Friday 29 February 2008

WHERE WE'VE BEEN SO FAR...





Singapore, nightlife --PHOTOS

Sentosa Party--January 08


Attica, Clark Quay--February 08






Asia Bar--February 08

Singapore, first 2 months (summary!)

2 Months into the program and I decided to finally write and post pics about our experience in Singapore. We arrived in the best season, apparently winter here...at 25 degrees!


Although we live a little outside of the city, the building is set in a relaxing environment and quiet neighborhood. A bit like living at the Club Med I would say: 5 pools, TV room, Karaoke room, tennis courts, gym and all.

Aside from classes and group meetings and conferences
...George definitely has time to party! As we've learned really fast from the saying here "study hard but party harder!"

Our first BBQ by the pool. Of course we need more than one man to light the fire!

This is the first Sentosa party...oh yes...I forgot... Sentosa is an island 30 minutes form the city where you have bars and clubs such as the famous Cafe Del Mar. The island itself is not that nice during the day and the water around it is really bad, but I guess in the dark with a few shots of tequila everything fades and the party is on...
...In and out of the pool!

Some dinners we've had so far.
Singapore is a great place to eat, frankly the best ever after NY of course. Sushi for lunch and Belgian mussels at night...and yes I always manage to find myself the best Belgian restaurant wherever I am in the world. Nothing like a good Belgian beer!

And after dessert, a little shaking at Attica or Forbidden City in Clark Quay (the nightlife Mecca here).

Friday 8 February 2008

Singapore, Chinese New Year


Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is sometimes called the Lunar New Year, especially by people outside China. It is an important holiday in East Asia. The festival traditionally begins on the first day of the first lunar month in the Chinese calendar and ends on the 15th; this day is called Lantern Festival. This year is the year of the Rat and the celebration started on January 19 until February 24th but New Year's Eve was on the 7th of February.

A few nights before we went with the Lebanese students to Chinatown and enjoyed a good Lo Hei. This dish is traditionally served on the seventh day of Chinese New Year, which the Chinese celebrate as "everyone's birthday." The higher you toss the salad, the greater your luck and prosperity in the New Year!

The night market in Chinatown was packed and we wandered in the streets filled with colors and music, and weird little things to buy!






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Saturday 2 February 2008

Singapore, weekend in Bintan (Indonesia)





For the first weekend in february we've decided to explore the islands around Singapore. Bintan is one of them at roughly 2 hours door to door east of Singa. Bintan Island or Negeri Segantang Lada is an island of 1,866 square kilometers, and is part of the Riau Islands province of Indonesia.

We stayed at the Bintan Lagoon Resort and unfortunately like it is usually in January and February, it was raining the whole weekend.





How to get there from Singapore: Take a bus to the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. The island is just over the Strait of Singapore and it takes not more than an hour to reach. Fare is S$57/2way/adult/peak hour and $46/off peak.