Sailing on the most flashy badass catamaran in Cairns, Australia

It was just going to be a simple sailing trip, put together by the Yacht Club. At a price of $15 we didn't expect much (Begonia and I, my new friend from Spain). First we left early, too early, without lunch and bathroom break, just to wait additional 2 hours at the wharf for all the other boats to leave and our boat to dock. Our boat came last. But what a beauty it was, newly remodeled, green and flashy, you could not notice it. We were speechless and lucky.

Our skipper, Warren, did all the work himself. He built the boat from a wreck and rebuilt it again after breaking it in half while racing in Port Douglas. Today was the second time he took it for the sail, and we got to be his guests on board. This is his baby and your can tell he is proud of it and proud of himself. People here are so unbelievable passionate about the things they love.

What a day it was??! The wind in your hair, the peace and the water below. Just happy happy! Every time we passed another, white and bored looking boat (as we were actually racing), we got to have a beer and a right for some trash talk with the people on the other boats "get another haul mate".
Thanks to my self control and low capacity bladder I stopped at 3 beers. I would have been wasted after two hours of sailing. We passed all the boats and took the first place. I cannot say I have learned much about sailing, with the exception of watching the action on board and moving from one side of the boat to the other when wind changed. Then we partook in the barbecue that we cooked as the winner of the race and talk to some of the locals. Tons of cool activities are happening there and it is not going to cost you an  arm and a leg, as everything else in Cairns. I want to come back.... I will have pictures from Begonia soon and it will all make sense.

Cheers for now. Got to get some sleep for my early trip to the oldest rainforest in the world, Daintree Forest. According to our skipper, we are going to see nice trees and even more nice trees :)

My new friend - Begonia - from Spain, cannot believe she is going to turn 59 in three days

And we're sailing, which is a difficult balancing act

Begonia double fisting

Got to secure the beer 

Ahoy Captain! AOur Skipper (Warren) is very proud of his little baby

yippee!!! what a day it was, now time for some bbq

Singapore (better late than never)

It has been a month since I left and I have not been good on this blog thing. Truth is travelling is a lot of work :) Moving from place to place, plan the next step, next hotel (hostel), next thing to do and see. I tend to fall asleep exhausted each day, unless I have to deal with bed bugs (as I did at my previous hostel). 

Singapore 3/14/2015 - 3/22/2015

Originally I stayed right in the middle of the Arab Street called Sleepy Kiwi Backpackers Hostel. I thought easy access to the train station, good reviews, close to the main tourist attractions, I am taking it. And I loved the common area they had, great coffee in the morning (maybe it is the caffeine that keeps my up at night), the place had a good vibe and interesting people. Unfortunately, I killed two fat bed bugs my first night there and I have noticed them even in the dark :( They even got into me and left couple of marks on my face and arms, I could not sleep there at all. In panic I found a new place as soon as possible. One advantage of the place was the close proximity to the Little India and the Arab Street of Singapore. So I went on a walk, which looked just like this... 

The Arab Street 

 

Little India 

Hindu Temple 

In one day I have visited the Buddhist and Hindu Temples, Mosque (with lots of man taking nap there?) and a Catholic church. Busy, busy... 

I moved to a new hostel, in the heart of Chinatown of Singapore. Moved here yesterday after a short trip on the train (with a very heavy backpack). It is so close to the train station and cute as it can be. I walked around 10pm in the neighborhood, food stalls are everywhere and masses of people. I also visited a Hindu temple clearing after a ceremony. If Buddhist temples for some might be too colorful and abstract, Hindu temples are even more colorful. It is like looking at a twisted rainbow. 

The name of the hotel is Chick Capsule Otel. It is an interesting concept as you have your own capsule (I like to call it a cube) while sharing the room with 12 other strangers. My cube is at the lower bed, you put your cover on, lock your belonging under your bed, all with just using your card and you can snuggle with the blanket all night and day long. It has a full TV with Beats headphones, clean (a novelty concept) bathroom and tea/coffee/water served all day. Breakfast is minimal but it keeps you going in the morning. As pretty much in all other places in Asia, you should take your shoes before entering the house; special shelves are installed for your shoes. 

