February 8
Singapore
A terrible night's sleep. Almost none at all. In the end, I gave up, watched the TV news and downloaded photos onto my laptop. This wasn't an entirely smooth process but I did the basics and can do more this afternoon.
When I booked the hotel, it appeared to be cheaper to book B&B rather than just B. I decided, therefore, to risk the hotel buffet for breakfast. I had fruit, mainly melon and pineapple which both have a very high GI count. I also had some mediocre dim sum. I could make them better.
I did a few more chores in my room before emerging into the humid gloom outside and walking round the corner to The Sidewalk for a kopi, a Malaysian coffee. In spite of having no sugar, it's made with condensed milk so is very sweet. It sounds terrible but I really like it. There were a couple of food stalls open, so I will be in for breakfast tomorrow.
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I walked up North Bridge Road in bright sunshine, caught a train at City Hall and alighted two stops away at Somerset. There, I bought some cash from an HSBC machine and walked along Orchard Road to Orchard Station.
I ignored signs of problems on the track and boarded the train. The signs were accurate and the 40 minute journey took well over an hour. Amid scenes that would have graced TfL, we were ordered off one train and onto the next. We were then ordered off that one. The locals seemed to have no more idea of what was happening than I did. Eventually, a train took me the last two stops to Woodland, which had obviously just hosted a very large function on the central grass area.
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My target for the morning |
Externally, it is not pretty but it contains many good shops, one of which sold me the shirts I was seeking at a reasonable sale price. Mission accomplished, I relaxed with a Chinese tea at one of the food courts.
I took a different train home, which had no delays. When I changed line at Orchard, I tried to add some cash to my railcard. The manned office wouldn't accept cash and three different machines rejected both of my credit cards. I feared that the bank might have cancelled them without telling me. At City Hall station, I found a nice man at a ticket office who was very happy to accept my cash.
My walk back to the hotel took me past the Cathedral, a lovely building that I have often visited. At the moment it appears to be undergoing renovation and the magnificent spire is wearing a large hat.
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Sidewalk provided an excellent lunch of prawns, green beans, rice, a fried egg and soup. I resisted the temptations of a beer. Back at the hotel, I visited the cashier and asked him to check if my credit card was working properly. He charged me $50 and then refunded it. Everything worked correctly so it must be the ticket office machines that were at fault.
Feeling suitably relieved, I went to my room and snoozed for a couple of hours. When I came to, the forecast rain had arrived. Within a little while, it had become a torrential thunder storm with some lightning. I had a shower, played with my computer and killed a little time in the dry.
At about 17.30, I ventured outside. Luckily, the short walk to The Sidewalk is sheltered by awnings so I didn't need to use my umbrella. The rain was torrential.
The Peninsula/Excelsior is two adjoining towers. I was in the Peninsula tower while the Excelsior tower was closed. Building work, I assumed. I then read the small notice which said that it was a government quarantine centre! I'd better hold my breath.
My original plan had been to walk half a mile up the road to Purvis Street, where there is a whole row of excellent restaurants. After considering the weather, I drank my beer slowly and decided to go somewhere closer.
When I first came to Singapore, the Funan IT Mall, immediately next door to the hotel, was a wonderful place where I spent lots of time and lots of money.
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That building was demolished about six years ago and its replacement is aimed at the modern generation. Lots of "well being" shops as well as a cycle way and a climbing wall. There are lots of restaurants. I chose a Thai one where I had respectable fish cakes and Tom Yum. Lots of spice etc.
When I left the centre, the centre, the rain had stopped and it was very humid. I returned to the hotel feeling very tired.