Fun to be a Tourist in Singapore!

Over the past 2 weeks, I zipped back into Singapore for 2 trips, each less than 24 hours.
But what I did get to do was, besides official meetings, was to be a tourist, and walk around and taking photos.

3-4 Dec, I zipped in, went shooting in the rain with Bryan Kam around his office. I was early, and so just waited around his office. So it was raining, and the NTUC building lobby wasn't all that interesting, so I ventured out to the streets.

Well, first thing is, life whizzed by quickly, as I stood there. It's the CBD, so people are always in a hurry to go somewhere. Also its drizzling, so only a crazy guy would stand there in the rain....  I think I've almost perfected the "try not to look like a suspicious terrorist" look, as people walked by, looking at me strangely.

 When you just slow down, and observe, you kinda see things differently. You take the time to really see. I notice at which traffic lights the cars go (trying to time my pictures), I notice the DHL guys chatting whilst waiting to cross, the cyclist zipping along, just notice life go by.

Well, after our dinner, we headed to Gardens by the Bay, and tried shooting for 2 hours. Another funny thing I realized, the lens keeps getting wet when it drizzles - esp when it is pointed up! I shot, check the shoot, wipe, shoot again, check, wipe - and repeat. Shooting in the rain is rather challenging, to say the least, but it forced me to look at things different - what can I shoot, when otherwise I can't in perfect weather/lighting? Reflections!

Well, the good thing about shooting in the rain is, there's hardly anyone there! The bad thing is, most of the shots during the rain was a wash out. I took this on the way out, when it finally stopped drizzling, and I got a barely decent shot of a overshot Gardens by the Bay, but see - reflections! No? nevermind.

My 2nd trip was 9-10 Dec. Arranged with my shooting buddy Bryan to meet up again! This time, along Orchard Road (Christmas lights!), and esp since I was staying on Orchard Road. Well, just as I boarded my flight, Bryan did a rain check... coz it was pouring! Once bitten, twice shy.

Strangely, when I arrived, it had already stopped raining. Decided to grab some chow, and decided to head to Takashimaya, and eat at Tonkichi. I remember my ex-girlfriend working at Hertz at Taka, and if we felt rich, would splurge and eat there, with its melt in its mouth Tonkatsu. It was mindblowingly good! Heading back, was just nostalgic (its been maybe 15 years?), things coming back when they served the bowl with the sesame seeds, which you are supposed to grind. How I wish my ex was there with me, but alas, things were just not to be..... so I ground, then waiting in anticipation for food. Well, after 15 years, it wasn't as mind-blowingly good as I remember it to be (isn't it always like that?), prices about 50% more than what I'd remember.

Anyway, after my chow, armed with my tripod and camera, I walked along Orchard Road, to Ion first, then back to Centerpoint, before ending back in my hotel (Mandarin) around 11ish. Well, there's a lot of construction going on.

There's been some changes, like Wisma Atria has a new facade, with nice lighted steps outside. Centerpoint's Christmas deco was unusually boring. I liked the Visa Christmas Trees @ Mandarin. I didn't like the orangy lights along Orchard Road (liked the purple hues better last year).

Shot a lot, but not a lot of keepers (I'd be happy to get 2 good shoots per 100 taken... typically). What was good fun though, was just observing life on Orchard Road. It was buzzing with life! Street buskers, there was this group where 1 guy played the didgeridoo, whilst 2 others did this weird dance with crystal balls. Couldn't take my eyes off them!

What was the highlight was really these bunch of Filipinos, just broke into a line dance of sorts, right in the middle of Orchard Road - to the amusement of many passer-bys. I just smiled (and took photos) as I watched them do their thing.

It got me thinking, living in Singapore (with kids), Orchard Road is not really the place we'd go, in fact, avoid at all costs! But I got to see Singapore in a different light, you see it differently when you don't live there, as a tourist. It's fun to just walk, observe, get lost; just not to have to hurry, take your time to watch.

Thanks for the chance to see my "home" differently, and falling in love with Singapore again! Just not enough to go back and live there... haha. Of course, its seeing Singapore armed with a camera, that makes the difference. I watch, wait, and see how I can shoot things differently, and thus see things differently.

Oh, I can't wait to bring my ex-girlfriend back to Tonkichi. Yes, I eventually married her. :)