I was sitting outside for a while, checking on emails (btw... great wifi so even phone calls over Viber are possible and uninterrupted). I had a chance to talk to Laura C, who is at Barbados, with 12 hours time difference. So cool! 

As clean and sterile as Singapore seems to be, I had to move inside. Suddenly, my table got attacked by speedy cockroaches plus I saw a rat digging into the trash. The cockroaches were after something cause a herd of them showed up from nowhere and one was racing on the table right into my hand. 

Today, after getting a rockstar sleep, I went to explore the Marina Bay Gardens, a complex of gardens from all over the world and the best thing was the music/light show. Every evening at 7.45 and 8.45 (more shows on holidays) for a blissful 15 minutes you are taken into the world of Avatar (the movie and it now all makes sense), you can lay down on the benches and just be taken away. I went to both shows and going there again tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. hahaha..  Possibly will buy the skyway (see the connecting walkway on the pictures) ticket to see the show from above and see the panorama of the whole city. 

I got my tickets to see the Flower Dome and Cloud Forest (two conservatories). Those are the only you need to buy, but you can see the majority of the gardens for free. Open early in the morning (5am - yes I will wake up tomorrow to see the city slowly getting back to life and walk in the gardens before the steamy, hot, humid air hits me) and closes at 2am. 

Couple of things on Singapore (not in any specific order, well maybe with the exception of food). 

FOOD - is everywhere, it is not so cheap, but doable. But it is delicious. And you need to eat at a hawker, or at least try once. 

A HAWKER - are in direct translation food courts. There is at least one in each neighborhood. 

Things to definitely try: 

TEH TARIK - called a high tea by the locals. It is a black tea with added condensed milk and evaporated milk. To try this I went a food court (so called hawker) in Little India neighborhood. I ordered my tea from a stall, paid about 90 cents (Singaporean) and you direct the person at which table number you are going to seat. Unfortunately, somebody snatched my unfinished tea too quickly when I went to pick up my mushroom prata (a south Indian flat bread). I was so unhappy, but it is all learning experience. Apparently, in order to reserve your seat, is to leave a bag of tissues on the table. Nowhere in Singapore you will find napkins, you just carry your own. Hmmmmm.. weird right?  But I think that also helps with keeping the city garbage free. Notice the red on the cup, so it can be returned to the correct stall. 

KOPI - is a coffee made with condensed milk. I have to say in the whole Southeast Asia they are crazy about condensed milk (nice job Nestle). 

I think I got addicted, despite the calories and sugar, this is pure deliciousness. Some other variations of the coffee include addition of even more sugar or evaporated milk and it is served hot or on ice. 

LAKSA - is a dish made with a broth of chicken stock, anchovies, coconut milk (addicted too), a dash of fish sauce and rempah. You will add to the broth some beansprouts, thick rice vermicelli noodle, fried beancurd puff, shrimp paste chilli and fresh laksa leave (Vietnamese mint). I tried this at a hawker on Arab street. yum

HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE - just delicious rice with twice cooked chicken and some cucumbers. It is a simple dish, but when you add the mystery, dark as a coal sauce, it turns into something else. This is the fried version. 

ROTI PRATA - is a typical Indian flat bread fried with any filings inside you prefer. You dip it into a warm curry soup that I am adding into the list of mystery ingredients. 

Satays are very popular here too and so many, many other things. Food is big for people here and they do cherish the dining experience. For me, I found this little place, that is quite inexpensive and dine like a king each day. 

AND DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR OWN NAPKINS :) 

Public transportation: 

I promised myself to use it as often as possible. And in Singapore, there is nothing easier and it goes pretty much all over the city. This is how I got from the airport to the Arab Street where my hostel was located and this is how I am moving around. Taxi might be non-existent for me here. I got a special (tourist) pass for 3 days and I have unlimited transport on any train and bus. Yay!!! 

