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Bangkok to Singapore... by Kathryn Comeau  Have you ever noticed that every country has its own smell? It is funny the first things you notice in an unfamiliar country. Spices, vegetation, humidity, pollution, and incense filled the air… Our first night in Bangkok started off fantastic with a traditional Thai Massage. This is a must in Thailand, although be prepared to feel some pain as your body is bent in ways you never imagined were possible. The next morning, after breakfast, we boarded a wooden boat for a trip up the Chao Praya River stopping at some of the local attractions. Our first stop was Wat Arun (Temple of the Dawn), known for its décor of broken pieces of porcelain, next the Grand Palace, where we visited the Emerald Buddha, Wat Phra Kaew, the primary residence of the Royal Family, and the National Barge Museum. We took a little detour and cruised through the city to see how the locals lived. This was the highlight of my trip. I felt like I was in a different world. It was incredibly calming watching people in their every day lives, so basic but yet so happy. Kids jumping and swimming in the river, people buying available products from floating markets, people waving at every boat that passed, dogs wandering freely, people washing clothes, doing their dishes and brushing their teeth in the river. During our free afternoon a couple of us jumped on the subway and made our way to the weekend market. The subway system was clean and extremely easy to use and the attendants were very helpful. The weekend market was enormous and is a great place to practice your bargaining! They say that if you walked continuously up and down the stalls it would take approximately 2 days. The next morning consisted of a longboat ride to the summer palace. There is a strict dress code when visiting the grounds. Have your shoulders and ankles covered (pants are prohibited for women, sarongs are available if needed), and closed back shoes. Remove your shoes upon entering. Next stop Ayutthaya. Absolutely breathtaking and incredibly powerful! The smell of clay surrounds you as you walk through the ruins. Pagodas everywhere, remnants of Buddhas covered in golden cloaks with offerings surrounding them as a reminder that they have not been forgotten. Very magical! The night market, a must see, although I would recommend the weekend market over the night market. The night market is located in the Red Light District and you can expect flyers trying to entice you to watch one of their peep shows. Bangkok is known for some of the most beautiful women in the world. So beautiful, in fact, that many are not actually women at all, but men. The night market is also known for aggressive venders who like to physically hold on to you as you try and walk away. This area is also known for pick pocketing so watch your belongings carefully. Once we had finished venturing into the craziness of the night market my roommate and I decided to take a Tuk Tuk. I honestly thought I was going to die. The driver adjusted his mirrors so he could see our face expressions as he popped wheelies and whipped in, out and between traffic. The more we laughed or screamed the faster he went. We had a blast! When arriving at Changi Airport in Singapore, take a look around at this award-winning airport, which greets visitors with class. Singapore immigration officers welcome you with a smile, a candy and thank you for visiting their country. A very pleasant way start to our stay. Once settled into my hotel I went for a walk down bustling Orchard Road. This was quite a shock coming from laid-back Bangkok. Singapore is an extremely busy, cosmopolitan and spotless city. Here, tall buildings, huge malls, 7eleven kiosks, and Starbucks surround you. I no longer felt like I was in Asia. We all gathered at Jumbo’s Seafood restaurant located at Riverside Point Quay for dinner. Here I tried the national dish of Singapore, the Chili Crab. Fantastic! The locals in Singapore very rarely cook at home. Eating out is the national pastime although they rarely eat in restaurants. Most Singaporeans eat at local Hawkers (portable food kiosks) or in food courts. Each food stall/hawker is checked weekly by the health authorities, and are clearly displayed with a grade showing their level of cleanliness. A is the highest standard and D is the highest possibility of ending up in the hospital. After dinner a couple of us walked down Orchard Road to this side street nicknamed the Alley Bar. This is a series of wine bars all made into one and is a great spot for people watching. Alcohol in Singapore is quite expensive. A pint of beer costs between 6-11CAD. Cocktails run at about 11-15 CAD. The next morning we went on a city tour of the Parliament House, the Supreme Court, City Hall, the Cricket Club and stopped in Chinatown. Thian Hock Keng Temple was next on the list, known for being built without one single nail. We continued on to Mount Faber. This is a great place for panoramic views and on a clear day you can see Indonesia. Other stops included the Orchard Garden, Little India and the Night Safari. Sentosa Island is a resort island with tons of activities including Fantasy Island (Asia’s largest water theme park), Underwater World Aquarium and the Merlion Tower where you can see amazing panoramic views. Unfortunately we only had two hours and decided to go to Palawan Beach to stick our feet in the South China Sea. We were able to walk over a suspension bridge to the southern most tip of continental Asia. Raffles Hotel… wow… this place is stunning although the staff are a little on the snobby side. The doorman wouldn’t allow more than 6 of us in the lobby at one time and you must be dressed formally. Shorts and sandals are not permitted. There is, however, a separate entrance for people who want to enter the hotel in street attire. We were able to walk around the grounds and then enjoyed a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar, where the drink had first been created. Now a little tipsy, it was time to eat. We had dinner by the Singapore River at a restaurant called the Sizzling Rock. Here they bring you a burning hot coal with raw salmon, chicken or beef and you cook it yourself. It was incredibly good. Compliments to the chef! After dinner we decided to check out Pasar Malam, Singapore’s night market. This can be missed especially if you have been to a market in Bangkok. This market is only about two blocks long and it is difficult to get a good deal, as the venders are not as likely to barter. The next morning back to Canada. This was my first trip to Asia and definitely not my last. Bangkok exudes culture, spirituality, peacefulness, simplicity, and life. Take a step back and look around, as its beauty is right under your nose. If you rush you just might miss it! Singapore is a refreshing, lush, clean city and is known as a ‘fine’ city. Try and smuggle gum into the country and the locals will be your friends for life. |
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