Up to Singapore and a bit of Malaysia - July 18th-August 1st 2008

Top

July 30th 2008: The City Gallery and More Chinatown

I took most of the City Gallery pictures at my camera's highest resolution. It's really worth looking at the full-sized image to see the details of all the buildings, read the captions, etc.


Page 1 of 2.
Click on images below to enlarge:
A model of the central part of the city of Singapore in the Singapore City Gallery. This picture looks roughly west. To the left (south), is Chinatown and the Central Business District. In the distance is the Orchard Road shopping area. In the right half of the picture (north), is the colonial core of downtown, and, farther right, partially cut off by the edge of the picture, Little India and Kampong Glam (the Arab Quarter). The red sign (angled slightly away from the camera, visible in the full-sized image) in the upper-left quadrant of this picture says "You are here." :)
The same model as seen from the south, looking up through the Central Business district and Chinatown to the Colonial Core. The "You Are Here" sign is clearly visible at bottom. The rectangular green area is the Padang; on its south and west sides are the many government buildings I'd see the following day. The green area on the hill is Fort Canning Park, which I visited a few days prior.
The Orchard Road shopping area, farther west within the central part of the city, as seen from the south. The terraced gap in the middle of the picture near the signs for "Istana Park" and "Orchard Road" is where the presidential palace is. It's been left off the model.
Another model of the city, this one actually painted so the buildings look like what they do in real life. This picture was shot from a second-floor overlook.
A model of the central part of the city of Singapore in the Singapore City Gallery.
This picture looks roughly west. To the left (south), is Chinatown and the Central Business District. In the distance is the Orchard Road shopping area. In the right half of the picture (north), is the colonial core of downtown, and, farther right, partially cut off by the edge of the picture, Little India and Kampong Glam (the Arab Quarter).
The red sign (angled slightly away from the camera, visible in the full-sized image) in the upper-left quadrant of this picture says "You are here." :)
The same model as seen from the south, looking up through the Central Business district and Chinatown to the Colonial Core. The "You Are Here" sign is clearly visible at bottom. The rectangular green area is the Padang; on its south and west sides are the many government buildings I'd see the following day. The green area on the hill is Fort Canning Park, which I visited a few days prior.
The Orchard Road shopping area, farther west within the central part of the city, as seen from the south.
The terraced gap in the middle of the picture near the signs for "Istana Park" and "Orchard Road" is where the presidential palace is. It's been left off the model.
Another model of the city, this one actually painted so the buildings look like what they do in real life. This picture was shot from a second-floor overlook.
A movie panning over this model to give a better impression of how it feels to walk around it. The practically unintelligible sound is the leader of a tour group; don't bother attempting to listen.
The same model, shot from ground level. In the full-sized image, slightly above and to the right of the "Your Are Here" sign, you can see how they actually built models of temples in Singapore. In fact, to the left of the sign, you'll see the red multi-layered temple I visited when I left the gallery.
Another perspective on the same model, taken near the ground so the buildings' heights are truly visible. At right is a huge ferris wheel (that I didn't get to ride on during my trip).
A similarly vast model of the country of Singapore, with labels for major sights, districts, and roads. This picture was taken from the south-east looking north-west. In the center-right, you'll see the city's center with all the major districts labeled, along with a red "You are here" sign. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, which I visited the day before, is roughly in the center of the image. In upper-left part of the large patch of green (near the zoo) is the location of the Night Safari, which I visited later that night. At bottom-center is the beach-resort island of Sentosa, which I barely visited near the beginning of my trip.
A movie panning over this model to give a better impression of how it feels to walk around it. The practically unintelligible sound is the leader of a tour group; don't bother attempting to listen.
The same model, shot from ground level. In the full-sized image, slightly above and to the right of the "Your Are Here" sign, you can see how they actually built models of temples in Singapore. In fact, to the left of the sign, you'll see the red multi-layered temple I visited when I left the gallery.
Another perspective on the same model, taken near the ground so the buildings' heights are truly visible. At right is a huge ferris wheel (that I didn't get to ride on during my trip).
A similarly vast model of the country of Singapore, with labels for major sights, districts, and roads. This picture was taken from the south-east looking north-west. In the center-right, you'll see the city's center with all the major districts labeled, along with a red "You are here" sign. The Singapore Botanic Gardens, which I visited the day before, is roughly in the center of the image. In upper-left part of the large patch of green (near the zoo) is the location of the Night Safari, which I visited later that night. At bottom-center is the beach-resort island of Sentosa, which I barely visited near the beginning of my trip.
The gallery also included a lot of information about land management issues. I thought the statistics in this sign were interesting.
The gallery also included a lot of information about land management issues. I thought the statistics in this sign were interesting.
Buddha Tooth Relic Temple
The multi-layered Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.
