Singapore Flyers

Singapore 8-10 April 2011

Astrid had to go to Singapore for work and Ian was flying over for the weekend (it was Ian's actual birthay weekend). Ian previoulsy denounced Singapore as boring, but on this trip he was proven wrong. We had a great time and an exciting two days to explore the city-state which in the last 10 years has started to rival Hong Kong as a prime location in South East Asia.

Karina, Astrid's work colleague based in Singapore showed us Lau Pa Sat, one of the Hawker Centres, which was bustling with life under the beautiful Victorian inron structure. Together with tasty skewers we also tried very nice stingray for the first time. To finsish off the evening we headed to Raffles Hotel and enjoyed a Singapore Sling cocktail at the drink's birthplace.

On Saturday we started the day with Fish Head Curry (Ian was brave enough to try the eyeball which we captured on video) before exploring the colourful Little India district. To cool us down after strolling through Littel India at the heat of the day we did what the Singaporeans do and headed for a mall to shop and cooled down with a Vietnamese Iced Coffee on the roof-top.


After a typical thunderstorm and once the rain had cleared we headed for Marina Bay Sands, Singpores first and only casino complex, where locals are discouraged to gamble and have to pay a fee to get in (foreigners go free). We were less interested in the casino, but keen to head up to the roof-top bar for cocktails & great views. our first attempt failed as Ian rocked up in sandals (not allowed), so we had to go back to the hotel for proper shoes and managed to be let in on our second ascent :). MBS is an amazing ship-like structure on the top with an enourmous skygarden and infintiy pool (only guests can swim there).


Once we satieted our appetite for cocktail, the light-show and views we headed to a canal road, where lured in by one of the seafood restaurants, we devoured the most expensive 1/2 and 1/2 chillie and pepper crab in the world. Luckily we decided to unorder the geoduck clam much to the dismay of the local shop-owner. Hungry and slightly tipsy is not condusive for the most effective decision making...

On Sunday we went for breakfast at the PS cafe on Dempsey Road - one of Karina's recommendations. Dempsey Road is this great little chilled winding suburban road lined with trees, cafe's, galleries and antique shops - we could happily spend many weekend brunches there. To round off our weekend we headed to the Singapore Flyer - a giant ferris wheel - before heading back to Hong Kong. Compared to Hong Kong, Singapore is a lot more chilled, clean and green.