After Aaron and Su and kids left us at Changi we enjoyed our colonial lifestyle at Changi villas. The villas are the old British officers’ residences on the seaside and they reminded Kylie and I of Kenyan hotels. Similar architecture, construction materials and decoration. The illusion was completed by a large contingent of Indian or Bangladeshi gardeners constantly working on the grounds.
In addition to using the beautiful and cool pool (we only got in trouble twice!) we strolled on the beach, played games, read books and (of course!) ate at the local hawker stands.
We told the kids they could get fresh juice every day and they didn’t let us forget. Hard to turn down a cup of liquid watermelon when it’s 33 degrees out.
One afternoon we boarded a bumboat (real term) to visit the island of Pulau Ubin. Although it’s a 15 minute boat ride it feels like a completely different country. Boat captains vying for customers, corrugated tin roofs, crocodile warnings…
We enjoyed a walk through the jungle and along a mangrove forest, but Mikaya in particular was a bit unnerved by the crocodile signs. We didn’t see one, but we did see some lovely flowers and a few random dogs.
Back in Changi it was time for fruit juice! Hard for a parent to say no to blended tropical fruit.
We got back to Redhill in time to greet Su as she arrived home from work. Su really does enjoy talking to the kids and she has a way of making anyone talking to her feel like the most interesting person in the room.
That night to celebrate our return from Changi we took the train downtown to eat at one of the largest and most famous hawker stands.
The size and crowding was a bit overwhelming at first (at least for us Canadians) but the amazing food and stellar company won us over quickly.
From there we began an impromptu walking tour taking in the famous Merlion as well as a harbour light show.
It was a gorgeous night and the kids were feeding on the city energy. There were plenty of beautiful people out with their selfie sticks, and parties and runners enjoying the cool evening. After a nice long walk and a few mildly dangerous merry go rounds we hopped a bus back to Redhill to get the kids to bed way too late…
Still have to talk about our last days and Bird Paradise!!
I’ll leave you with a statue of Sir Stamford Raffles, the purported founder of modern Singapore, pictured here well proportioned despite being viewed from below, in the classical style.
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