Singapore, Singapore
Marc and I have visited Singapore twice. Our very first trip to the island nation took place over Christmas of 2002. I had just visited Bangkok with my family and Hong Kong and Macau with Marc the year before and my interest in seeing a lot of Southeast Asia was very high at that time.
Thus on December 25, 2002, we embarked on our Singapore adventure with side trips to equally enchanting Malaysia.
While we normally do independent travel, we booked to join a group tour of the city of Singapore on our very first day. We booked the trip through our hotel. I remember us visiting Little India, Chinatown, the Botanical Garden, a hawker center, and Clark Quay (featured in this blog entry)on this trip. It took no more than a morning to explore the city and it gave us a good idea what to see, which places to return to, and what places to go to next.
Sir Stamford Raffles
Clarke Quay
At Clarke Quay
Marc at Clarke Quay videotaping me while I was taking his picture
Another view of Beautiful Clarke Quay
A few yards away from the Fullerton Hotel, we found these statues which depicted scenes of Old Singapore.
Some soldiers interacting with local folk
Different Singaporeans of different ethnicities living harmoniously with each other
Some children playing and swimming in Singapore waters. This scene reminded me of home where Filipino kids also enjoy swimming in rivers and beaches.
The Swank Fullerton Hotel
A side view of the Fulleton Hotel
In front of the Fullerton Hotel
Inside the Fullerton Hotel
The Anderson Bridge, one of the 20th century bridges preserved in the Business District
The Merlion by the sea
This was my image of Singapore. I had seen it many times on TV and print media. I certainly was glad to see it in person.
A close up of the Merlion's face spitting out water into the sea
The Esplanade
Another view of the Esplanade
Here I am checking out the postcards for my photo albums to remember this trip by
One cannot visit Singapore without visiting the famed and historic Raffles Hotel. Marc and I visited this place twice. Although Singapore is replete with hotels, mostly high end, the Raffles, is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the foremost, if not the foremost hotel to stay in while in the island nation.
The hotel to see and be seen in Singapore, the Raffles Hotel
At the Raffles Hotel
The courtyard inside the Raffles Hotel
The courtyard
Coconut trees in the premises of the hotel
A scene along Arab Street
The Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam, the heart of Singapore's Muslim Community
In the Muslim neighborhood of Singapore with the Sultan Mosque in Kampong Glam in the background
Chinatown
Some of the restored shop houses in Chinatown.
The Chinese Heritage Center in Chinatown. Marc and I didn't get to visit this museum during our first trip but did so last 2006 .
The Armenian Church
The Parliament Building
In front of the Parliament Building