Salameander.com

Here’s why we were so impressed with the Aeroline coach which plows the KL-Singapore route:

![Aeroline upper-deck][upper]
> Doesn’t this look like an airline interior?

![Aeroline lower-deck][lower]
> The seats were new, clean and very comfortable. A bit on the soft side, but they would have made excellent things to sleep in on a long haul journey. It’s not apparent in the photo, but the lounge had an added touch of class because they had installed low watt halogen lamps in the side tables for uplighting.

![Aeroline bus theatre system][media]
> Samsung flat panel display with a Sony 5.1 Surround Sound system.

[lower]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-aeroline-lower.jpg “Why would you need two ashtrays in a non-smoking flight?”
[upper]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-aeroline-upper.jpg “Prease fastern your seatblerts…”
[media]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-aeroline-media2.jpg “You’re really paying for the lifestyle.”

The next morning after we arrived, Han went off to the Intercontinental Hotel for his conference and I had the whole day to myself. I met up with my cousin Alison for lunch at Harbour Front, which is near where she works. During my walkabout along Orchard Road, I saw:

![Orchard Road][avenue]
> Tree-lined streets like these, in abundance.

![Tree canopy][canopy]
> More trees—I love their shape! They’ve been planted mostly along major streets and highways, and they all look so lush and healthy.

![Colourful shopping mall][dulux]
> A shopping mall’s exterior sponsored by Dulux.

![Istana’s water feature][istana]

![Oasis in the city][oasis]
> A water feature and a small manicured garden/park across the street from the Istana (I didn’t realise that Singapore had one!). Just feasting on the sight of cool shade and a calm body of water helped to take my mind off the afternoon’s heat.

[avenue]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-avenue.jpg “Monkeys may travel via branches.”
[canopy]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-canopy.jpg “The urban forest concept.”
[dulux]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-dulux.jpg “They don’t have purpleen?!”
[istana]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-istana-park.jpg “Submerged bungalow next to modern aqueduct.”
[oasis]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-oasis.jpg “Mmm…”

At the end of the afternoon, I made my way back to the [Riverview Hotel][riverview] by taking the MRT, alighting at the Clarke Quay station and following the pathway by the river. It proved to be a pleasant stroll.

![River view][ck3]
> Here’s a view of the river…

![Under a bridge][ck2]
> … followed by a walk under a bridge…

![Showerhead stalls][ck1]
> … to come across many, many giant showerheads. These were opposite shoplots which were made up mostly of bars and restaurants. They looked pretty swanky, but I hear that they’re frequented by bengs… what a pity.

![Bizarre furniture][drunk]
> Found beneath one of the showerheads. I suppose the only people who’d be able to bear sitting in those chairs would have to be in the same condition as that depicted by the carvings.

![Colourful bridge][bridge]
> Whoa. My eyes got burned looking at it.

[riverview]: http://www.riverview.com.sg/

[ck3]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-clarke-quay-3.jpg “View over Clarke Quay.”
[ck2]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-clarke-quay-2.jpg “No trolls here.”
[ck1]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-clarke-quay-1.jpg “Monster showerheads.”
[drunk]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-drunk.jpg “Sit on my lap, see what comes up.”
[bridge]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-clarke-quay-bridge.jpg “Hippies’ bridge of psychedelic love.”

I finally reached the hotel after about half an hour of walking. Han was already back. After an hour’s rest we made our way back into the city to meet up with Priscilla (a mutual friend from Sri Cempaka) and Wu Tien (Han’s cousin), both of whom now work in Singapore. Dinner was at a restaurant called Streeters that served Mediterranean fare. Beginning with a jug of sangria, these were presented at our table one after the other:

![4-cheese platter][cheese]
> A cheese platter for starters—manchego, blue cheese, brie and one other which I can’t recall.

![Grilled chorizo with onions][chorizo]
> Grilled spicy chorizo sausages with onions. It was easily the most appetizing of dishes we ordered that night.

![Delicious Paella][paella]
> Paella! That’s a slipper lobster in the forefront. Partially hidden from view are clams, prawns, fish fillets and very well-marinaded rice.

We managed to roll over to Wu Tien’s apartment after our meal.

![Priscilla][friends]
> Here they are—Priscilla in the foreground and Wu Tien somewhere in the back.

The next day was a bit of a disaster as I carelessly cancelled our lunch appointment with Jessie (my uni mate, Han’s primary school friend) at the last minute. She was understandably upset, and I fretted over it all the way back to KL because I’ve never had a friend get mad at me before. Anyway, it’s been settled now, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson about respecting other people’s time constraints. Before we journeyed back to KL Han managed to pick up a 1GB [iPod Shuffle](http://www.salameander.com/2005/01/12/ipod-shuffle/) at a great price, and I bought my Adidas shoes for MYR100 less as compared to what it’s being sold at Malaysian stores. No more of tearing up my feet on raw concrete in public rodas anymore, hurrah!!! Got a pair for [Kotak][kotak] too, since we were both looking to buy the same model.

So there you go. What surprised me most was Singapore’s greenery. I’ve always assumed that the city is a stereotypical, concrete urban jungle, but that clearly wasn’t the case. I’m impressed by how well the whole place has been planned out where environmental aesthetics is taken into consideration before any building is allowed to be constructed. Definitely a great place for a visit… but I doubt I could ever live there, considering its insane pace of work. I’m happy where I am.

[cheese]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-cheese.jpg “iCheese®”
[chorizo]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-chorizo.jpg ” A spicy pork sausage seasoned with garlic.”
[paella]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-paella.jpg “A saffron-flavored Spanish dish made with rice and seafood.”
[friends]: http://www.salameander.com/uploads/050309-singapore-pris-tien.jpg “Priscilla leaning left.”

[kotak]: http://kotakkosong.blogspot.com/