Please read the Travelogue from below,i.e.,27th Dec. to 3rd Jan.
3rd Jan
Visited Srinivas heritage Vishnu temple (about 200 year old) in Mini India of Singapore and joined in the arti and puja in the forenoon. It being a Tuesday,Venita did puja in the Hanuman temple also inside Srinivas temple. She also shopped around in China town before leavng for Swarnbhumi Intl.Arpt., Bangkok.
Srinivas heritage Vishnu temple
Samudra manthan depiction at Swarnbhumi Intl.Arpt., Bangkok
Venita had discovered Samudramanthan scene in course of her window shopping on 31st when we came to Bangkok airport on way to Singapore. She described it to me on way. She was quite thrilled to see it and wished to take me to show. We could not go on that day as flight had started boarding in the meantime. We walked lenth and breadth in the fourth floor of the airport today for about 45 minutes;Venita walked enquiring about it from everyone on the way and ultimately she located it. I did not object as she was quite enthusistic to show it to me. She stood before the statue of lord Vishnu and prayed for quite sometime.
Left Singapore by Thai Airways at about 3.55 pm (Singapore time). Arrived Bangkok at about 5.15 pm. Singapore time is 2 and half hour ahead of India and one hour ahead of Bangkok. Left Bangkok by Thai Airways at about 8 pm.(Bangkok time). Bangkok time is one and half hour ahead of India. Reached Delhi 11 pm (IST) after refreshing holidays in Thailand and Singapore for a week from 27th Dec. to 3rd Jan 2017.
Quotable Quotes :"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius
Thereafter guide took us to a jewellery shop. But all items were quite expensive. None of the group consisting of about 15,all ndians,mostly from Andhra Pradesh, bought any. We were dropped at the hotel around 2 pm.
We also visited Buddha temple in China town. Venita shopped around.
Buddha temple in China town
We requested S.A. Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd, who were engaged by our Travel Agent for airport transfers at Singapore only, to take us to Sentosa island for Wings of Time Show as weather was good today. In fact we had first requested Luxury TRS and TRVL on 31st to show us the areas on 1st Jan which will not be coverd by them on 2nd as per package. They said they would. On being contacted by us on 1st, they did not respond. Hence we contacted Goldfish holiday Makers.on 1st. We could not see Sentosa show on the day as it started raining. As cost of tickets was non-refundable we lost about 70 Singapore dollars on 1st. Shri Kumar showed us around in his limousin on 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And later he dropped us at the airport. We paid about 225 Singapore dollers for sight-seeing on 1st,2nd and 3rd Jan. Payment for airport drop had already been made by our Delhi Travel agent. It was included in the package. The packaging by the Travel agent had not been done properly. In future we should request the Travel agent for packaging the airtickets, hotel reservations and airport transfers only. For sight-seeing we should do it on arrival at a particular place.
After we were dropped at the hotel by Luxury TRS and TRVL, we requested SA Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd , travel operator, to take us to Sentosa. As weather was good, he dropped us at boarding point of cable cars. We travelled to Sentosa by cable car and witnessed 'Wings of Time' show against the background of sea. It was presentation of water, laser , fire and powerful music. It shows evolution of life.
After the show, Kumar drove us through Mount Faber, hill station of Singapore, with spacous houses of rich people. At the end we drove through Mini India and had delicious dinner at a vegetarian Siva Sagar Restraunt .
1st Jan
Visited Singapore Botanic gardens by taxi on our own arrangement. It is Unesco world heritage site. We walked for about 45 minutes to reach VIP Orchid garden from Tanglin gate. Orchids of all colours were blooming in full glory.
On request S.A. Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd came at 10.30 am to Sherton Towers where we stayed for three nights and took us to Singapore flyer and Flower Dome + Cloud rest.
Flower Dome + Cloud rest, namely, Gardens by the Bay,are designed meticulously. They have flower plants of all countries. It is season for them to bloom.
View from Singapore Flyer
View of Bay from Singapore flyer
We moved by cable cars and Singapore flyer. We had good views of entire Singapore,of its magnificent skyline of tall buildings, bay, green areas and twinlkling lights.. Marine Sand base hotel near Marilion was most striking structure. One cable car takes you to Mount Fabre. You see a panoramic view of entire Singaore. Its peak has a large Marilion. You go through it to the highest point of Singapore. The other cable car takes you to Sentosa island. It has amusement park and a museum. Famous Wings of time show is staged here.
