SINGAPORE- MAY, 2012

This was my first trip to Singapore. It was a very long flight, 12.5 hours from L.A.to Tokyo, then another 8.5 hours from Tokyo to Singapore. There were storms surrounding Singapore when I landed, and it looked like the 4th of July with all the lightening strikes around the island. This picture is of the downtown financial district on Marina Bay. The weather was very hot and humid, and was unfortunately the cloudiest day I experienced when I was
there.

This is the Singapore River as it flows through the city. The old warehouses and shops have been turned into stores and restaurants.

This is the gated entryway into Fort Canning. Fort Canning was the British military headquarters during World War II, and was the last area to surrender to the Japanese invaders of Singapore. The gate is the last remaining part of the original fort, except for the underground bunker.

 

This picture was taken inside the restored command center of the British army in the underground bunker at Fort Canning. It represents the scene just before the British surrender to the Japanese.

 

This is the Fire Department Headquarters in downtown Singapore, and reflects the classic colonial architecture of the British colonial period.

 

This is the Parliament Building in Singapore.

This is a picture of the Singapore River as it flows toward Marina Bay through the downtown business district. Along the banks are wide walkways where you can walk along the river, as well as shops and restaurants to eat.

 

The Merlion is the symbol of Singapore. It is a combination of a lion and a sea dragon. This statue is on Marina Bay at the foot of the business district. It is a major tourist attraction.

 

Singapore's population is composed of equal numbers of Indian, Malay, and Chinese immigrants. This picture was taken on Arab Street in the Muslim part of Singapore with the main mosque in the background.

 

Another picture of the mosque which was undergoing renovation.

This picture was taken in the Indian area of Singapore. If you like food with curry, this is the place is for you!

This picture shows the entrance to one of the Hindu shrines in the Indian area of Singapore. The shrines were open to the public, but photos inside were discouraged.

 

I flew from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malasia for a day trip. This is the Presidential Palace.

 

This photo is of the downtown area of Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur, like Singapore, is a very modern city with a lot of construction taking place. You probably recognize the Petronas Towers [twin towers] which are often featured in movies. It was very hot and humid the day I spent in Kuala Lumpur, and the aiconditioning in the tour bus was not working, so it felt like being in a steam oven.
 

This is another Hindu Temple in Singapore. The carvings were very ornate and strange, symbols of the Hindu religion.

 

This photo was taken in the Chinatown area of Singapore. This is where I bought the T-shirts for the grandkids. I really enjoyed my trip to Singapore. The city is a mixture of the old and the new, and Singapore is rapidly becoming one of the financial and trading centers of Asia and the world.