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dzasta travels
Im in Singapore and staying at Backpackers Cozy Corner. I WILL be moving tomorrow cos this place is a **** hole. I will let you know where I am later. This place is SOOOOOO expensive. I have looked at rooms that are absolute **** and they charge, and get, $45/night.
This place is the most overrated, overpriced place I have ever stayed. They showed me a box with 2 beds and a tin roof. The door didnt open cos it hit the bed, the bathroom is down stairs. free internet is 8am to 1am and breakfast is bread (toaster available) served in the bathroom.
I was late so I stayed in a dorm bed. She gave me a grubby sheet to cover the filthy mattress. The 'dorm' is the upstairs verandah, open sides with tin roof. Inagine the noise from the road.
I WILL BE MOVING TODAY!!!!!!!!!!
So I got over my dummy spit this morning and moved. Im in Hotel 81 Opera ( there are about 6 Hotel 81 in the area) in Joo Chiat Rd, Katong. Its the next suburb over from Geylang and still in the red light district. The place is only a few dollars more than the **** hole and it is beautiful. I arrived too early for my room so I dropped my bags and went for a walk around the area. There are a few temples and churches in the area and Karaoki bars. Hey saints or sinners?? i went all the way down to the water of the Straits of Singapore and the fancy shopping centers built on reclaimed land.
Im OK at navigating the MRT (underground) so I should be OK to checkout heaps over the next couple of days. Yesterday I managed to find my way from the airport to the **** hole and this morning I managed to get to the new place. Ive got an MRT card so I can get on and off whenever I like. It is a great system. I did have some trouble getting out of Bougis station yesterday, they have built a whole shopping ctr on top of it so it was a bit hard trying to find the outside. I still dont know how I made it out but I did.
This arvo I managed to navigate the MRT again and went over to Little India. Walking around some of the streets I could have been in Chandi Chowk in Delhi or Calcutta. It really is Little India. Both places are full of old shop houses, renovated and dying, and walking along under the old verandah's took me back to 30 years ago when I was here last. I didnt think I would remember it but some things I do. Both areas were industrial areas in the old days so land was cheap. There are lots af Mosque's, Temples and churches in the area. By luck I came across the Sultan's Mosque and an area called Kampong Glam. It is supposed to look like it did in the old days but I think it is just an excuse to charge more for the coffee in all the coffee shops.
I will update this post everyday so it might end up being huge.
In the area where I live there is a food hall on every corner. I mean every corner and they ary huge, with up to 25 or 30 vendors in them. last night I found one that does meat on a stick and real Malaysian satay sauce. OMG 20 of them and a king brown and Im a happy man.
This morning I went to Chinatown. The green line was down on the MRT so I had to take the orange line and come back to it on the red line. Im OK with getting there the problem comes when I get there and there are about 8 exit's. Cos I was going that way I thought I would walk along Orchard Rd. I wasnt impressed with the run down shopping ctr's and was expecting glitz and glamour. Then I came across some of the old buildings that have been restored and are now museums (kinda like Northbridge). I checked my map and realised I was walking in the wrong direction. Still on Orchard Rd but heading out of town. I turned around and in front of me was Orchard Rd.... the one I was expecting. I walked a long way along it but then headed for China town. I got off at the right station and came out exactly where I was supposed to start so that was a good fluke. I followed my directions but got lost. Found my way back. Then got lost again. I spent about 1 & 1/2 hours walking around in circles. Enentually I consulted another map and found my way. While I was lost I did manage to find Wisma Atria ( was Wisme Murdeka when I was here last time) and Change alley. Change alley is in desperate need of a kleen up, it looks more than 30 years old. China town was a bit of a dissapointment. All the old shophouses have been renovated and are noe trendy boutiques and upmarket cafe's. The shopping in Chinatown mallwas very average. Singapore is no longer the bargain paradise it once was. I did see $2 T shirts but they were rubbish and the souvineer type T shirts were between $7 and $13 each. Little India is better. The Punjabi's know how to wheel and deal. They didnt get all that gold they wear from NOT doing deals.
