We got a bit turned about on the way to the Dhoby Ghaut MRT. The locals were looking at us because strangely, which was the first cue that we were lost. The second cue was that there were no more shops, just residential buildings. So, we turned around and retraced our steps until we got onto Bras Basah Street.
A quick word on the MRT. It has changed a lot since we were here in 1999. Dhoby Ghaut used to be about as complicated and busy as, say, the Metrotown Skytrain station. Now it’s a major junction serving thousands of people every few minutes. You have to go down four escalators to get to the North-South line and another two escalators to get to the North-East line. The station is also tangled up with the Plaza Singapura shopping mall so finding the exit to Bras Basah Street is a challenge.
There was a lot of construction at the Clarke Quay MRT, as there seems to be all around Singapore. We crossed one of the many bridges and watched two girls get hurled up into the night sky on a G-Max Reverse Bungy ride. Then we wandered along the riverside past endless restaurants and shops. The outdoor restaurant tables were in these strange toy-like plastic enclosures that jutted a few feet over the river. There were also these really strange gigantic umbrellas over the Clarke Quay shops that were lit up with purple lights at sunset. It was the oddest thing to see. At the end of the row of restaurants we crossed another bridge, entered the state park at our own risk, and settled in at Brewerkz, a specialty brew pub.
The "umbrellas" at Clarke Quay:
Enter at your own risk:
I had a hankering for a beer but didn’t order one because their pricing system pissed me off. Basically, if you ordered a pint between noon and 3pm you paid $4. If you ordered the same pint between 4pm and 6pm you paid $6. If you ordered the same pint between 6pm and 9pm you paid $8. God help you if you ordered that pint after 9pm.
The dinner was nice, though. We each had a salad then shared a burger. No, we’re not dieting. At least, I’m not. The burgers at Brewerkz cost $15 but they’re gigantic. I think it’s reasonable to say that the patty was 7 inches across and 1 inch thick. Definitely a burger for two.
After dinner we went on a bumboat ride along the Singapore River. It was fantastic. The architecture along the river is fascinating, ranging from colonial to wildly modern. There are numerous bridges and everywhere you look there are people strolling along the river, eating at riverside restaurants, or just sitting at the riverside playing with their kids. The highlight of the bumboat ride is a photo-op by the Merlion. I knew from past experience that it’s impossible to take a picture of the Merlion at night from the bumboat, so I just enjoyed the view and the breeze off the water.
We had to return to the hotel after the bumboat ride because I had developed serious chub rub/heat rash during the walk around Clarke Quay. Like many Asian cities, Singapore comes alive after 9pm. It was disappointing that we had to end the evening at 11pm. Thankfully I’ve got a small pharmacy in my suitcase – I swear, half the space in my suitcase is occupied by remedies and personal products, and I’m a low-maintenance person! Hopefully I’ll be able to stay out a bit later tonight.
Clarke Quay comes alive in the evening:
The plan for today is (a) breakfast, (b) shopping on Orchard Road, and (c) the Night Safari. There’s no way we can buy clothes from the shops here, but the frames for eyeglasses are really cheap so Mom and I are planning to buy some stylish new designer frames. I may also see if I can find a nice pair of sandals for my gigantic Western feet.
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