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271--Singapore, Sentosa & Crazy Haw Par Villa @ CherieSpotting     Jan 06 2005 - 17:26 PST cherie writes: Singapore is an extremely clean and fairly expensive country with about 3 million people. Margaret and I stayed with Brian (Margaret's friend) and spent a few days seeing some of Singapore’s sights. We started with Haw Par Villa, a crazy Chinese theme park. Margaret and I turned into little girls and played with all the strange and gaudy statues. Some of the statues were quite disturbing, but the most unsettling attraction was the “10 Courts of Hell” which demonstrates what happens to you in your after-life if you are bad. During your life if you curse, you will be thrown into a tree of knives when you die. For the misuse of books, your body will be sawn in two (but who cares, you are dead…right?) But the punishments, if possible, get even more gruesome as you go farther into the Courts of Hell. If you refuse to pay your rent you will be pounded by a stone mullet, and if you are ungrateful, you’ll get your heart cut out. Gamblers are frozen into blocks of ice, and prostitutes can look forward to drowning in a pool of blood. A bit more uplifting side of Singapore was the cable-car ride to the island of Sentosa. Sentosa is a lush island off the coast of Singapore with nature trails (with dragon fossils), an underwater world, a few beaches, and an 11-story high Merlion statue, which is the official mascot of Singapore. Singapore also has a lively “Little India” section that is the perfect way to wander the afternoon away. Click on each picture to see it full size. read comments (0) | write comment| views: 115456    | rated: 0.0    printer-friendly version   Cherie at Haw Paw Villa, a strange, fantastic, unusual, and gaudy Chinese theme park in Singapore. Them be dragons. Margaret's zodiac sign is Cancer the Crab. This guy's mad because he was born with a big forehead. It's not as comfy as it looks. I think he's too fat for you Margaret! This one's a bit too skinny. Cherie and Margaret enter the "10 Courts of Hell." If you aren't good, this will happen to you when you die. In the 10 Courts of Hell, statues represent the punishments for various crimes. Prostitutes drowning in blood. Don't get on this guy's bad side. Margaret talking a walk around Haw Paw Villa. Cherie with a big Buddha. Ok grasshoppers...break it up. Everyone loves this guy...especially Margaret! Eat! I never thought I'd see this at an amusement park. It's a statue of a dedicated daughter, feeding her mother milk from her own breast. All dressed up and no where to chirp. Big face. Don't hurt Margaret! A turtle takes a stretch break. Turtle conference. They are saying: What are we going to do with all these weird statues? Margaret was born in the year of the dragon. I was born in the year of the pig. Perhaps that explains why I eat like one. I'm not sure what is going on here...but it's certainly strange. My those lips are red...how does he get his lipstick to stay on the entire winter season? You can pick your nose, and you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your friend's nose. Spooky! He looks mad. Dragons coming to life. He doesn't like it when I touch him like that. A bit crabby? Little India. Margaret watches an Indian string flowers. It's the men who are the florists in Little India. Indian men hanging out. A temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. You must remove your shoes and wash your feet before you enter the temple. Detail of the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple. Say that 10 times fast. As always, beauty lies in the details. She's sad because she was born with too many arms. I bought a watch here. Let's just say it wasn't waterproof. The cable-car ride to the island of Sentosa. There's Singapore in the distance. We're almost there. Soaring over the lush green vegetation of Sentosa. The merlion is the symbol of Singapore. Margaret enjoys a Starbucks coffee during the ride over. Fearless Margaret lays on the dragon's snout. Cherie near the eye of the dragon. Time for a walk on the beach. Cherie rests on a palm. Is it a joke, or is it really a peacock crossing? Look at those vibrant colors! Those feather-tails go on forever. Watch out for this guy. You shouldn't tickle animals that breath fire. Could those be dragon bones? Look at the size of that skull. I bet he had a huge ego. Margaret is amazed by the fossil. This should be called: Dragon falls. The view from Sentosa. On the Sentosa monorail. Funky bug near a funky palm tree. At the underwater world. You never know what you'll see. He thinks I'm cute. Cuddle-fish are so cool, I just want to cuddle with them. What strange and wonderful creatures lurk under the sea. That's not a plant. Can you see the animal? Funky fish. Amazing jellies. Margaret in a tunnel of sharks. Sentosa's massive Merlion. Cherie with the Merlion. The view from Brian's house (Margaret's friend who we are staying with in Singapore.) Cherie relaxing in the pool. This is the life! Singapore's most famous drink--the Singapore Sling.