Shiny face 

No matter how much I try, my face is always shiny here, makeup makes no sense. And I cannot figure out how the girls here do it, but their faces look impeccable. Not a sign of sweat whatsoever and this is me

SHOPPING - wish I have not packed some much into my backpack originally. Warning - leave lots of space for the extra little things that are calling your name. And they are on every corner. Singapore is known from its underground shopping centers, you can be walking for miles (or kilometers) in this monstrous establishment. Little souvenirs, scarves, elephants motive shirts/shirts/pants/alibaba pants (which I will never wear back in Colorado)/knock outs of sunglasses/purses/bags/backpacks/phones and accessories, the list can keep going. On my next trip I will be smarter. 

PEOPLE - are different in each neighborhood. I definitely felt a little uncomfortable in the Little India and Arab Street as a solo travelling white female. Plus all the things that we generally know about Singapore like no jaywalking, spitting on the ground, sterile surroundings didn't really apply there. In Chinatown, you are just another unnoticeable tourist, every one has its nose in the phone and a goal that they are after. 

CLIMATE - hot and humid, plus the air is really smoggy right now. We are only 1 degree north of the equator. After a short and heavy rain on Wednesday evening, the forecast for the rest of the week is even more of sticky, hot and humid ;) 

On Saturday I did a free walk around Chinatown. Lots of history and our tour person - Georgi - was amazing. I have couple of pictures from that tour that hopefully will help me remember what we have talked about

Laughing Buddha - according to the legend if you rub his belly it brings forth wealth, good luck and prosperity. If you rub his head it will bring you intelligence and his ear, longevity. Guess what? From now on I will live a long, rich, wise and lucky life :) 

Wife Delights - those cookies are widely popular in Singapore. Story says that there was a woman whose father-in-law got really sick and after many days in a hospital the family run of the out the money. She then went into slavery to pay off the debt. Her husband stayed behind and he started a little food cart selling cookies and sweets. Shortly, the business started to thrive and he was able to pay off the debt and "buy-back" his wife from the slavery. As a sign of gratefulness, he called the cookies "wife delights"

Chinese Opera thrived in the early ages. Every actor had to put on layers of make up to come with such masks. Each mask had a different meaning: red symbolized bravery and loyalty, white  showed trickery, and yellow was used by cruel characters. 

The old opera house is now used as a hotel, it still has the old roof (allowing for breeze to come in on hot days), and red interior decor. 

Sculpture of early immigrant women from various regions of China, who promised to live in celibacy and helped building the city, carrying rocks and building materials in their baskets. Such women lived in special housing where only them were allowed. One interesting characteristic is the head covering, differentiating them from other women around the city.

Chinatown Center - streets are always colorful and full of people, mostly tourists though.

Our free tour guide around Chinatown - Georgi - growing up in Singapore she was wonderful and full of knowledge. Our 2.5 turned into 3.5 and we got to taste some of the local delicacies at the end of it. 

Chinatown Food Street - in old days this place was pretty insanitary, the food leftovers were thrown to nearby, open sewer, which attracted many mosquitoes, rats, cockroaches, etc. Since then the sewer was moved and the food stalls were replaced with some more fancier looking ones offering a mix of the best foods you can find in Singapore. Catering to tourists mostly, which makes me think that the true food is where all the locals eat. I found one down the street and got lure by the many locals that ate there and went there 3 days in a row for some delicious Hainenese rice chicken. 

Shophouse in Chinatown, Singapore

Row of shophouses in Chinatown. 

Mandarin tree - oftenly seen around Chinatown - are usually bought for the beginning of the Chinese New Year (same as poinsettia in the Western culture around Christmas time). The orange fruits, which resembles gold in Chinese tradition, promises wealth and prosperity. 

Nutmeg tree and its fruits

The last of old fresh water wells in Chinatown, retired at this point

More shop houses , surrounded by modern skyscrapers

Sculpture showing an Indian immigrant selling water to people around the city.

