Singapore

 

We had an early arrival into Singapore under ominous grey skies - briefly reminding us of our last visit under torrential conditions.

We love Singapore, but every time we come, it feels like so much has changed. This time we used the new cruise terminal being constructed at Marina Bay - despite some horror stories, we passed through with the usual polite Singaporean efficiency. The complete Marina Bay Area around the relatively new Marina Bay Sands hotel is being developed, and will be amazing when it is completed..

One of the newest editions is the Gardens by the Bay complex - stunning tropical gardens, orchid gardens, palms and ferns.

The highlight was the Supertree Grove which features some oversized 'super trees' made from steel scaffolding - they are designed to support growing flowers and in time the metallic frame will no longer be visible.

Above the gardens is a 22 metre high skywalk with spectacular views over Singapore. One of the most intriguing sights was a giant sized white baby statue lying in the Meadow garden.

Next stop, a walk across to the Marina Bay Sands hotel ( it is shaped like three towers with a surfboard on top.) and the adjacent casino and shopping complex for a coffee before heading across the Helix bridge and into Orchard Road and the city sights.

After catching up with some of the favorite sights of Singapore, I enjoyed an hour to myself in my favorite bookstore Kinko's, and then a coffee at Paul's - a french bakery which we always return to – Singapore is such a cosmopolitan city that nothing surprises me.

As luck would have it, I was seated next to two dapper gentlemen in exquisitely cut suits, speaking in french, so my radar ears were working overtime to catch snippets of their conversation and translate to myself - sounded like a very boring business deal to me – par probleme!! (LOL - my French class will appreciate this!!)

We had a later than expected sail-away from Singapore after taking on lots of fuel, which has further sparked the speculation that we will be missing the Egyptian ports and heading straight through the Suez after our stop in the Maldives - hope they took on extra food as well - there could be a mutiny in some quarters if the pantry runs low!!!

Despite the grey skies, we enjoyed our day in Singapore, and joined our friends on the back deck for sail away, as the lights of Singapore's city faded into the distance.