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

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July 31st 2008: Downtown and the Asian Civilisations Museum


Page 1 of 2.
Click on images below to enlarge:
Downtown
A 720-degree panoramic movie taken from the center of Raffles Place. just outside the entrance to the subway station. Raffles Place is the heart of the densest business section of the city. Why 720 degrees? Because I do one circle at ground level, then rotate the camera (you should rotate your head) and point it upward to do another circle to show all the skyscrapers.
A panoramic movie taken from near the center of the octagonal Lau Pa Sat Festival Pavilion, one of the oldest markets/hawker centers in Singapore. Though the kind of vendors the building has have changed over time, the architectural design has remained roughly the same through restorations; this video is intended to show the design.
Another panoramic movie of Lau Pa Sat, this one intended to show a bit more of the vendors' setup.
The fruit booth from which I bought a snack. If you zoom in, you can see its wide selection of pre-cut fruits. Lau Pa Sat is touristized, as evidenced by this picture--all the top/largest text in every booth is in English.
A 720-degree panoramic movie taken from the center of Raffles Place. just outside the entrance to the subway station. Raffles Place is the heart of the densest business section of the city. Why 720 degrees? Because I do one circle at ground level, then rotate the camera (you should rotate your head) and point it upward to do another circle to show all the skyscrapers.
A panoramic movie taken from near the center of the octagonal Lau Pa Sat Festival Pavilion, one of the oldest markets/hawker centers in Singapore. Though the kind of vendors the building has have changed over time, the architectural design has remained roughly the same through restorations; this video is intended to show the design.
Another panoramic movie of Lau Pa Sat, this one intended to show a bit more of the vendors' setup.
The fruit booth from which I bought a snack. If you zoom in, you can see its wide selection of pre-cut fruits.
Lau Pa Sat is touristized, as evidenced by this picture--all the top/largest text in every booth is in English.
My snack of oranges, skewered.
Wak Hai Cheng Bio Temple (Taoist). If you view the (very high resolution) full-sized image, you can examine all the statues on the roof--I'm told they come from Chinese operas. There was a strong smell of incense which I think came from all the spiral hangings.
A close-up of one of the aforementioned Chinese-opera statues.
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My snack of oranges, skewered.
Wak Hai Cheng Bio Temple (Taoist).
If you view the (very high resolution) full-sized image, you can examine all the statues on the roof--I'm told they come from Chinese operas.
There was a strong smell of incense which I think came from all the spiral hangings.
A close-up of one of the aforementioned Chinese-opera statues.
Stages were set up for Chinese opera inside the temple, but they didn't allow photography.
In a park, the rules for public speaking. You may have to zoom in to read the text. In short, to speak publicly you need to register beforehand. No religious or hate speech is allowed. Incidentally, I believe the rules may have changed slightly since I took this picture. The speakers' corner is in (the boring) Hong Lim Park.
The colorful building along Singapore River housing the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA).
An oblique view of the current Parliament House. The dome of the Supreme Court building appears in the background; I saw this building from the front later this day. This Parliament House is near the Old Parliament House, which I also visited this afternoon.
The stately British building holding the Asian Civilisations Museum. I'd spend much of the afternoon there. The clock tower in the background, also visible in the previous picture, is from the Victoria Theatre, which I'd visit later this afternoon.
In a park, the rules for public speaking. You may have to zoom in to read the text. In short, to speak publicly you need to register beforehand. No religious or hate speech is allowed. Incidentally, I believe the rules may have changed slightly since I took this picture.
The speakers' corner is in (the boring) Hong Lim Park.
The colorful building along Singapore River housing the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA).
An oblique view of the current Parliament House. The dome of the Supreme Court building appears in the background; I saw this building from the front later this day. This Parliament House is near the Old Parliament House, which I also visited this afternoon.
The stately British building holding the Asian Civilisations Museum. I'd spend much of the afternoon there. The clock tower in the background, also visible in the previous picture, is from the Victoria Theatre, which I'd visit later this afternoon.
The end of the imposing Roman bulk of the Fullerton Hotel. It used to be the main post office.
Another perspective on the Fullerton.
The atrium.
