Day before Singapore, we crossed the equator and of course had the usual Equator Ceremony where several people were chastised by King Neptune and his Queen. They were smeared with jelly and custard and cooked spaghetti. The Captain got a dunking in full uniform including his cap.
In Singapore we visited Chinatown and an old house, now a museum showing the living conditions 100 to 150 years ago. Very small rooms, narrow, dark staircases. They have installed a lift and air conditioning, but both were out of order on the day we visited so we crawled up 3 flights in the nice warm weather. Many declined.
Next stop was the Selangor Pewter Gallery. We were shown a workroom and displays of the works and then led into another workshop of Hard Knocks. Here we were given a workstation each with apron and tools to knock a 6 inch pewter plate into a bowl. First we stamped our name on the bottom and then the hard work started. We could take the apron and bowl home with us. Jurjong Bird Park was our next stop. Many beautiful birds also very clever ones.
sms from Mum -
sending this from Raffles Hotel with a Singapore sling in front of me. All the peanut shells go on the floor here.
DAY TOUR =
Chinatown, Pewter
Demonstration & Raffles
You will visit... Thian Hock Keng
Temple, Chinatown/Sri Mariamman Temple, Raffles Hotel Departing your
ship, you'll board your motorcoach for a scenic ride through the streets of
Singapore on your way to Chinatown to experience the rich Chinese culture.
You'll tour the informative Chinese Cultural Centre, then get to spend some
time exploring the maze of awning-draped shops and market stalls. Peruse the
shops for bargains and souvenirs, sample the delicious food, and visit the
beautiful temples, including Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in
the city.
Next, you're off to Royal Selangor Pewter, for a lesson in "hard
knocks." Malaysia is famous for its pewter ware. At Royal Selangor, you'll
visit the Pewter Gallery and learn, about the beauty and versatility of pewter.
Then, using just a few simple tools, you'll get to create and personalize a
pewter dish of your own under the guidance of an experienced pewter smith.
You'll next depart for one of the most famous sites in the city, the
legendary Raffles Hotel. Immortalized in the novels of Somerset Maugham and
Rudyard Kipling, the colonial-styled architecture and lush tropical gardens
exude an atmosphere of timeless elegance. It's truly one of the world's
greatest hotels and home of the famous Singapore Sling cocktail. The Singapore
Sling was created in 1915 in the hotel's Long Bar l, frequented by celebrities
and writers such as Joseph Conrad and Charlie Chaplin. You'll watch as a
bartender demonstrates how to create a Singapore Sling before getting to
partake in one yourself. Then, roam about the grounds, stepping into the
footsteps of visitors who have enjoyed this special place for over 120 years.
Visit the Raffles Hotel Museum looks at the history of Raffles Hotel largely in
the context of the Golden Age of Travel, roughly 1880 to 1939, when Singapore
was known as the "Crossroads of the East."
Afterward, you'll return to your motorcoach for the short ride back to your ship, reliving the colour, art and history of this wonderful city.
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