CutieCook shows us the REAL Singapore

After a bit of confusion at the airport (DrLynne flew first-class, we flew budget to the budget terminal) we met up with CutieCook and AuntieP.  They drove us to their home and admonished us for having eaten McDonalds at the airport: "No more McDonalds, this is Singapore, we are famous for food!"

CutieCook had a schedule of sights already prepared and after a quick relax at home we set out to the Night Safari.  The Night Safari was fabulous...all the zoo animals you normally see curled up asleep were busy running around and playing.  The Singapore Zoo is world-renowned for its modern enclosures, and it was often hard to believe that we were in a zoo at all.  We were, however, thankful for dividing glass between us and a curious tiger that decided to charge menacingly toward us.  Other highlights were the elephants and the odd-looking tapirs that bustled around with speed reserved for the relative cool of the night.  CutieCook took us to a fantastic Indian food place afterward and we were in heaven.  DrLynne was introduced to Parotta and Curry, and Mich and Sue drooled from instant we sat down.  A busy first night, but fantastic nonetheless!

salmon sashimi, octopus...things we hadn't dared touch until Singapore and its health-inspected food operations

We set out the next day to visit Sentosa, a kind of theme-park island.  Spotless beaches and spectacular gardens surrounded the impressive Merlion statue (as the name suggests, it is half fish and half lion, Singapore's mascot).  We shuttled around the island on trams, taking in the aquarium and a dolphin show where the dolphins are actually pink.  Michelle calls it a baby pink, where Susan figured it was more of a coral.  Seriously, PINK dolphins.  We stopped for another CutieCook recommended lunch (delicious), and relaxed for awhile on the beach.  We trucked up the terrace gardens to view the Merlion up close, and DrLynne and Michelle went up the Carlsberg observation tower for a bird's eye view of Sentosa and "downtown" Singapore.  Our last stop was the Orchid garden, more fun for Michelle and her flower-photography but with a nice Koi pond for everyone else to rest by.

The next day started out badly...CutieCook was sick!  She took the day to rest up as DrLynne, Mich and Sue set out on our own to find Chinatown and Little India.  With Singapore's amazing transit system even this combination of 3 leaders in unfamiliar territory didn't lead to any "adventure"...we just "alighted" at the Chinatown and Little India stops.  It was nice to travel adventure-free for a few days!  After another mouthwatering Parotta and Curry lunch (this time in Little India) we headed back home to meet CutieCook's family for a buffet.  And what a buffet...shellfish, sushi, LOBSTER BISQUE...this was no Buffet Royale.  Michelle and Susan took the opportunity to stock up on much deficient vegetable nutrients and other delicacies...salmon sashimi, octopus...things we hadn't dared touch until Singapore and its health-inspected food operations!  CutieCook's family was a blast and we chatted and told stories through several courses of buffet and dessert.  It turns out that our luck with hitting local festivals had held, and National Day was taking place the next day...everyone was in a great mood to stay out late with no work for tomorrow morning!

National Day was another day of great fun, starting with brunch for the whole family (including CutieCook, feeling much better).  We had traditional Singapore breakfast to celebrate national day, in a food court, which everyone assures us is THE WAY to eat.  It was delicious, especially the "Kopi-O", our favorite strong coffee with condensed milk.  After a relaxed holiday afternoon, CutieCook's family began to assemble to watch the National Day Parade on TV...tickets are limited for the event, and CutieCook told us that most people watch on TV...it was a neat phenomenon, watching live a celebration taking place really nearby...we heard the fighter-jet flyover before they appeared onscreen!  After the show (it was incredible) we had our most delicious meal yet, take-away pepper crab and other dishes...and Chinese desserts!  After finishing off a few bottles of red wine (National Day seems to be the same in most countries) we all took off to bed...but what a party!

Our last day in Singapore was spent doing some last minute shopping and enjoying our last bit of Singapore-Indian food before Mich and Sue set off for...India.  We also visited Clarke Quay (a popular nightspot) and mooched off a five-star hotel's airconditioning for an hour or so.  CutieCook definitely showed us a great time, packing in most of the major sites in only four days!