seeing, culinary delights and Collin’s past history along with tidbits of Singaporean life. In many respects, it was an atypical tourist experience since we stayed with Collin’s sister and family. For instance, how many times when you are travelling overseas that you have a 7 and 9 year old in the back of a van, belting out perfect renditions of Lady Gaga and Justin Beiber tunes. To say the least, it was very enriching and insightful to learn about and participate in daily life as opposed to hanging out exclusively in the local tourist haunts.Before continuing , it is only fitting to say a big thank you to Collin’s mom, his sister, Siew Sung, her husband Mee Leong and 2 children, Wei Lin (9 yrs) and Xiang Kai (7 yrs) for their warmth and hospitality and at times ‘taxi service’ during our stay with them.
Family Life – Collin has not been back to Singapore for 13 years so his family came t
o greet him at the airport. As you can imagine, it was a very touching and heart-warming family reunion scene that I witnessed. And then we were whisked away to life in Singapore amidst heat and humidity. I was told there are only 2 seasons in Singapore – hot and rainy. I’d like to include the ‘cold climate’ of air conditioning as well since a good portion of time is spent indoors desperately trying to escape that ‘sticky and needing a shower’ feeling all the time. Believe me – it’s a challenge knowing how to dress for the continual ‘one minute too hot, the next too cold’ variation in temperature throughout the day.
The weekend revolved around family activities since we were celebrating Collin’s mo
m’s 70th birthday. Collin’s eldest sister and family came from KL (Kuala Lumpur) and for 2 days there were 11 of us in the 3 bedroom condo. To my amazement, we never felt overly crowded. I owe that partially to the beautiful swimming pool at the complex, often a standard feature given the climate in Singapore, which we gladly took advantage of. There was also a tennis court so Collin and I were in high demand for our prized tennis skills. We did enjoy spending time teaching tennis to the four kids. A bonus – Collin’s entire family has a background of badminton/tennis so with four 
persons/side (2 adults and 2 kids), we were all able to enjoy a lively game of tennis together. That included Collin’s mom who is as spry and agile on a court as I hope to be at the same age.
o greet him at the airport. As you can imagine, it was a very touching and heart-warming family reunion scene that I witnessed. And then we were whisked away to life in Singapore amidst heat and humidity. I was told there are only 2 seasons in Singapore – hot and rainy. I’d like to include the ‘cold climate’ of air conditioning as well since a good portion of time is spent indoors desperately trying to escape that ‘sticky and needing a shower’ feeling all the time. Believe me – it’s a challenge knowing how to dress for the continual ‘one minute too hot, the next too cold’ variation in temperature throughout the day.The weekend revolved around family activities since we were celebrating Collin’s mo
m’s 70th birthday. Collin’s eldest sister and family came from KL (Kuala Lumpur) and for 2 days there were 11 of us in the 3 bedroom condo. To my amazement, we never felt overly crowded. I owe that partially to the beautiful swimming pool at the complex, often a standard feature given the climate in Singapore, which we gladly took advantage of. There was also a tennis court so Collin and I were in high demand for our prized tennis skills. We did enjoy spending time teaching tennis to the four kids. A bonus – Collin’s entire family has a background of badminton/tennis so with four 
persons/side (2 adults and 2 kids), we were all able to enjoy a lively game of tennis together. That included Collin’s mom who is as spry and agile on a court as I hope to be at the same age. On Sunday, our little clan joined the ranks of early rising Singaporean’s and hiked to the top of Bukit Timah, at 537 ft, the highest point in Singapore. Back in the 1800’s there would have been lions in the area (original name of the city is Singapura – City of Lions) but our wildlife viewing was limited to a few birds and a chameleon. Later in th
e day we were joined by a cousin and the 12 of us went to a restaurant to feast on a delicious Chinese lunch for the birthday celebration. Of course, we wrapped up the day with some memorable family photo’s.
e day we were joined by a cousin and the 12 of us went to a restaurant to feast on a delicious Chinese lunch for the birthday celebration. Of course, we wrapped up the day with some memorable family photo’s. Sightseeing - Collin’s nephew, Xiang Kai, stuck to him like glue(we nicknamed him the ‘glue stick’) but fortunately we were able to peel ourselves away for some sightseeing on our own.
The Marina Bay area of town houses many places of interest and is ea
sily accessible on foot. The newly completed, Las Vegas style Marina Bay Sands Resort Hotel is a must see with its 3 hotels, a myriad of shops and entertainment, an indoor mini boat canal, the first casino in Singapore and 180 degree roof-top viewing of the city. And not to be missed is the hotel pool on the roof with water that seemingly cascades over the edge of the building to nowhere.
sily accessible on foot. The newly completed, Las Vegas style Marina Bay Sands Resort Hotel is a must see with its 3 hotels, a myriad of shops and entertainment, an indoor mini boat canal, the first casino in Singapore and 180 degree roof-top viewing of the city. And not to be missed is the hotel pool on the roof with water that seemingly cascades over the edge of the building to nowhere. 
