Fun and Food!

Sunday we had a relaxing pool day and got to use the floats that Gordon and Gayle brought us from The States. For some reason adult sized pool floats for some reason were incredibly hard to find in Singapore.  After some fun in the sun we again drank and dined along the river (and also played Scrabble) - which became one of our favorite things to do during their visit!

Playing Scrabble at The Merry Men

Continuing Scrabble at Bar Bar Black Sheep

During Monday’s holiday from work Mark suggested we go to the ArtScience museum.  I had already been before and seen the Salvador Dali exhibit which I previously blogged about but there was a new exhibit which none of us seen, the Titanic exhibit.  Sadly, there was no photography allowed in this exhibit but it takes viewers through every aspect of Titanic.  There is history about the concept of the ship and it building, information of passengers and theirs lives at the time of the sailing and sinking, a mock iceberg to touch, ship interior reconstructions, and the most interesting is the 250+ actual artifacts brought to the surface many years  after Titanic’s sinking.  

Headed to the ArtScience Museum

Crossing the Helix Bridge on the way to the museum

The Titanic Exhibit!

I discover a new Dali that I love each time that I go

Beautiful

Love this, the Elephant and the Swan

Drawing of the concept of the ArtScience Museum

Tuesday it was back to work for Mark and back to exploring Singapore for the rest of us.  And the next stop was Little India and then Chinatown.  In both Little India and Chinatown you see an expanse of street shopping set up by locals living in the area, religious temples, and a rainbow of colors; everything from the signs to the buildings themselves to the goods they sell are intricately decorated in bright colors.  Below video taken by Gordon on the streets of Chinatown.

Highlights of Little India included: seeing local fruits and vegetable for sale, smelling hand-made garlands and fresh spices, and our authentic Indian lunch.  We ate at place called Banana Leaf Apollo which was recommended to me by a friend from Sri Lanka.  At lunch we tried an assortment of dishes with origins ranging from North India to South India, all of which were served on a traditional banana leaf.

Gordon and Niki in Little India

Niki in front of the garland which smell beautiful!

Photo of thread colors in Little India, compliments of Gayle.

Gordon's meal at Banana Leaf Apollo

Niki's meal at Banana Leaf Apollo

Chicken Masala, not to be confused with Chicken Marsala which like I initially did

Fish Head Curry - can you believe that none of us ordered it?!

Beautiful authentic Indian wear in Little India

Local fruits and vegetables

Streets of Little India

Hand-made bear key chains in Little India

Highlights of Chinatown included: exploring the Sri Mariamman Temple (Hindu temple), seeing the vibrancy of the Chinese architecture in the restored shop houses, and finding earrings that were 3 pairs for $10 SGD – which Gayle and I both took advantage of!

Outside Hindu temple

Inside of Hindu temple

Hindu temple designs

Hindu temple against the Singapore skyline

Another shot of the Hindu temple against the Singapore skyline

Colorful bracelets in Chinatown

Another demonstration of the vibrant colors of Chinatown

What a bargain!

Market Street in Chinatown

Colorful chopsticks

Colorful fans

Old shop house shutters

Hand-painted globes

Having a globe made for Mark

 For dining later that night we went to an Italian restaurant called Limoncello where Mark and I celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary.  And in case you hadn’t already notice, food is a huge part of the Singapore culture.  You can find just about any cuisine in Singapore.  Just in the 10 days that Gordon and Gayle were here they were able to try: Japanese, Chinese, Mediterranean/Greek, Spanish, Italian, Singaporean, Indian, Thai, and Western!

Robertson Bridge and it's reflection right outside our condo

Mark on Robertson Bridge - I love this picture

Gordon and Gayle on Robertson Bridge

Italian Night!

Having dinner at Limoncello

Mediterranean/Greek night!

Ready for dinner at Esmirada

Gayle's Vegetable Cous Cous

Mark's Chicken skewer

Niki's Paella Valencia

Gordon's Mousakka

Spanish night at Octapas!