SMRT train system.

Linna's first SMRT ride.

If you google "Singapore Subway System", you'll be linked to the popular Subway Sandwich locations in Singapore. While New York City refers to their underground train system as the "subway", Singapore refers to theirs as the SMRT. Of all the mass transit systems I've used around the world, Singapore's is by FAR the easiest, cleanest, and safest. Taxis in Singapore are great, but they were getting a little expensive!

Security cameras (see above) everywhere.

I decided to take my one-year-old and figure out the SMRT on my own on a Wednesday afternoon. We had a class at Our Music Studio at 11:30 a.m. at Tanglin Mall, so I decided to go online and figure out our route BEFORE we hit the concourse. According to the online map, we would have to make one train switch, and our trip would take about a half-hour (not bad).

Double doors that open once the train has stopped at the platform.

So clean and new-looking.

The first thing I noticed about the SMRT is how CLEAN and BIG it is. There are signs telling people that eating and drinking is NOT allowed on the SMRT, and if you're caught you face a $500 fine. The inside of the trains look like they had just been cleaned. There isn't any garbage on the floor, no homeless people sleeping on the seats, or panhandlers approaching us for money. There are also security cameras almost everywhere! I felt completely safe with Linna by myself.

There are also automatic doors that open and close when a train is parked on the platform, so there's no chance of a person falling onto the tracks. I know this doesn't happen too often in NYC, but it does happen! There are lines clearly marking where people should exit off the train, and where people should enter onto the train. This eliminates the pushing and shoving that I've seen when people get on and off the trains.

Electronic signs telling you how long until the next train arrives.

Clear markings telling you where to enter and exit the train.

The SMRT is very child and family-friendly. There's designated seats for the elderly, pregnant women, and people with small children. It's a system I'd actually WANT to ride again. Plus it's dirt cheap (like $2 a ride). Figuring out how to get to my destination after I was on the street (outside the SMRT) is another story. I knew Linna's music class was a 10-15 minute walk after we got onto the street, but I could NOT figure out where I was. I tried asking people where Tanglin Mall was, but because of the language barrier, no one could help me. One man told me we had to get on a bus to get there. Getting on a bus after a half-hour on a train was not my idea of a good time... especially with a stroller.

I knew where we were at all times. I never felt "lost"... until I hit the street.

I ended up giving up on getting us to Linna's music class in time, and we headed back to our apartment for lunch. At least getting back home was a breeze!

Gardens by the bay.

Just a glimpse inside the Cool-Dry Conservatory.

Yesterday, Linna and I checked out a BRAND NEW (opened June of 2012) attraction in Singapore called the Gardens by the Bay. Everyone that we have met in Singapore has told us to go see this 250-acre park, filled with waterfront gardens, conservatories, supertrees, skyways, and AMAZING views! This is one place you need to see for yourself, as photos and video don't do it any justice.

Right before she dozed off.

Orchids.

The gardens consist of a Flower Dome (a cool-dry conservatory), Supertree Grove, Cloud Forest (a cool-moist conservatory), Heritage Gardens, Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes, World of Plants, and the Bay East Gardens. Plus, there's restaurants, a nightly light display, hands-on multimedia screens, and a floor to ceiling waterfall that literally had my jaw on the floor.

I couldn't get enough of this indoor waterfall.

This picture doesn't do it justice. I felt like I was
standing under a natural waterfall!

Imagine the Como Park Conservatory in Minnesota times a MILLION! I've never seen anything like the Gardens by the Bay. Linna did her best to stay awake while we were there, but all the climate changes and soothing sounds had her napping within a half an hour.

These walk-ways in the sky were unreal.

Amazing, but scary views.

Good to know!

The walkways in the gardens take you hundreds of feet above the ground, as you walk through the most breath-taking displays of flowers and plants. The views of the city through the windows are absolutely incredible, and make the price of admission worth every penny.

The outdoor gardens are free of admission costs, but you do have to pay to enter the Cooled Conservatories and OCBC Skyway. It's completely worth the price of admission (much cheaper if you're a resident of Singapore), because the views are incredible.

 



Linna and I visited the Gardens during the day, and we're bringing AJ and my parents back at night so we can take in the light display in the Supertree Grove. We could have spent half a day touring the gardens, but I made the mistake of only allotting about an hour for our visit. You don't get to see one-tenth of the Gardens in that amount of time. If you do visit, give yourself a half-day to enjoy it all. Also, plan on visiting after 5 p.m., so you can enjoy both the day and the night displays. I hear the light display is something you shouldn't miss (so we'll be back to see it).

