29 Jan 2013 Singapore

First time in Singapore

This was my first time to Singapore.  It was a business trip, to have conference and school visits, and at the same time learn the modern development of Singapore 新加坡

We took a morning flight from Hong Kong and arrived at 13:00.  We had no programme for this first day.  Though I had had borrowed many travel guide books on Singapore,  I was fully occupied before the trip that I could only read them the night before.  Just learnt from the guides that I could taste durian from Malysia.  Well this will surely be my first spot in Singapore.

After checked in the hotel, I grasped a travel guide from MRT and went by myself.  My hotel was located near Little India.  The district was quite old and the building are of only two or three storeys, and old business could still survive.

  

The span of MRT seems a little bit "stupid", especially when you are going around near town centre.  I went to Farrer Park station, took the North East line and needed to change lines at Dhoby Ghaut and City Hall to Aljunied.  For changing stops, passengers need to walk a long way to the destined line.  It took me more than half an hour for this ride and change.
Actually, if I walked the other side to take the Lavendar station, I could go straight to Aljunied after 2 stops on the same line, saving much time. 

One thing different from HK is that the people stand on the left side on the escalator as Japan.  I found myself always standing on the wrong side.

Well, for those stations above ground level, there is no air conditioning, only with big fan on top for ventilation.  The gate barrier is only 5 feet tall. 

 

At last, I arrived at Geylang, and it is even more older, with many food stalls and fruit stalls.  It is a red-light district and I rather visit here in light time. 
 
 
It was really hot.  I picked a stall at a quiet place and durian were sold by portion.  I spent S$30 for a portion and S$1 for a bottle of cold water.  Tasty and really nice and I couldn't believe that I could finish them all.

 

This was a strange fruit to me and I wondered what its taste.