[achopraa]

6:45 AM - Buzzzzzz. Wifey's mobile Alarm Rings
I woke up and ask my wifey to wake up and get ready for the City Tour.
Check my mobile and the time is 9:15!!! Shock!!! Another check at watch and time is 9.16!!!

Cut to Previous night. I am too lazy to put alarm on my mobile and so better half sets the alarm on her's. But the Mobile's clock was not re-set to the Singapore Time.

Call up the reception to check if someone was waiting to pick us up, response was negative.

So, the real picture was that the Trip's bus had left us. We missed the City Tour :(
Thought of a plan (Jugaad Mind). Called up the local travel agent contact(who was the organiser of this tour) and told him that we could not come as son was unwell, and if possible we be put on the Next Day's trip. Luckily, she agreed.
With some relief, thought of getting the B'fast first and plan the rest of the day at the table.
Had a sumptous b'fast at the Hotel and planned to visit the Sentosa island.
Also came across this distinctive looking Fruit (probably spelt Ramabutta)


Left the hotel at 10.30AM, took a cab to VivoCity(Mall).

Beautiful outside deck at Vivocity.


Purchased the tickets for "The Underwater World" and "The Songs of the Sea" show for later in the evening.

My kid is very much in love with the Metro/MRT's, so I preferred them an my means of Transport as much as I could. So, took the Sentosa Express, enjoyed the ride and the views from the Vivo City and got down at Imbiah Station.



Sentosa has so much to see that a day is nothing to explore its beauty.
The main attractions that we covered:
1. Underwater World
2. The Dolphin and the Sea Lion's show. Frankly we liked the Sea Lion's more than the Dolphins
3. Birds of the Prey Show
4. Palawan Beach
5. Songs of the Sea
6. The Merlion Walk
7. Roaming Around

Getting around the Huge Island was quite comfortable, thanks to the Elevators and the Buses and the MRT. All these were boon specially when you are with kids.

Some Pics

[rk_sans]

@achopraa,
Bring it on buddy. I am closely glued to your travelogue for long time. Why delay in posting.

[advaitlele]

Yes, that fruit is called Rambutan. I loved that fruit. You have to twise open its hairy skin and inside you find juicy pulpy fruit.

I was surprised to see the fruit in local fruit market; just out of curiosity asked and found they were selling Rs 250 for half a kg. I remember having enough of it in KL for as little as RM5 (roughly 70 Rs) for kg.

Thru this log I am reliving my Singapore days. Lovely blog unfolding. Bring it on.

[achopraa]

Previous Day
It was an awesome experience to watch the "Songs of the Sea" show. It's a MUST MUST visit.
The day was one of the most enjoyable day during the whole trip.

We returned via the Sentosa Express to VivoCity and planned of having dinner at the various food kiosks at the Food Republic.

The place is a master piece. Its a blend of so many differnt cultures and the way its built(with left over, broken doors/windows) was amazing.
Food was nice, hygenic(so it seems) and cheap. This Place is heaven for one with good appetite.

Planned to take the Taxi to return to Hotel and came across a situation we weren't aware of. There was a long queue at the waiting station and all the Taxis that were arriving were going directly to some passengers, picking them up and moving ahead.

We waited for close to 20 minutes. Upon enquiring we were told that pre-booked taxis is the way to be. All taxis cost roughly the same (with Protons being cheapest and the Mercs on the higher side). We settled for calling the Sonata(thanks to Local SIM) and the Cab arrived in 5 mins flat.
Day Ends with resetting of Wifey's mobile to Singapore Standard time.

Today

17th August 2010
6:45 AM - Buzzzzzz. Wifey's mobile Alarm Rings
I woke up and ask my wifey to wake up and get ready for the City Tour.
Cross check my mobile and the time is 6:45 indeed.
By 8:10AM, we are at the Conceirge Desk after having a sumptous B'fast.
Two guys from the Travel company arrived at 8.20AM and we started off for our City Tour.

The places to be covered during the tour were:
1. Little India
2. The Merlion
3. Some Buildings
4. Budha Temple
5. Gem Stone Factory
6. Orchid Garden

Trip started with assembling of buses at Singapore Flyer where a few more tourists joined us and the Half Day City Tour trip started.

I'll let the pictures do the talking here. Every place had a unique flavor of its own and a visit to all these was a must.

Singapore Flyer


Little India


Little India - B'ful Stall depicting the coming of Rakhi festival


Little India - Ganpati's Idol (Amul Milk's chadhawa)


The renowned Raffles Hotel


A Customary Merlion picture


Some surrounding buildings

[airguitar]

It sure is home away from home.

I didnt know we got Rambutans here in India AdvaitLele!

BTW, Any Durian fruit fans here ? OT, but share your experience please

Originally Posted by advaitlele

Yes, that fruit is called Rambutan. I loved that fruit. You have to twise open its hairy skin and inside you find juicy pulpy fruit.
Thru this log I am reliving my Singapore days. Lovely blog unfolding. Bring it on.

[advaitlele]

@airguitar - Yes, I was surprised to see Rambutans here in local fruit market in Pune. Along with those, he was selling Mangosteen as well. Lovely fruit I must say. I was freaking out in KL/Singapore on those fruits. One more fruit I loved to the core was "Jam" - it looked like Guava (a bit bigger in size) but tasted like mix of apple and guava. We got it for the first time on our way to Cameroon Highlands at roadside vendor.

NO (sorry I can't type in bigger font) for Durian. I just once had a bit of it and that was first and last time. I loved the Durian flavored chocolate though. Bukit Bintang area in KL has chocolate factory and sells various flavors of chocolates from Durian to Jackfruit to Pepper to Chillies....
I noticed in Singapore MRTs you will be fined to carry the Durian with you and there are strict warning pasted in the coaches announcing that. A few hotels also restrict you to check it in.Ok, enough of OT now.

Back to you Achopra. keep it coming. The building on the other side of Merlion is fondly called Durian building. Its Esplanade and regularly hosts shows / musicals etc.

[achopraa]

The BUDHDHA Temple







GEM Stone Factory (Note the artwork with stones)





Beautiful ORCHID Garden(Must Watch)





An obligatory Car Pic (its Team-BHP)


Finished the tour by alighting at Orchard Road.
Roamed around the various shops, had lunch and decided to spend the other half of the day visiting Singapore Zoo.