he liked to be called..even though he is only 32 yo and has no kids.
The Grand Palace is a conglomeration of buildings spread over a 60 acre site. It has special temples built by different Kings over the last 200 years; administrative and ceremonial buildings and a former residence of the King. It is extraordinarily decorative with styles varying from traditional Thai to Chinese to European.
Some pics of a ceremonial hall with european and thai elements; a temple roof in the traditional thai style; figures holding up a royal chedi in which some royal family ashes are contained; and a demon guarding a temple:
After we went to a late lunch at a lovely Thai restaurant in the new Siam Paragon Mall, which has the biggest selection of stores and eating places I have ever seen in one place. It is spectacular.
The day was particularly humid with even a natives of Bangkok, like Pop, complaining. You just have to slow down your pace and hydrate.
I leave for a 2 hour flight to Singapore later this morning. I'll be there until Wednesday.
Yesterday I went to the Grand Palace with a professional guide named Sorawut Witwitwon or "Pop" as he liked to be called..even though he is only 32 yo and has no kids.
The Grand Palace is a conglomeration of buildings spread over a 60 acre site. It has special temples built by different Kings over the last 200 years; administrative and ceremonial buildings and a former residence of the King. It is extraordinarily decorative with styles varying from traditional Thai to Chinese to European.
Some pics of a ceremonial hall with european and thai elements; a temple roof in the traditional thai style; figures holding up a royal chedi in which some royal family ashes are contained; and a demon guarding a temple:
After we went to a late lunch at a lovely Thai restaurant in the new Siam Paragon Mall, which has the biggest selection of stores and eating places I have ever seen in one place. It is spectacular.
The day was particularly humid with even a natives of Bangkok, like Pop, complaining. You just have to slow down your pace and hydrate.
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thanksgiving
Friday morning Nov 24
There is no Thanksgiving here...it is an American holiday. But the hordes of american expatriates do use it as an excuse to meet old friends and go out to dinner. This evening I joined my cousin Jean Walzer and a couple of her friends for dinner at a Swiss restaurant down the street from her house. The food was very good and the company was excellent.
Yesterday I got up in late morning and went to the hotel gym for some exercise, then a quick lunch at the McDonalds across the street.....love the double fish fillet sandwich they have here. Then I decided to visit a large public park to walk and read the newspaper. This is a photo of a SkyTrain station that I used to get to the park.
Lumphini Park has several lakes and lots of green. And some temple-like gazebo structures for relaxation.
Apparently the park is most lively in the early mornings and early evenings as most smart locals avoid the midday heat....it was very hot and humid. After almost 2 days here I am almost used to walking around sweaty and hot......only 2 showers a day and lots of water to drink for hydration. It is amazing that the workers in the park are swathed in clothes from head to toe such as these ladies who were sweeping fallen leaves.
There is no Thanksgiving here...it is an American holiday. But the hordes of american expatriates do use it as an excuse to meet old friends and go out to dinner. This evening I joined my cousin Jean Walzer and a couple of her friends for dinner at a Swiss restaurant down the street from her house. The food was very good and the company was excellent.
Yesterday I got up in late morning and went to the hotel gym for some exercise, then a quick lunch at the McDonalds across the street.....love the double fish fillet sandwich they have here. Then I decided to visit a large public park to walk and read the newspaper. This is a photo of a SkyTrain station that I used to get to the park.
Lumphini Park has several lakes and lots of green. And some temple-like gazebo structures for relaxation.
Apparently the park is most lively in the early mornings and early evenings as most smart locals avoid the midday heat....it was very hot and humid. After almost 2 days here I am almost used to walking around sweaty and hot......only 2 showers a day and lots of water to drink for hydration. It is amazing that the workers in the park are swathed in clothes from head to toe such as these ladies who were sweeping fallen leaves.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
I'm in Krung Thep
Wednesday, November 22 7PMI arrived in Bangkok (the Thai people call it Krung Thep or the City of Angels) after a long trip from San Diego which included a leg on Thai Airways non-stop from Los Angeles......almost 18 hours because of some headwinds.
The flight was surprisingly benign. The seat in Premium Economy was roomy with lots of legroom and the width was fine. It could have used a bit more recline. The pleasant staff served us 3 meals of very good food. And the Personal Entertainment System was spectacular with individual screens, choice of 28 movies, numerous TV programs and documentaries, interactive language lessons and navigational maps and data.
The taxi ride into the hotel from the airport was the worst part of the trip.......2 hours in
Bangkok traffic....with numerous close calls on the motorway....with a cab driver who was laughing outloud with joy and pleasure at the near misses. Apparently he felt that the Buddha on his dashboard gave him all the protection from death and disaster that we needed. So he was free to do anything he wanted.I took a nap, showered, went shopping for a cheap local mobile phone. Will rest again...eat a late dinner and hope to be time zone coordinated by tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Hi I'm Back
Time to get revved up again as I will be leaving for a return to SouthEast Asia on 20 November for 4 weeks. I will visit Singapore, Cambodia and return to Thailand.
This week I am in my Marriott Shadow Ridge timeshare for some sun and golf. The weather is terrific: temps in the mid 80's with low humidity and cloudless desert blue sky.
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