Day 1
We both fell in love with this place and can’t wait to go back. Singapore is the world’s only island city-state. One of the few places where the last line on your envelope will just say Singapore. It has grown from a shabby port city in the 1030’s into a sophisticated metropolis. It’s both futuristic and functional. Technology here is highly advanced making the city absolutely stunning. No smoking, no gum and no trash; it’s like a Stepford City. Some of the guests called it “plastic”. We didn’t see that at all.
We signed up for the night safari so we had the whole day to explore. We started with a shuttle ride to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel (yes, the same Sands as in Las Vegas and Macau, China) only bigger, higher and better. Then we took a cab to Little India and walked all the alleyways smelling the food and loving all the brightly colored things for sale hanging from everywhere. We walked, sweated, walked, sweated and walked some more. We went from India to Arab Street and had lunch at a Turkish Café. We sat outside so we could get in a good dose of people watching. Wow.
We walked some more and decided it was time to take another cab so we headed to the Gardens by the Bay and OMG. This is like a Disneyland on steroids with no rides. This place is part of the government’s strategy to transform Singapore from a “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”. This whole place is maintained by green technology. We saw what they call a Super Tree Grove which is an ecological marvel where vertical metal gardens shaped like trees of up to 160 feet support ferns, orchards and vines. They have an enormous cacti garden with spiraling cacti that I’ve never seen in my life. They have what’s called the Cloud Dome and the Flower Dome, neither could we get into because of our time restraint but others who did get in said it was unbelievable. The Bay also has 3 waterfront gardens; we only had time for one. This is one reason we must go back.
Next we walked back to the Marina Bay Sands because we wanted to have a drink and take in the view from the world’s largest cantilevered observation deck. We could have used a cab to take us from one end of this hotel to where we boarded the elevators. We went to the 57th floor, 650 feet up and were treated to a spectacular view.
Time for the night time Safari which was a letdown after the day we just had. This is the world’s first nocturnal wildlife park. Over 1,000 animals roam and we ride in a tram trying to find them. Many must have been hiding from we visitors and the ones who were roaming were hard to see as it got darker and darker. This place was mobbed as it’s only open at night. We wished we had stayed in the city. Although, the guide we had was so knowledgeable and interesting and we learned so much about Singapore and its people that we could probably pass their immigration test. I learned more on that bus ride than I ever did in school.
Day 2
Today we opted for what’s called the Singapore Explorer Excursion. Along with a guide, we get a survival kit which includes a map, water, tiger balm, and a card loaded with money for the bus, and MRT. We start with a bus ride to the Singapore River where we hop on a riverboat for a journey that takes us all around the harbor. Everything is perfect and in good shape. Nothing is dirty. We end the riverboat ride in Chinatown with its shops and cafes begging us to come in.
Our next adventure is to hop on a trishaw which is a seat that the two of us sit on and it’s attached to a bicycle which is powered by a 70+ year old man who peddles us through the streets of Chinatown and Little India in 90 degree temperatures every day. We absolutely can’t believe it.
Next we head to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) for a ride to the Marina Bay Sands for drinks with a view. Yes, we did this yesterday minus the MRT part, not knowing we’d be doing it again. Their subway has not one damaging mark inside. The windows aren’t scratched; there’s no graffiti. It’s actually hard to believe you’re on a subway. We get to the 57th floor and as our reward for completing all four modes of transportation; we’re served the city’s signature cocktail, the Singapore Sling.
