Trapizza and the History that Brings Me Back Here…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Pizza and I have never been best of friends. I remember only too well my mother’s home-made efforts.. the toppings were ok enough but the pizza bottoms were thick and doughy.

Everyone else in the family seemed to love it like that and I was the only one sitting glumly at the table trying to think of ways to get out of the labourous task of wading though a pizza base twice as thick as  the thumbs that held the pieces.

From then on I avoided pizza whenever possible, and considered myself a confirmed non-pizza eater. If there had been a club with a life membership to not eat pizza I would have signed up.

Then, whilst touring “small town America” with Himself before the kids were born, we arrived late in a small place called Belle in Missouri and the one and only place open so late in the evening was a small pizza place.

I frowned and wasn’t extatic about the idea but it was the only place open for miles and we were really hungry so I steeled myself for the first pizza experience of my adult life and took a table with no enthusiasm whatsoever.

Himself made the order at the desk and I contemplated just eating garlic bread and nothing else. To my disappointment garlic bread wasn’t on their menu, or they were sold out of it, so pizza it was going to have to be.

Our pizza’s were duely delivered to us and my eyes opened in wonder… a thin crust, a wonderfully thin crust and topping to die for… bad pizza memories were being extinguished with every mouthful.

The lady who ran the pizzeria was called Arlene W. and she collected Coca Cola memerobilia. Himself had some coasters back home in the Netherlands that he’d found in a box load of stuff he’s been given from someone and he asked for Arlene’s address so that he could send them to her.

We duely sent them once we were home and she replied to say Thank You and thus began a tradition where we wrote once a year exchanging Christmas Cards. Arline’s handwriting was always a challenge to read and over the years it got less steady and even harder to read but we kept up with news and looked forward to the card that bore the USA stamp and Missouri postcode each Christmas.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We learned over the years that her smiling husband had passed away, that she left the pizzeria business and her health was deteriating. Two years ago, after some 15 Christmase’s we received no reply to the card and letter we sent out, and we are now left wondering if she is just no longer capable of writing or of she too has passed away.

Either way we have very fond memories of Arlene and wish her rest and peace. I’ve tried pizza here in NL since that trip but not one of them have come even close to exciting my tastebuds as Arlene’s did so my pizza experiences remain few and far between.

Since Arlene W.  is the one who made me brave enough to order a pizza here at Siloso beach, I owe her too for the discovery of my second favoutite pizza place (considering how rarely I eat pizza, looking forward to one somewhere is saying something).

Here at Trapizza Restaurant on Sentosa’s Siloso beach I have again found a pizza that turned all my misconceptions about pizza on their head. Wafer thin crusts cooked in a piping hot pizza oven has left me with a new appreciation of how brilliant pizza can be, even enough to turn the head of a seemingly confirmed pizza hater.

Our trips to Singapore would no longer be complete without a meal here at Trapizza.

I’ve made blog posts on this place before and no doubt will again in the future… and why not, when this place cooks a pizza that I adore and nowhere at home in the Netherlands even comes close? .. but love as I do their Pizza’s, all kudos goes to Arlene in Belle Missouri for changing my relationship with Pizza forever.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

I even get to try and take photos whilst being wheeled home by Himself. What more does a girl need? (answer: lessons in how to take night photos if you saw all the out of focus ones I deleted)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Dune Buggy to the Rescue!

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We return to Sentosa Island after the Duck Tour and Himself and the kids head straight for the swimming pool whilst I take a nap.

Later in the afternoon they return to the room complaining that they are hungry and urge me to get out of bed and dressed so that we can all go out and eat.

Himself remembered that our favourite Pizza restaurant “Trappizza” on Siloso Beach is now open again after the Zoukout event and we all are eager to go there.

There is just one small problem: beach + hill + crutches are not a good combination. The hill we can get around (partly) with the lifts but I would still have to negotiate the pool area, a carpark and then the beach itself.

The hotel does have a normal style wheelchair for me to use when I need, and that’s been helpful, but it would be too hard to manage one of those on sand.

The solution comes from an unexpected quarter: Himself and the kids have made friends with one of the Lifeguards at the the pool… The lifegards name is Joseph and he’s been super helpful.

