Sunday in Singapore (Day 2)

Woke up at 6am and went for a run in Botanical Gardens with Sindya.

This time we found "Mr Prata" and ate a paper dosa, two pratas, fresh orange juice, and coffee. Mmm.

Came back and took a quick swim in the pool. After a short post-exercise-nap, we headed out to Serangoon Road and walked around taking pictures of Indians, making sure to keep an eye out for any Chindians (we may have seen a few, but not sure?). We ate at Ananda Bhavan, did an obligatory tour of Mustafa's, and then took a taxi to Grange Road.

Ah. Grange Road. Stopped at both Lucky Tower and Beverly Hill to show Sindya where I grew up. We even walked around on One Tree Hill Road - where my best friend used to live.

Checking out of the hotel to go spend the evening with the Iyer's. Tomorrow we catch a bus to Kuala Lumpur.

Impressions:

• Singapore still has too many malls - it's freaking me out.
• The food options are great. I'm full (but exercising just enough to keep my appetite)

Saturday in Singapore

We got in to Singapore on Friday afternoon, surprisingly un-jetlagged.

The room is quite fantastic (will post pictures later) - good thing we aren't paying for it.

On Friday night we met up with Aditya and his wife in Clarke Quay, and had a beer at the Crazy Elephant. Then headed to a tiny hawker-restaurant-type-place near his house and ate chilli-crab, some chicken dish, etc. I know I'm allergic to crab, but had to eat it it anyway. Don't ask why I was under the impression that I wouldn't be allergic to Singaporean crab. So yeah - I had a mild allergic reaction on the way to bed.

This morning I got up and went for a run around the Botanical Gardens, in the pouring rain. Part of the mission was to search for Mr. Prata - a 24 hour Roti Prata place. The other part of the mission was to get rid of the pounding headache, and digest enough so that I could eat more. It was cool - I saw the little pond where I used to feed the swans with my mom growing up.

We worked out at the gym, showered, and then headed out in search of food. After some hunger-induced-panic, we finally found a food court (basement of Lucky Plaza) and ate Kaya Toast and Mee Siam.

We took the MRT to Harbour Front, and met up with Reuben - a.k.a. Jambool Intern version 1.0. He took us to The Cheese Prata Shop - near NUS - to eat Roti Prata (mmm).

Came back, did a complimentary wine tasting at the hotel, and then took a nap, tired from all the walking. Went out for a late-night snack at a Chinese vegetarian restaurant on Orchard Road.

Impressions:

• there are way too many malls in Singapore
• so many road names are giving me flash-backs to my childhood. Even some of the geography is coming back to me (within the 1-mile-radius that I knew as a child)
• it's pretty dang humid here
• for a place with not much to actually see, they've done a great job marketing it as a tourist destination
• there are way too many malls in Singapore

Tomorrow I will take S to the street where I grew up.

trip update

The Wife and I are headed to Singapore and Malaysia. Here's what we have planned:

- a weekend in Singapore - showing her where I grew up, meeting some old friends, and eating
- a couple of days in KL - staying with my alternate-mom (a.k.a. Aunty Ann), checking out KL, eating.
- 3 nights in Pulau Redang - tropical beach paradise.
- a few days free (current thinking is to go into the teman negara rainforest)
- a night in Singapore
- back home

We are unwittingly taking the scenic route to Singapore. San Francisco - Hong Kong - Bangkok - Singapore.

On the bright side - hopefully that will result in more meals (and miles?)

Not sure how regularly we'll (want to) have internet access...