Singapore's mouthwatering food scene is its biggest draw card. A night at a bustling hawker center will not only introduce you to a fantastic range of Asian dishes but will also go light on your pocket. The people are nice and are everywhere around you ... even at McDonalds. If you want to indulge, then Singapore also delivers, with some of the most innovative, stylish restaurants in the region and a range of top class hotels, culminating in Raffles, a timeless symbol of colonial luxury:
It is of course not all about shopping and eating in Singapore (even though it is hard to maintain an empty stomach at all). It is also about clubbing, like how everyone has experienced it during their student times. Staying sober on a wednesday or on weekend indeed requires a strong mind and true friends. Lady Nights on Wednesdays (free entrance and free drinks for girls) are a standard in almost every club; guys could also be VIPs (everything is possible). You can find all kinds of clubs and bars, even good old german drum and bass!
Lemgo: The mysterious mystery.
Since you know Matthias this place is more less stuck in your head. We all know it, we all heard the stories, we all have been ... but still: Where on the map is it? North? Not too much though. And with what the hell was Matthias always lying in our hear... let me tell you.
In the heart of the Lippe region, between the Teutoburg Forest and the Weserbergland, Lemgo, a city of 44,000 inhabitants - at least 2 famous - , is situated. The flair of the Renaissance and the idyll of the Lippe region make Lemgo a popular destination for vacationers and weekend-tourists. Eight museums offer history in an unusually high density, and Castle Brake displays the impressive art and culture of the 16th and 17th centuries, whereas the city museum Hexenbürgermeisterhaus (Lemgo went for the record in witch burnings) houses collections on home decor and everyday culture - esp. in the lower dungeons. 
Further destinations for visitors interested in history are the “Institute for the Regional History of the Lippe Region” (Institut für lippische Landeskunde), the sculpture-shed, the Frenkel House, and the city museum Junkerhaus - the proof that love can drive men crazy. (We will give some tips for all who want to come over the whole weekend and are interested in some of the sights of the region). Yet Lemgo is also a city of sports. Apart from the sportive figurehead, the national handball league team TBV Lemgo, actually Matthias's private handball club, visitors can choose from a wide range of leisuretime activities, such as canoeing, biking, hiking or sportaerobics - esp. osteoporose aerobics are common among the Lemgoer. A green oasis of relaxation is the STAFF-landscape park near the city center. Lemgo is also famous for its great celebrations, as e.g. during the Lemgo Summer fiest, the Strohsemmelfest, the Bruchmarkt and the Kläschenmarkt - the Longeste Christmas market of the region and by far the funniest. Meeting point is Kaesekiste 7 o 'clock.
The city is planned and three parallel longitudinal streets crossconnected by narrow lanes each ending at a city gate mean to be the city center. (The middle one is the Mittelstrasse which leads to the marketplace, you may look for.) According to this three-street-pattern so typical of the Lippe region the noblemen of Lippe founded the city of Lemgo at the end of the 12th century. In 1290, Lemgo joined the Hanseatic League (still officially named ALTE HANSESTADT LEMGO) and turned into the largest city in the county of Lippe. Lemgo developed busy trade relations with the big Hanseatic cities in the north and in the west, reaching as far as the Netherlands and England. It was mainly the cloth, yarn and canvas trade that helped the town to wealth and prosperity. The architecture bears witness to Lemgo’s heyday, such as the impressive stone and half-timbered houses of the late Gothic period and the Weser Renaissance. A tour of the historic city center leads the visitor past the Hexenbürgermeisterhaus (the witchfinder’s house), which is the town’s most significant building on account of its impressive facade. Apart from St. Nicolai’s church (see below) with its prominent spires a short stop is recommended at the Zeughaus of 1548, famous for its characteristic striped plastering.
2. Location for the Tea Ceremony (for family members only)
The Chinese and Japanese have for centuries maintained ceremonial tea rooms where the art of drinking the beverage is central to many people's lives. Famous 16th-century tea-master Sen Rikyu identified the four basic principles of what he called the "Way of Tea" as harmony, respect, purity and tranquillity. He described them as "the highest ideals of humanity, and where it is important to reflect on them for one's spiritual growth".