Returning to earth, the renowned Raffles Hotel is nearby and 
certainly worth a visit since I have come across this historic colonial setting in novels from time to time. We arrived at tea time but having recently eaten we decided it was not our ‘cup of tea’ and passed up the elegant dining experience. Still, seeing the property does take me back in time to an era of palm trees and high ceilinged fans as opposed to our modern day air conditioning, which of course the hotel does have.
certainly worth a visit since I have come across this historic colonial setting in novels from time to time. We arrived at tea time but having recently eaten we decided it was not our ‘cup of tea’ and passed up the elegant dining experience. Still, seeing the property does take me back in time to an era of palm trees and high ceilinged fans as opposed to our modern day air conditioning, which of course the hotel does have.A real plus to our visit in Singapore was Collin’s membership privileges at the Singapore
Recreational Club. Among other things, the club has 10 pin bowling. Decidedly a great way to escape the mid-afternoon heat, we found ourselves enjoying three games of bowling. I had him clearly beat the first game until he edged me out on his last bowl by one pin. That horseshoe in his back pocket must have been heavy. But given our scores we certainly weren’t ‘bowling for dollars’.
Recreational Club. Among other things, the club has 10 pin bowling. Decidedly a great way to escape the mid-afternoon heat, we found ourselves enjoying three games of bowling. I had him clearly beat the first game until he edged me out on his last bowl by one pin. That horseshoe in his back pocket must have been heavy. But given our scores we certainly weren’t ‘bowling for dollars’. For more pictures of the clubs check out:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisfick/sets/72157625773203534/
For real entertainment, check out our bowling videos!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrisfick/5350984952/in/set-72157625562701637/
The club also has grass court tennis so we were able to fulfill a childhood dream of Collin’
s to play on this surface. However, our plans were almost dashed when we booked the court. We were told we had to bring our own equipment, including our own net. A miscommunication amongst staff? We’re not sure but they did supply the net and we were able to play on a court that was newly mowed just for us. Since the court is near a main thoroughfare, Collin took delight in waving with his racket to the open air tour buses as they went by, just after giving them an exclamation point by acing me. 
s to play on this surface. However, our plans were almost dashed when we booked the court. We were told we had to bring our own equipment, including our own net. A miscommunication amongst staff? We’re not sure but they did supply the net and we were able to play on a court that was newly mowed just for us. Since the court is near a main thoroughfare, Collin took delight in waving with his racket to the open air tour buses as they went by, just after giving them an exclamation point by acing me. 
Collin also had privileges at ‘The American Club’ – quite exclusive as they only entertain memberships for Canadian and USA citizens. However, that is a bit of a misnomer as we were told later employees from companies of those nationalities are also welcome – so not quite as elitist as we originally thought. The Club was very nice but unfortunately we did not have time for a game of tennis on the’ carpet with sand’ surface. Maybe just as well as I could just imagine ending up with a few nasty rug burns on our first time out.
On the subject of tennis – Collin had a fleeting moment in an ITF tournament in Singapore
. He lost his 1st match to a ‘bit of a nut case on the court’ Filipino. We do give his opponent credit as he was quite the backboard but I don’t think Collin was up to the challenge as he was in vacation mode. C’est la vie – Collin is now back into retirement, tennis tournament-wise.
The Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, along the banks of the Singapore River, have pedestrian walkways lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Temperature-wise, an early/late evening stroll along
these quays is quite pleasant and often hopping with people.
. He lost his 1st match to a ‘bit of a nut case on the court’ Filipino. We do give his opponent credit as he was quite the backboard but I don’t think Collin was up to the challenge as he was in vacation mode. C’est la vie – Collin is now back into retirement, tennis tournament-wise.The Boat Quay and Clarke Quay, along the banks of the Singapore River, have pedestrian walkways lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Temperature-wise, an early/late evening stroll along
these quays is quite pleasant and often hopping with people. Collin’s sister and husband decided we should see the ‘action’ at Clarke Quay one night. Of particular interest was the ‘C-Clinic’. Patrons can sit in wheelchairs or ‘hospital bed’ couches and ‘nurse’ drinks with names like ‘Sex on th
e Drip’, 
‘Overdose’ and ‘Morphine-X’ that are served via an intravenous drip.
e Drip’, 
‘Overdose’ and ‘Morphine-X’ that are served via an intravenous drip. For eating, I was introduced to Hawker Centres – local eateries, usually open air, that are a haven of affordable ethnic foods. At first glance, the establishments may not seem up to ‘western standards’ but I can assure you the food is delicious and cheap (2 can eat for $8 or maybe even less) and I rarely ate the same thing twice. With this as an option the incen
tive to cook is diminished, so Singaporeans often eat out or bring the food home. To name one - Lau Pa Sat is a huge historic structure built in 1894 and located in the business district near the waterfront. It was packed at lunch time when we were there which is always a sign of good food. The challenge is choosing food as the variety seems endless.
