I chose to take the 1130 ferry to Singapore as it meant I could leave close to my hotel checkout time and get to Singapore around the checkin time (with an hour time difference).
After my breakfast of muesli, papaya and milk, Anton picked me up at 1015 and dropped me at Harbour Bay a short distance away. I changed my spare rupiah to ringgit as I didn’t need any more Sing dollars.
It was a short wait before boarding the ferry. Just before the doors closed, a large group of Indians with big luggage scrambled on. They were ship crew all flying back to India from Changi tonight.
As we approached Sentosa, a Singapore Police Coast Guard (yes, the Coast Guard is part of the Police) pulled up and commanded our large ferry to stop. A couple of cops boarded and took a walkaround. I’m not sure what they were looking for or what they could have found out but I guess it is the usual Singapore deterrence philosophy.
It was a very slow chug in the waters close to Singapore and we arrived about 20 minutes late. I took lunch at the ferry terminal before joining the long but fast-moving taxi queue outside to Hotel 81 Dickson.
I headed through Little India to explore the area in preparation for Thaipusam and went to a mall to get some antihistamine cream for my ghastly bites but it was in vain (no cream only tablet in Singapore I was told).
As a horrendous downpour set in and appeared to linger, I had dinner of Nasi Lemak in the mall. It was formerly from Adam Road and claimed to be the best in Singapore, Johor and maybe even Batam. Pretty meh compared to what I have in Malaysia or New Zealand!
I managed to make it back dry eventually and picked up some pale long mangoes (my favourite type) at three for SGD10. Pretty pricey; not sure if I got cheated. I just can’t believe that this country does not have laws on having to display price unlike in Malaysia.
Around 2200 I walked out to Serangoon Road near my hotel to see the start of Thaipusam. Like in KL, it was the pall kudam bearers (pots of milk) usually on their head. I went to bed looking forward to seeing Thaipusam again in the morning.
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- Little India on the night before Thaipusam eve. I understand the lights are leftover from Deepavali or Pongal.
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- Little India on the night before Thaipusam eve. I understand the lights are leftover from Deepavali or Pongal.
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- Little India on the night before Thaipusam eve. I understand the lights are leftover from Deepavali or Pongal.
