Hadn’t realised it has been over a month since the last Photogasm™, which no doubt would have led to many a frustrations for which I apologise. Singapore in the summer of 2005 was certainly an interesting experience, as from childhood I was told it was “much like Hong Kong, though cleaner and stricter” though now as an adult, was keen to get back into Asia if only for the fact that the cost of living shall be cheaper.
Sod’s Law dictated that on coming up from Alice Springs that my suitcase was to have been delayed, so I only had what I was carrying upon my person which wasn’t the greatest of starts. Turned out to be a blessing as my delayed lugguage entitled me to an automatic SG$120 compensation, which pretty much covered the cost of the hotel I stayed at in Geylang for the 7 days I was in Singapore!
Geylang itself was pretty colourful, packed with about 10 streets worth of stalls all shapes and sizes serving tasty, cheap food pretty much all around the clock! The number of times I got offered “massages” from girls outside certain establishments also caught my eye (and explains why when I was still at the Changi International Airport and getting a hotel room, was asked if I was sure I wanted to be in Geylang). Didn’t actually find out till recently that Geyland is actually the legal red-light district of Singapore…
The smell of Asia gave me a good poking up the nostrils too as Singapore still makes extensive use of open storm drains, the adformentioned food stalls will often put tables and seating right up to them, which combined with the summer heat & humidity, can cook up a rather “fragrant” odour. Ironically, it very much reminded me of the open-air 大牌檔 (Dai Pai Dong) that my relatives and I used to frequent rather a lot, though are now banned in 香港 (Hong Kong) for health and safety reasons!
Anyway, being a rather devilish day today (6th of June, ‘06), it’s enough rambling from me and time to bring forth a new Photogasmic™ explosion, completely uncensored from Singapore! ;) Hold on tight to your knickers…
The 400-ish photos of this little Asian city-state, plus the trip onwards to 香港 (Hong Kong) are listed right here:
- Republic of Singapore (新加坡共和國/Republik Singapura) - A week from the 10th of August till 17th of August in “Disneyland with a Death Penalty”, better known as the Republic of Singapore (新加坡共和國/Republik Singapura)!
- 1421 Theory Exhibition (一四二一年理論展) - An exhibition inspired by Gavin Menzies’ pseudoscientific and pseudohistorical book, “1421: The Year China Discovered The World”
- Zheng He & Maritime Asia Exhibition (鄭和與海洋亞洲展) - The very factual and educational “Zheng He & Maritime Asia Exhibition” at the National Library of Singapore
- Sentosa Island Resort, Singapore (新加坡聖淘沙休闲度假島/Peta Pulau Sentosa, Singapura) - A day trip on the 13th of August to the island resort of Sentosa on the southern part of Singapore
- Little India, Singapore (新加坡小印度/Little India, Singapura) - Around and about the district of Little India on the 14th of August and 16th of August
- Chinatown, Singapore (新加坡牛車水/Kreta Ayer, Singapura) - 77% of Singaporeans are Chinese anyway, so “Chinatown” appears to be a bit of a misnomer. Still this ethnic enclave dating back to British Colonial times is also known as “Ox-cart Water” (牛车水/Kreta Ayer)
- Kampong Glam, Singapore (新加坡甘榜格南/Kampong Glam, Singapura) - The Kampong Glam district of Singapore, which under the Raffles Plan was originally designated for the Sultan of Singapore and his household, as well as Arab and Malay communities
- Chinese Garden, Singapore (新加坡裕華園/Chinese Garden, Singapura) - Designed by the Taiwanese Prof. Yuen-chen Yu, the Chinese Garden is an expression of Chinese gardening art covering some 5,800 square meters located on Jurong Lake complete with SMRT station in its namesake!
- Republic of Singapore (新加坡共和國/Republik Singapura) to 香港 (Hong Kong) - Farewell Singapore (新加坡/Singapura) and time for the next stop of the Asian Invasion… 香港 (Hong Kong)!
For those of you that have been following these Photogasm™ will know the ones from 香港 (Hong Kong) are already published and the 600 from there will make a nice round 1000 photos for today! ;) The 300-ish from the Hong Kong Museum of Art will have to wait till another day after I’ve gone through 雲南 (Yunnan) and 澳門 (Macau)… I’ve been gagging to unleash those and just can’t keep it in any longer. :P
WOw! Thanks for sharing these lovely photos of Singapore. I love the place.
Comment by Neil Crespi — 02:34:25 UTC on the 14th of June, 2006
Glad you like them. :D
Comment by Jonathan Stanley — 02:43:17 UTC on the 14th of June, 2006