31st
Left Suvarnbhumi Intl airport, Bangkok for Changi Intl Airpoart Singapore at about 11.30 am. We took breakfast at Royal Silk lounge of Thai Airlines at the airport. We gave packs of breakfast, taken from Grand Skhumvit hotel Bangkok ,to airport staff . They were quite happy with the unexpected gifts.
Arrived Singapore at about 2.50 pm. After a drive of about half an hour,we arrived Sheraton Towers, Singapore Hotel, 39 Scotts road Pin 228230, TN (65)6737 6888,Telefax (65) 6737 1072. It was new year eve. As there was no other program, people in hotel advised us to walk to nearby Orchard road. We were there for about one and a half hour. It was beautifully decorated for the eve brimming with people mostly looking Chinese.76% people in Singapore are Chinese. We came to Sheraton and had dinner, not so good, at about 9 pm to the singing of a crooner. It was all kinds of non- veg food. Hardly anything veg.We retired to sleep around 11 pm before bells rang for the New Year. So one more year is gone. We do not know how many more years, life has in store for us.
30th
Undertook half day tour of Grand Palace as provided in the package.
Stupa below has relics of Buddha. It was erected by King Rama IV in 1855.
Stupa with Buddha relics
It is Chapel of Emrald Buddha. It was built by King Rama I in 1782. It is the ordination hall in the style of Ayodhya period. The royality claim their lineage to Ayodhya's Shri Ram.
Outside wall of Chapel of Emrald Buddha in the style of Ayodhya period.
The Demon Gurdians,guarding the Emrald Buddha
We also passed the chambers where the body of King Rama I0 is lying-in-state. Its cremation is to take place somtime in Oct. this year.PM Modi visited it last year.
29th
We had a full day program to visit the Bridge on River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, War cemetry and museum. Prisoners of war were utilized to construct it during World war II. We travelled by train for about an hour.
In the train
On the River Kwai bridge
The Thai guide told us the story of love between a Japanese soldier and Thai girl. Later, while dying the injured soldier told the grieving Thai girl that she need not cry. He 'would wait for her in the milky way and meet when she comes there' the guide said.
On way back visited war-cemetry, located in about10 acre area . We saw a number of Polish people visiting it. Quite a few of POWs were of Polish origine besides others of allied forces and some forced labourers. Nearby The Jeath war museum in Kanchanburi was a touching experience. It exhibited how POWS lived a wretched life and a good number died too.
Cemetry
28th
Undertook a temple tour to Golden Buddha at Sukhothai Traimit and Wat Pho in China town..
Golden Buddha at Sukhothai Traimit is said to be the largest Golden Buddha image in the world.
Golden Buddha
.Wat Pho temple complex has a number of structures in memory of past kings aand other members of Royal family besides idols of Buddha.
Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho is greatly revered and worshipped by Thai and foreign Buddhists.
We also visited Gem producton company and Narai Phand, Royal Thai Government cottage industry outlet after return from temple tour.Venita bought a few items.
To avoid traffic jams, we travelled by skytrain from the Narai Phand to Grand Skhumvit hotel. The Grand Skhumvit provided us a three wheeler to travel from Skytrain station to hotel.
27th Dec,2016
It was 11 degree celcius at IGI at 3 am. At 1.30 am IST on 26th,we wished happy birthday to dear Ruchi from the airport. It was 7 pm in London on 26th: birthday eve. At IGI we were taken to Plaza lounge by the Thai Airlines and offered drinks and breakfast as the travel agent in India had got our tickets upgraded to business class.
We took off by Thai airways at about 3 am. Flight time was about 3.30 hours. As we lost 1 and half hour due to time difference between Delhi and Bangkok, we arrived at about 5 am (IST) and 6 and half hour local time.Checked-in Grand Skhumvit hotel,TN (66) 2207 9999, fax (66) 2207 9555
We had swapped our suitcase with another through mistake. Ajay, our travel agent in India, helped in locating it when i shared some information from baggage tags with him. Ajay is appreciated by us for his 24 hour availibility and his attitude of help any time. I have dealt with many travel agents, but he is unique. We had to cough out over 100 US dollers in taxi,f ine and tip at Bangkok airport to get back our baggage.
