Asia

6th Urban Sketchers Symposium: Singapore - Part 1

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Skyline from National Library, Singapore

Singapore surprised me: Outstanding food, a heady mix of modern and vintage, walkable neighborhoods and infinity-pool views. Apart from the relentless saunalike weather, we had a great time at this year's event. Can't believe I've now attended my fifth USk symposium -- and this time as a participant, activity leader and board member!

We flew SFO > NRT > SIN. I started with a drawing on the airline's food tray placemat:

Sketching on flight to Narita, Japan

And then, sketched travelers during our layover in Narita, Japan:

Carts and people at Narita Airport, Japan

Before the symposium got underway, we got to do a little sightseeing. It was so hot and humid that even my eyes were sweating. We visited Little India and then walked to Kampong Glam, with hipster boutiques in the shadow of the Sultan Mosque.

Leong San See temple, Singapore

Sultan Mosque, Singapore

Dinner was at Lau Pa Sat market, which specialized in satay.

Lau Pa Sat hawker market, Singapore

After a traditional hawker breakfast of roti prata and kaya toast dipped in soy sauce-drizzled soft-boiled eggs, we went to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. It's hard to imagine wearing uniforms with full sleeves and rubber boots in that stifling weather.

Workers at Singapore Botanic Gardens, Singapore

In the evening, I sketched people hanging out in the hotel lobby.

People in the Carlton Hotel lobby, Singapore

Carlton Hotel lobby, Singapore

To be continued ... read Part 2