One side of the building. (It's relatively symmetric, so that this is a different side may not be immediately obvious.) I mainly took this picture to capture the long row of hanging paper lanterns at the ground level.
A lovely receding view upward, almost as if it were done with mirrors.
The shrine. Look at all the gilding: pretty breathtaking. Supposedly the shrine contains 900 pounds of gold.
The multi-layered Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.
One side of the building. (It's relatively symmetric, so that this is a different side may not be immediately obvious.) I mainly took this picture to capture the long row of hanging paper lanterns at the ground level.
A lovely receding view upward, almost as if it were done with mirrors.
The shrine. Look at all the gilding: pretty breathtaking. Supposedly the shrine contains 900 pounds of gold.
A close-up of the Buddhas.
The foyer. I took this photo because I liked the lamps and because I wanted to record the use of prayer candles in glasses. This looks nicer than most ways I see religious institutions set up their prayer candles.
A close-up of the Buddhas.
The foyer. I took this photo because I liked the lamps and because I wanted to record the use of prayer candles in glasses. This looks nicer than most ways I see religious institutions set up their prayer candles.
Chinatown
The side of Jinricksha Station (yes, an old rickshaw station a la a taxi depot) along Tahjong Pagar Road.
The other side of Tanjong Pagar Road, full of fashionable boutiques in restored shophouses.
Part of the long, narrow greenbelt that is Ann Siang Hill Park that winds its way through part of Chinatown.
No Picture Associated With These Comments
The side of Jinricksha Station (yes, an old rickshaw station a la a taxi depot) along Tahjong Pagar Road.
The other side of Tanjong Pagar Road, full of fashionable boutiques in restored shophouses.
Part of the long, narrow greenbelt that is Ann Siang Hill Park that winds its way through part of Chinatown.
In this vicinity, I spotted many buildings for "clan associations", basically exclusive clubs.
More restored shophouses along Bukit Pasoh Road.
Colorful, freshly-painted shophouses. (Yes, there are lots of shophouses in this district.) Indeed, if every building in an area is restored, even chains such as 7-11 occupy nice spaces.
A narrow, vivid gopuram at a Hindu temple that I found at random. (It wasn't it my guidebooks, nor can determine its name from web searches.)
More restored shophouses along Bukit Pasoh Road.
Colorful, freshly-painted shophouses. (Yes, there are lots of shophouses in this district.) Indeed, if every building in an area is restored, even chains such as 7-11 occupy nice spaces.
A narrow, vivid gopuram at a Hindu temple that I found at random. (It wasn't it my guidebooks, nor can determine its name from web searches.)
Lunch at Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee, the stand in the Hong Lim centre from which I bought lunch.
My chicken bee hoon mee: a red curry broth soup with chicken, lard, tripe, intestines, skin, and noodles. They asked for me to choose what kind of noodles I wanted; I said yellow. The soup also came with a dark soy sauce. I actually didn't mind any of those funky ingredients. (I usually mind most of them.) These ingredients were not too chewy or too fatty--the usual issues I have with tripe, intestines, lard, and skin--and seem to go together. However, in spite of this compliment, I wasn't not a fan of the soup. It was simply too hot and spicy, especially given the weather. Sweat poured down my face.
Ah Heng Curry Chicken Bee Hoon Mee, the stand in the Hong Lim centre from which I bought lunch.
My chicken bee hoon mee: a red curry broth soup with chicken, lard, tripe, intestines, skin, and noodles. They asked for me to choose what kind of noodles I wanted; I said yellow. The soup also came with a dark soy sauce. I actually didn't mind any of those funky ingredients. (I usually mind most of them.) These ingredients were not too chewy or too fatty--the usual issues I have with tripe, intestines, lard, and skin--and seem to go together.
However, in spite of this compliment, I wasn't not a fan of the soup. It was simply too hot and spicy, especially given the weather. Sweat poured down my face.
More Chinatown
A quick little movie showing that big streets in Singapore have pedestrian overpasses. There are two overpasses visible in the first frame. The camera then quickly turns, and another two are visible in the last frame. The nearby one has a nice pagoda.
Bee Cheng Hiang, one of the two famous long-standing bak kwa (Chinese barbecued meat) shops. This is its main Chinatown location. It now has over 60 outlets in six countries.
Grilling meat.
At about US$45/kg, these meats are pretty expensive. I bought a small sample of both of these, the chilli gourmet and the gourmet bakkwa, for later.
A quick little movie showing that big streets in Singapore have pedestrian overpasses. There are two overpasses visible in the first frame. The camera then quickly turns, and another two are visible in the last frame. The nearby one has a nice pagoda.
Bee Cheng Hiang, one of the two famous long-standing bak kwa (Chinese barbecued meat) shops. This is its main Chinatown location. It now has over 60 outlets in six countries.
Grilling meat.
At about US$45/kg, these meats are pretty expensive. I bought a small sample of both of these, the chilli gourmet and the gourmet bakkwa, for later.
Old men play or watch Chinese chess or a few types of checkers in this square, Kreta Ayer Square, by the Chinatown complex.
A 360-degree panoramic movie of a fraction of the gigantic Chinatown food court complex.
One drink stand within the complex. Notice the row of blenders at right? There's one blender for each type of fruit. Thus, one juice doesn't get contaminated with the flavors of another.
My freshly-blended watermelon juice.
Old men play or watch Chinese chess or a few types of checkers in this square, Kreta Ayer Square, by the Chinatown complex.
A 360-degree panoramic movie of a fraction of the gigantic Chinatown food court complex.
One drink stand within the complex. Notice the row of blenders at right? There's one blender for each type of fruit. Thus, one juice doesn't get contaminated with the flavors of another.
My freshly-blended watermelon juice.