This past weekend Clark's dad Phil stopped in Singapore to see us on his way to Australia. We really enjoyed him being here and we even did some sight seeing with him.
These are pictures I took from the top of Phil's hotel downtown. Raffles Place city business district is the top picture and the Singapore Flyer and ocean is the picture below.
Phil enjoys all the Chinese medicine that Singapore has to offer so we headed to Eu Yan Sang in Chinatown to check out all the herbal medicines. Eu Yan first set up shop in Malaysia where he dispensed herbs to local mine coolies.
Next we headed to the Tooth Relic Temple where we went inside and saw the many relics of the Buddahs. Clark also thought the prayer wheel was a bit interesting.
After the temple we headed over to Mr. Wong's to grab some noodles for lunch. Mr. Wong was the first to have steamed dumplings in Singapore but then Crystal Jade and everyone else took his idea and copied him. Right after we ate there was a traditional dance performance that was going to take place inside Mr. Wongs. I believe this 45 min. traditional Chinese New Year dance brings good luck and prosperity to the shop.
To settle our food we decided to relax and get foot reflexology done. I opted out of the reflexology because it is basically a really strong foot massage that HURTS! So I decided to go to the fish spa and have these sucking fish suck onto my hands and feet to get the dead skin off. I hear they stopped this practice in the States awhile ago but I'm glad I got to experience it! It tickled for the first minute but then I got use to it!
Phil getting his feet done!
The next day we headed to Little India to watch the Thaipusam ritualistic festival. Thaipusam is one of the most colourful and ritualistic festival celebrated in Singapore. This annual event is held in honor of the Hindu God Subramaniam (Lord Murugan). It is observed as a day of prayers, thanksgiving for wishes granted, fulfillment of vows and for good health. The ceremony starts in the early morning where devotees carrying milkpots and wooden Kavadis leave Sri Perumal Temple. The elaborately decorated spiked Kavadis set off in the later part of the morning and continue till late night. These devotees will undertake a 4.5km walk from Sri Perumal Temple to Sri Thandayuthapani Temple. On reaching the Sri Thandayuthapani Temple, the devotees get into a joyful frenzy as they offer the milk they have been carrying to Lord Murugan.
Later that day we celebrated Phil's birthday! We had the hotel order Phil a cake and he was quite surprised! That night we went to the hip strip called Clarke Quay to eat some tasty Mexican food at Cafe Iguanas for Phil's bday dinner.
Enjoying our time down in Clarke Quay!
2 comments:
You ate at Iguana's!? That place is awesome - seriously, we thought it was the best Mexican food we've ever eaten!
the video of Phil is hilarious. I have never heard him laugh that loud!
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