Singapore

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by Tropical_Gaz, Feb 22, 2013.

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  1. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    Me too!
    I was there twenty years ago and loved it. I even splashed out and spent one night at Raffles (an experience that was worth the money). There was still some of the old Orchard Road hawkers left, but I'm sure that they'll have been "cleaned up" now:frown:

    This is one of the better Satay mixes that I've found...................
    DSC_0186a.jpg Not as good as the real thing, but as good as any restaurant fare that I've come across. If you can't find it in your local Asian store I'll send you one to try.
     
    longk, Feb 24, 2013
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  2. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    Hmmm ... it was stuck between massive skyscrapers when I was there more than 30 years ago, must be worse now?

    A single Set of Tennis took a dozen substitutes and 4 crates of beer as I recollect it .... hmmm ... come to think of it that was an upside, as my Tennis was not much cop, but the other part I was OK at!!

    But overall I didn't like the place much. Uber-clean, but signs every 10 yards telling you they'd string you from the yardarm if you dropped any litter - too clinical for my liking. I had to cut my mate's hair at the airport as they wouldn't let him in (he had shoulder length hair, if that). I have been to plenty of places in the world that are very clean, but they are that way because that's how the locals want to keep them.

    Too metropolis for me.
     
    Kristen, Feb 24, 2013
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  3. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    You can't be anywhere in central Singapore without being looked down on by skyscrapers. It was more about the experience - at 21 years old Raffles was a new way of life for 24hrs!

    Ditto. It was a relief to get to Malaysia.
     
    longk, Feb 24, 2013
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  4. Kristen

    Kristen Under gardener

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    I was held up by armed gunmen in Malaysia - made the front page of the Straits Times :hate-shocked: ...

    ... but I too loved Malaysia :) but more so Thailand :blue thumb:
     
    Kristen, Feb 24, 2013
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  5. longk

    longk Total Gardener

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    :ouch1::ouch1:
    I ended up in a dodgy "club" in KL being plied with cheap bubbly - turned out to be an "upmarket" brothel!

    In my case too much as my visa had expired when I finally reached the Thai border. I was refused entry to Thailand until some American dollars fell out of my pocket!
     
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      longk, Feb 24, 2013
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    • strongylodon

      strongylodon Old Member

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      The (untidy looking???) sampans all along the river were removed the year before we went as the start of the 'big clean up' and sanitising of the city.
      The best parts are the gardens and the food.
       
      strongylodon, Feb 24, 2013
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    • Tropical_Gaz

      Tropical_Gaz Gardener

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      Based on our experience it has changed a lot then. The place was still very clean - but cant see thats a bad thing. But generally no signs other than the off one in public gardens etc, same as here. Very friendly and modern city, and full of parks and gardens.

      If anything we were not there long enough, loads to see and do.
       
      Tropical_Gaz, Feb 25, 2013
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    • Kristen

      Kristen Under gardener

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      That has changed then, I did all the gardens and tourist sites in a few days back then. Doesn't surprise me that there is much more now, very progressive society and keen to provide for their populous in ways that improve the general wellbeing. In fact its an interesting, and very successful IMHO, social experiment, if I can call it that
       
      Kristen, Feb 25, 2013
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    • strongylodon

      strongylodon Old Member

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      Gaz, did you go anywhere else other than Singapore?
       
      strongylodon, Feb 26, 2013
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    • Dorothy

      Dorothy Gardener

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      Wow what beautiful pictures.My husband had a stop over on his way to Australia years ago and he said it was gorgeous, some where he would like to go for an holiday, but with three kids we have never managed to find the money to get there.
       
      Dorothy, Feb 26, 2013
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    • Aesculus

      Aesculus Bureaucrat 34 (Admin)

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      Stunning :spinning:
       
      Aesculus, Feb 26, 2013
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    • shiney

      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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      The place has changed a lot over the years.

      Although it's still a little bit clinical it's not 'in your face' anywhere near so much as it used to be. The buildings have gone up at a fantastic rate and the architecture is fascinating. They haven't sacrificed their lovely gardens to do this as they have built upwards.

      Most property is rented and there can be rich and not so rich living alongside each other. One strict law that is enforced is that all new apartment blocks must have their tenants in proportion to the ethnic/religious mix of Singapore. Foreigners, even rich ones, are not allowed to buy any of the older properties that all had gardens - they can only rent.

      Although the many strict laws are still there they are not enforced strictly any more. They give warnings much more often - but I wouldn't try spitting in the street. :heehee:
      Even parking tickets are polite.
      P1140020.JPG

      But don't try parking in the city centre.

      My opinion of the place from having visited it many times over the years is that it's a good place to visit but a week is enough - and I really dislike the weather. It's OK if you like hot and humid or are just there for a visit. Even our friends who have lived there for 25 years say that the weather is a pain in the bum!

      China Town and Little India are still the same and definitely worth visiting. Eating at some of the local food halls, in the suburbs just a little way out of the centre, is an interesting experience. The multitude of gardens are wonderful, museums good, superb shopping (yechh!), loads of interesting temples and lots of places to see as well as the war memorials and sights (worth a visit). Sentosa Island is now 30% bigger than it used to be with tourist attractions :sad:

      The Sands Bay Marina is a fascinating piece of architecture that none of us can afford to visit. Casinos aren't allowed on Singapore but they got around it by building this hotel/conference centre that housed a casino. As the casino is such a small part of the overall complex they got away with it. I suppose that when you build an 8 billion dollar complex you can get away with a lot.
      P1130819.JPG

      The hotel has over 2,500 rooms and the Skypark on the top is exactly what they say it is - a park. It's built like the fuselage of an airplane, over 1,100ft long and has a 500ft long infinity swimming pool! If any of you really want to feel as though you can swim over the edge and drop well over 600ft - you're very welcome!

      This is a new lot of apartments - takne through the porthole of a ferry
      P1140059.JPG

      It has connecting walkways
      P1150341.JPG

      One little old Chinese lady walked into their sales office and said that she wants one and they told her that they start at $400,000. She said that was OK and they asked whether she would like to see all the different types. She pointed at the plans and said "I want this one" but they couldn't quite see which one she meant. Being polite to a potential purchaser they asked her which floor it was on and she got a little annoyed. She meant, and bought, the whole block (fourth one from the right)!! :heehee:

      The temples are fascinating places to see.
      P1150302.JPG

      P1140019.JPG
       
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        shiney, Feb 27, 2013
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      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        I'm pleased to hear that. Sounds a lot more worthwhile than when I was there.
         
        Kristen, Feb 27, 2013
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      • denley65

        denley65 Apprentice Gardener

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        Very nice report and little bit joules because I love to travel and swimming is my favorite hobby. I never go there but not it is in my list for my upcoming tour. I wish to swim in an infinity pool.Above Ground Pools
         
        denley65, May 20, 2013
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