Week 17: High Tea at Raffles Hotel

This week my adventure was partaking in the infamous tradition of Raffles' Afternoon High Tea.

The Raffles Hotel is one of the most famous icons in Singapore.  The colonial-style hotel was established in 1887 and named after Sir Stamford Raffles, who is considered to have founded modern Singapore.  The Raffles Hotel epitomizes luxury, elegance and history of the Far East.  Famous authors such as Kipling, Hemingway and Hitchcock have written here.  The "Singapore Sling" was also created in the popular "Long Bar".

Upon entering the hotel, I was greeted by traditionally dressed Sheik doormen.  I took some time to explore the hotel and its grounds.  It was so beautiful.  You could just sense all of the nostalgia.  The tropical gardens were exquisite.  The decor was lovely.  Even the hotel's gift shop was the nicest gift shop I've ever seen!  I've never seen a souvenir shop sell Rolex watches.

After exploring the hotel, I met three of my girlfriends to experience the Raffles High Tea.  One must book tea time a few weeks in advance.  The line was so long waiting to go into the dining area, called the Tiffin Room, which has been around since the 1890's.  The Tiffin Room was all I expected it to be. It carried this old grandeur feeling, one you want to be a part of.  The decor was simple, yet elegant.  We were all dressed up and acted very "proper" during our time here.  In fact, it was a bit intimidating.

We were served coffee or tea of our choice.  Then, our server brought a beautiful platter ("Afternoon Tea Stand") of scones, mini sandwiches and other delectables.  Finally, we were also able to enjoy the buffet of Northern Indian specialties including fruits, vegetables, various kinds of curry and the well known "tiffin curry", which has been served at Raffles since 1899.

Week 16: Reverse Bungee

The adventure for this week was going on a reverse bungee called the G-Max.  The G-Max reaches 50 meters in the air and hits up to 200 kph, and G Force 5.  It was SO much fun.  But I literally thought my head was going to fall off.

 Clark Quey

Week 15: Trishaw Tour in Chinatown

So I thought a really fun adventure for Mark and I to do would be going on a "4 Hour Trishaw Tour in Chinatown".  (A Trishaw is a rickshaw on three wheels - a cycle rickshaw - instead of the traditional rickshaw which is a cart pulled by hand.)  The description of the tour included dinner, shopping, tea, and trishaw tour.  What we got, was hardly up to our expectations.

It was interesting going on this tour as "residents" (having been here a while), instead of "tourists".

First, we needed to go to a specific nearby hotel to wait for our mini-bus.  Then, we drove to the Marina Bay area and waited for a coach bus.  Upon entering the coach bus, the bus driver and another person got in a huge - I mean really huge - argument.  We did not leave "on time" because of this argument that everyone on our bus could see and everyone within 100 yards could hear.  However, we just raised our eyebrows and laughed it off.

We finally arrived in Chinatown - as you know, I've already taken a tour of a part Chinatown, but Mark has not - and were dropped of to shop on our own for an hour.  OK, so we just wandered around random streets looking at shops and then finally found our way back to our return destination at the appointed time.  Again, just raised our eyebrows.

Next, we all fill into a certain "Chinese Restaurant" to have tea and eat an "authentic meal".  Oh boy.  Let me tell you, the "tea" was traditional in taste, but not in ceremony.  The entrees consisted of any meal I could find in America, and nothing I could find at any true authentic Chinese place in Singapore.   I have Chinese friends and Mark has been to many parts of China.  Think sesame chicken, stir fry veggies, broccoli and beef.  Needless to say?  We were disappointed.  And again, we just laughed it off.  ...And told all the details to our table of new Australian friends.

After dinner, our final part of the tour was to embark on a trishaw "tour".  It didn't look like old chinese tradition, but it still looked fun.  So our journey slowly began.  And I mean slowly.  There is always a large crowd in Chinatown on the weekend.  But finally, we picked up speed and started cruising.  With no narration or guidance about what we were seeing throughout this part of Chinatown.  Then what to our listening ears did we hear?  The Eagles and Journey.  Oh, yes!!!  Yes, this is what I've always wanted to hear while riding through an area indigenous to the Chinese.

Then, our trishaw ride ended somewhere along the Singapore river where we all filed into a Chinese bumboat and made our way to Clark Quay, a well known party destination.

And thus includes our "tour of Chinatown".

This was the oddest tour I've ever been on.  And poor Mark.  He's picking the tour next time.

  Fans with Madison and Hunter's names in Chinese characters, painted by famous artist.