8 April 2011
Harbourfront
First of all, time for one of my rants.
Getting anywhere in Singapore is difficult. The public transport, signage, under and overpasses etc. are all fantastic.
The problem is, no one understands how to walk.
This is most evident on escelators or even worse, travelators, particularly at the airport.
Also the general speed people walk, is ridiculously slow (might have something to do with the obesity rate multiplied by heat).
Whats happened is, people here drive on the left, much like Hong Kong and Australia and England.
In Hong Kong, people driver on the left, but when walking, pass on the right, and when you stand still on an escalator, you stand on the right, leaving room for people to pass, the Chinese influence won!
In England its the same, the European influence won!
In Australia, its still left and left, not enough Chinese influence.
In Singapore, its about 50/50. And thus its hugely annoying.
Lots of stations have travelators to get between different lines, people get on these and stand still, defeating the purpose, everywhere else in the world they will stand to one side, not here.
If you tried that crap on in Sydney, England, Paris, Tokyo, you would get pushed over and people would cheer!
Next part of my rant, I went back to Orchard road right on dusk. Still dont understand why people like it. The only stores there are the high end of the market, and lots of them. Louis Vutton, Prada, Rolex, Cartier etc each have at least 10 stores each along here. There are no other stores. Do people actually buy stuff from these stores? Lots of people were looking but no one was buying.
So I headed to Harbourfront, to see the water, and also check out the ferries to Indonesia.
The ferry situation was confusing, buying tickets now would get you on a ferry that left in over 3 hours time. If I wanted to go to Indonesia for a half day, this sounds a little bit too difficult.
Nearby to Harbourfront is Sentosa island. I couldnt quite work out if it really is an island, I think its joined on at one end, but that might be man made.
This is the view from my hotel window. Pretty good.
Im here in time for the Taiwan food fair. Isetans 3 stores on Orchard road is running this in a big way with banners everywhere, and the horrible aroma of stinky tofu filling the air.
Also along Orchard road, you get many USA fast food places I have not seen before, such as Wendys. Not the Australian pink wendys that sells ice creams, the full USA one thats more a hamburger place.
Theres also an Orange Julius stand, as mentioned in many movies. I still dont know what it is though.
And Dunkin Donuts is everywhere, not just orchard road. They had it in Taiwan also, and Shenzhen from a previous trip. I dont think they have it in Hong Kong though?
I also saw a Chillis but didnt take a photo, which I think is the place they go to on the U.S. office tv show.
Heres the view at harbourfront. The string of white lights you can sort of see is the cable car to Sentosa island.
I then stumbled onto an outdoor fashion show with a very full arena. I cant work out why they were showing winter fashions though, you could never wear any of it here.
Finally, heres my dinner. It was terrible. Its supposed to be Laksa, but it has no spice flavour at all. It tastes like old fish. Very dissapointing! I couldnt eat it all, the fish had bones even. Who wants bony fish in soup?