Singapore Trio 2010

It's only been a week since I spent three magic days in Singapore and I miss the place completely already. How can one complain with a view like this? This is the fifteenth floor of the Grand Mercure Roxy on East Coast Road, not too far from the beach. It was even sunny for most of the time I was there.

I arrived in Singapore around 9pm on Friday night after racing home from a three-day cracker trip out to Wiluna and back to a lead mine. There's another three days of my life I won't get back! I flew Qant(arse) with Frequent Flyer points and I must say, I was not impressed. Their domestic service is excellent, but their international flights are awful.

At least the next three days made up for it.

Robin met me at the airport and we were going to head straight for the shops, but he had to stop into the office in the morning and it was already midnight. Instead, we dropped into McDonalds for a McSpicy (seriously) and a Coke. It was off to bed to dream of all the awesome shopping I would do the next day.

Saturday morning was spent sleeping in, enjoying the view, watching Channel News Asia and planning my shopping time wisely. It was off to Parkway Parade at 11am as the shops open to check out the Purple Gold at Lee Hwa Jewellers. This is where I wanted to get my engagement ring.

Robin met up with me at the plaza not long after lunch, and by then I had managed to raid all the shops on five floors, pick up some clothes and accessories and pick a ring I like. Did I mention that the Singapore Dollar was at 1.30 Australian? How awesome is that!?

We went to Lee Hwa, had cups of tea, tried a few rings on then decided on a beautiful white and Purple Gold ring with 0.077 ct of diamonds. The size I was after was in another shop across the country so we jumped in a taxi and headed to the far east to pick it up. Over the next few hours, I had the ring on and off and on again with mini-re-proposals at the shopping centre and at food halls. The six-month wait for a ring was over, and it was completely worth it.


The rest of the afternoon comprised of some more shopping and laksas and wontons. Oh, for the love of Singapore food!

Sunday was a day for touristy things. Robin and I took the train out to Suntec City, did some more shopping (for me) and gifts for family, plus Domo-Kun Robin had been pining over getting one for two days and was distraught that he didn't buy the one at Changi.

When we emerged from the shops, we spotted the Singapore Flyer and walked over via the Formula One track and past the new Helix bridge (which had only been officially opened the night before).

The Singapore Flyer was a thirty minute trip about 185m above ground and the sunny day really showcased how beautiful and green Singapore really is. Domo-Kun also approves.


We spent the rest of the afternoon looking in motorbike shops for leathers, boots and helmets and generally chilling out enjoying the environment.

I'd heard from a workmate to go and check out Chijmes, a food plaza in part of the cultural district in Singapore. It is a complex across the road from the famous Raffles Hotel. We stopped in to the Raffles for a Singapore Sling and an icy cold Tiger (beer is never cold in Singapore, except the Raffles) for a premium SGD50! It was like being at the Breakwater on the weekend. $25 per drink!

Over the road to Chijmes, I was disappointed at first, I thought the complex was small and uneventful. We nearly turned back and left, until I realised that there was another entrance. We walked through into a massive plaza full of big screens, tables and chairs, fairy lights and the most electric atmosphere!

Robin and I chose a Thai restaurant to dine. We were back in the "white" district of town and of course, we paid "white" prices. I got used to paying $3 for a meal and seeing panang curry for $16 made me laugh. We ordered a jug of Tiger straight up. Something wasn't... quite... right... It smelled fishy! As we had just come from the Raffles Hotel with their icy Tiger beer, we knew the taste well, and this jug didn't taste anything like Tiger beer. We asked for another one. Same again. We apologies and said we wouldn't drink it. I think someone forgot to clean the pipes to the keg, because that beer was worse than the worst warm can of Export I could think of. We chose two glasses of Coke, as we thought it was safer. I had a delicious chilli pork shoulder fillet and Robin had the panang curry. Both meals were awesome.

Robin was back at work on Monday so I was on my own. It was off to Chinatown, Singapura Plaza and Suntec City (again) for some more shopping and souvenirs. My plane was due to leave at 7:30pm but not before I stopped off for one final wonton noodle at the hawker across the road from the hotel.

Goodbye Singapore... I miss you!