The Fullerton's bottom level has a marble-walled koi pond. If you listen with sound, you'll hear me making a comment to myself.
The end of the imposing Roman bulk of the Fullerton Hotel. It used to be the main post office.
Another perspective on the Fullerton.
The atrium.
The Fullerton's bottom level has a marble-walled koi pond. If you listen with sound, you'll hear me making a comment to myself.
The Merlion, Singapore's national symbol, in Merlion Park. In the background is the spiky Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay. Some say it looks like it a durian. I've photographed it before, at night.
A self-portrait taken in Merlion Park.
The pointy-headed version of the self-portrait.
A 360-degree panoramic movie taken from the Esplanade bridge. If you've been paying attention to the rest of the day's pictures, you'll see many familiar sights. This may help put them all in spatial perspective. At sea, there's a lot of cranes / industry.
The Merlion, Singapore's national symbol, in Merlion Park. In the background is the spiky Esplanade-Theatres on the Bay. Some say it looks like it a durian. I've photographed it before, at night.
A self-portrait taken in Merlion Park.
The pointy-headed version of the self-portrait.
A 360-degree panoramic movie taken from the Esplanade bridge. If you've been paying attention to the rest of the day's pictures, you'll see many familiar sights. This may help put them all in spatial perspective.
At sea, there's a lot of cranes / industry.
Along the bridge into town, a handy sign showing the precise number of parking spaces available in various downtown lots.
Along the bridge into town, a handy sign showing the precise number of parking spaces available in various downtown lots.
Lunch at Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee
Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee, the spot ten minutes east of town that my friend took me to for lunch.
Yours truly, looking no worse for wear after spending nearly two weeks in Singapore.
My well-dressed friend and I.
Prawn mee. Although it's a hot soup, despite the hot weather, I liked it. I think it came with a chili-soy dipping sauce that I was indifferent between adding versus not.
Jalan Sultan Prawn Mee, the spot ten minutes east of town that my friend took me to for lunch.
Yours truly, looking no worse for wear after spending nearly two weeks in Singapore.
My well-dressed friend and I.
Prawn mee. Although it's a hot soup, despite the hot weather, I liked it. I think it came with a chili-soy dipping sauce that I was indifferent between adding versus not.
Rojak. My friend said this was Singaporean-Indian rojak. Reading the wikipedia page on rojak styles--there are many--, I'm not sure. Regardless, this was dramatically different than the more fruity version I had a couple of days ago. This version was made from shrimp or fish cakes that were fried and served with a great, chili/tomato/whatever, complex dipping sauce.
A longan berry drink. (Longans are similar to lychees.)
Rojak. My friend said this was Singaporean-Indian rojak. Reading the wikipedia page on rojak styles--there are many--, I'm not sure. Regardless, this was dramatically different than the more fruity version I had a couple of days ago. This version was made from shrimp or fish cakes that were fried and served with a great, chili/tomato/whatever, complex dipping sauce.
A longan berry drink. (Longans are similar to lychees.)
Dessert at Gong He Guan
Gong He Guan, a Chinese dessert shop my friend brought us to.
Kwai leng guo. This is an herbal jelly that's good with honey. It's cooling, making it apropos for Singapore's climate. The name comes from it being served to guests in the palace.
Gong He Guan, a Chinese dessert shop my friend brought us to.
Kwai leng guo. This is an herbal jelly that's good with honey. It's cooling, making it apropos for Singapore's climate. The name comes from it being served to guests in the palace.
Downtown Again
A Chinese temple on the roof an ordinary building. I'm not sure where I took this picture.
A panorama of the Old Parliament House, now a performing arts space.
A panoramic movie of the literally dozens of river-side restaurants in this area. I know it may sound like I've said this before--and I have--but that was referring to a different part of the river! There are lots of restaurants on the river. This movie begins looking west toward the Eglin Bridge, then pans south and east.
A Chinese temple on the roof an ordinary building. I'm not sure where I took this picture.
A panorama of the Old Parliament House, now a performing arts space.
A panoramic movie of the literally dozens of river-side restaurants in this area. I know it may sound like I've said this before--and I have--but that was referring to a different part of the river! There are lots of restaurants on the river. This movie begins looking west toward the Eglin Bridge, then pans south and east.