I'd fall asleep from all the soothing sounds
and scenery too!

Great view of the Marina Bay Sands Casino & Hotel. Looks like the
ship from the movie "2012", right?!

Besides the spectacular views from the above-ground walkways, my favorite part of the Gardens was the floor-to-ceiling waterfall inside the Cool-Moist Conservatory. I could literally feel the water splashing off the waterfall, and felt like I was standing underneath a natural waterfall that you only see in photos.

Supertrees. Incredible walk-way in the sky!

No, they're not real trees:)

I can't wait to go back and post more photos from the evening light show!

Learning to read in singapore.

Wanted to share this quick video of Linna "reading" Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss to her Papa. It's so funny how she mouths the words as if she's actually reading. I love that she whispers her jibberish-reading to herself. She's such an advanced 12-month-old;)

IA & MN represent in dempsey hill.

If we thought we were the only Midwesterners living in Singapore... it's time we think again! Last weekend, AJ, Linna and I met up with a couple from Marshalltown, Iowa (where AJ's parents are from), after being connected by AJ's Aunt Peg. A couple emails and one confusing phone call later, and the Ruddocks from Iowa and the Saighs from Minnesota, were having a blast in the Dempsey Hill area of Singapore!

Gina and Tom ordering our lunch like Singapore pros!

 

Gina and Tom Ruddock came to pick us up in their car, and my first question to Tom was, "how did you figure out how to drive in this city?!", as the driver's side is on the right side of the car, AND they drive on the left side of the road in Singapore. Tom drove like he'd been driving in Singapore forever, and he actually kind of has been driving there forever, because they've lived there for almost five years! It was so nice to be with two people that spoke "our language" and still knew everything there is to know about Singapore.

Linna eating so nicely, with her view of the kitchen.
Pretty neat watching the chefs make the food.

Gina and Tom took us to have lunch at Jumbo Seafood. We told them we wanted them to show us where the good food was, since they'd been in Singapore for so long, and BOY did they deliver! Jumbo is a well-known restaurant outlet in Singapore, where they are known for their chili crab (a popular dish in Singapore). Since we hadn't tried the chili crab yet, we ordered one, and Gina and Tom were kind enough to give AJ and I the claws (they have the most meat). Yum! Although the sauce (or gravy) that the chili crab comes in is a little spicy (we all know how I feel about spicy food), it was still delicious! The restaurant even has you wear crab bibs. AJ decided to keep his on, long after we were finished with lunch:)

Salted Egg Golden Prawns in a rice bowl.

Kai-lan. Nom.

I think these may be the most unique and best-tasting ribs I've ever eaten.

Tom and Gina also ordered us the Salted Egg Golden Prawns, the Pork Ribs that were coated in a chocolate-type sauce, Kai-lan (green leafy vegetable), Chicken Satay, Fried Rice, and of course Tiger Beer (local beer). Everything was AMAZING! It was so nice to try so many different things, and not have anything be too "out there" for our liking. Even Linna tried the prawns and seemed to be a fan! She sat so nicely with all of us at lunch while we talked about Iowa, living in Singapore, the food, etc.

Chili Crab. Basically a full crab, marinated in a chili gravy sauce.

Chicken satay with peanut sauce.

My favorite part of the meal was the Pork Ribs. I must learn how to make the sauce they came in! It was unlike anything we've ever had before, and I could have eaten a dozen of the ribs in this sauce! It was savory like BBQ sauce, but also tasted like sweet chocolate. I am also a big fan of the Kai-lan vegetable. It was sauteed in oil and LOTS of garlic, so it was very tasty.

Tiger Beer also never fails to live up to its good reputation. It's such a light beer, but full of flavor. A perfect beer for a HOT Sunday afternoon in Singapore!

Lots of fishies in aquariums for Linna to look at.

In our bibs, ready for chili crab.

I am so thankful we had a chance to meet Tom and Gina in Singapore, before they head back to Iowa in a month. They taught us that there's no "wrong way" to do things in Singapore (when it comes to eating that is). There are so many people in Singapore visiting from many different countries, and as people do in different countries, everyone eats in different ways. Some people use chopsticks, some use a fork, and others use their hands as utensils. After meeting with Tom and Gina, we are no longer concerned with eating the "right way" in Singapore, because there is no "right" way! Thanks Tom and Gina:)

Suiting-up for the feast.