This is the point where trading and fishing boats reached Singapore, since then the city reclaimed about 25% of its land. This part of the city is now a dry land and the port was moved miles away. 

Buddhist temple - it is customary to enter any temple on the left and exit on the right. You should never put your feet on the step while crossing the door, it is belived that you will wake up the spirits. In addition, crossing over the step will force you to bow before entering the temple. 

According to Georgi, you should not be taking pictures while people are praying. The noise of the shutter/flash will scare all the spirits away. 

This is from one of the traditional Chinese medicine stores, which you can find on each corner. If I was flying back home I might have packed couple of those babies with me. Not sure what those cure, but people here believe that the Western medicine gets rid of the pain almost immediately, but it doesn't cure the source of the pain or the disease. Maybe that is why the Ayurveda medicine is becoming more popular in the Western World. 

I had to ask what those are. Those are called Sea Cucumbers and are loaded with collagen. You just need to soak them for couple of hours and use the extract. Hmmmm... my skin would love that. 

Chinatown Food Street

Preparation of kopi - which exactly means pulling of the tea/coffee from one jar to the other and mixing the ingredients together.  

A small taste of Singapore offered by our Chinatown tour person: Tea with milk, laksa and Indian prata with curry sauce for dipping :) 

Temple of the Buddha Tooth Relic - in the heart of Chinatown. It is believed the temple has the actual relic of Buddha's tooth thus the name :) followed by pictures from the temple

My year of Monkey 

Burning of incense - red symbolizes offering to a deity. Green offering to a deceased person. They can burnt as a single stick or in large bundles. Worshipers would usually raise the sticks above the head while bowing to a deity or ancestor then placing it into censers located in front of the statue of the deity. 

Houses found on the Sago street used to be dead houses where sick and terminally ill people were left to die and where the bodies were prepared for the last passage. In 1960 the City cleaned up the street (really well) and started using the shop houses as office space for various businesses. 

Gardens by the Bay - inside the Cloud Forest Dome. All gardens are open to the public for free with the exception of the two conservatories: The Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, with the biggest artificial inside waterfall I have ever seen.

Hahaha.... it looks just like me after a long day at the office. 

Plastic is fantastic (Lego creation in the Botanical Gardens)

And it looks almost real.. still very plastic 

Plant holders, I hope somebody can Pinterest this 

The forest goes up to about 7 stories, connected by sky walkways and escalators

And more of singing trees, I got addicted to the daily music and light show. I went to see them three nights in a row :) 

And my attempt at taking pictures with my camera's timer, out of focus a bit, but I didn't stop smiling for a minute. This is the expression I have been waking up each day. 

I tried to record the show on the go pro, but the file size is too big to upload :(

 I used it well and use it all. Singapore has great public transit. Easy to get pretty much everywhere, with the exception of the zoo and night safari.

The map went with me everywhere

I also had to check out the Orchard Street. It is a continuous shopping mall. The city has many of them, they keep stretching for miles (kilometers, no need to be precise, they are long) and they do have ac for the those tired of the hot and dump weather.

It is like Spanglish, but Singaporean (lish). Also, if you do a sign with your hand as you are asking somebody to call you (stick out your thumb and the pinky finger), it means HELLO in Singapore. I learned that in my Chic Otel when the owner asked me to pose for a picture for the Book of Faces. 

They are funny people too, I found this in one of the 10 cent restrooms (they all call them toilets) at the hawker in Little India

I found this at the restroom at the airport. You can rate pretty much everything in Singapore. There was an old lady working there, I hit Excellent roughly 5 times or more. 

Mate?? I think Australia is next. Flying on Scoot, a very low budget Singaporean airlines, which as I found out, was really low budget. I was freezing (no blanket and full power ac) throughout the 8 hours of a red eye flight. I tried to cuddle with myself to no success and I don't remember sleeping.  In addition you have to pay for everything including water. Despite that....