Esplanade + Singapore Flyer = Flying Durian. :-p

Presenting the flying durian!

This shot is of the Esplanade rooftop and the yet to be completed Singapore Flyer.



OK. I was trying to do something like Big Ben and the London Eye. :-p

East meets West or West meets East, whatever....

Where East Meets West. That's what's being describe for Far East Square.



It is where old meets new. It's an interesting place to visit in Singapore. It has the oldest temple, and cutting edge firms.

There are also lots of restaurants with cuisine coming from France, Italy, Vietnam, Japan and the local flavours of Singapore.

Tallest Hotel in South East Asia - Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore

Live it up in Singapore, literally!

Swissôtel The Stamford, Singapore is the the tallest hotel in Singapore and also South East Asia. This is the night view (obviously!) of it right across the road where the "Padang" is.



I just had dinner at a Italian restaurant there called Prego. It's on the ground floor of this tall building. Food's good! The highest floor is also a nice place, a romantic place to have dinner. It's called Equinox.

Museum Series - Civil Defense Heritage Gallery

This is also the oldest fire station in Singapore. It houses the Civil Defense Heritage Gallery.



If you like Fire Engines, especially antique ones, visit this place! :-)
Free admission. Closed on Mondays. You can visit between 10am - 5pm, Tuesdays to Sundays.

Museum Series - Asian Civilisations Museum

This is the picture I took last nite of the Asian Civilisations Museum, fondly known as the ACM here in Singapore. I went to a musical performance just next to the museum, the Victoria Concert Hall. Since I had a museum post yesterday, I shall continue with museums :-)

They ACM is having a Japanese Mask Exhibition, called: "Hidden Faces : The Art of Japanese Mask". The exhibit will close tomorrow!! Got to make a quick trip down again.



ACM's collections are centres around the Southeast Asia, South Asia, West Asia and China collections. Pop by for a visit if you are around. Got a friend who works there, so giving her a free advert here :-)

Here's a tip, if you want to go in Free, visit on Friday nites, 7-9 PM! (They said discounted on their website, but in actually fact ...... fill in your own blanks, I did not say it here ok? haha )

Visit the ACM website at: www.acm.org.sg

Musuem Series - Singapore Philatelic Musuem

We had a break from the Tourist Series, breaking for Nov Theme Day and continuing and extra day to show what will the new buildling be like.

We are back to the Tourist Series, now a sub Musuem Series to go with the Tourist Series. Do you collect stamps? Do you like to view in details stamps and know the history behind it? Well, if you do, head down to the Singapore Philatelic Musuem when you visit Singapore.



Maybe as many have said, the old letter writing is becoming a thing of the past. Everyone uses MSN, Yahoo! Messenger, Email, SMS, MMS, etc to communicate with each other. Hmmm, do you still write snail mail? Actually I still do, but it's usually with a payment slip and a cheque - paying my bills! haha...

Tourist Series - Sentosa, Singapore's Island Resort

Next to VivoCity is the causeway that links mainland Singapore to Sentosa Island.

Here's some flags flying the Sentosa Flag.



Sentosa Island is a super super major tourist attraction. If you like Sun, Sand and Sea. This is the place to go!

Tourist Series - Vivo Fountain

I saw this and I had to take a photo of it. The little boy was enjoying the strong water gushing up his backside! He must love washing his back. LOL...



This is still in Vivo City. (http://www.vivocity.com.sg) There's a water fountain in front of it that attracts lots of children to be just children. They would go under the water and just get themselves wet!



The architecture of Vivo City is quite unique, very wavy. It's all wavy. Read also Zannnie's (The other Singapore DP blogger) post on Vivo City.

Tourist Series - Vivo Tree

Singapore has a new attraction. It's called Vivo City. A brand new huge shopping complex. It's now partially open, it will formally open 1 December 2006.

I found this amazing tree with so many flowers, and they must be on steriods, they are so huge and colourful!



Since it is in Vivo City, I shall call it Vivo Tree! haha... There should be name for it, but I did not bother to go find out :-p

Tourist Series - You could get lucky!

