Marina Bay Sands

Another fun filled day for Adi lady here in Singapore. In the morning I joined an organised walk around Little India.

Here are some flower garlands that are available on every street corner. They smell fabuloso and are exchanged for all sorts of reasons that I can't remember. They strewn statues of deities and are abundant during festivals.

I liked this rainbow building.

We paid a visit to the Hindu temple, I didn't over do it with the photos as I'm guessing we are all a tad templed out from previous bloggingtons but I did like this shot of the Brahman priests all sitting around, chewing the fat. 

I did learn something new. Apparently Hindus never refer to gods but only deities. They believe only in one god which is the natural laws of the universe (so not even a god in the Christian sense). That is why their main 3 deities Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva represent creation, preservation and destruction/death. So all those crazy mad stories are just parables, kinda makes sense to me now.

We stopped off at a sari shop and I was a bit gutted that Donna the pushy Ozzie got to be the model (bitch!) I wanted a picture of Adi lady in a sari for bloggage but it wasn't meant to be.

Spice shop.

Fish stall in the market. We got to try all sorts of weird fruits and Indian sweets.

The streets were adorned with multi coloured banners, all very festive.

In the afternoon I went to the Art and Science museum which is housed in the very impressive Marina Bay Sands complex. I returned there in the evening with Pip and Billy as they took me for a drink in an exclusive bar. Frockage opportunity, hurrah for me.

The shopping centre on the left is awash with every high end designer shop you have ever heard of and some you probably haven't. Pip says it is impossible to buy clothes here as they are all so diddy, they don't always cater for us western giants. The building to the right is the museum which has been designed in the shape of a lotus, but could be mistaken for a bunch of bananas. You can't really see it very well in this photo.

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is housed in the ship like structure. The evening pictures are taken from the bar/restaurant at the top, stunning views.

So the main reason for going to the museum was to see the exhibition of the National Geographic's 50 greatest photographs. I can highly recommend it. I decided to share my 5 favourites with you including photographers blurb, feel free to fast forward. They are in no particular order but I did save my top, top favourite until last.

I've seen fresh water dolphins when Kris and I did an Orinoco river cruise but I had no idea they looked so alien close up.

I really liked this image, the lace curtain makes it look like a grand master painting.

I was loving the energy here.

I couldn't not include this one, totally iconic and I remember all the publicity when they traced her.

But I'm totally loving the camels. It took me a second or two to work out what was going on with the shadows, I guess I'm a bit thicko.

So all that talk about lady petals in previous bloggingtons and then I came across this!?!

A giant sculpture of a lotus entitled 'love and peace'

It just looks like a big giant vulva to me! Maybe that was the artist's intention, to celebrate womanhood...

Anyway this is me, I can just hear our Dave's voice saying, 'a fanny with a fanny' lol.

So in the evening Pip and Billy took me for cocktails and I got all dressed up in slinky frockage, the views of the cityscape were fantastic.

Adilady.

Loves young dream aka Pip and Billy.

Me again, didn't pull a rich dude:(

 

Cheers, my cocktail matches my frockage. Totally unintentional.

 

In the foreground you can see the lotus petals of the museum and the big wheel is lit up to the right.

At about 9.30 there was a spectacular laser and light show over the harbour.

I love this photo, I think it is one of my favourites from my trippingtons so far.

 

So it was with a heavy heart that I left Singapore. I have sooo enjoyed staying with Pip and Billy who have welcomed me into their home, looked after me and entertained me - I have hardly spent a penny! Those of you who know me well will appreciate how important my family and close friends are to me, they have helped me through the recent tricky times with support, patience and love. Loving you all too my petals, masses and masses. Next step Oz to meet cousin Kerrielee xxxxx 

All things beginning with B

So the first B stands for busy, which is what I have been since the minute I landed in Singapore. I haven't had a minute to catch my breath (B number 2), which means bloggingtons (number 3) will be very brief (number 4).

So Monday night saw Pip, Billy and myself go to the Big Final of the Grand Prix, or should that be the Grande Finale of the Big Prize? Justin Bieber (number 5) was the only artist performing. We did hear there were others in the line up but they were refused entry into the country as they had drugs convictions... I have no idea if that is fact or fiction but Snoop Dog's name was mentioned...

Below are my photos of the nineteen year old, closet homosexual, virginal pop prince. I did try and upload a video clip for you of 'baby, baby, baby ooh' but in typical Luddite styley I couldn't do it :(

Well we had a blast (number 6), laughing at the crying, screaming girlios and imagining how distraught they will be when the Beeb  finally comes out. Also no queueage at barringtons, guess that's what happens when the average age at a gig is 12!

 

This is Jasmine. A crying, snivelling teenager plucked randomly from the audience and rocketed into the limelight. She kept telling the Beeb she loved him in between her sobs and gasps for air. I must confess I was kinda hoping she was an undercover ping pong act brought in to spice things up lol.

I am officially past it, all the tuneages sounded the same to my deaf, old ears and all I wanted to do was say 'young man, for the love of God pull your pants up!' Old age catches up with us all eventually:(

Number 9? As a new convert to Beiberism, Justin I believe...

The following day I went for a 4 hour walk through the park lands of Singapore; I think the walk is called the Southern Ridges. There I saw a battle site (number 10) and some very peculiar bridges ( number 11).

The battle site is in Kent Ridge Park and there is a museum called 'Reflections at Bukit Chandu' where the Malayan Regiment are honoured for their bravery. Whilst fighting to retain Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) they ran out of ammunition so fought the Japanese in hand to hand combat. Needless to say they all got shot, then the Japanese went into the nearby hospital and massacred every doctor, nurse and patient.

A poem written by a member of the regiment...

The memorial.

The walk then took me to Hort Park, which has been funded by the horticultural industry. Below are some glasshouses that use cutting edge technology for growing obscure plants such as triffids etc.

  

Next I crossed Alexandra's Arch, a very weird and futuristic network of bridges that cross the treetops, high up in the canopy of the jungle.

After about 3 km this brought me out into Telok Blangah Hill Park and onto Henderson's Wave, Singapore's highest and longest suspension bridge.

And finally to Mount Faber Park, below are photos from the top 

of the mountain which is really a very small hillock.

So another most enjoyable day in Singapore,  I must have walked about 18km in the baking hot sun. Mad dogs and Adi lady... I can't believe I forgot Billy (number 12). Sorry for the rushed bloggage, over and out xxx