Shopping Centers

Shopping Centers here always amaze us.  They are destinations, like complete cities, one stop shopping and entertainment.  I think weather has something to do with it, too, as of course they are climate controlled and fun, family places to go.  They certainly are crowded, especially on weekends. One of our favorites is called "Vivo city." I think Doug told me it was the largest one here, anyway it is huge. But best part is that subway runs right into mall.  So we get on subway next to our complex and never have to walk outside.
Toys-R-Us might be gone in the US but is alive and well here.  Lia has a hard time walking past them because they all have a large selection of LOL dolls and she loves them. She can't have too many of them. I had never heard of them until Lia but guess they are hot with elementary set!
Cavernous is the word I keep using for these huge malls. 

Exhibition at Arts Science Center

That lotus shaped building is Singapore's Arts and Science Museum. There is a traveling exhibition right now showing the work of Dutch artist/engineer/dreamer Theo Jansen. Surely we've all seen his "Stand Beests" on YouTube or Facebook.
Exhibit chronicles his life and evolving work creating these "living creatures" that live on the beach and crawl across the sand by wind power. Several examples of "dead" ones are on display with live demonstration of how they work. There was a class of Primary students visiting and when the docent got the thing to walk right at them, they freaked out. There is something life-like about them so that when they actually move, it's almost unsettling!

I am going to try and add video here.

Tiger Brewery

The one thing Will has wanted to do while we are here is tour the huge Tiger Brewery.  Wasn't so different from other brewery tours we have taken but was interesting, non the less. Huge facility, they produce a whole lot of beer here. Tiger is Singapore's famous brand, they export it all over the world. 
Most fun of brewery tour is sampling the beers in the tasting room when tour is finished.  Beer has always been Wil's drink choice.  I have never acquired a taste for beer but I discovered Tiger makes a "Shanty" that I could definatly drink. It comes in grapefruit or lemon, (lemon is  the best.)  Unfortunatly they don't export these two as is fairly new product. I should have been drinking this for the past 3 months!!

Statue of the "Merlion," Singapore's iconic mascot made out of Tiger cans and cartons.

The Neighborhood

We have come to realize that the neighborhood surrounding Doug's apartment complex is one of the more upscale in Singapore. We are close to Botonical Garden which also adds to value. Housing is expensive here anyway but we found some homes in this neighborhood that are really over the top.  We took a nice long walk this morning to check them out. You find several "timbered" houses that are by no means new but well done. Always renovation and new construction going on. These are "modest" row houses.


Some hidden behind greenery. . .but can't hide the size of these single family homes.

This sign is on wall outside new construction of house for sale.  It's the first photo I posted. Pretty bazaar. Curious about asking price.

And then another blooming tree that I have no clue what it is.

Lion King

We've been waiting all fall for today! We went to see the Broadway production of Lion King at the Sands Theater in Marina Bay. It was amazing. And so fun to see it with a 7 year old--who loves the animated movie and knows the story practically by heart! She was wide eyed and on the edge of her seat the whole time. (So was I)
Grandpa time on subway
The cavernous Sands shopping center where Sands theater is, where we went for Lion King.

Mid-Autumn Festival

Its finally Mid-Autumn Festival.  The actual day is Monday when it is full moon but this weekend is the final run up. It's a major  Chinese holiday and since there are so many Chinese in Singapore, the city has embraced it completely. We made a trip down to Gardens-By-The-Bay in the evening to see it all lit up. Hundreds of people out doing the same thing--Just strolling around, enjoying the festive atmosphere, the light show in the "Super Trees", and spending time with friends and family.

  Doug and Lia delivered Moon Cakes and greetings to a few friends this weekend and late this afternoon a neighbor knocked on the door bringing greetings, a paper lantern and a lovely box of moon cakes. 

  That's what you do on Mid Autumn festival. 

Moon cakes and lantern

Those VanderVorst girls!

Everybody has such busy lives but we finally got a date that worked for everyone and could meet up for dinner and catch up.  Denise (and Bobby) and Natalie doing great. These kids lived across the street in Minnesota and although Tess and Gerry were dear friends from the moment we met them, our kids really didn't get to know each other until they found themselves all working in New York City after college. And here they all are, living and working in Singapore. Sorry didn't get to see everyone's kids but maybe we can work on that next.

Walk in the garden

Soon as Lia left for school this morning we took off for a long early walk in the Botonical Garden.  It is so close to us, we should be over there more often. There are several restaurants in the Garden and this morning we treated ourselves to breakfast at one of them. Will had a traditional western breakfast,  eggs bacon, sausage, toast. . .I had Laksa, that spicy coconut milk based broth brimming with egg, tofu, noodles and this time with tender prawns. 

We weren't the only ones out enjoying the park. Taichi, yoga, runners, dog walkers, everyone out for morning excersize.

From breakfast we did some more touring.  We caught a bus to a neighborhood that is the last of old Singapore. It was suppose to have been torn down years ago but somebody saw some historical value in keeping the last remnant of the kampong (village.) And it does look like a village out in the jungle with hi-rises surrounding. Actually it is a very depressed area and did not look particularly historic, only poor with unpaved streets and leaning roofs. The nostalgic description was a bit misleading. I can't imagine it will escape the wrecking ball much longer as land prices are astronomical in S'pore.

Tuesday and stuff

Will has been biking around Singapore a couple days a week to get some miles in. He has been planning his routes because if he does it right he can go all way on dedicated bike paths from one green space to another making his way around the city. Today he did 54 miles. Getting to see the city up close.
He got down to a place called East Coast Park along the harbor and came upon a family of sea otters sleeping
More street art.  This one is in a street market close to home. Caught my eye because it shows the traditional way of making kopi--(Singapore coffee) by pouring it back and forth to mix in the condensed milk.
Prada for breakfast--or lunch. It's actually an Indian egg pancake that you order with various ingredients. I like it with egg and cheese.
She is WeChat-ing her daddy!

Another interesting museum is called the Former Ford Factory. Ford opened Asia's first Ford auto factory in Singapore in 1941.  Unfortunately it was right as war broke out so was immediately turned into a factory for aircraft and war machines. But that only lasted a short time and Japan overtook the entire Malay peninsula  and occupied Singapore for three crushing years. British forces signed the surrender at the Ford Factory and it then became Japanese headquarters. Now it's a museum telling that whole story and chronicling the 3 years under Japanese rule.  Pretty sobering to see what Singapore endured.