On tour today 8.30am start and a tour of the highlights of the city. Our first stop was the wooden boat building yards where we saw many boats in progress both large and small. One large boat we looked at has been in progress for 2 years already, they built one the same for a New Zealander in 1997 and have a list of boats they have built for people world wide over that past few years, a couple of Aussies and Kiwis included.
Next we visited the "Edutainment Park" which has 21 miniature replica mosques from around the world such as Taj Mahal, India, Al Haram, Mecca, Xian, China, Kul Sharif, Russia, to name a few. Some of these miniature building we were able to go inside the actual replica mosque, others had the mosque on the first level and one could walk around it , with there being a gallery on the ground level that displayed artefacts and screened documentaries. All so interesting and fascinating, stopping next at the Crystal Mosque which is built with steel and crystal effect glass, resonating light from inside and out. We were allowed inside this mosque, the ladies had to be covered with a head scarf and cloak and the men with a cloak. Inside there was a huge crystal chandelier in the dome, visiting tourists of the Islamic faith were praying and we were allowed to take photos where as inside the miniatures we were not.
Lunch time, we arrived at China Town were we said goodbye to our bus driver and were lead by our tour guide to a Chinese restaurant for lunch. We entered through the kitchen which was at the front of the restaurant to tables out the back to be served with a 4 dish set menu which consisted of a whole fish baked with fresh ginger, omelette, lemon chicken and a vegetable tofu dish, all very delicious.
A leisurely walk through China Town to help our lunch go down with many of the ladies "just looking" and the men spending money on such items as fishing gear, water filters and other boat requirements. Next came the wet and dry markets but we were a little late at the fish market with only a few squid and fish left and a strong fishy smell! Huge lycees from Thailand, rambutans, durian fruits (dreadful pungent smell don't know how anyone can eat these) and mangosteens, our favourite, and mangoes available. Along the water front there are some rides such as an old Ferris Wheel, Carousel etc. as well as souvenirs, clothing, paintings and food stalls. Hot and tired we caught a water taxi back across the bay to the marina where we changed to our swimmers and headed for the pool to cool off. Some of the yachties that have been here earlier said that it was well worth eating at the Verandah Restaurant which we decided to do where we enjoyed a great meal while looking out over the bay at the city lights. There had been a thunder storm earlier which cleared the air and the temperatures were very comfortable for sleeping.