Chinatown and wonderful fireworks

After our wonderful lunch at Tunglok Seafood we returned to the hotel to find our room had not been serviced. We rang housekeeping to find out if that should have happened and were told we were supposed to be checking out. We assured the lady we weren’t and went out of the room so the staff could get on with it. When we returned an hour and a half later the room still hadn’t been done. It seems reception had taken our earlier call and sent a message to housekeeping. It hadn’t been actioned. Staff arrived to service the room as we left to visit Chinatown. Have a mentioned I won’t be staying in that hotel again?

We exited the bus outside the Buddha Tooth Relic Buddhist temple. We’d been there briefly before, walking through it on the way to somewhere else. Worshippers were inside while monks led the chant. It’s a memorable building.

The shopaholics were delighted to visit Chinatown and quickly vanished into the side streets. Peter and I walked through a shopping mall filled with stalls, similar to what you might find in the night markets in Cairns. There certainly were bargains to be had, pretend Skechers at a fraction of the price, clothes, souvenirs and the like. But we weren’t buying.

We wandered through the streets admiring some of the shops. There’s renovation going on, so it’s clearly seen as worth being there. It’s durian season. I’m told they taste much better than they smell. In the outer parts of the precinct we noticed a few tailor’s shops. I don’t know if they’d do you a suit in a day these days, but I’ll bet they did last century.

I’ve mentioned Singapore’s severe laws about littering and vandalism. They don’t like pigeon’s either.

Dinner was at the Long Beach Robertson Quay restaurant. Our bus driver was apparently new to this run and took us on a rambling route. That was okay. We got to look at the neighbourhood. Once again we were seated around round tables. The food was terrific – if not quite as good as at Tunglok Seafood. We were all given disposable aprons and gloves so we could eat the chili crab – which was lots of fun, helped down with a beer.

After that we walked down to the quay and boarded a bum boat. Back in the day these small shallow-drafted boats would take cargo from the ships in the harbour to warehouses on the river banks. These days, it’s all about tourism.

This year is Singapore’s 60^th anniversary. The island decided to separate itself from Malaysia and go its own way on 9th August 1965. There will be massive celebrations on the day but the Government performed three full rehearsals so that the people could enjoy the festivities. This evening was one of those rehearsals. Crowds packed every vantage point along both sides of the river and on every bridge and ours wasn’t the only boat on the river.

It was awesome. Loved it.

By the way, if you’ve come here by accident and want to follow the whole trip, tap here.