Zoo

An exciting and very active day. First we took the underground train from Orchard Road to Ang Mo Kio and a local bus (138) to the Zoo. The cost was minimal as you get a deposit ($1) back on your rail card when you return it. (Total cost each was $2.80). The bus took us through the high rise housing (mostly everything is now high rise), past the reservoirs (beautiful jungle areas), past Nee Soon Barracks (where Walter was stationed) and until we finally arrived at the Zoo. When we lived here we went to the Zoo when it first opened. The jungle had to be cleared to make way for the zoo and we were impressed with the amount of room all the animals had. Now the jungle has grown back and this just adds to the accommodationn for the animals. Aaron, Donna and Darren will not remember this trip as they were all under the age of 6. We took a motor train around to get our bearings and then walked so we could get a better look at the animals. The zoo specialises in primates but there were also lots of other animals too. It was an impressive zoo, setting, space and facilities for people. Walter made a nasty comment about the photo of the bamboons and me. Lunch was delicious - Vegetable Briyani. We came back to the city on a tourist bus as we were a little tired by this stage. The bus took us on Bukit Timah Road, Orchard Road, and Scott Road. We recognised the street signs! Orchard Road has changed so much in the past four years and is very touristy, and expensive.

This evening we went next door to the food stalls - very convenient. Walter had Tandoori Chicken Murtabak and I had Roti Prati with curry juice. Walter said that the Murtabak was not as good as Zam Zams but it was still pretty delicious and the total cost was only $9.In order to walk all the food off, we decided to walk out to the Padang area, which has the Cricket Club and the Singapore Recreation Club, plus the Sate Club. Well, we received quite a surprise because it was all surrounded by even more land. The old bridge was still there but there was a road and new bridge in front. Of course the Singapore Grand Prix was held last week so the barriers were still up which also made it a little confusing too. We walked over the new bridge and could see how they have reclaimed land and it is mostly built on - the Singapore Flyer (wheel) is there plus this amazing building which looks like a ship on top. We aim to go up to the top of it when we return. Then we walked back via Raffles which of course has acres of tall buildings in front of it - when we lived here they were reclaiming this land and it was just sand. (We are not old enough to remember when the sea lapped the road in front of Raffles!). So now it is off to bed - tomorrow it will be Jurong Bird Park and a trip out on a Bumboat in order to work out what is what on the Singapore River and at the entrance. We are still a bit confused.