Simmy and I have just got back from a wonderful holiday in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The basic idea was of course to attend our son Unni's (Sanat's) graduation ceremony. In the process we had a great time as well, spending more than two weeks in Singapore and about three days in Kuala Lumpur.
Unni completed his MBA in Financial Management from the NUS (National University of Singapore). The Convocation (they call it the Commencement) ceremony was held in the NUS Campus on the 6th July 2011 and was a grand and solemn function. It was indeed a proud moment for us to see our son being conferred his degree.
Singapore is an amazing place. I think it is the cleanest, safest, and most citizen-friendly country in the world. The public transport system especially is fantastic. And I think Singaporeans owe a great deal to Mr.Lee Kuan Yew, the visionary statesman. Without him Singapore would not be what it is today. Hats off to him!
We did all the usual things there. Visited Sentosa, rode a cable car, went on a 'Tiffin Cruise" on the Singapore River, used the Singapore Flier, visited a casino (Simmy even gambled a bit), went up to the top floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, posed before the Merlion, had a 'Singapore Sling' at its origin, the Raffles Hotel (thereby fulfilling a long-cherished if somewhat childish, ambition), attended the Singapore Food Fair, and even went for a programme called 'Ballet under the Stars' where for the first time in my life I actually saw a ballet (Tchaikovsky's 'Swan Lake'). Altogether, Singapore was a wonderful experience, particularly since we got to spend quality time with Unni and his wife Ankita who both went out of their way to make us comfortable and welcome!
In between we also took three days off to pay a visit to Priya, daughter of Shamsher and Nandita, our college-friends. We took a train from Woodlands Station and travelled up to KL in a day-train. Priya is a dentist in KL and has a beautiful apartment in Bukit Jalil, overlooking the Golf Club! She was overwhelmingly hospitable, and we had a great time in KL as well. We went to see the King's Palace, where we got to see the changing of the guard (a low-key version of the one at Buckingham Palace), the ornate Chinese Temple, the Bird Park and Bird Show, the Batu Caves, Merdeka Square, and of course the twin Petronas Towers. We also went shopping in ChinaTown. But I think the highlight of the visit was our trip to the Fish Spa where fish of various sizes and species nibbled our feet and supposedly removed all dead and unhealthy tissue from them! It was quite a ticklish experience and I think I giggled a lot, much to Priya's discomfiture and embarrassment!
I have known Priya since she was a baby and staying with her was just like staying with my daughter! Thank you Priya for everything. You were a real angel.