tive to cook is diminished, so Singaporeans often eat out or bring the food home. To name one - Lau Pa Sat is a huge historic structure built in 1894 and located in the business district near the waterfront. It was packed at lunch time when we were there which is always a sign of good food. The challenge is choosing food as the variety seems endless.The largest park on the Island is the East Coast Park. Collin remembers time spent here enjoying picnics/BBQ’s with family and friends and even renting a beach chalet for the weekend. The beach is well maintained and exte
nds the entire length of the park, more than 15 km. Alongside the beach is a walking, rollerblading and biking path. We had 2 hours before dusk one afternoon so rented a tandem for a leisurely bike ride up the coast. Starting out on a tandem can be a bit unbalancing, as we discovered, but we quickly mastered a technique that worked for u
s. Contrary to what Collin might say, I did pull my weight and pedaled the entire time. An interesting site along the way – a large pool where individuals can practice waterskiing by holding a line which takes them around in a circle. Tempting to try but we did not have time for it. 
Other sites include Sentosa, a family-fun entertainment centre (with a huge candy store), China Town (not that I haven’t seen the real thing), Arab Street (with its Hookahs) Fort Canning (a historic hillside walk) and various museums and buildings of interest. And of course there is the shopping, Orchard Road being just one of man
y places to spend your dollars.
nds the entire length of the park, more than 15 km. Alongside the beach is a walking, rollerblading and biking path. We had 2 hours before dusk one afternoon so rented a tandem for a leisurely bike ride up the coast. Starting out on a tandem can be a bit unbalancing, as we discovered, but we quickly mastered a technique that worked for u
s. Contrary to what Collin might say, I did pull my weight and pedaled the entire time. An interesting site along the way – a large pool where individuals can practice waterskiing by holding a line which takes them around in a circle. Tempting to try but we did not have time for it. 
Other sites include Sentosa, a family-fun entertainment centre (with a huge candy store), China Town (not that I haven’t seen the real thing), Arab Street (with its Hookahs) Fort Canning (a historic hillside walk) and various museums and buildings of interest. And of course there is the shopping, Orchard Road being just one of man
Although not a tourist site, the Dim Sum Dollies deserve mentioning. This is a trio that sings a very clever lilt on the MRT (transit system). They 
inform you when a train is coming, to move away from the doors and to give up your seat to those in need. The motto is ‘Love Your Ride’ and Collin has found their advertisement on youtube for your listening enjoyment.
inform you when a train is coming, to move away from the doors and to give up your seat to those in need. The motto is ‘Love Your Ride’ and Collin has found their advertisement on youtube for your listening enjoyment.Tidbits of Singaporean Life - I need to confess that I did not do any homework on Singapore before visiting as I figured Collin and his family would just take charge. Thus, my preconceived notion was that it would be similar to Shanghai in magnitude and the predominant r
ace would be ‘my people’ as we jokingly began calling Caucasian’s. In both respects I was totally off the mark and instead gained the following insights and knowledge from my visit:
Singapore is extremely multi-cultural and religiously diverse, more so than Vancouver. The majority of citizens are of Chinese descent, then Indian and Malay. Other Asian cultures include Indonesian, Fillipino and Tamil as well as English. The mix is interesting and to my naked eye it appears everyone does get along (Collin did confirm this).
There are 4 official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. I’d like to thro
w in the unofficial "Singlish". It can be a difficult language to understand even though it is spoken slowly. Words are often skipped, ‘la’ is often added on the end and the English accent sounds quite Indian to me (unless I am mistaken and it is Malay). Some favourites; ‘Don’t be like that la’ and ‘Like that one meh’. To complicate matters, they are so bilingual and even trilingual that flipping back and forth between languages and words is common in the same sentence.
If Vancouver is clean, than Singapore is spotless. An expression, ‘Singapore is a fine city’ l
iterally means the government levies stiff fines for everything –from littering, jay walking, smoking (only allowed in very limited spaces) not flushing the toilet (can’t imagine how this is monitored) and the infamous ban on ‘gum chewing, punishable with a caning’. I learned my lesson immediately as we were tasting a fruit the first evening that had a teeny seed, the size of a grape seed. Collin told me to ‘just toss it’. Figuring it is bio-degradable and no garbage can was in sight, I tried to put it with another piece of garbage on the curb. I was quickly reminded that I could be fined for this behavior. After that I kept my garbage to myself.
I think there must be a fine for begging and living on the street. Not once were
we approached by a panhandler and I cannot recall seeing any outward signs of poverty, although it must exist.
