Just a one hour flight and we are in a different world. Singapore is Disneyland-clean, orderly, modern, no spitting, jaywalking or chewing gum. You drive along treelined streets, zip underground on efficient subways, and walk on sidewalks with no open grates or holes. Singapore lies 85 miles north of the equator at the very tip of the Malay peninsula, encompasses 274 square miles, and is home to just over 5 million people. For you trivia buffs, Singapore is the third busiest port in the world (behind Shanghai and Rotterdam), nicknamed The Lion City, gained independence in 1965, has the 14th busiest airport in the world (Chaingi) and has won one gold medal in the Olympics (but I’m not telling you the sport or year it was won….you have to do a little work)

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We came to Singapore for an Inquiry Workshop. Most international schools invest heavily in professional development. Teachers are given a PD budget and can select what to take and where. This year we have teachers going to New Dehli for an iPad summit, Singapore for IT and Inquiry workshops, Sydney for brain research, Bangkok for music and leadership, The Hague/The Netherlands for an Inclusion Conference, Shanghai for math…exotic locales, quality training.

Because of our workshop we didn’t have much time to ourselves. (Just gives us a good reason to return.) The night we arrived we took time to wander along Orchard Road in search of a dinner spot. At one time this road was bordered on both sides with fruit orchards..thus the name. Today the trees have been replaced with top-end stores as well as “affordable” venues like the GAP, Forever 21, Old Navy, Victoria Secret, Crate and Barrel, etc. (have yet to see an REI or Cabella). This is an extremely safe city and walking friendly…tons of people milling about (but in an orderly manner of course). We walked past a large square where a Dragon Dancing competition was in progress. Reminded us of any competitive event back home…proud parents watching, cameras in hand, cheering on great moves…but instead of football, baseball, volleyball or basketball, the kids performed synchronized moves to music with swords and spears. We found a quaint little Indian Restaurant and had a delicious meal of butter chicken, chicken tikka, garlic nan, rice, vegies and a glass of cab sav.

The next evening we rode the subway to the waterfront to meet some friends for dinner at Brewerkz…a famous pub. It is located right on the Singapore River. The area reminded me of the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The Singapore River is larger but similar to the barges in SA they have these old boats that ferry tourists up and down the river. All along the sides of the river are eateries, shops, malls, places to sit and just watch people go by. After a couple of imported beers and salty chips (with guacamole and salsa), we trekked across a bridge and found Senor Taco….we just had a hankering for Mexican food. We sat outdoors and savored our burritos, tacos, and flautas and an ice-bucket full of Pacifico beer. Entertainment came from the Persian restaurant next door….one belly dancer after another gyrating between the tables. Interesting to see how many men stopped to gape and how many wives/girlfriends were tugging at their arms to move on!!! (I only took pictures to show all of you!!!)

We know we have to return to Singapore…next time just for fun with no workshop. We never made it to Marina Bay to see the famous MerLion statue/fountain, or over to Sentosa Island, home of Universal Studios, Butterfly Park, a big casino, the Hard Rock Cafe (gotta get my pin). Nor did we go into Raffles Hotel…home of the world famous Singapore Sling. We’ll bring our walking shoes…love the subways but you just don’t see anything. The mixture of architecture is amazing….colonial mansions next to ultra modern high-rises. Special neighborhoods…China Town, India Town, the Black and White Mansions in the Mt. Pleasant area, so many historical temples and churches.
And last but not least….Singapore has a Costco!!!! Perhaps we will need to drive so we can bring back those unnecessary Costco size ketchup containers, toilet paper rolls, and laundry soap!!!!

And last but not least….what you all have been waiting for…

The Fruit of the Week
Langsat – Brown thin-skinned, oval fruit. You peel off the covering and you have this sweet segmented lychee tasting innards. You have to be careful not to eat the seed…not very tasty. We both liked it but not enough to buy again.

Passion Fruit – different from the passion fruit (lilikoi) in Hawaii…at least the outside. In Hawaii the passion fruit is yellow…here it is a mottled green/purple. But when you open them up, the innards taste the same…a combination of sweet and intense sour. The looks can turn some people off as it is reminiscent of frog eggs…but have the courage to eat it and you won’t be sorry. LOVE passion fruit.

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