3rd Jan
Visited Srinivas heritage Vishnu temple (about 200 year old) in Mini India of Singapore and joined in the arti and puja in the forenoon. It being a Tuesday,Venita did puja in the Hanuman temple also inside Srinivas temple. She also shopped around in China town before leavng for Swarnbhumi Intl.Arpt., Bangkok.
Srinivas heritage Vishnu temple
Samudra manthan depiction at Swarnbhumi Intl.Arpt., Bangkok
Left Singapore by Thai Airways at about 3.55 pm (Singapore time). Arrived Bangkok at about 5.15 pm. Singapore time is 2 and half hour ahead of India and one hour ahead of Bangkok. Left Bangkok by Thai Airways at about 8 pm.(Bangkok time). Bangkok time is one and half hour ahead of India. Reached Delhi 11 pm (IST) after refreshing holidays in Thailand and Singapore for a week from 27th Dec. to 3rd Jan 2017.
Quotable Quotes :"It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop." Confucius
2nd Jan
Undertook city tour of Gardens by the Bay at Singapore, popularly called Flower Dome + Cloud Forest, cooled conservatories.We had already seen them on 1st, details and some photographs are given below in travelogue of 1st . Flower Dome has flower plants from all over the world. Cloud Forest is a beautiful creation of natural forest with artificial clouds. Before taking us to gardens by the bay the tour operator took us to a chocolate gallery We bought some chocolates.
A visit to Marelion park thereafter was scintllating.The story of Marelion (head of lion and body of fish) is narrated as follows :"In the 13th-century Malay Annals, Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Palembang was shipwrecked and washed ashore to an island. There he saw a creature which he believed was a lion. So he named the island "Singa Pura" (in Tamil language Singa puram) which means "Lion City" in Malay, from which the name Singapore was derived."(Wikipedia)
Marelion (head of lion and body of fish)A visit to Marelion park thereafter was scintllating.The story of Marelion (head of lion and body of fish) is narrated as follows :"In the 13th-century Malay Annals, Sang Nila Utama, a prince from Palembang was shipwrecked and washed ashore to an island. There he saw a creature which he believed was a lion. So he named the island "Singa Pura" (in Tamil language Singa puram) which means "Lion City" in Malay, from which the name Singapore was derived."(Wikipedia)
We also visited Buddha temple in China town. Venita shopped around.
Buddha temple in China town
We requested S.A. Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd, who were engaged by our Travel Agent for airport transfers at Singapore only, to take us to Sentosa island for Wings of Time Show as weather was good today. In fact we had first requested Luxury TRS and TRVL on 31st to show us the areas on 1st Jan which will not be coverd by them on 2nd as per package. They said they would. On being contacted by us on 1st, they did not respond. Hence we contacted Goldfish holiday Makers.on 1st. We could not see Sentosa show on the day as it started raining. As cost of tickets was non-refundable we lost about 70 Singapore dollars on 1st. Shri Kumar showed us around in his limousin on 1st, 2nd and 3rd. And later he dropped us at the airport. We paid about 225 Singapore dollers for sight-seeing on 1st,2nd and 3rd Jan. Payment for airport drop had already been made by our Delhi Travel agent. It was included in the package. The packaging by the Travel agent had not been done properly. In future we should request the Travel agent for packaging the airtickets, hotel reservations and airport transfers only. For sight-seeing we should do it on arrival at a particular place.
After we were dropped at the hotel by Luxury TRS and TRVL, we requested SA Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd , travel operator, to take us to Sentosa. As weather was good, he dropped us at boarding point of cable cars. We travelled to Sentosa by cable car and witnessed 'Wings of Time' show against the background of sea. It was presentation of water, laser , fire and powerful music. It shows evolution of life.
After the show, Kumar drove us through Mount Faber, hill station of Singapore, with spacous houses of rich people. At the end we drove through Mini India and had delicious dinner at a vegetarian Siva Sagar Restraunt .
1st Jan
Visited Singapore Botanic gardens by taxi on our own arrangement. It is Unesco world heritage site. We walked for about 45 minutes to reach VIP Orchid garden from Tanglin gate. Orchids of all colours were blooming in full glory.
On request S.A. Kumar, Director, Goldfish Holiday Makers (S) Pvt Ltd came at 10.30 am to Sherton Towers where we stayed for three nights and took us to Singapore flyer and Flower Dome + Cloud rest.
