Singapore: Day 2

Jet lag doesn't seem to be much of a problem..Margie's system works.  We started the morning going  to another ethnic neighborhood - Joo Chiat. This neighborhood is where Chinese and Malaysians who intermarried lived.  Many Eurasians lived here too.  There are many preserved and restored shophouses there.  Shophouses are 2-3 story buildings that had commercial space on the first floor and residential space on the second and third floors.  A family might have their shop below and live above.  Or, the people living above a shop might be unrelated to the shop owners.  There is also a "five-foot way", a covered walkway that protected the public from sun and rain.  Many of these buildings were destroyed by the government's development policies, but some are preserved in various neighborhoods.  These buildings are wonderful-colorful with tiles and bas relief designs on the facades.

These shophouses are so beautiful...lots of  Chinese signs but also other languages.

Some of the details on the buildings are incredible.

we walked around for awhile and then had iced coffee while watching the crowds.  

Mom made great progress with her walker and it has really made it possible for her to get around.

There are several tell-tale signs that let you know what neighborhood you are in.

  Halal on a sign in front of a restaurant means the food has been prepared according to Muslim dietary requirements so Muslims can eat there.  We ate Laksa for lunch-a Malaysian seafood and coconut milk broth with noodles-so good.

It's got lime and chile in it too.

Loved the old Chinese signs...a very colorful neighborhood located on the Eastern side of Singapore.

That evening we went on the Singapore flier, to see the city at twilight.  We had expected a clear night and full moon as we had had the night before but it was hazy and not great for photos.  Mom was given special treatment to get up to the flier. The procedure had us all laughing-sort of.  A young woman took us on a hike at breakneck speed all the way to the other side of the building-where the special ramps where. I ran after her so we wouldn't lose her while Margie tried to escort Mom.  The young woman stopped periodically to let them almost catch up before she took off again.  When we got to the front of the line, we were cordoned off while she took mom careening down a ramp and onto the flier.  Somehow she survived, but was exhausted.  It was obvious that they have a procedure and they were going to follow it no matter what.  

Shipping takes up a great deal of the coastline and there really isn't waterfront as much as river front and a sort of manufactured bay.

Lots of tall buildings in financial district and new buildings going up all the time.

These building are a stadium and hotels along this bay...it's lively at night with light shows and places to get drinks and a view.

There seem to be a lot of buildings with this shape-the ones from the first day and others being constructed.  These are at a waterfront park that we will visit after Bali.

The flier goes very slowly-the people jump off as  it is still moving though they did stop it for mom.

More later on Day 3.