Quirky Singapore IV - Tea drinking

I have found these posts a while ago, and I was very surprised for a number of reasons. I have just looked at them again, and I found new things to be surprised at.


I thought that due to Singapore's past as a British colony, the many citizens of Chinese descent, and my impression that tea (teh tarik) drinking is a pervasive local custom, Singapore would be very prominent on this list:

Quirky Singapore III - Signs and signposting

I already have sooooo many signs, I thought it was time to share. But this is probably only the first of many posts on Singaporean signs.

This is from close to the MacRitchie Reservoir (and Tree Top Walk). And it is no joke, there are monkeys around!

Seriously?

It bears repeating! But also, have a nice day!

Quirky Singapore II - Free Chinese Horoscope for All

This is (also) related to CNY.

I have been to a few malls recently, and they would ALL have this. A Chinese astrologer's free predictions/readings per Chinese animal sign. It would be placed somewhere very prominent. People would read it, take pictures of it and with it!

Singapore Sights - CNY & Chinatown

I have been to Chinatown on Thursday afternoon (CNY eve) and Friday morning (1st day of CNY).

I have actually started out from the Pinnacle@Duxton building, on the corner of Chinatown where South Bridge Road starts.

Istana - Open House

I am following a local blog about Great Deals in Singapore - you never know. And it has already paid off, I wouldn't have known otherwise about the open house at the Istana, this Saturday, on the second day of CNY.

It opened at 8.30. I thought I would go there (very) early :) to make sure that I get in while there are still reasonably few people there. So I got up early, I have already been having breakfast at our local MRT station, Boon Lay at 8am (probably earlier). And I have arrived at the Istana around 9am. I thought that the line was long :), but actually I got past the main entrance in about 15 minutes - including purchasing the ticket (S$1 to go to charity) and security checks (again we were prewarned, and this time I knew to check the list of no-nos :), so I did not bring weapons, knives, or even glass bottles!).

Singapore Sights - Orchard Street

On Thursday, the eve of CNY, I have walked the city. Mostly the ethnic neighborhoods, but somehow I ended up at Orchard Road.

Orchard Road is the main shopping street of Singapore. It starts at the administrative district of Singapore, very close to City Hall and St. Andrews Cathedral, and goes Northwest.

I have started at the National Museum of Singapore.

Wesley Methodist Church (not supposed to take pictures, ooooops).

Ministerial Forum at NTU with PM Lee

 I have been to the Ministerial Forum 2014 on Tuesday, 28 January.

The event has been advertised on campus with posters for quite a while. But getting a ticket was by pure luck: at Canteen B at lunch once we saw a long queue. It turned out that you could sign up for the Ministerial Forum. Well I did that immediately :) I haven't seen any prime ministers up close and personal.

The ticket (the smaller image on the next picture) did say when to go - auditorium opens at 6.30 and doors close at 7.15. And on the backside it laid out the rules: among other things, no bags. Well, I haven't read the backside :) So I took my bag with me, intending to go straight home afterwards. The queue was enormous. I am not joking. At least 100m long along the south arm of the South Spine. So when I was told I cannot bring my back and I rushed back to the PhD office, when I arrived back to the queue, Yaheng was still waaaaaay off from the entrance, even though it took me a good 15 minutes to go leave my bag and get back (because of diversions due to construction works).