Tonight I am heading to the Quays for a look see. It is the up up up market area so I prolly wont be able to afford a beer. The clubs near my hotel have a special going on beer at the mo at $27.00 for a jug. They think that is a good price?
I did go to the Quays and it was pretty spectacular. I will go again if i get time before I go home. I walked right around the river. The North side they call the 'civic' area
, where all the old civic buildings have been restored and now they are restaurants. The south side where all the old warehouses used to be are now waterfront restaurants. They all have live crabs from Alaska, Sri Lanka and Australia in tanks, along with various fish and prawns etc. I went down to the Merlion statue and thought it was a bit smaller than I expected and realised after, when I saw the real one they are working on the real one and it is covered up. I stood there for a while cos they had a light show going on from the Marina Bay Sands and they were shooting a laser from the top. I took a couple of pics but I dont thin they worked. Too bad for you, I got to see it.
Its quite late when I came downto the net cafe to post these pics and you should see the slutty young chicks hanging out around the err karaoki bars. Cos it is so hot they are all wearing either very short shorts or aeroplane skirts. some skirts look like belts. (NO Danny I dont have pics)
Today I went to Jurong Bird Park. It is pretty much the same as all the other bird parks but I still enjoyed it. I saw a Macaw I have not seen before, the Hyacinth Macaw, the biggest parot in the world. It is pretty special looking and if I cant have Scarlet Macaws I will have them instead. To get there was 2 trains and a bus, so the reverse coming home, so I took the opportunity to go past the Quays again and get some pics in the daylight. Since I know my way around Singer's and all. While I was at Clark Quay I dropped into Hooters and I must have made an impression cos the girls personally invited me back tomorrow. They know how to charge, I paid $10.50 for a middy. You can guess I didnt stay long. Tomorrow Im going to Sentosa, then Hooters.
Sentosa
I went to Sentosa with the intention of playing golf. It didnt happen but I still had fun. It took me 3 hours to find the golf course (its a bloody island). As usual I turned the wrong way and ended up the wrong end of the island. When I eventually found the golf club they wouldnt let me in. Members only. Had I been able to con a member to sign me in I could have played. Have to but shoes, shirt (with collar), glove, balls and tee's and hire clubs and buggy and pay for a round. Grand total of nearlt $600US. I didnt want to play that much. Everything is expensive on Sentosa. Entry to Universal Studio $72, Mega zip $29, Luge was reasonable at $12 but another $8 to get back up. Burger $20, Chicken and chips $12 and single cone ice cream $5. I'd love to win lotto and come back. You could easily spend a few hundred if you wanted a few rides and something to eat. The girls at Hooters were happy to see me again, well they pretended they were.
Coming home I got lost in a train station again. Even at my local station I came out the wrong exit and had to walk around to the other side.
Near home at the fake Malay Kampong they were having a fake ceremony. All drums and bells and dancing but they just looked druged up to me.
SINGAPORE
After I got over the initial shock of the prices it has been pretty good. In 5 days here I spent 1/2 what I spent in Vietnam and Laos on accomodation. Some stuff bought back memories of last time I was here, even though the place has changed soo much in 30 years. As you would expect. Transport is easy in Singapore. From station to station and even onto the busses. I find the hard part is getting out of the station.Most have a shopping centre built on top of them and that makes it hard. They are huge, some up to 1/2 km between exits and some are multiple stations to change lines. Food is everywhere. Every corner has a food hall where you can get a feed for a few dollars and Maccas and Burger King and the like. They are building stuff everywhere, from new stations to new high rise. I would love to come back and see the place when it is finished.
This place is the most overrated, overpriced place I have ever stayed. They showed me a box with 2 beds and a tin roof. The door didnt open cos it hit the bed, the bathroom is down stairs. free internet is 8am to 1am and breakfast is bread (toaster available) served in the bathroom.
