From one pot to the next
It was immediately evident that we were no longer in Korea as we stepped from the airport onto the subway which was exploding with conversation, laughter and musical voices in new languages. What a change from the stoic calm of a subway in Seoul. While the people here are a beautiful array of colours, faces and sizes, again a contrast to the homogony of Korea, we are no less a minority here. The first night we were walking near our hostel in Little India while the occasional white faces popped through (clearly tourists like us) we were in a sea of unfamiliar culture. The first night we stumbled across a major Indian festival and the restaurants were open all night along with the flower shops and places full of hooks and awful tools the Indians use to prove they feel no pain.
Ivory towers
What a beautiful city. The Quays (pronounced keys as Eileen keeps reminding me) are elegant waterfronts flowing through the downtown of a super modern, architecturally stunning city. The waterfront is littered with English style pubs, Chinese seafood restaurants, museums and landmarks. We began at Raffle's place which is the skyscraper central of beautifully designed towers. We crisscrossed the bridges on the quays while enjoying the Merlion (yes the Merlion, part lion, part fish) fountain who guards the city at the harbour. He has become one of the cities iconic symbols. Finally we found our way into the air conditioned downtown shopping malls. Huge and full of all things North American and Asian I would have believe that we were in Canada except that the clientele where a beautiful Asian rainbow with nary a white face among them. Not only did I feel like I was in Canada but the Asians dress Western, walk Western, and shop Western with many Asian brands thrown in for good measure. We ended the day in China town where you can find anything from gorgeous silk clothing to the latest in stylish sunglasses.
Tropical paradise
Yesterday it was time for a change of pace and we hopped a ferry across the China sea to Indonesia. We wove our way through a choppy sea between walls and walls of ships into the open water. We spend a day on beautiful beaches where Eileen found the palm tree leaning over the hammock on the beach she's always dreamed of finding. The water was wavy from the winter monsoons on the east coast but cool and refreshing. Strangely as it is off season the resort was almost empty aside from staff. So we haunted the beautiful empty beaches by ourselves. After only one day of sunburn to show for our adventure we headed back to Singapore.
