Marina Bay Sands Skypark

Two posts in one day, no need of VPN is awesome!

After a short break at the hostel, Eliza and I headed down to the Marina Bay Sands Area instead of going to the Night Safari which was the original plan.  We went up the Marina Bay Sands hotel to an observation deck not linked to the hotel.  After that we took the river boat cruise to Clarke Quay for dinner at Hooters ( I wanted a burger and mozzarella sticks!).

Those shell like buildings are the Gardens by the Bay greenhouse, we didn't visit them so I don't know to much about it.

The white "hand-like" building in the bottom of this shot is the Art and Science Museum of Singapore.

Thaipusam Festival - Hindu Thanksgiving

This is the festival I mentioned in yesterday's post.  This temple was only a short walk from our hostel, we entered from the back and walked through to see all the people getting ready for the parade walk of 4km.

I don't remember if I mentioned this yesterday but these ornate costumes are attached to the person by little hooks through the skin on their chest, back, and on some even the face.

The festival also involves alot of drums, unfortunately we were never sure what the different drum tunes represented but they were fun to watch.

Everywhere throughout the temple you would see people getting ready to put the costumes on, the first step was always blessing the contraptions and offering food to the gods.

This guy was just about finished when we saw him, he was supporting the weight on his own and his helpers were making sure that all the hooks were attached.  Each of those chains you see end with a hook that was attached to his skin.

Bells attached by hooks on the back.

This one was different because instead of chains it was actually long rods that were crisscrossed on his chest.  The supports for the contraption were even threaded through his skin.

Somehow we ended up part of the procession towards the temple where the parade would end (completely my fault).

A lot of people were carrying these urns, unfortunately we don't know what was inside them.

The young man behind this guy is holding ropes that are actually attached by hooks.  Everyonce in a while he'd pull up on the ropes.

This guy is actually attached to the cart behind him (the umbrella) he has people helping him so the weight is not too much but he is essentially pulling the cart.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I am glad we stuck around Little India to see.  I don't know when I would have had another chance to see something like this again.

Singapore Botanical Gardens

Hello all,

Finishing up our first day in Singapore. 
It was a great day.  We bought some flip flops cuz the humidity was so bad that our poor feet couldn't handle being confined in our running shoes.  We then took a walking tour of the Botanical Gardens of Singapore and did some shopping down the famed Orchard Road. 

I am now sitting outside of our hostel on the patio enjoying a beautiful evening.  It just turned 8pm and it's very peaceful here.  I spent a few minutes talking to one of the workers here while Eliza went to get dinner and he told me that there is to be a large festival celebrating Hindu thanksgiving only a few steps away from our hostel.  It's going to be something unique to see that I am actually looking very forward to. 

Only a few pictures tonight, I love being in a country where there is no VPN needed and I can post pictures the day of instead of waiting until after we've nearly finished our trip. 

This was actually where we exited the park but it seemed like the best picture to introduce the day.

Black swan, and the humans in the background enjoying a beautiful day at the park.  Eliza and I already decided if we were ever to live in Singapore we would visit this park as often as we could, it is just so peaceful, beautiful and quiet for the middle of a large city. 

It was hot, we needed a break.

Big bacon cheese burger for lunch. 

The Three Week Trek Begins

Hello all,

Just thought I'd put up a quick post.  Eliza and I leave on our big three week trip tomorrow afternoon.

Here is a map of our journey. I will most likely be posting while on the trip.

Off we go!!!

Weekend in Harbin

Hey Everyone, sorry it's been so long, just haven't been travelling that much since Christmas.  I've finished my first semester as a teacher and I am now on a 1 month break from school.  Eliza and I started this amazing busy month with a trip north to Harbin (9 hour train trip north of Beijing).

St Sofia Church - Harbin Architectural Art Gallery 

"It seemed like a good idea at the time!"

Harbin Siberian Tiger Park

"Don't Move!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L32djwZlxQg

"So coooold!"

Baby Tiger!

White Liger and Baby Tiger!

"I fight you!"

Ice and Snow World - Harbin - Sun Island

"Is there anyone behind me?"

I am bundled up to the nines.

Ice Slides Behind Me!

Ice Bar

Eliza behind the Ice Bar

Snow Tubing

I did this as well, but the picture was corrupted and lost.

Same with the Chair on Ice!

Air bubbles and a lily pad stuck in the ice, at least 2 feet deep the ice.

Angry Birds

Zhaolin Park - Ice Sculpture Lantern Show

 From reading a magazine in the plane back to Nanjing, we found out that generations ago, people living in the north of China would freeze water in a barrel and then chip out a hole in the centre to insert the lantern to protect it from the cold wind.  This started the tradition that has led to the Ice Sculpture Lantern Show.