Tuesday 26th September
A brief blog today, we sleep in until 3.30pm trying to right our selves for a few days in and around Singapore. When we do wake it is to the heavy sounds of cracking thunder and lightening flashes, an electric storm is powering over the city. Our view from our hotel window completely obliterated by the rain storm as it passes across the bay. Eventually feeling a little better we descend for a very late lunch in the hotels restaurant, the staff are busy preparing for a huge buffet style banquet tonight, trays of ice are filled with prawns, mussels and oysters while Peking duck is hanging ready to be sliced to order amongst other meats by the servers later this evening when the buffet begins. We opt for a simple Caesar salad fortified we then take a walk to a nearby Coldstone ice cream store we discovered, compliments of Mr Google. Any sign of the passing heavy rain shower are now gone, these events are a feature of Singapore weather, brief and sometimes heavy but always warm.
The ice creamy is about twenty minutes walk, away from the river, through the canyons of concrete and glass office buildings, here and there a relic of old Singapore still stands reminding me of a once more colourful atmosphere on this occasion it’s the entrance to an original Chinese temple.
When we reach Pekin St. I am pleased to see the old brightly painted colonial shuttered buildings dating back to the 1800’s along the street converted to bars and restaurants. We spot our ice cream store and step up to look at the flavours, first time we have seen a seriously rich looking dark chocolate, after a taste I go with that and coffee, while Amanda just goes with the dark chocolate. Not served in a cone, just a tub, we sit and eat at the street tables, then head back the way we came to the riverside.
Back in our room the sun is fading, the lights of the city start to come on, the city puts on a spectacular light and music show at 8.00pm we watch on, as laser lights and coloured lighting coordinated with the pulsing music start to flicker in time. Fountains of water join in as sightseeing boats cruise the bay their passengers taking in the magnificently colourful show. A photo opportunity not to miss. Then it’s lights out for another day let’s hope we can muster the energy for a full day out tomorrow.
