Vrooooom time again

Forget about the traffic disruption that hit the city for days, the gantries that have been changing the face of the streets for months, as you stand in the queue to get in and hear the noise from inside the enclosure; the deafening noise that lasts for seconds before its just a loud noise before its gone again; its so close you could touch it; you can smell it, the smell of burnt rubber; you just can't see it, but you feel a chill go down your spine as you are so close, so close ...... and then you are inside, picking up your program guide and survival kit (the all important ear plugs and rain poncho) ..... and its Friday night and you have three evenings of this, so lets get a Beer and get our bearings and absorb that atmosphere before heading off to find something to eat. Don't want to overdo it on the first day, only the hardened of petrol heads can manage it continuously for three days and I'm not one of them.

IMPORTANT, Motor Racing is dangerous and accidents can happen. The 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX is a rain or shine event. 

Two hours before the first of three practice sessions Singapore was drenched in rain for a second time that day, but the sky's cleared as I headed towards the street circuit a 30 minute bus ride away. As dusk fell I squelched my way accross the Padang clutching my beer to one of the big screens and wondered (as muddy water violated my foot) whose stupid fault it was to get rid of the grass and replace it with plastic matting. At last years race it was almost like a 'Concert in the Park' with a picnic sitting on the grass watching the race - most enjoyable and one of the reasons why I am back - this year sadly no such luck. Not to worry at least it isn't raining, but its making the track a little treacherous for the cars.

We've bought a three day Walk About pass for Zone 4. For us there is no viewing the race from a comfy seat in one of the many Stands or even sipping Cocktails from a Corporate Box or the Paddock Club. We do get access to some great views of the track with the wonderful back drop of the city, great entertainment, great food and of course the many beer tents (but the beer is rather fizzy - do they add extra fizz?). The heart of the action is the Padang, which is home of the main stage and most of the food outlets and despite the lack of grass hundreds of people spread out there poncho's and sit watching the hugh screens. Why would we want to sit on the ground watching a big screen when we could be sitting in the comfort of our own home watching the same scenes? Home is no substitute to the atmosphere, the noise, the experience that one can get being at this live event. At home you don't get the added value of the entertainment that has been brought in that gives the Singapore Grand Prix that unique party feeling. Oh, and did I mention the NOISE!

So Saturday comes and it rains again, but we arrive at the track to dry sky's in time to see the band Daughtry ROCK the Padang Satge.  They have been given the early spot before Third Practice, they do not disapoint. But how are we going to entertain ourselves between Third Practice and Qualifying? We firstly eat - going for an easy option of a yummy Burger, then we wander the track enjoying some of the live track action - looking for a good viewing spot. An Ice cream before heading to another stage to settle down and listen to Ojos De Brujo a Spanish, Flamenco, Rap Band - I know it sounds like an odd combination, but it works.

Qualifying and the track is still wet from todays rain storm. Exciting stuff.

And then there was Adam Lambert. We have to admit we didn't know who he was. He's been dubbed 'who's' Adam Lambert amongst family and friends. But what a performance, a true showman, he kept us entertained until the small hours and well worth staying behind for.

Race day and we wake to blue sky's. The actual Race is hours away and a lot can happen weather wise between now and then, but dry it stays. Yippee. We arrive and head to the Makansutra Food Stalls near the Esplanade - we're going local tonight. I have a Chicken Satay Gado Gado salad and 'A' has Mee Gorang. Now to slot some entertainment in before the race, how about Brazil! Brazil! ? Fabulous, who needs the Chipendales (performing elsewhere on the circuit to a female only crowd) when you have this group of lively individuals that appeal to both sexes. Brazil! Brazil! is a combination of Latin Brazillian beat, Capoeira martial arts dance, Samba, Football tricks and the Rio Carnival all rolled into one adrenilin filled performance. With as many costume changes as they had songs, we saw everything from grass skirts to jewel encrusted bikinis. If you were in the UK this summer you may have seen them performing on the South Bank or bringing a little Brazillian sunshine to the Edinburgh Festival. What a great way to start the evening.

To the Race. Positioned in front of one of the big screens on the Padang, we settle on plastic chairs among other spectators to enjoy the whole point of the weekend, but found the beginning of the Race rather tedious and boring. But then it all started to happen; two cars collide; safety car; early pit stops (a good call for Webber); over taking (who said that couldn't happen on street circuits); another crash; safety car; Hamiltons move which would have been applauded if he managed to pull it off (but sadly he didn't); car on fire (calm Kovalainen's extinguisher skills); and its another win to Fernado Alonso followed by the Red Bulls in second and third.