Taxes are low with the highest income bracket taxed at 17%. The flip side – housing and automobile purchases are expensive but there is a publicly funded health care or education system. Education is extremely competitive from the first grade on up – the better the grades, the better the school parents can send their children to, as long as they have the economic means to pay for it.
ace would be ‘my people’ as we jokingly began calling Caucasian’s. In both respects I was totally off the mark and instead gained the following insights and knowledge from my visit:Singapore is extremely multi-cultural and religiously diverse, more so than Vancouver. The majority of citizens are of Chinese descent, then Indian and Malay. Other Asian cultures include Indonesian, Fillipino and Tamil as well as English. The mix is interesting and to my naked eye it appears everyone does get along (Collin did confirm this).
There are 4 official languages: English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. I’d like to thro
w in the unofficial "Singlish". It can be a difficult language to understand even though it is spoken slowly. Words are often skipped, ‘la’ is often added on the end and the English accent sounds quite Indian to me (unless I am mistaken and it is Malay). Some favourites; ‘Don’t be like that la’ and ‘Like that one meh’. To complicate matters, they are so bilingual and even trilingual that flipping back and forth between languages and words is common in the same sentence.If Vancouver is clean, than Singapore is spotless. An expression, ‘Singapore is a fine city’ l
iterally means the government levies stiff fines for everything –from littering, jay walking, smoking (only allowed in very limited spaces) not flushing the toilet (can’t imagine how this is monitored) and the infamous ban on ‘gum chewing, punishable with a caning’. I learned my lesson immediately as we were tasting a fruit the first evening that had a teeny seed, the size of a grape seed. Collin told me to ‘just toss it’. Figuring it is bio-degradable and no garbage can was in sight, I tried to put it with another piece of garbage on the curb. I was quickly reminded that I could be fined for this behavior. After that I kept my garbage to myself.I think there must be a fine for begging and living on the street. Not once were
we approached by a panhandler and I cannot recall seeing any outward signs of poverty, although it must exist.Taxes are low with the highest income bracket taxed at 17%. The flip side – housing and automobile purchases are expensive but there is a publicly funded health care or education system. Education is extremely competitive from the first grade on up – the better the grades, the better the school parents can send their children to, as long as they have the economic means to pay for it.
In some respects, I found Singapore more technically advanced than North America. Cars beep when backing up so parking is a breeze. As explained to us, everyone backs into a parking spot so it is easy to get out. Some parking lots are equipped with red and green sensor lights so you know where there is an empty space to park. Parking pass cards are available and valid at any parking lot. You just load the card and drive by the sensor at the gate. The same applies to their transit system. You have a transit card that is good for the metro and buses. – amazingly efficient and, I am sure, cost effective. Vancouver’s honour system is so archaic in this regard, especially when you read about the annual operating losses.
The 4 K’s of Singaporean Life – I was told these hold true
1) Kia Su – afraid of losing out (an example – a person wanting to go up on an elevator will go down on it, if that is what comes first as they don’t want to miss getting on. So often you will see the same person going up and down)
2) Kia Si – afraid of dying
3) Kia Bo – afraid of the wife
4) Kia Kui – afraid of ghosts
The discussion of the 4 K’s brought us to the 5 C’s that Singaporean women use a guideline for getting married, probably something we can all relate to:
1) Cash
2) Condo
3) Car
4) Career
5) Credit Card
Collin’s Past History – We did spend time visiting the secondary school and university that Collin attended and also traipsed around the area where Collin lived at that time - converted British military housing with quite a history, so very interesting to see. I have put together a separate blog for this as it is off the beaten tourist route. If you are at all interested, check out: Memories with Chao Wee Blog
1) Kia Su – afraid of losing out (an example – a person wanting to go up on an elevator will go down on it, if that is what comes first as they don’t want to miss getting on. So often you will see the same person going up and down)
2) Kia Si – afraid of dying
3) Kia Bo – afraid of the wife
4) Kia Kui – afraid of ghosts
The discussion of the 4 K’s brought us to the 5 C’s that Singaporean women use a guideline for getting married, probably something we can all relate to:
1) Cash
2) Condo
3) Car
4) Career
5) Credit Card
Collin’s Past History – We did spend time visiting the secondary school and university that Collin attended and also traipsed around the area where Collin lived at that time - converted British military housing with quite a history, so very interesting to see. I have put together a separate blog for this as it is off the beaten tourist route. If you are at all interested, check out: Memories with Chao Wee Blog
Culinary Delights – I have alluded to food and the Hawker Centres earlier on in this blog. Since the diversity of food can be quite an experience on its own, I have another blog for this trip with the food from Shanghai, Singapore and Malaysia. If interested, check out: Foods of Asia Blog
For more pictures check out:
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