Historically, the tea ceremony is also in part designed to focus mental energies and encourage relaxation while enjoying a very ancient tradition. Serving and drinking tea play a major cultural role in China. The word "ceremony" does not imply that each server will perform the ritual the same way, and there are no religious connotations. Each step is designed as a sensory exploration and an appreciation, so much so that the event often inspires poetry and music.
Mutual love of tea cements lifelong friendships, a concept usually beyond the grasp of foreigners. Such friendships developed among the ancient Chinese aristocracy, court officials, intellectuals and poets just as much as among ordinary people.
At Block 305 Tampines Street 32, # 05-88 Irene's Family generously offered their home for this tradition to be held. The tea ceremony is considered a significant event in a Chinese wedding. This takes place at the bride's parents' home on the wedding day itself when all of the members of the family are present. Tea is used in Chinese wedding ceremonies because tea in Chinese symbolizes respect. Using tea in weddings is practical because not everybody can drink alcohol.. :=)
The bride is formally introduced to the family of the groom through a Chinese wedding tea ceremony. The order of serving tea is usually done by seniority. The parents will be served first, then the grandparents, grand uncles and aunts, uncles and aunts, elder brothers and sisters and then, elder cousins.
2. Location for the Evening Reception
We will now dive straight into the heart of Singapore. In 1819, Boathouse was believed to have been the offices of the Master Attendant. Incidentally, the first Master Attendant was Sir Stamford Raffles' brother-in-law, Captain William Flint. The Waterboat House supplied fresh water to water carrying ferries all the way until the 1960s. From the 1990s to around 2002, the building became isolated and abandoned due to the construction work all around the area. From 2002 till late 2009, this area was where Bacchus Boathouse, a wine cellar was located. In 2010 a new management turned it into ... well you will see.
The important information, however is, that on the 26th November the Boatshouse will be the venue of Irene's and Matthias' Wedding. The address is 3 Fullerton Rd #04-01, right across the Fullerton Hotel. Below is a picture...lets hope the weather plays along.
How to get there:
Arriving with a plane:
Singapore's Changi Airport is probably the best airport in the world. So if you are not too interested in our wedding, visiting the airport is definitely already worth a trip for.
Flights from Europe to Singapore vary between 550 and 900 Euros, depending on the offers. 1. Lufthansa (http://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/Homepage) 2. Malaysian Airlines (http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/de/en.html) have often specials.
Within Asia and Australia, several budget airlines give good routes and offers: 1. Air Asia: http://www.airasia.com/my/en/home.html 2. Jetstar: http://www.jetstar.com/au/en/home 3. Tiger Airways: http://www.tigerairways.com/sg/en/
Travel in Singapore:
The MRT
To come around in Singapore the MRT is the best train line. Cabs are cheap but with a green heart one should avoid cars if alternatives are provided, no? So for the night you have to get off at Raffles Place or City Hall and walk the last meters (See map below)
Cars
The earliest roads in Singapore, after it was founded in 1819, were laid out in the Jackson Plan of 1822 in keeping with Sir Stamford Raffles's directions. A grid system was adopted for the town with roads for carriages being 16 yards (15 m) wide, and those for horses, four yards wide. Today cars and other vehicles drive on the left-hand side on the road, as in neighbouring Malaysia. This reflects their common history of British colonial rule, when British rules of the road were adopted across its Empire, which also included Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong in the Asia-Pacific region.The per capita car ownership rate in Singapore is 12 cars per 100 people (1 car per 8.33 people).
If you are coming with your own car- The nearest Parking Options 1. Valet Parking ~ S$8.00 or 2. Fullerton Parking
And for those who want to wander the forgotten paths and alleys of the legendary marriage in Lemgo .....3. Location for the Registration wasThe registration took place at the Standesamt in the 1st floor of the Wippermannschen Haus in Lemgo next to the market place.The address is:
Standesamt Lemgo
Kramerstr.5
32655 Lemgo
The ones invited had been very much invited to join us already on this day - one day earlier to the chruch ceremony. The more important day of course was the next day. The 06th October 2007, when we married in the church and celebrated with you on our castle, suitable for a queen and her king.
4. Location for the Christian Wedding
The Christian Wedding took place at the St. Nicolai'church in Lemgo. The chruch is about 10 meters from the market place and easy to find. To give you a hint, it looks more less like this one:
