http://www.flickr.com/photos/24407696@N08/sets/72157607058311397/detail/
The first order of business after a few hours of rest to catch up on sleep -- to make the obligatory trip that every tourist to Singapore does, i.e., visit Sentosa resort island. SS was awed by the towering statue of the Merlion, the symbol of Singapore, the Disney-like Song of the Sea laser show (highly recommended), the Underwater World and a Dolphin feeding show. Saakshi Sivan was also charmed by a snake charmer into posing, for the first time in his life, with one of the man's (defanged) reptiles.
Saakshi Sivaan kazhuthil irundhu paambu kettadhaam
Bonheur Sowkyamma?
Anandhadhil ACDkum Priyavukum marriage nadanthaal elaam sowkyameh
Bonheur sonnathu
Artham ullathu.
Other spots on SS's tour itinerary the subsequent days included a ride on the Singapore Flyer (the world's largest ferries wheel that is soon to be trumped by China's), a bumboat cruise of Singapore River at dusk, and long drives through various spots, notably Singapore's financial and shopping districts.
On Friday, 15 August, SS was interviewed for the programme Naam on Singapore's Vasantham Central TV. The item is likely to be telecast some time this month. The same evening SS was featured in a live radio interview with Oli radio.
The high point of SS's visit was tea at Oomphatico's restaurant at Tanglin Mall with a small bunch of fans on Saturday, 16 Aug. Needless to say, only women attended the tea party 😃 (I do sympathise with three ladies who were planning to attend but eventually failed to do so. I am convinced that had it not been for parents and husbands, these ladies would have been the first to arrive at the tea. One of the ladies in fact was whispering down the phone when she spoke to me 😉
Prior to the tea party, SS engaged in a Skype text chat and then a Skype conference call with a small bunch of IF readers led by our very own Roja, who merrily interrogated the screen assistant commissioner for some two hours. Roja has promised to provide a full FIR ... er, account in due course.
Later that evening, SS headed for Singapore's Riviera, the Clarke Quay dining and entertainment area. After a leisurely stroll, the bum boat ride mentioned above and a simple salad dinner, SS, accompanied by two delighted fans and his faithful tour guide, hit the famous Ministry of Sound discotheque. Readers who have viewed the photo pages of SS's website would have seen the famous John Travolta pose that he struck on the dance floor. (Btw, SS has vowed that he will never dance on screen. He disclosed that he had steadfastly turned down offers to appear on shows such as "Jodi No 1".) The party ended just after midnight, thanks to persistent SMS messages sent by the husband of one of the ladies. SS then played the gallant assistant commissioner by ensuring that the ladies were safely ensconced in their cars and on their way home before he himself headed back.
Of course, no visit to Singapore is complete without a pilgrimage to Mustafa's Shopping Centre, Singapore's equivalent of Harrods (OK, the downmarket version 😃. SS spent about 4 hours on Sunday, 17 August, at the hyperstore, scouting around for gifts. So you wonder what he bought? Mainly clothes for kids Teja and Lalitha and some costume jewelry for wife Lakshmi. He also raided the homeware section to buy a spice rack for Mom and a variety of kitchen utensils for Lakshmi. The sole item he bought for himself -- a pair of bermudas.
SS's verdict on Singapore: OK, nothing spectacular apart from the cleanliness. But he was in awe over the transport system -- the lane discipline, the well-built highways, the efficiency of the automated parking system and the infamous Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system (though I bet if he lived in Singapore he'd join the ranks of cursing Singaporeans who fume daily about having to pay premium rates for road usage 😉
Reported by webmaster, tour guide, and sibling from a previous incarnation 😃
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