I was late so I stayed in a dorm bed. She gave me a grubby sheet to cover the filthy mattress. The 'dorm' is the upstairs verandah, open sides with tin roof. Inagine the noise from the road.
I WILL BE MOVING TODAY!!!!!!!!!!
So I got over my dummy spit this morning and moved. Im in Hotel 81 Opera ( there are about 6 Hotel 81 in the area) in Joo Chiat Rd, Katong. Its the next suburb over from Geylang and still in the red light district. The place is only a few dollars more than the **** hole and it is beautiful. I arrived too early for my room so I dropped my bags and went for a walk around the area. There are a few temples and churches in the area and Karaoki bars. Hey saints or sinners?? i went all the way down to the water of the Straits of Singapore and the fancy shopping centers built on reclaimed land.
Im OK at navigating the MRT (underground) so I should be OK to checkout heaps over the next couple of days. Yesterday I managed to find my way from the airport to the **** hole and this morning I managed to get to the new place. Ive got an MRT card so I can get on and off whenever I like. It is a great system. I did have some trouble getting out of Bougis station yesterday, they have built a whole shopping ctr on top of it so it was a bit hard trying to find the outside. I still dont know how I made it out but I did.
This arvo I managed to navigate the MRT again and went over to Little India. Walking around some of the streets I could have been in Chandi Chowk in Delhi or Calcutta. It really is Little India. Both places are full of old shop houses, renovated and dying, and walking along under the old verandah's took me back to 30 years ago when I was here last. I didnt think I would remember it but some things I do. Both areas were industrial areas in the old days so land was cheap. There are lots af Mosque's, Temples and churches in the area. By luck I came across the Sultan's Mosque and an area called Kampong Glam. It is supposed to look like it did in the old days but I think it is just an excuse to charge more for the coffee in all the coffee shops.
I will update this post everyday so it might end up being huge.
In the area where I live there is a food hall on every corner. I mean every corner and they ary huge, with up to 25 or 30 vendors in them. last night I found one that does meat on a stick and real Malaysian satay sauce. OMG 20 of them and a king brown and Im a happy man.
This morning I went to Chinatown. The green line was down on the MRT so I had to take the orange line and come back to it on the red line. Im OK with getting there the problem comes when I get there and there are about 8 exit's. Cos I was going that way I thought I would walk along Orchard Rd. I wasnt impressed with the run down shopping ctr's and was expecting glitz and glamour. Then I came across some of the old buildings that have been restored and are now museums (kinda like Northbridge). I checked my map and realised I was walking in the wrong direction. Still on Orchard Rd but heading out of town. I turned around and in front of me was Orchard Rd.... the one I was expecting. I walked a long way along it but then headed for China town. I got off at the right station and came out exactly where I was supposed to start so that was a good fluke. I followed my directions but got lost. Found my way back. Then got lost again. I spent about 1 & 1/2 hours walking around in circles. Enentually I consulted another map and found my way. While I was lost I did manage to find Wisma Atria ( was Wisme Murdeka when I was here last time) and Change alley. Change alley is in desperate need of a kleen up, it looks more than 30 years old. China town was a bit of a dissapointment. All the old shophouses have been renovated and are noe trendy boutiques and upmarket cafe's. The shopping in Chinatown mallwas very average. Singapore is no longer the bargain paradise it once was. I did see $2 T shirts but they were rubbish and the souvineer type T shirts were between $7 and $13 each. Little India is better. The Punjabi's know how to wheel and deal. They didnt get all that gold they wear from NOT doing deals.
Tonight I am heading to the Quays for a look see. It is the up up up market area so I prolly wont be able to afford a beer. The clubs near my hotel have a special going on beer at the mo at $27.00 for a jug. They think that is a good price?
I did go to the Quays and it was pretty spectacular. I will go again if i get time before I go home. I walked right around the river. The North side they call the 'civic' area
, where all the old civic buildings have been restored and now they are restaurants. The south side where all the old warehouses used to be are now waterfront restaurants. They all have live crabs from Alaska, Sri Lanka and Australia in tanks, along with various fish and prawns etc. I went down to the Merlion statue and thought it was a bit smaller than I expected and realised after, when I saw the real one they are working on the real one and it is covered up. I stood there for a while cos they had a light show going on from the Marina Bay Sands and they were shooting a laser from the top. I took a couple of pics but I dont thin they worked. Too bad for you, I got to see it.
