I lost count of all the important personalities (the most recent was Queen Elizabeth) and intent whirlwind visitors who made Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque a must-see and experience in their UAE trip. Hence, when I finally saw it in person I cannot believe that it took me four years (yay! I’m soon celebrating another Abu-versary) to experience the charm and validate on my own the record-breaking details of THE mosque.
(The four-storey Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum in Chinatown, Singapore)
It is interesting how architecture can change one’s mood in an instant. After our visit to the striking Sri Mariamman Temple, the sight of the Tang dynasty inspired structure from afar was magnetic enough that it is impossible to miss. Without any backgrounder, we went through the main entrance of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, which we found out (too late) is also a museum.
(Steps away from the colorful Hindu Temple is the glorious Buddhist Temple. Just as that Hinduism and Buddhism are closely related religions that are in some ways parallel and in other ways divergent in theory and practice.)
Since we went to Singapore’s Chinatown just for the sake of dropping by (the two-hour turned into five-hour visit), it was best to rely on the random and consistent recommendations from the locals. Strolling through the end of Pagoda Street, they said that a Hindu temple and its neighbor Chinese temple which are a must-visit can be found. We realized that both are too obvious to miss.
Marhaba! That's "hello" in Arabic. I am an expatriate based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). I started writing about my adventures and misadventures few months before arriving here at winter of 2008. I have 2 cats and a dog who live harmoniously together. I am also surrounded by kindhearted, crazy, funny and indescribable humans!
I was a dormant blogger for almost 3 years because of countless reasonable justifications like watching football, postgraduate studies, sleeping, traveling, caring for the world, and more! :) I am just so happy that I am back! It is never too late to catch up with the people and things we really care about. Feel free to look around. 
witsandnuts 