CHRISTMAS ON A GREAT STREET - SINGAPORE

It’s barely into November, and already the lights and decorations are going up on Singapore's famed Orchard Road.  By the third week of November, they are officially lit, and the Christmas extravaganza truly begins.  

This year, it felt like Christmas was being forced on me way too early.  As far back as October we were seeing the paraphernalia of Christmas in some form or other - and hearing Christmas music in stores and coffee shops (shock/horror!!). 

ORCHARD ROAD, SINGAPORE

It just felt too soon.  We barely got over Halloween - and Thanksgiving?!  Well Thanksgiving?!  That just felt skipped over.  OK, I know, it’s Singapore, where they don’t have Fall, let alone Thanksgiving, but still, the part of me that has lived in the USA for over 20 years was craving a bit of Orange and Brown, instead of Red and Gold.

As my time before leaving Singapore to head back to Virginia for the Christmas holidays was getting short, last Saturday (yes, Saturday night - not so smart), I ventured to Orchard Road to get a look at the lights in all their glory - and to try to get my Christmas mojo started.

Since I no longer live near Orchard Road, (my first two years in Singapore were in an apartment close by), I don’t often venture that way at night.  Just passing through in a taxi gives you a glimpse, but is not the same as walking down the street.  I had been a few times during the day, and managed some photos of some of the decorations outside and inside the Malls. 

I started off at Ion Orchard and walked down towards Cuppage Terrace.  There were a lot of people, Orchard Road on a Saturday night is busy at the best of times, but with the Christmas lights it was even more so,  making it quite hard to take photos.  It seemed every man, woman and child on the street were also trying to do the same thing.  There were quite a few street performers too, quite an atmosphere.  Even the familiar Salvation Army red buckets and bells were in attendance, aided and abetted by the usual Christmas tunes!

I managed a tiny bit of video, it was pretty manic, but it gives you the idea.  Needless to say at the end of all that we headed somewhere quiet to get a beer!! ;)

Some photos snapped around Orchard Road, and a few other areas of Singapore during November.

To get more of a feel for Orchard Road and the Christmas lights, check out this You Tube video I found.  Someone very kindly drove down the street with a Go Pro.  I had to smile when watching it, as they seem to spend a lot of time stuck behind a bus lol!  Anyway, if you cut to around the 5 minute mark, you will be at the point where I started my walk, the Golden Arch spans between Tangs and The Marriott Hotel on the left, to Ion Orchard on the right.

Wherever, or however you celebrate this festive season, I hope it is a joyous one.  As for Lynny?! Well, I am off back to the East Coast of the USA to spend Christmas with my kids, and hubby of course, hopefully in more Christmaslike cooler temperatures (YAY!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL

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