Himself mentioned to Jospeh that it’s a shame that we won’t be able to make it down to the beach for our favourite pizza and Jospeph starts to grin… “Please wait here” he says, walking down a path at the back of the pools…

…and he returns a short while later with a most excellent mode of transport to take me to Siloso Beach.

My “transport” arrives at the patio door of our hotel room with Kiwi Daughter and Little Mr.  on board,  grinning their faces off and with  small bevy of envious children from the pool area in tow.

My carriage awaits, Himself takes over as chief  dune-buggy pusher and we happily head off for pizza.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Down Town Singapore, … a Duck’s Perspective.

It’s almost time for our Duck to get out of the water… I’ve shown you some of the bits I found really interesting, but there is still more to see…  here is a round-up of some of the other sights around down-town Singapore.

A few decades ago these would have been affordable housing, these days you need a seven figure bank balance to afford an apartment here on the river…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Bridge photo because I liked the contrast of light and shade, positive and negative space and shapes and lines…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Skyscrapers…  interestingly shaped skyline…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

…palm trees to remind me later of the wonderful tropical heat (especially once I’ve returned to a Dutch winter)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

… the architect designed this with eight sides so that the all important feng shui  principles work from all angles… (apparently it does).

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

yes, these photos were taken a few weeks back… just before Christmas in fact … decorations.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

.. The High Court…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The old High Court is being renovated and a new High Court (the “flying saucer building” in the background) is under construction…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Beautiful church…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

…A quick glimpse of the famous Raffles Hotel… (low rise, red roof).

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Helix Bridge … DNA and Child’s Play…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

My next photographic “target” on Singapore’s Duck  Tour sits right next to the ArtScience Museum and Gallery of  the day before yeaterday’s post.

If you have been a reader of my blog for any length of time, then you will know how much I appreciate old stuff, especially old stuff made in stone, wood, wrought iron, hand blown or leaded glass.

I love “antique”, I adore “quirky” and I appreciate craftsmanship and detail in many different mediums.
That said, sometimes a little bit of “modern” can catch my eye and turn my head as well. This is one of those times.

This bridge is known as the “Helix Bridge” and so logically enough, it was no surprise to find out from our Duck Tour guide that the design is based on the double helix format of DNA strands.

Wikipedia tells me that:

“Canopies (made of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh) are incorporated along parts of the inner spiral to provide shade for pedestrians.

The bridge has four viewing platforms sited at strategic locations which provide stunning views of the Singapoe skyline and events taking place within Marina Bay. At night the bridge is illuminated by a series of lights that highlight the double-helix structure.

Pairs of coloured letters “c” and “g” as well as “a” and “t” on the bridge light up at night in red and green to represent cytosine, guanine, adenine and thymine, the four bases of DNA. “

I just like the simplicity and cleaness of the structure… it’s pleasing and harmonous in it’s purity of line, and I find the grace of the interwoven curves mesmerising.     …And I knew I liked it even more when I found this little snippet of information on Wikipedia: “the bridge also functions as a gallery where children’s paintings and drawings are exhibited for public viewing.”

So, beautiful indeed, on so many levels.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Making Wishes, to be the Tallest?

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

I’m still taking you with me on our Duck Tour in the city of Singapore.

As we come into the Marina Bay, and cast our eyes toward the famous Singapore Merlion that stands on the other side we are fascinated by the presence of thousands of white balls floating in the water.

They are roped off by a series of buoys (and I think nets) and the Duck Boats don’t venture very close to them but clearly I’m not the only one wondering what all of these balls are for before just as I’m about to ask, another tourist gets in before me and asks the guide if these are artworks or…?

It turns out that before the Chinese New Year (today,  January 23,  2012)  people can pay for one of these balls and on them they write wishes that they hope to come true. It appears that the bigger the ball you purchase the bigger you wish can be.

So, what you see before you are many thousands of wishes that the residents of Singapore have made.  To any of you who celebrate the lunar New Year today, I wish you a very Happy New Year and I hope that  you have some wonderful festive New Year celebrations with your friends and family and that all of your wishes come true.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

So what else is there to see in the bay? Our Duck Tour guide also tells us that  the next building:  the five-star, Swissôtel The Stamford, is the tallest hotel in the world.

There are other buildings that have hotels in them that are taller, but apparently this one is the tallest that houses soley a hotel and where the space is not combined with commercial office premises etc.