Flower Dome + Cloud rest, namely, Gardens by the Bay,are designed meticulously. They have flower plants of all countries. It is season for them to bloom.
In Flower Dome
Some plants of Fower Dome
Cloud Forest
Cable cars to Sentosa and Mount Faber
31st
Left Suvarnbhumi Intl airport, Bangkok for Changi Intl Airpoart Singapore at about 11.30 am. We took breakfast at Royal Silk lounge of Thai Airlines at the airport. We gave packs of breakfast, taken from Grand Skhumvit hotel Bangkok ,to airport staff . They were quite happy with the unexpected gifts.
Arrived Singapore at about 2.50 pm. After a drive of about half an hour,we arrived Sheraton Towers, Singapore Hotel, 39 Scotts road Pin 228230, TN (65)6737 6888,Telefax (65) 6737 1072. It was new year eve. As there was no other program, people in hotel advised us to walk to nearby Orchard road. We were there for about one and a half hour. It was beautifully decorated for the eve brimming with people mostly looking Chinese.76% people in Singapore are Chinese. We came to Sheraton and had dinner, not so good, at about 9 pm to the singing of a crooner. It was all kinds of non- veg food. Hardly anything veg.We retired to sleep around 11 pm before bells rang for the New Year. So one more year is gone. We do not know how many more years, life has in store for us.
30th
Undertook half day tour of Grand Palace as provided in the package.
Stupa below has relics of Buddha. It was erected by King Rama IV in 1855.
Stupa with Buddha relics
Outside wall of Chapel of Emrald Buddha in the style of Ayodhya period.
The building is Buddhist library. It was constructed during the reign of King Rama in 1789.
Buddhist library.
The Demon Gurdians,guarding the Emrald Buddha
29th
We had a full day program to visit the Bridge on River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, War cemetry and museum. Prisoners of war were utilized to construct it during World war II. We travelled by train for about an hour.
In the train
With the well informed guide
In front of a cave, used by Japanese for accomodation of labourers for construction of bridge on Kwai
The Thai guide told us the story of love between a Japanese soldier and Thai girl. Later, while dying the injured soldier told the grieving Thai girl that she need not cry. He 'would wait for her in the milky way and meet when she comes there' the guide said.
On way back visited war-cemetry, located in about10 acre area . We saw a number of Polish people visiting it. Quite a few of POWs were of Polish origine besides others of allied forces and some forced labourers. Nearby The Jeath war museum in Kanchanburi was a touching experience. It exhibited how POWS lived a wretched life and a good number died too.
Cemetry
We returned hotel quite late in the evening after a long day. We had lunch near Kwai bridge. It was included in the tour package.
Undertook a temple tour to Golden Buddha at Sukhothai Traimit and Wat Pho in China town..
Golden Buddha at Sukhothai Traimit is said to be the largest Golden Buddha image in the world.
Golden Buddha
In Wat Pho
The reclining Buddha
Reclining Buddha in Wat Pho is greatly revered and worshipped by Thai and foreign Buddhists.
We also visited Gem producton company and Narai Phand, Royal Thai Government cottage industry outlet after return from temple tour.Venita bought a few items.
To avoid traffic jams, we travelled by skytrain from the Narai Phand to Grand Skhumvit hotel. The Grand Skhumvit provided us a three wheeler to travel from Skytrain station to hotel.
27th Dec,2016
It was 11 degree celcius at IGI at 3 am. At 1.30 am IST on 26th,we wished happy birthday to dear Ruchi from the airport. It was 7 pm in London on 26th: birthday eve. At IGI we were taken to Plaza lounge by the Thai Airlines and offered drinks and breakfast as the travel agent in India had got our tickets upgraded to business class.
We took off by Thai airways at about 3 am. Flight time was about 3.30 hours. As we lost 1 and half hour due to time difference between Delhi and Bangkok, we arrived at about 5 am (IST) and 6 and half hour local time.Checked-in Grand Skhumvit hotel,TN (66) 2207 9999, fax (66) 2207 9555
We had swapped our suitcase with another through mistake. Ajay, our travel agent in India, helped in locating it when i shared some information from baggage tags with him. Ajay is appreciated by us for his 24 hour availibility and his attitude of help any time. I have dealt with many travel agents, but he is unique. We had to cough out over 100 US dollers in taxi,f ine and tip at Bangkok airport to get back our baggage.
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