Sydney - Singapore

Znovu na cas vymenime rozvojovy svet za rozvinuty. V Sydney je krasny podzim, teploty kolem 25stupnu a sem tam oblacnost. Hned prvni vecer nas po praci vyzvedne Paul, dalsi kamarad z Irska co jsme delsi dobu nevideli. Je v Sydney uz 2roky a moc spokojeny. Sveze nas kolem vecerniho centra a muzeme jit na veceri a nad par pivy probrat vsechny dulezite udalosti poslednich 2 let.
Pristi den projdeme mesto pesky - botanicke zahrady, operu a pristavni most (hlavni ikony Sydney, opera neni bila ale nazloutla!), nejstarsi cast mesta Rocks a financni centrum. Vecer mame v nohach kilometry, ale zvladli jsme vse podstatne.
V nedeli se rozhodneme pro jednodenni vylet mimo mesto. Cilem jsou 2h vlakem vzdalene Blue Mts. A dobre jsme udelali, vzduch voni podzimem a nad ohromnym kanonem zpola zakrytym oblaky se tyci skalni formace zvana 3 sestry. Puldenni trek po hrane kanonu je vytecny.
Krome dalsiho prozkoumavani mesta jeste sedneme na privoz (soucasti MHD je i nekolik privozu) do ctvrte Manly. Zde jdeme na 10km prochazku po pobrezi. Manly je ctvrt bohacu a tak se po ceste stridaji lesiky, plaze a obrovske luxusni domy s prosklenymi stenami pro lepsi vyhled. I kdyz jsme jen pul hodky od centra 4.5mil mesta atmosfera je zde jak na v malem mestecku.
Celkove se nam Sydney hodne libi a i kdyz je to velkomesto jsme prijemne prekvapeni pohodou jaka tu vsude vladne.
Let do Singapuru je plny turbulenci a tak obzvlaste ja jsem rad, ze jsme konecne pristali. Je skoro pulnoc a 30st s 85% vlhkosti vzduchu, narez (kdyby jsme vedeli co nas ceka v Thajsku tak si nestezujeme, ale nepredbihejme). Vsude kolem je videt, ze zvesti o absolutni cistote a fungujici multikulture nelhaly. Napil bych se vody co mame v batohu, ale zakaz psany v anglictine, cinstine, indstine a arabstine slibujici 500dolaru pokuty me odradi.
Jen co v 9 rano vyjdeme ven jsme okamzite propoceni skrz naskrz, sem tam nas profackuje klimatizace kdyz vejdeme do obchodu nebo MHD o to je to pak venku horsi. Nekdy na nas mistni pokukuji, tak si rikame, ze asi uzaviraji sazky jestli zkolabujeme za minutu nebo vydrzime dve...Ale z mesta jsme jinak uplne nadseni. Hypermoderni velikan plny zelene a kultury. Hned na nasi ulici jsou 3 chramy - hindu, budhisticky a arabska mesita. Centrum je plne mrakodrapu ktere se prehani v originalite a extravaganci. Obklopene je jednotlivymi ctvrtemi, indickou, cinskou, arabskou a britskou kolonialni. To vse prolozene obrovskymi nakupnimi stredisky, vemte nejvetsi obchodni centrum co jste v Evrope videli nekolikrat vynasobte a mate to co je tu na kazde ulici.
Chceme se na to vsechno podivat zeshora a tak jdeme na nejvyssi kolo sveta. 152m, otocka trva 30min a tak je dost casu vse vyfotit. Pote to zkusime jeste z jineho uhlu - Bar New Asia v 71poschodi Swisshotelu ma levne dobre koktejly s poradnym vyhledem.
V patek jedeme ostrov Sentosa - zabavni centrum Singapuru. Atrakci jsou spousty, ale my sem jedeme hlavne kvuli obrovske voliere motylu a papousku, a vodniho sveta. Nekteri motyli jsou giganti, jak obe dlane dohromady. Ve vodnim svete zaciname show v delfinariu. Zadny zazrak, ale mistnim detem se libi. To takovy podvodni tunel pod akvariem je jiny zazitek. Stojime na jezdicim pasu a vsude kolem nas plavou nekolikametrovy zraloci, rejnoci, hejna ryb a pestrobarevnych meduz - skoro stejne dobre jako se potapet. Nas favorit je tvor zvany Morsky Andel - maji ho tu v akvariu co simuluje jeho prirozene prostredi - 600m pod krami Arktickeho oceanu. Je miniaturni, ale skrz lupy ve skle akvaria je videt pruhledny svitici tvor ktery ma hlavu a kridla jako andel.
Singapur je prava brana Asie a tak se mame moznost v poulicnich jidelnach pripravit na tu pravou. Nabidka je ciste asijska a nabizi vsemozne pochoutky nektere vabne a nektere nechutne. Pri vyberu ale mame vetsinou stastnou ruku a muzeme si vychutnat stravu kterou za 2 mesice nejspis nebudeme moci ani videt (Janca zatim zapasi s hulkami, ale verim ze behem par dni nebude mit problem :)
Jeste nez opustime mesto bohatstvi a luxusu kde na jedne ulici neni problem napocitat 10 Ferrari, Maserati, atd. se strhne poradna a nami dlouho ocekavana bourka. Blesky jdou za sebou tak casto, ze hrmeni ktere mezi mrakodrapy krasne duni na nekolik minut prakticky neprestane.

