24 hours in Singapore

After a long flight we arrived in the evening (local time) here in Singapur.

We get picked up by our guide, a nice lady which has lots to keep all of us at one time at one place. Everybody is tired, but as well excited. In our Stop-over group there are 7 of us on the way to New Zealand and another 10 on the way to Australia.

First thing is the bus to our HOTEL - the Royal Newton Hotel. A huge and expensive looking Hotel. After checking in and getting ready it´s already after 8pm. We´re all hungry. So we just walk around in the Hotelarea, searching for something to eat. Except busy streets and one shopping mall we can´t find anything else. The most shops are already closing, so the most restaurants. In the end the McDonalds is the only open one...

Back to the Hotel and soon to bed. The weather is quite hot and really sticky. We´re happy to be inside the cool hotelroom.

 

The NEXT MORNING we get at first a huge breakfast in the Hotel. A bit time to walk around, now in the daylight. We just walk along our Hotelstreet. Lots of high buildings, traditional asia style one between them, and then lots of green along the whole street. Seems weird to us, green on every free place but on the other hand so much traffic.

 

At 12pm we get picked up at the hotel by our lovely guide. Time for the CITYTOUR :)

First stop is at the BOTANICAL GARDENS. A huge park with all the tropical plants you can think about. Lots of colourful flower and bananatrees. We could´nt believe it ;)

Our guide shows and explains us the mainpart. And then we start in smal groups walking around - sure half of us is to late and we have to hurry to the next place...

 

Stop 2 is at a MANUFACTORY FOR GEMSTONES. We can watch a while how they prepare the stones to put them in defferent statues and pictures.

 

After that we get to stop 3 - the THIAN HOCK KONG PALACE. But not to much time. So just a short walk trough it. Lots of buddism statues and altars.

 

Last stop is in the CITYCENTER. We get to walk around the most famous sights of the city. The town hall (the olny old building), the big wheel, restaurant on top of the skyscaper, and the lion. A few pictures taken everywhere and go.

 

Short stop then on the way back at LITTLE INDIA. Couple of streets full of indian shops, spices and colourful decorations.

And then back on the way to the airport! 24hours in Singapore are a bit to short - but very interesting for the first impression of the country.

 

Now another long flight, 3 hours stopover in Australia, and then we´re finally in New Zealand :)