Goodbye Singapore!

Another great trip is now coming to an end. The last couple of days, travelling across the length of the Malay peninsula - from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Penang Island and back to Singapore have been absolutely thrilling. 

We got an opportunity to meet interesting people, make new friends, have new experiences and obviously sample great food. And we carry back an excess baggage of pleasant memories that we will cherish for the rest of our lives...

After a night of partying at Clarke Quay and swaying to the timeless beats of the 1980s, we were a bit hungover from lack of sleep, And we needed a great breakfast. The place to head to was undoubtedly the Balestier food market...

For me it was the classic Indo-Singaporean roti-prata with a spicy curry made with meat stock...

For Neeti, it was a masala dosa - you bet she freaks out on South Indian cuisine...

We spent the afternoon roaming around the city, meeting friends and shopping for souvenirs in Bugis. And then Neeti said she had a surprise. She guided me to VivoCity Mall on the Keppel Viaduct from where one can have a clear view of Sentosa Island...

It was quite a cloudy evening yesterday...

There is Sentosa...

The quay of Keppel cargo terminal...

There goes the Sentosa cable car...

Scenes from VivoCity...

An interesting guide on how to use the restrooms...

Being our last night in Singapore, we headed to Lau Pa Sat. Incidentally I had my first meal in Singapore during this trip here...

Mmmmm, Slurp, Slurp...

I love the traditional laksa...

After a lazy morning, we spent an hour or so packing our stuff, we headed to Changi Airport to catch our flight back home to Mumbai.

Browsing through the bookstores in Changi - I need to buy this book!

And I am going nuts over the Char Kway Teow...

This classic Singaporean stir-fry noodle dish is cooked in lard with lots of vegetables and pork...

And liberally spiced with chilli and soya...

Who wouldn't fall over in love after eating Char Kway Teow?

And Neeti is freaking out on authentic South Indian cuisine - here she goes with Adai, a lentil dosa...

She had the Adai on my recommendation, as I had thoroughly enjoyed it at Ezham Suvai, in Trichy in February 2013!

And we finally take off from Singapore onboard the Airbus A380, upper deck!

It was far too cloudy!

And as we set course for Mumbai, I sign off with a Singapore Sling! Hic!

Back To Singapore!

After a great time in Malaysia, or rather a great time in Penang, Neeti and I were happy to be back in Singapore, again.

As we touched down at Changi Airport, I couldn't help but reflect back upon our trip to Malaysia. While Kuala Lumpur seemed caught in a classic identity crisis - the city does try to project its modernity, which is evident in skyscrapers like the Petronas Twin Towers, It tries to project itself as a rival to Singapore, but it isn't well-oiled, it isn't clockwork. It is chaotic, its creaky and it is unfriendly. That's evident in the transportation system - taxis don't run by meter, the mass transport system isn't integrated. It appears as though modernity has been thrust upon KL, making it quite a muddy confluence.

On the other hand, Penang was friendly but sleepy. It does not project that it has any pretensions of modernity but revels in its heritage. Georgetown is full of character, it is living proof that the confluence of civilizations is what makes history richer and meatier. There was some kind of an order to the chaos here, at least so I felt. The smell and and feel of the place was positive and welcoming. Indeed I felt blessed I visited Penang, but lament spending two days in KL. Perhaps this time could have been allocated to Penang.

After landing, I did feel relieved to be back in an aseptic and sterile environment that defines Singapore, before heading back to the chaos of Mumbai!

Landed and taxiing to our gate...

Parked next to the big bro - Singapore Airlines Boeing 777...

Waiting for our bags at Changi...

Chinese New Year decorations at Changi...
Would have loved enjoy these sights at Changi, but we gotta take a cab to Balestier to catch up on some sleep...

Our first destination today was Raffles Hotel...

A lot like a mecca for us, we headed for the legendary high tea at the Raffles, for a second time!

Luckily, our Singapore Airlines boarding passes entitled us for a decent 20% discount on the damages...

As we wait for our high tea to be served, it was interesting to see people savoring delights from the colonial era...

...in the elegantly and ornately designed Tiffin Room...

...listening to the harp being played!

And then we enjoyed the high tea with fruit!

We just went mmmmmm!

The ornate courtyard of the Raffles and its intricate fountain...

The charms of Raffles are indeed endless...

It was a wonderful afternoon..

After Raffles, we headed to Plaza Singapura to meet some friends...

It was here we figured out that Sachin Tendulkar is as popular here in Singapore, as he is in India!

As we headed to Clarke Quay, we came across an institution dedicated to Chinese medicine, a therapy like Ayurveda, needs to be researched a lot more...

Finally, a time to party at Little Saigon...

Their band was awesome...

...belting out stuff of the 80s,

...the kind of music we love so much!

There comes my Singapore Sling!

And shrimp rolls with fries!

The party continues outdoors as well...

It is interesting to see how the guy serves Turkish ice cream...

Clarke Quay, and Singapore, will indeed stay on my mind!