Its quite late when I came downto the net cafe to post these pics and you should see the slutty young chicks hanging out around the err karaoki bars. Cos it is so hot they are all wearing either very short shorts or aeroplane skirts. some skirts look like belts. (NO Danny I dont have pics)
Today I went to Jurong Bird Park. It is pretty much the same as all the other bird parks but I still enjoyed it. I saw a Macaw I have not seen before, the Hyacinth Macaw, the biggest parot in the world. It is pretty special looking and if I cant have Scarlet Macaws I will have them instead. To get there was 2 trains and a bus, so the reverse coming home, so I took the opportunity to go past the Quays again and get some pics in the daylight. Since I know my way around Singer's and all. While I was at Clark Quay I dropped into Hooters and I must have made an impression cos the girls personally invited me back tomorrow. They know how to charge, I paid $10.50 for a middy. You can guess I didnt stay long. Tomorrow Im going to Sentosa, then Hooters.
Sentosa
I went to Sentosa with the intention of playing golf. It didnt happen but I still had fun. It took me 3 hours to find the golf course (its a bloody island). As usual I turned the wrong way and ended up the wrong end of the island. When I eventually found the golf club they wouldnt let me in. Members only. Had I been able to con a member to sign me in I could have played. Have to but shoes, shirt (with collar), glove, balls and tee's and hire clubs and buggy and pay for a round. Grand total of nearlt $600US. I didnt want to play that much. Everything is expensive on Sentosa. Entry to Universal Studio $72, Mega zip $29, Luge was reasonable at $12 but another $8 to get back up. Burger $20, Chicken and chips $12 and single cone ice cream $5. I'd love to win lotto and come back. You could easily spend a few hundred if you wanted a few rides and something to eat. The girls at Hooters were happy to see me again, well they pretended they were.
Coming home I got lost in a train station again. Even at my local station I came out the wrong exit and had to walk around to the other side.
Near home at the fake Malay Kampong they were having a fake ceremony. All drums and bells and dancing but they just looked druged up to me.
SINGAPORE
After I got over the initial shock of the prices it has been pretty good. In 5 days here I spent 1/2 what I spent in Vietnam and Laos on accomodation. Some stuff bought back memories of last time I was here, even though the place has changed soo much in 30 years. As you would expect. Transport is easy in Singapore. From station to station and even onto the busses. I find the hard part is getting out of the station.Most have a shopping centre built on top of them and that makes it hard. They are huge, some up to 1/2 km between exits and some are multiple stations to change lines. Food is everywhere. Every corner has a food hall where you can get a feed for a few dollars and Maccas and Burger King and the like. They are building stuff everywhere, from new stations to new high rise. I would love to come back and see the place when it is finished.
- comments
Ngaere Welcome to a more "efflient " place.
Danny Sounds like you're going to have to pay the money for the Hilton.
Ngaere Hope you are enjoying the last few days of your holiday. Love you lots. See you when yu get home.
Ngaere Have you considered going to Sentosa to see the changes that have been made there since you last visited? The train does go that way. If you get there the segway ride is great fun!!
john Skelton the train goes right to the bridge and I can walk from there. Im going either tomorrow or the day after, prolly Mon.
ashlea hey dad, glad to see your living the high life now... shame it all comes at high prices aswell!anyway... when are you due home? can you email me flight details so i can organize the afternoon off work :)love you xxx
ashlea <3 what a cutie!!!!! <3
Ngaere John please phone me tonight. Love you lots
Ngaere Good to speak to you tonight. Photos are great. I have had a wonderful "sharing" holiday .
Danny Are you wearing communist propaganda again John?
Steven With that Mosque and the bus it could easily be England