Luckly Plaza is where you can get everything. But mostly people buy cameras or look for money changers here. It is almost the place to be, if you want to remit money back to your country. It is usually to Indonesia, Philippines, China, India, Bangladesh.



It is one of the oldest looking mall along Orchard Road. It is also a mini Philippines here. During the weekends, the whole place will be pack with domestic helpers. You could see Filipino groceries shop. So, if you are visiting from Philippines and miss home, visit this place!

The top floors are medical centres. From plastic surgery, women's clinic to skin specialist, you can get them here.

Tourist Series - Sidewalk Cafes outside Heeren

Along Orchard Road too, you can find side walk cafes like this. During the night time it is cooling. During the daytime, there will be giantic fans with tiny nozzle that sprays out water mist that cools the place down.




I kinda like the structure :-) It has a modern classic look.

Tourist Series - Marriott / Tangs

One of the most iconic building around Orchard Road is the Tangs Plaza. It shares the building with Marriott Hotel. The hotel used to be called Dynasty. You should be able to guess why it was called Dynasty. The building has a pagoda like tower.

As most people take pictures from the same angle, I thought I will try something different. I took the top of the building from some few hundred metres away! :-) This is a night shot.


Tangs itself is a Singapore Icon. If London has Selfridges, Australia has David Jones and Myer, then Singapore has Tangs! You can visit www.tangs.com for more information. The website has a photo of the building too, the normal view :-)

Shopping in Singapore is especially worth it for visitors from London. My sis stays in London and when she visits, wow.. her money really stretches!! If you are coming from overseas, you can claim the 5% GST back at the airport. The people at Tangs are super helpful and will settle everything for you. If you want more discount, ask a Singapore friend to help pay for it first with a Tangs Store Card. You get an additional 8% rebate. Now you know!! My sis bought a brand new Delsey luggage to put in her shopping goods for around SGD200 after the various rebate and tax return. It comes up to £66 only, which she says can't buy any decent branded luggage in UK.

Tourist Series - Orchard Road

There are street names that are famous for a particular city. They are so called streets that tourist "must visit" to qualify themselves as visited that city. Hmmm wonder if that statement is true...

Like in London, you got to visit Oxford Street. In Melbourne, Swanston Street. In Kuala Lumpur, Bintang Walk. In Paris, Champs Elysees.

What about Singapore? Everyone knows that if you wanna shop, you must go to Orchard Road. Hey, there is even a website for it! www.orchardroad.sg



What streets or roads in your city is a "must see" for tourist?

Tourist Series - Singapore Visitor Centre

Today is where our Muslim friends celebrate their New Year. Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri to all my Muslim readers. Maaf Zahir dan Batin.

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Everyone should have done their homework before visiting a country. If you have not, drop by the Singapore Visitors Centre at the airport! They offer some free tours too!

Well, if you miss the ones at the airport, hop down to the Singapore Visitors Centre right in the middle of Orchard Road!



Here, you can book tickets for tours, for musicals, etc. There are also tonnes of brochures and maps. There's also a money changer.

Tourist Series - Are you a privilege tourist yet?

After the airport series, let me try the Tourist Series. Since most viewers will hopefully one day visit Singapore, this would be useful. By the way, I don't work for the Tourist Board. :-p

Orchard Road is famous as the tourist belt of shopping in Singapore. One of the shopping malls right in the middle is Centrepoint. This is a poster inside Centrepoint.

Are you a privilege tourist yet?


What privileges do you like to have as a tourist?

Chinatown Lights Up!

Visitors to Singapore can always enjoy beautiful lights during major festival. One of the famous light ups will be the Christmas Orchard Road lights. It's too early for Christmas. This Friday would be the Moon Cake Festival. Chinatown is all light up.

This is only part of the light up.



A close look if you are wondering what is written.


Deepavali (Indian Community's Festival of Lights) and Hari Raya Puasa / Aidilfitri (The Muslim Fasting Month) is coming soon. Little India and Gelang Serai is also litted up.