At 226 meters (741 feet) I had troubles to get it all into the photograph when we travelled close to it on the road, but when out on the water we got a better view. Wiki tells me that it has 1,261 rooms and suites, 16 restaurants and bars, Raffles City Convention Centre, and one of Asia’s largest Spas.

For me, I find the 11 or so stories of the Rasa Sentosa quite high enough… I’m still making up my mind if I were ever in a room on the upper floors of this hotel, if making up in the morning to the view outside would be a dreamy experience or one of my scariest nighmeres. Jury is out on this one.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

There is also an outdoor stadium that seats 20.000 people…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

… and something that had Little Mr. pointing and getting all hot and bothered about… the clear highlight of the day for a six year old boy is, naturally:  a crane lifting a boat out of the water… (I was under strict orders to get the photographic evidence and to post the proof of this wondrous event in my blog) He may live to regret this demand when he’s 18 and I’m looking for suitable blackmail material to keep him in line.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The ArtScience Assumes the Lotus Position…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

One of the buildings that is part of the Marina Bay Sands resort complex is the ArtScience Museum.

The museum and adjoining ArtScience Gallery is more of a host to touring exhibitions than having a vast permanent collection of it’s own, but what interests me more in today’s post is the actual architecture of the building itself.

Designed by Moshe Safdie to resemble a lotus flower, it’s also become known as the “Welcoming hand of Singapore”.

Wiki tells me that:

“The ArtScience museum is anchoured by a round base in the middle with ten extensions referred to as “fingers”.

The design concept denotes various gallery spaces sporting skylights at the “fingertips” which are included as sustainable illumination for the dramatically curved interior walls.

When completed the ArtScience museum will feature 21 gallery spaces equating to 50.000 square feet (6.000 square meters)”.

There is a small permanent collection here, so I do think that this is one place that I would like to visit on future trip to Singapore:  alone if the kids are still young and their attention spans are short, or with them if they are a little older and have learned to appreciate art galleries and museums more than they do at present.

In the meantime I will make do with the views of  the building that can be gained from the water as our Duck Tour progresses…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Cruising in the Sky with the Marina Bay Sands…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The Marina Bay Sands casino and hotel resort is a new addition to the Singapore skyline and one that is instantly noticeable and makes a big impression.

The building, owned by the Las Vagas Sands Group, opened in 2010, was inspired by decks of cards and is reputed to be the world’s most expensive casino.

In addition to the casino and hotel there are also shopping mall areas, theatres, a plastic surface ice skating rink, restaurants, and convention /exhibition centre.

Wiki tells me that there are 500 tables and 1600 slot machines in the casino but the real jaw-dropping item that sets this building apart from your usual skyscraper is the SkyPark located on the top of the building.

The SkyPark is 340m long (1.115 feet) and joins the top of the three seperate towers that make up the Marina Bay Sands. To most people the SkyPark looks like a ship, it has definate “stern” area and a “bow” that defies gravity as part of it pertrudes 67 meters unsupported from the north tower, making it the world’s largest public cantilevered platform. (55 stories from the ground) .

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Our Duck tour guide tells us that some people see less of the boat theme and find it more of a surf board, or in the case of one adament little girl, an ironing board.

The SkyPark boasts the world’s longest elevated swimming pool, a 146 meter (478 feet) infinity pool that is 191 meters above the ground.

In the park there are also several restaurants, gardens and hundreds of trees, as well as a public observatory deck on the cantilever section, said to give exceptional views of Singapore’s skyline.

I might have been persuaded to go up and have a look at the SkyPark but several factors stopped me… first: nothing would ever entice me to step out onto the unsupported “bow” section of the building, I don’t suffer from vertigo but I still don’t do heights very well, and somehow my subconscious is just screaming that however safe it might look, that standing on a piece of unsupported building 55 stories up is about 54.95 stories too many. For me, it’s just wrong.

Secondly, the pools are only for the use of hotel guests, the visiting public can look at the scenery but not indulge in any of the treats. … and looking is not free either, it costs roughly $20 per person to go up and partake of the views on offer at the SkyPark (unless you are guest at the hotel itself) which for me sorry, … I’m way too Dutch to spend eighty bucks on what would probably be just a quick look aound with Himself and impatient kids.

