After yesterday's foodie adventures, we needed a change of pace. Although breakfast again was Breadtalk, the doughnut shop was open today. I had a crazy strawberry-frosted doughnut with crunchy chocolate balls on top--flatly disappointing. Terri's belgian chocolate/cappucino cream doughnut also missed the mark.
Our next stop was Sentosa Island, as it was time to play "the tourist." Sentosa is a mix of Universal Studios (they just opened one but it's completely sold out), Las Vegas casino (stock full of Chihuly glass), amusement park, and beaches. The "Images of Singapore" exhibit was like something you'd see at Epcot, both entertaining and educational. Someone turned the heat up today, as it was oppressively hot. Basically we just walked around, seeking the next area of air-conditioned refuge.
After yesterday, we'd both hit our threshold of Asian eats. We agreed we need something that tastes like American food. Subway did the trick, and it tasted reassuringly similar to your neighborhood Subway shop. My only complaint was my "sandwich artist's" freestyle manner of adding veggies and various condiments. I held her in check the best I could, especially with the mayo. That nastiness will ruin any art project.
So if we're going to be American today, how about a drink and a snack at an American bar? Since the only one in Seattle closed down last year, Chili's was like a beacon of light in the 95 degree heat. Last time through, we had the original Singapore Sling at Raffle's hotel. Sorry Raffles, but Chili's version was the best ever. Perhaps because the price was $10 instead of $28. So sad that it's easier to get good queso dip in Singapore than it is in Seattle. Come on Chili's--give our southern food appetites some loving up in the PAC NW....
Next stop was the Sentosa Resort Casino. The big new casino on the island, we were curious to see if we could take some money from the island. Singapore has got their gambling laws in check. To keep out the riff-raff and the poor who shouldn't be gambling in the first place, they've imposed a $100 entrance fee to any local who wishes to gamble. Yikes. That will keep the nickel slot players away! Additionally, on a 10 foot high sign, they imposed three additional rules:
1. NO FLIP FLOPS. Ummm, yeah. Terri's wearing flip flops.
2. NO SHORTS. Hmmm, we've got sort a problem here. I'm wearing shorts.
3. MUST HAVE PASSPORTS. Uh huh. 3 for 3. Those are back at the Fairmont.
Crap. I should've just had another Singapore Sling and gotten too drunk to gamble.
After a nice AC break at the hotel, it was back to Orchard Road for dinner. Orchard Road is the central hub of urban life in Singapore. If you're interested in block after block of 5 story malls with boutique clothing for 90 pound females, then this is your place. In my case... Not interested.
Dinner was another spot recommended by Anthony Bourdain's Singapore episode: Straits Kitchen at the Grand Hyatt. Well done, Anthony. We often watch these shows on TV, pondering.... Hmmmm, I wonder if this place really is THAT good, or perhaps just cause the guy got a free meal and he has 30 minutes to fill? Well, Bourdain hit the nail on the head. First of all, there were very few tourists there. Almost everyone looked local. That's a good sign, especially at a downtown hotel. The buffet at the Hyatt had everything you can ask for in Singaporean cuisine. Everything. Chli Crab? Check. Terri's beloved Prawn Noodles? Check. A full-on station of Indian food? Check. All told, I counted 52 individual dishes, spread throughout 7 stations. That doesn't count the dessert station, nor does it count the ice-cream. Yes, they had durian ice cream. Yes, I tried it. And yes, it still smells like garbage in ice-cream form.
After dinner, we ran into Ian (new friend we traveled with in Bali) in the underground. Crazy. City of millions of people, and we see someone we met in Bali in the subway. Ian (from UK) showed off his outrageous new sunburn from the Gili Islands, and we made dinner plans for tomorrow. Should be a fun last day in Singapore.
G'night, everybody. I've brought Terri to the internet cafe tonight to keep the tranny away on the walk home. The walk back should hopefully be uneventful.
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