So many amazing shops in Dempsey Hill. Most are very expensive.

We also learned that the "nicer" restaurants are very kind to women's handbags in Singapore. Since women here like to spend a lot of money on their handbags, the restaurant staff will put a cover over your chair if you hang your handbag on it. Also, if you put your handbag on the floor, they will pick it up and put it somewhere "safer" for you. I had a diaper bag, so they didn't worry too much about me;)

Linna sampling the buns.

It was a wonderful afternoon filled with lots of laughs, "insider tips" and advice, from two of our now favorite people in Singapore! If only these two Iowans were staying until we left in November.

Skyping back to minnesota.

Thank goodness for Skype, so we can keep in contact with our families back in Minnesota! The connection isn't always great, but it works most of the time. Linna's grandparents in Minnesota and great-grandparents in Iowa love to sing to her, and Linna will either dance along or just listen! We try to connect with our parents and siblings every day, but I love seeing Linna's reaction to these people if she hasn't seen them in a couple days. She immediately recognizes their faces and voices, and points to them on the computer screen while smiling.

(Grandma and Grandpa Specken in Hopkins, MN)

 

We were able to Skype with Linna's Great-Grandma and Grandpa Pollard last week on Great-Grandma Pollard's 80th birthday. Both AJ and my parents were also able to sing AJ "happy birthday" on his 28th Singapore and American birthday (we're 13 hours ahead) last week.

 

 



(Great Grandma and Grandpa Pollard in Marshalltown, IA)

 

(Grandma and Grandpa Saigh in Mankato, MN)

 

 

 

Squirrel bites & kushiyaki.

We were walking through Vivo City (a mall close to our apartment in Singapore) yesterday, and we came across a food vendor called Squirrel Bites. Interesting name for this fried dough pastry, and I'm still not sure why they call it that. But we decided to try it anyway since the sign said "Brand New in Singapore". A Squirrel Bite is basically a fried pastry dough, with any toppings you'd like to put on it. From strawberries and chocolate, to cheesy garlic butter, the toppings list goes on and on. We (or I) decided to get the Rocky Road Squirrel Bite, which is peanut butter, chocolate, and M&Ms. Yuuuuum!

Enjoying our Squirrel Bite.

So many options.

They make the Squirrel Bite "fresh" and right on the spot, and the portion size is HUGE (the photos make it look smaller than it really is). They each cost about $4-$5, which is a pretty good price since they are literally the size of your head. We ate ours after a sushi lunch, so it was a pretty heavy desert. I have to say that they are pretty delicious! Nothing spectacular, but it was a tasty new treat for AJ, Linna and I. Linna was a HUGE fan, but then again she's a fan of anything sweet. We gave her a few bites, and then she decided to skip her afternoon nap (probably due to a sugar high). I wonder if we'll ever see these things in Minnesota. Maybe at the State Fair?!

We also decided to grab some sushi for lunch at Vivo City, so we stopped at a restaurant called Shin Kushiya. Although we ended up spending about $50 on lunch, this place was pretty amazing! Linna even ate some sushi and kushiyaki. Kushiyaki is meat, seafood, or vegetables, grilled on bamboo skewers. They're basically a kabob, only better. They're grilled over Bincho charcoal, and topped with their special spices or sauces. They are simple and delicious!

Mastering the chopsticks.

We had the chicken meatballs, beef meatballs, salmon, and a pork kushiyaki. Every single one was perfectly grilled, juicy, and amazing. They are small portions for about $3-$5. Linna was a big fan of the chicken meatball kushiyaki!

The maki roll that Linna and I shared.

AJ's maki roll.

Salmon, pork, chicken, and beef kushiyaki.

We also got two maki rolls with prawns (or shrimp). I had one with avocado, and AJ has a more simple roll. Linna even ate the rice and little fish eggs on the top. The roll I had was similar to the Crunchy Roll at Crave in Minnesota (which is one of my favorite foods), but I have to say that the Crunchy Roll at Crave is still my FAVORITE maki roll that I've ever tried!

You'd think she's been in Asia her whole life;)

These are two new food places we've tried, and both get two thumbs up! We will definitely be back:)

Linna loves her papa.

This morning, I was in the kitchen doing dishes (we don't have a dishwasher here), and I heard Linna belly-laughing in the other room. I quickly grabbed the camera and ran into the bedroom to see what was going on. AJ was the one making her laugh so hard! She sure does love her Papa...