Fotky:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60893&id=1344786025&l=5ea63eef8a
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60999&id=1344786025&l=4351fa017a


Again for a while we change developing world for a developed one. It is a beautiful autumn in Sydney, temperatures mid twenties and no rain or wind. First evening after our arrival we get collected by Paul, our Irish friend we have not seen in 2yrs. Hi gives us a tour around city centre and we are ready to go for a dinner and few pints where we can go over everything important that happened since our last night out.
Next day we do the tour ourselves by foot - botanical gardens, opera (it is not white but yellowish!), Harbour bridge, oldest city part The Rocks and financial centre. We managed most of the sights in one day and our feet are happy to be finished for the day.
On Sunday we decide to go for a day trip to Blue Mts. About 2hrs on train - we can smell the autumn in the air and just below rock formation called 3sisters we see huge canyon half covered by clouds. Half day hike on the canyon edge is great.
In Sydney we also take a ferry (few lines are part of public transport) to Manly where we go for a 10km stroll along the coast. Manly is a suburb of the wealthy people and so the coast is full of parks, beaches and huge luxury houses that have glass walls for better views. It is only about half an hour from city centre but atmosphere here is like in a small town.
We like Sydney a lot and although it is a big city we are surprised by its laid back pace.
Flight to Singapore is full of turbulence so I am really happy to finally land. It is close to midnight 30degrees and 85% humidity, very tough (if we knew what Thailand is saving for us we wouldn't complain though). Everywhere around we can see that rumours about its absolute cleanliness and functional multi culture are true. We are thirsty but wouldn't risk taking out our water as we see bans in English, Chinese, Indian and Arabian languages everywhere around - 500dollars would be an expensive drink.
We leave our place at 9am and immediately we are covered in sweat, every so often we get knocked out by A/C when entering shops or public transport - going out is even worse. Locals sometimes give us looks like if they were making bets whether we'll faint in a minute or maybe manage two... Despite this we love the city. Hypermodern giant full of parks and culture. Just on our street we can count 3 temples - Hindu, Buddhist and Mosque. Financial centre is full of skyscrapers that compete among themselves who will be more original or extravagant. The centre is surrounded by cultural quarters - Indian, Chinese, Arabian and British colonial architecture. On every corner we see the biggest shopping centre ever...
We want to see it all from above and so go for the worlds biggest turning wheel. 152m, one round 30mins and so we have plenty of time to take pictures. After this we go and try the same from a different angle - New Asia Bar on the 71st floor of Swissotel has nice cheap cocktails with great views.
On Friday we go the Sentosa island - big fun centre. From all the attractions we choose huge butterfly and parrot aviary and water world.
The show in waterworld starts with dolphin show, nothing special but kids seem to love it. The tunnel under aquarium is much much better experience. We stand on a moving belt and go around the world full of big sharks, rays, colorful fish and jellyfish - nearly as good as scuba diving. Our favourite creature is Sea Angel - living in aquarium that simulates its native habitat - 600m below Arctic icebergs. It's tiny but magnifying glass shows its beauty - transparent glowing creature with head and wings like and angel.
Singapore is true gate to the Asia and so we have a lot of opportunities to prepare for the real Asia in food courts along the streets. Offerings are typically Asian varying from delicious stuff all the way to the disgusting things. Most of the time we are lucky when choosing and can enjoy food that we'll probably hate in 2months time. Our chopsticks skill is improving every day.
Just before we leave the city of wealth and luxury where is no problem to see 10 Ferrari, Maserati, etc. cars on one street big storm arrives. Lightning happens so often that thunder enhanced by skyscrapers practically doesn't stop for few minutes.

Pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60893&id=1344786025&l=5ea63eef8a
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60999&id=1344786025&l=4351fa017a