Singapore Day Five - last day!

So getting up this morning was a challenge, but lunch in Toh Payoh was well and truly worth it. We had lots of delicious Chinese food, but most importantly, I spent time with Hsien-li and Rebecca and Derek, pictured left with me. I hadn't met Derek before, but he was very good conversation and company, as it later transpired. Hsien-li and Rebecca had to go and work that afternoon (as seems to be the norm in Singapore) and so I said my goodbyes - I'm looking forward to seeing them again in September - and wandered off with Derek. He was a great tour guide, taking me down Orchard Road (the shopping area I hadn't seen yet) and then to Little India. We wandered round here for a while, spotting lots of gold stores and singer sewing machines actually being used! Then we headed to a large square in the Arab Quarter and aside from hearing the Muezzin calling the Muslims to prayer from the Sultan Mosque, I saw a collection of stuff on sale on the street - everything from cine cameras to DVDs, from porn to mobile phones, and an old-style wooden sailing ship that I really hope I can buy when I get back here.

We then headed to Geylang, a notorious part of town for the sex industry, but also a great place to get Malaysian food, apparently. Derek pointed out some hotels that charge by the hour and various bars where one might expect to meet some of the friendlier locals. We stopped for fruit too, some tiny bananas and some small citrus-looking things with pale grey insides. I can't remember what they were but they were delicious! We also stopped for barbecued Chinese-style pork and I picked up a gift for my hosts.

Then we headed to the National Stadium, where he showed me the riverfront and a view of the city, and I took a few photos. He drove me back into town and dropped me at Esplanade, having taken me round parts of the city I never would have seen otherwise. I look forward to thanking him with a beer or two at the wedding in September!

From Esplanade I made my way to Swissotel in the Raffles City complex. I was told the bar on 70th floor had a smart-casual dresscode and I wasn't allowed to take photos from there unless I bought a drink. I went up, took photos while dressed casual-casual and no one seemed to want to offer me a drink, so I came back down again. Here's an upstairs photo of Esplanade, fast becoming one of my favourite places.

Then I headed back there to see a few bands playing and sound-checking outdoors, and met Alec and Michelle for Femi Kuti, his first Singapore gig in a decade or more's career. The man played a storm, the crowd loved it and showed their appreciation by spending most of the show on their feet and dancing(an uncommon practice in an all-seater venue in Singapore), the band were energetic and lively and good fun, and there was some excellent horn improv at the end. I won't say Femi Kuti is my new favourite act, but he's got enough about him for at least one good show, and I'll definitely see him again if folks are going.

My hosts and I had dinner in the nearby hawker centre (after glimpsing more free performances bringing Mosaic to a close) and headed home. I'm spending tomorrow in the flat relaxing and packing, so that's the end of the Singapore story so far. I'm looking forward to my next visit though, and I'm hoping to catch Mosaic 2008 when I return from Australia!