Singapore

The heat and humidity in Singapore were stifling. In addition, we had tremendous downpours -- tropical downpours with incredible thunder. We loved Singapore. Singapore is very clean and modern, and at the same time, very interesting. The city is multiracial, and very interesting. When we arrived in Singapore, the airport was like a large shopping center, much like Union Station in DC, only larger. We arrived at midnight, so the stores were closed. However, there was a long line of people waiting to get into a restaurant at the airport.  We saw an ATM and got cash, and then got a taxi to the hotel. The road was wide with large trees lining the street and hanging over the street. It was beautiful.

The hotel was very luxurious, and we was very pleased that we got a good rate and stayed there -- the Easter special. The shower in the bathroom was incredible -- like a flood of warm water. Each day the buffet breakfast that was included with the stay was extensive and delicious. Also each day, we had “tea” at 3:00 in the afternoon, which consisted of sandwiches, scones, dessert and coffee. All we could eat and drink. We ate only those two meals each day until the last day, when we had lunch at the food court on Orchard Road. In addition, the location of the hotel was really great, within walking distance of the riverfront café scene and Chinatown, and only a short taxi ride away from Little India and Orchard Road. I would return to the Fullerton, except that the view from the Mandarin Oriental was better.

On the first day, we rested and then went for a walk along the river. Later we went for a river boat ride along the Singapore River, with the skyscrapers of the downtown business district towering above the riverside restaurants that lined the south banks of the river.  

Our second day, we took the hop on/hop off bus and saw the city. We got off the bus in the Muslim section and while Rae got a foot massage, I went for a walk and took photos of the mosque, where a Malay wedding was taking place. Unfortunately, the rain started, and I went back to the place to meet Rae, and I got a plastic bag for my camera. That was the day we did not take an umbrella; we did after that.

The third day, we took the hop on hop off bus again, and this time we got off in Little India and walked to the next bus stop. We bought a couple of items and took photos. Later, we got off again at Chinatown and walked through Chinatown. We stopped for lunch at a Thai place. We bought a couple of souvenirs.

The last day, we took a taxi to Orchard Road. We wanted to go to one or two of the shopping centers on Orchard Road, and we shopped a little and bought a blouse for Rae and a blue Addidas shirt for me. We walked along the underground walkway that was air conditioned, and went to a large "food court" with dozens of food outlets; we stopped at one place and picked out samples of many items, and it was wonderful. We went to Hard Rock to get a pin for Douglas, and then walked part of the way back, stopping to take some photos at a small Hindu temple.

Each day at the hotel, we had a wonderful breakfast buffet in the beautiful hotel restaurant along the river.  It was a beautiful scene each morning.  In the afternoon, we had high tea at 3:00, with lots of sandwiches and desserts.  Rae had tea and I had cappuccino -- two of them!  We did not need dinner. The last morning, we had our breakfast and then took a taxi to the ship.