So what a night, what a weekend.

But its not over yet ..... we have Mariah Carey to look forward to. Sadly for us she is a let down. Looking older than her 40 years (they must really air brush her pictures), her music is bland in comparison to the rest of the entertainment we've experienced this Singapore Party Weekend.  

So tired and happy we head home, already looking forward to next years race extravagander. Whoo!!

So Japan in two weeks and only 4 races until the end of this F1 season - who will win the Drivers Championship, who will win the Constructors and then there are the race winners - who will win?

www.yoursingapore.com
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmXQFwlD7vk&ob=av2e
www.singaporegp.sg

One of those top ten beers

Hot and tired we arrived on Sentosa Island. Avoiding all of the attractions, piped music and crowds we headed for Palawan Beach and a refreshing beer. Ice cold and wow. Instantly hit the top ten chart of Beer requirments.

But thats where we ended up. We started our day at the Alexandra Arch bridge crossing of course the Alexandra Road which is where the Forest Bridge walk begins and mid way point on Singapores Sourthern Ridge trail.

We've been wondering what this metal bridge structure crossing rain forrest was - dispearing into the forrest canopy beyond. It wasn't around years ago when we last lived in Singapore and we thought it was just a link / short cut between Alexandra Road and Gillman Village home of furniture shops and what used to be known as Little Bali. So I admit I didn't do my home work although I had tried to, but now its been discovered I will be adding it onto the things to do at the weekend list. I must admit I've looked at a map of the area in question many times and can only assume that because it is so badly designed and has no relation to what I was seeing on the ground, it therefore just didn't register in my brain - badly designed things tend not to.

(hmm tech prob can't turn photo up right way sorry)

The Forrest Walk's metal walkway zig zags, its way accross the valley, surrounded by trees, with views to the sea beyond. Below there is another path to follow at ground level which I also didn't know existed, so one can easily to a loop walk.

It passes these beautiful Black and White houses just beyond Gillman Village, where British Officers must have once resided (Gillman Village used to be a British Army Barracks). I could quite easily see myself living in one of these...
The pathway goes onwards and upwards, the air is filled with bird noise and cicardas piercing mechanical screech. Two bright yellow Black-naped Orioles fly into vision. Amazing.

The metal gives way to tarmac at Telok Blangah Hill Park, where we wonder through an Italianesk style garden - I think there is some history to discover here as there is what looks like an Italian Villa being restored - another day.

The path is still climbing and we grab a welcome drink from a lone drinks machine at the beginning of the Henderson Waves Bridge. Anywhere else this would be unsual, but we're in Singapore so you sort of look out for things like that. An ice cold drink is always welcome.

The Henderson Waves Bridge links Telok Blangah to Mount Faber, one of the tallest hills around at 105 meters high. And what views. But back to the bridge ...... its a beautiful structure and my photo doesn't do it justice. You can shade yourself from the suns intensity under its arches and sit a while. Its a very calming place.

But we don't often stop and sit while on our walks, we stop and enjoy views and nature and of course a drink but thats never for long. So we walked passed the families and the photography lesson (had our picture taken) and headed through Mount Faber Park. We could have walked on and down the Marang Trail to the civilisation of Vivo City Shopping Centre, but we opted for the newly opened refurbished Jewel Box Restaurant (despite finding it impossible to find the entrance) and the cable car our escape to our Sentosa Beer.

Kha Thai Restaurant, HortPark Singapore

Kha restaurant serves exquisite Thai street food – well that’s what the guide I picked up from the tourist information office says. I agree with exquisite, but it is hardly street food, the setting is beautiful and the prices are rather steeper than hawker centers.

I first spied Kha restaurant sparkling in the corner, lights reflecting on the infinity pool and twinkling amongst the vegitation when we went to a wedding reception at HortPark. Not long after that I went for a lunch time recky. Today I suggested it to my husband as a Monday lunch time treat. We were not disappointed.

We chose to sit outside amongst the greenery and the overhead fans as opposed to the icy cool interior (cool in both respects of the word). The food was amazing.