Instead, we have travelled past the Marina Bay Sands on various roads close by, as well as on the water with the “Duck”. I’ll content myself with the different views on offer from down below, as the building is indeed stunning, beguiling and beautiful. But it’s one “ship” I won’t be boarding just yet…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The Esplanade is a Performing Artwork…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

One of the most memorable buildings in Singapore must be the two halves of what I call the “hedgehog”  buildings.

Actually they also reminds me of Pandanis fruit, with their knobbly, spikey appearance but I think they might have been designed with durian fruit in mind.

Officially, the twin buildings are part of a theatre and performing arts complex called the Esplanade, Theatre on the Bay.

Opened in 2002, it houses a library as well as the concert hall and theatre and has a capacity of over 2000 seats.  The state-of-the-art hall is one of only six in the world to have such high level acoustics.

Suprisingly, the “spikey” appearance of the outside is more fragile close up than it looks from a distance.

The Duck Tour guide points out the display pannel on one side of the building that  gives an insight into the construction and clearly shows the amount of glass contained in the roof.

Apparently the roof tiles and glass can’t be cleaned by any mechanised method, but need to be entirely cleaned by hand. Seeing a section of the roof panel in detail tells me that this is a very tricky task indeed and not a job that an accident prone person like me should ever attempt.

Luckily the Duck vehicle drives swiftly by, and the only damage I managed to inflict was a little photo fuzziness as I clicked off the frames.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Ducking Past Formula One….

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

The Singapore Formula One Grand Prix motor race has been held in the Marina Bay area annually since 2008.

The Duck Tour guide tells us that Singapore has an ingenious way of supplying an area suitable for the cars (pit stops, team areas etc) as well as catering for numberous V.I.P. Guests and thousands of spectators.

This building on the waterfront was especially designed so that the lower level can be opened up to become the cars pits and team crew areas, and the upper level houses private and corporate box areas … these rooms are hired out for an eye wateringly huge fees but enable the mega rich to have have the best seats available to watch the race.

The Singapore race is Formula One’s first night race, which has multiple advantages.

Since the event takes place on Marina Bay public roads,  there is less traffic disturbance to cordoning these off at night as well as the time advantage meaning  that the race can be broadcast “live” at a convienent time for European TV aduiences.

I’m no Grand Prix fan …for me a car is a car, four wheels, motor and steering wheel are about as technical as I get, and I don’t “feel the need for speed”  but it’s interesting to see how Singapore manages to make space to stage such a massive event when space is such a premium and the race itself is run on public roads.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

.. and the view from around the other side of the building…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

… and on that note we go wroom wroom towards the next item on the itinary…

Singapore… Flyer High…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

One of the attractions that we pass whenever we want to go to or from Sentosa Island, is the Singapore Flyer.

Usually our view is a fleeting one with necks craned as we drive past on  on the busy highway nearby. This time, during the Duck Tour we get closer to it than we ever have before.

Whilst Kiwi Daughter and I are keen, Little Mr. is adiment that he would be scared to go on the Flyer, and after some discussion Kiwi Daughter said “well maybe next time Little Mr. might not be scared so I don’t mind to wait until our next trip and then he might come with us and that means Papa could come too”

Since realistically there are more things for us to do in Singapore than can be achieved in our shortish stays and the hotel swimming pool is still a top draw card for the kids too, I complimented Kiwi Daughter on her forward thinking and for selflessly seeing that putting this off for another trip would probably enable us all of the family to go instead of leaving one parent behind to look after an unhappy and unwilling six year old.

She can appreciate his hesitation: the Singapore Flyer Observation wheel is Asia’s version of the London Eye and at 165 meters (541 feet) is the bigger of the two. (London Eye is 120 meters / 394 feet). That makes the Flyer the equivalent of 42 stories high.

Come to think of it, I’ve never been 42 stories high in my life either, and the whole family are rather wimpish when it comes to heights. Adrenaline junkies, Family Kiwidutch? …(definitely not!)

The Flyer opened in 2008 and gives a panaramic view of the surrounding Marina Bay area: we are told by our Duck Tour guide that on a clear day you can even catch a glimpse of neighbouring Malaysia and Indonesia. There are 28 air-conditioned capsules and one rotation takes about 30 minutes to complete. For the moment we are content  to do our observations of the Flyer from ground level, but hopefully on a future trip to Singapore we might well be doing a report of what it’s like to “take a spin” on this.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)