Welcome to Malaysia...

Goodbye Singapore, Hello Malaysia...

We left Singapore at around 7:30 am on Wednesday (June 20) for Malaysia. After traveling for only about 20 minutes we reached the Singapore/Malaysia line. After going through customs and passing security we began our daytrip through lower Malaysia starting in the lower state, Johor. After traveling for several hours we arrived at Putrajaya. Here we saw the Ministry of Justice and the Malaysian Prime Minister’s office.

the Prime Minister's office...

The view from his office was gorgeous. We made our way to a landing that overlooked the water and was placed beside a majestic mosque.

After being touristy for a while we traveled to Kuala Lumper. While there we took a bus tour of the city. Along the way we stopped at the Royal Palace and viewed Malaysia’s version of the ‘twin towers.’ At night they are magnificently light up with stored solar energy.

Liz and I posed with the royal guard (its kind of like the guards in England, they don't move)...

the Petronas twin towers...

Following our tour we checked into our hotel and went night shopping down the street. We found great deals and all enjoyed our new found expertise in bargaining. I was proud that I bargained a knock-off purse from 180 ringgits to 30 ringgits! ;)

More to come...

Lots of Love,
Sarah

Just for fun...

Singapore Botanic Gardens...

Friday (June 15) Ellen, Jessica, Caroline and I visited the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It was GORGEOUS! I kept forgetting that I was in such a large city because we were surrounded by trees and flowers that can't be found in the city. The pictures pretty much sum it up!

Ellen in front of the coolest tree ever... (check out the roots!)

the Singapore national flower...

Jessica, Caroline, and I under the waterfall...

Look at the way this plant stores water...

I loved the vibrant colors...

more colors...

...

i love how this one twists...

this is the neatest seed pod I have ever seen...

Jessica looking cute in front of a fountain...

Mommaw this is for you...

My favorite flower of the day!

Swan lake...

They came very close...

Lots of Love,

Sarah :)

What's New in Singapore...

Tuesday night (June 12) we took Ash out for her birthday at Blooies, a restaurant within walking distance of PGP. Although it was a bit expensive it was very good! The waitresses worked with me to plan a surprise for Ash. And this is what it resulted in:

a HUGE ice cream float...

which we helped her eat/drink of course!

and a cake...

Overall, it was a lot of fun!!

Wednesday (June 13) was a somewhat normal day, if that is possible to say in Singapore. We attended classes and hung around PGP in the afternoon. For dinner a group of us went to a prata place in Dover (the same one Ash and I had been to previously). I tried the banana prata. It was amazing!

When we returned to PGP a group of us decided to go out and check out the club scene in Singapore. Wednesday night is ladies' night and is free for all girls (my favorite price :) ). Singapore is known internationally as having an excellent night life. I found out just how true that was!

We decided to go to Ministry of Sound at Clark Quay.

Here is a group of us waiting in line to get in...

The next day we visited the Malay part of Singapore. It is called Kampong Glam. While there we visited Ft. Canning. Ft. Canning is home to many interesting historical sites.

Our tour guide was our Malaysian history teacher, Dr. Emmanuel.

We first visited Keramat Iskandar Syah. Keramat is the Malay word for sacred place. It is thought to be the final resting place of Iskandar Syah, a ruler of Tamesak (early Singapore). Many Muslims visit the site daily to pay their respects to this site.

We then visited an archaeological site where researchers are looking for remains of colonial houses. You know I enjoyed this part!

Later we visited the Malay Heritage Centre.

Finally, we ended our tour at the Sultan's Mosque. Unfortunately we couldn't go inside, but I did get some pictures!

This morning we visited the Changi side of the island. Unfortunately, it rained all day and instead of going to Pulau Ubin we visited the Changi Prison Chapel and Museum.

This is a replica of the chapel at the POW camp in Changi...

The original cross...

Making 1000 paper cranes was considered good luck...

Visitors to the Chapel are allowed to post messages in memory of those who died...

More to come soon!!

Lots of Love,

Sarah :)

Lions and Tigers and Bears, OH MY!

Yesterday (June 11) we visited the Singapore Zoo. There isn't much to explain except that we spent the afternoon in the zoo and at 7:30 we visited the Night Safari. Unfortunately, it began to rain so we didn't get to see a lot of animals. I'll let the pictures tell the story...

Parrots...

The animal that the modern day alligator evolved from (unfortunately it is becoming extinct)...

Cute monkey thing...

A primate of sorts...

A white tiger...
Polar Bear...

Rhino!

Zebra...

There was a garden for tropical plants.

Here is a Henna plant...

Cocoa...

The entrance of the Night Safari... (with a surprised Jameil)

Over dinner tribal dancers entertained us...

But this peacock entertained us a bit more...

Unfortunately we weren't able to use flash on the Night Safari so my pictures didn't come out very well.

But mom I know you were waiting for my giraffe pictures soooo.....

Lots of Love,

Sarah :)

-I apologize for forgetting some of the animals names.