As a lover of Banana Flower salad I had to try the Deep Fried Banana Flower with sweet chili sauce – crisp and delicate in flavor rather like tempura. There wasn’t enough chili sauce for my liking but then I do rather like the stuff. Hubby had a favorite of ours, Larb Gai,  which is a minced chicken salad served with lettuce in which you wrap the chicken mixture in. We first tired Larb Gai in a Thai restaurant in Hong Kong when we were living there – a fiery concoction more than happy to blow your head off and clear the sinuses and despite that we kept going back for more. Here the salad reminded me more of a Vietnamese salad full of mint, coriander and lemon grass with just a hint of chili and a far more pleasant experience.

Our main courses consisted of Chicken Massaman Curry, another favorite of mine and something I try whenever I see it on the menu and a refreshing Char grilled Tiger Prawn with a Green Papaya Salad. I can not comment on the Prawn dish but as always with Massaman Curry I would have been happy with just a bowl of the sauce with a plate full of rice, although the chicken and pumkin in the sauce was yummy too.

The name HortPark makes you think there must be some stately pile existing somewhere around, sadly not. Opened in 2007 it's what's called a Gardening Hub, where research is carried out and garden ideas are exhibited year round in Chelsea Flower Show style gardens – or that’s the intention. In fact what is more interesting is it is part of the Park Connector system here in Singapore and connects Kent Ridge Park to Mount Faber all part of Singapore Southern Ridges. Southern Ridges, no, there are no mountains as such but it’s significant in the landscape as a hilly green belt of deserted plantations and rain forest full of wild life.

Kent Ridge Park is quite a lot older and has played a more important roll in Singapore’s history, a former British Fortress and the sight of a 48 hour battle between the Malay Regiment and the Japanese Army at the beginning of the Japanese invasion during World War 2. But more of that another day.

Coincidence

In front of the shelves in the bookshop I'm confronted by guides to Singapore - well I am in the travel section. I'm looking for the guide of all guides on the best of Hawker Center food here in Singapore which has recently been up dated and coincidently coincides with my quest to try more local food. Strangely enough 'Makansutra 2011' isn't there. I do find though and buy 'There's No Carrot in Carrot Cake' (Epigram) a guide to whats in 101 Hawker Dishes. So now I know whats in Char Kway Teow (flat noodle stir fry with Chinese sauage - but I'll avoid the one with cockles) and will deffinately give it a go.

Next book shop - same problem, maybe I've got it wrong, maybe the latest edition hasn't hit the shops yet ..... but as I swing past the Food Magazines I spot it - loads of them. Makes sense really I suppose, after all I don't go to the travel section to buy the Time Out Restaurant guide in the UK - but then that looks like a magazine - a thick one, but magazine size and shape all the same.

So where to start? Hmmmm......... a bit more research, but first I think its lunch time ......

I never would had said I was a fussy eater.....

.....well until came here to Asia that is.......
.... ok I know I don't do shell fish and I'm not good with bones, but out here, well sometimes you just never know what you are getting. However, in my quest to experience Singapore and Asia more fully I'm getting out there and rubbing shoulders with the locals and doing street food ..... or as close as Singapore gets to street food in nice clean Hawker Centers or Food Courts. I tried yummy a Nassi Lemak with green (the rice was green!) coconut rice and a wonderful spicy tembal on todays excursion, washed down with a cooling fresh Lemon juice - ok I'm a fussy eater avoiding the Pig Organ Soup, but at least I didn't stick to my favourite and stapel in a food crisis, Curry Puff (similar to a curried Cornish Pasty) although the name of the stall sounded rather appealing - Power Puff. I was aiming for Singaporean Chicken Rice but the queue was toooooo long - a good sign - but my stomach wanted feeding there and then.

On Palau Ubin Island a week or so ago we had a bizzare Lemon Chicken (my fellow diners enjoyed a plate of very fresh chilli prawns each). It was deep fried pieces of chicken served on what seemed like lemon curd - hmm, not what I was expecting at all - thank goodness for the Fried Rice and the Mee Gorang as they were the highlights of the meal. And then there was the great Gado Gado - a salad of steamed veg and boiled egg served with a peanut sauce, which I had in a shopping center Food Court recently - yum yum.

Don't worry I'm still getting in plenty of Western style food, but in this country obsessed about food I've decided I need to make more effort to try as much as I dare ..... I now have a food hit list which includes - Thunder tea Rice, Fried Carrot Cake (made with radish and not a carrot in sight) and Char Kway Teow (don't know what this is but its worth a try - I think).

Day one

New to blogging, so wonder how this will go, lets see .........