Fireworks
The Smallest Bar in the world
English Pub ?
Singapore River Cruise
The Bird Statue @ Boatquay, Raffles Place
The leisurely train journey from Kuala Lumpur - Singapore took 7 hours. That itself is part of travel where my daughter and I enjoyed immensely; partly because we slept all the way to Singapore and arriving fresh on a bright Saturday morning. It was only around 4pm that my better half ( who arrived a day earlier ) and I started off from our son's apartment bound for Bras Basah via the new Circle Line to look at some used book stores at the Bras Basah Complex. There are numerous bookshops within the complex selling stationaries and used books. Most of those shops are not well stocked with the exception of one where we bought five books between us. The shops do carry out- of- print books too, though overall the books are not to our liking. One can find school books, old magazines, all sort of stationaries and books of all kinds, predominantly fiction. Prices are considerably cheaper because the books are mainly used ones but we can find even new ones being sold slightly cheaper compared to the up-market book stores in the city centre. Bras Basah Road generally has retained its character since the mid-sixties with the exception of a number of high-rise office buildings on one side of the road and at the moment one of such building is under going a face lift. There are also a number of budget hotels along Bras Basah.
By half past five, we were already on the North-South Line bound for Raffles Place to meet-up with our grand-daughter and her parents. Disembarking from the Raffles Place station and five minutes away, we were already by the Singapore River, and the place is known as Boatquay. Out on the river we observed several boats loaded with tourists on a river cruise. Along the bank of the river, besides the high rise office blocks, there is a long row of old shophouses beautifully done up housing numerous pubs, restaurants of all kinds from arabic menus to thai seafood. We settled for the Northern Indian food of briani rice, naan roti and delicious chicken tandoori, dhal, bendi and various masalaas....the street as a matter of fact was being swamped with a multitude of odours coming from all the kitchens within the area. Choosing a restaurant for dinner could be a very difficult and problematic matter for any family, I bet ! By sheer coincidence or planned coincidence we were there at the right time and place to witness the fulldress rehearsal celebrating Singapore National Day. From the blue clear sky we saw paragliders slowly gliding their "sails' in perfect circular motion aiming perhaps to a designated mark somewhere on the esplanade nearby hidden from us by the colonial building across the river. Then like rolling thunder, the jets from the air force in perfect formation zoomed by, deafening everyone and mothers desperately clasping their hands over the ears of their children. The helicopters too made their entrance with the Singapore flags under their belly made their way at a much more sedate pace to the delight of the early diners at the restaurants. The highlight of the evening was the fireworks display which we were lucky enough to feast our eyes upon from our son's office some 80 meters high. It was a grand display of bursting colours and from this vantage point, we had a panoramic view of the multi-coloured showers all around us. It was a good and satisfying Saturday outing for the family......
