East Coast and Changi

Monday 22nd May

After a healthy breakfast of fruit and rice balls, I booked up a tour from a seller of tours in the hotel foyer.

Cousin M and I meet up with no problems this morning - I took a walk from Hotel Pheonix to his hotel at Robertson Quay. We both then walk towards a Chinese bridge and happened to meet up with a charming German woman who had lived one time in Singapore. She takes us to a Chinese temple in Magazine Road. We were allowed to ring the temple bell, see where prayers were burned, admire the koi fish and were given a cup of tea each.

An early lunch at Liang Kee Teochew restaurant of delicious prawns next to the river by Robertson Quay. We sat outside; we were the only non Malay people there.

We are then picked up outside M's hotel for the tour. We are the only English amongst lots of Australian folk.
Visit the 'Arab' quarter with an attractive old mosque and many old shops. Go onto a Malay ethnic area and the Changi Chapel and Museum - an interesting (but harrowing) interpretation of World War II and the atrocities under Japanese occupation. Back via Tampines New Town with a lovely market. We had an excellent guide, a comfortable air conditioned bus and a safe driver. The guide told us all about the rules and many regulations for living in Singapore. Drug trafficking is virtually nil as there is a death penalty which is carried out. I noted this on a form I and everybody had to sign before entering the country. Better the death of a few drug sellers than the death of many is the attitude. It was good to see more to Singapore than just shopping Malls.

Back to Hotel Pheonix. Mike and I rest (I type some of this) whilst a thundery storm passes over. We then found a eating mall - a collection of different stalls selling all kinds of Asian food in a great big eating place. we settle for a Japanese box full of assorted vegetables and fish.
Today I have developed a liking for iced green tea, flavoured with jasmine and sold in tins!
Walk along Orchard Road - very much the place to be at night as it is crowded with pleasant young people and late night shoppers.