At the River

Yesterday, my two dear friends from Curtin, Alissa and Lidia, were in Singapore on a one-day stopover to Beijing. These two scholarship winners are on their way to learn Mandarin from the experts over in China in 5-degree weather. They must want it really bad!

As their guide for the day, I first brought them to eat some Indian food in Little India:

After lunch and a bit of walking through Little India, we took a cab to the Esplanade and walked by the Singapore River and along Boat Quay and Clarke Quay. After that, we headed back to their hotel for a swim and cocktails.

The Furama City Centre hotel. Unique architecture, huh?


The bathing beauties:


Enjoying their Singapore Slings:

As it got dark, we went out again, this time walking from the hotel to Clarke Quay in search of a place to have dinner.

The fiery sunset from the hotel room:


The new installations in Clarke Quay:


Boat Quay, where we had dinner:


The view from the restaurant:


Alissa with her big, wide grin at the seafood restaurant we chose:

After our great dinner, we walked to the Esplanade Park to check out the festivities at the River Hong Bao.

The gate at the River Hong Bao:


A float in the river:


The decorated pathway along the park:


The Prosperity God:


My forecast for the year ahead:


Some peach lanterns in the trees:


A lion dance troupe, sponsored by IndoChine, packing their equipment away:

We heard that there were going to be fireworks later in the night so we went back to the hotel to get a better view of Chinatown.

Lidia getting ready with her paparazzi cam:


The fireworks in Chinatown, totally skewed by the apartment blocks in front of us:


Some sparklers they set off after:

Photos hosted by: www.flickr.com

I hope they're doing great in China!