120516 Singapore

My colleagues in Singapore worked very hard in bringing me a surprise opportunity to visit their wonderful city-state once more. My wife & I arrived there near midnight on Sunday via San Francisco & Tokyo. By the time we reach our hotel, it was Monday. After a good night sleep and a hearty breakfast, the dreadful jet lag was much less than feared. But I was so glad I didn't have to start work that morning. I would not be at my best. A brief stop at the office helped set-up the conference room for tomorrow. 

Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort (hotel, casino, shopping mall).

Coffee shop inside the Marina Bay Sands Resort.

We reacquainted ourselves with this marvelous city again by taking a hop-on / hop-off bus tour. We sat on the upper deck of the bus and enjoyed the view all around.  The lunch was at the Marina Bay Sands Mall with the wonderfully spicy curry fish head as the main dish. Its name might sound unappetizing to Westerners, but  in actuality, there was more than just the head of the fish. The bones in the fish head made the sauce / broth very tasty. Not to mention all the other vegetables. 

Fish head curry - a delicious dish.

Our tour included a short boat ride on the Singapore River. It was almost sunset when we arrived at Clarke Quay, the starting point of our river cruise. Sitting near the bow of the boat was a lovely musician, playing the traditional Pipa, a Chinese guitar. She played light and delightful tunes as we enjoyed the fantastic scenery.

Clarke Quay.

Musician and her Pipa.

My wife left Singapore for Vietnam early the next morning to visit friends and family. As for me, the next few days were filled with work. This time around I stayed at the Oasia Hotel right next to the office. I just crossed a driveway to go to work, instead of having to take the MRT, although I found it so easy to use.

Returning to the area around the Marina Bay Sands Mall by subway on evening after work, I was able to visit the famous Helix Pedestrian Bridge. There were a crowd of people jogging or enjoying leisurely walks. 

Helix Pedestrian Bridge.

On my first visit to Singapore many years back, my good friend took me to the Geylang district to sample local dishes, such as stingray grilled in banana leaf and beef noodle stir-fry, for dinner. The area is also home to colorful and fantastic fruit market. I did not have correct photographic gears back then and always wanted to return to try again. Another motivation was my desire to broaden my portfolio to include people, instead of just architecture.

But the reputation of Geylang as the neighborhood for the world's oldest profession was a strong demotivation factor. I hesitated quite a bit before summoning enough courage to go. My fear quickly dissipated as I found a fruit vendor who was very friendly and quite funny. Since he did not speak a word of English, one of his customers offered to translate.  The Geylang neighborhood, once I looked pass its reputation as a red-light district, has a lot to offer: popular restaurants and friendly people.  I wished I could stay longer to take enjoy more. But I had to go back to my hotel; I still had to work the next day.

Fruit vendor in Geylang district.

Rambutan, a delightful tropical fruit.

A vendor and his durian.

The end of my assignment came quickly. I had to leave Singapore with a heavy heart, as I had a delightful time meeting and working with the people there. I hope to have another opportunity to return to this fantastic island state. 

A few more pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/120516Singapore.


Thank you so much for visiting this blog, and as always, your comments / critiques are welcome.  Until next time, I wish you peace and happiness.


Enjoy,  
Paul

120506 Catania & Taormina, Italy

Thanks to the hard work of my colleagues of the European offices, I have the wonderful opportunity to visit a customer in Catania, a city in Sicily, Italy, in early May 2012.  A bit of research reveals Phoenix is a sister city of this Mediterranean town.  I wonder about the criteria for cities to become sisters.  Phoenix is a metropolis in the middle of a desert, with no ocean or sea in sight; Catania is a small town on an island in the middle of the Mediterranean sea.  Curious pairing of cities, but wonderful nonetheless.

My travel plan calls for flights from Phoenix to Washington DC, then onto Munich, and finally to Catania.  While the journey is long, it is uneventful.  Catania welcomes me with warmth and sunshine.  The receptionist at the hotel gives me the typical cost of a taxi ride from the airport.  When I inquire the taxi driver about the ride to my hotel, he quotes me a price matching my information;  I do notice the driver does not activate the meter.

After a nap to recover from my long journey, I take the shuttle bus of the hotel to downtown Catania.  The time is late Sunday afternoon. Most businesses are closed except a few souvenir shops and restaurants. The town square is mostly empty.  I am a bit surprised to find a small church nearby still opened and step in.  It turns out to be the "Basilica della Collegiata".  The painting on its ceiling is amazing.  

Ceiling of the "Basilica della Collegiata".

After a simple, yet delicious, dinner of spaghetti with seafood, I wait for sundown and take the picture below. The main structure is the church of Sant'Agata, which is also called the "Duomo di Catania".  The hour is late and I must catch the last shuttle back to the hotel.

Duomo di Catania.

Morning morning affords me some free time. The weather is perfect. It is a great chance to get to know Catania. A short shuttle ride takes me back to downtown. What a pleasant surprise! I am dropped off right in the middle of a bustling open-air market.  I suspect, from my research of Catania before my trip, that this is the famous fish market. But it is much more than that. Fresh fruits and produce, poultry, lamb, meat, cheese are on sale everywhere. Merchants set up their tables and stalls along pedestrian alleys and sidewalks, offering their products for sale and calling out to customers. 

Fishmonger at street market in Catania.

Tuna on sale at street market in Catania.

Merchant of wine and cheese at street market in Catania.

Street market in Catania.

Large fresh strawberries at street market in Catania.

As much as I like to stay and experience more of this wonderful market, Catania has more to offer.  But I only have a short time.  A quick tour of the city introduces me to the rich history of Catania.  I learn the elephant in the middle of town square is the symbol of this city, with its own legend.

u Liotru, or the Fontana dell'Elefante, is the symbol of Catania.

The rest of the week is taken up by work at the office of my customer, located in the industrial zone at the outskirts of Catania. The workdays pass quickly though.

I hear so much about the local active volcano, Mount Etna. During my entire stay, Mount Etna spews a plume of steam or white smoke. The haze during the day makes photographing this scenery difficult.  So I make the point of getting up before sunrise on my last day in Catania. I want to photograph Mount Etna during the early morning hours when pollution is at its lowest level. I set up my camera on the beach across the street from my hotel and take a shot of the volcano as the sun peeps over the horizon. The dawn light helps the plume of white smoke from Mount Etna stands out better. Seeing it in the early morning sun light makes me wish I can climb and have a closer look.

Mount Etna at dawn.

Acting on the advise of my customers, I take the train to Taormina, a picturesque little town full of interesting history just north of Catania. Taormina has many of Greco-Roman ruins and little shops highlighting local products and produces to tourists along its many charming little streets.  A short ride on the cable car from center of town takes me to the edge of the Mediterranean sea, with clean beaches, crystal-clear water and very gentle waves. There are few tourists enjoying sun and surf; but the summer vacation season is yet to begin.

Taormina in Sicily, Italy.

Ancient ruins in Taormina, Sicily, Italy.

My return to Catania is greeted by several school bands performing at the center square of town.  There is enough distance in between so their performances do not interfere with one another, yet I can walk from one side of the square to another to enjoy a different kind of music. These kids have musical talent.

School band playing at town square in Catania, Sicily, Italy.

As with other locales I visited, I wish I have more time to explore and get to know Sicily. Undoubtedly, its history is fascinating to learn; its customs and traditions rich in significance; and its cuisine wonderful to enjoy. But I am very thankful for this fabulous opportunity to have a peek to the lives of local Sicilians. 

More pictures are at https://picasaweb.google.com/108013863525571472697/120505Catania.

Until next time, I thank you for visiting and bid you peace. 
Paul