Out and About

So a lot of Singapore is like one ginormous shopping mall on steroids. There are shopping malls on what seems like every corner. And we are not just talking your run of the mill malls. We are talking big, expensive malls with expensive restaurants, super high end stores, and even playgrounds for the parent who needs to satisfy that unhappy, reluctant shopper. Having been in a number of these malls, I am still amazed at the sheer number of high end stores in this town. In Houston, you would only find an actual Gucci or Prada or Louis Vuitton store at one mall--The Galleria. Here it's like most of the malls are gallerias. I can't tell you the umber of Gucci stores I've seen on just one road in this town. We asked our native friend, Brandon Chin, why this is so and he said that there is not much to do here but eat and shop. I'm guessing this is because it's usually SO hot here. Whatever the reason, it's curious. It's like THE shopping mall of Asia.

So today Econ Man had a 6 AM interview at the CNBC Studios, which meant he was up at 5, which meant I was up at 5 (even if only for a short time). He returned to the apartment about the time we all actually woke up. So after a very late breakfast (we're still adjusting to the time difference) we decided to journey out and see if one of these said malls might just have some fun playground for our kids. We were in luck, and with a carousel to boot! This was Tess' favorite. She's never been on one before. She giggled with delight.





Nighttime meant date time. My In-Laws are lovely and offered to keep the little tikes while Econ Man and I hit the town. We ate at db Au Moderne, a Daniel Bouloud restaurant in the new Sands complex (the one with the boat-like sky park on top). I indulged in fois gras. Yum. And had an Australian Wagyu hanger steak, which here, per ounce, cost less than the USDA Angus beef. Funny because in the US it's reversed. All was great. Then we extended our evening with drinks on that sky park. The breeze was amazing. The views were gorgeous. I turned to Econ Man and asked why there wasn't one of these open air bars on the top of a hotel in Boston, or NYC, or San Francisco. What a brilliant and beautiful concept. Then I remembered that all those places are cold and often snowy or icy. That doesn't work so well with open-air concept eateries and bars on the tops of very tall high-rises. Funny. I felt a little like a dingy chick when I mentioned it.



















Super late night. Off to dream land.

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Singapore