Singapore: a fleeting visit

John and Marg with Stanley the bear in Singapore

The city state of Singapore has a reputation amongst us Aussies of a clean, efficiently managed but rigidly ruled city, and thus we knew what to expect.  John had never visited and Margaret was last here in 1971 on her way back from her first visit to the UK and Europe.  Although it was then, and still is a shopping mecca, much else has changed particularly with high rise development and public transport.

Due to his busy medical schedule in the previous three months, John had not been able to do his usual detailed research, so we were relying on what friends had told us and the shipboard destination talk.  We realised there was so much to see and resigned ourselves to having no more than a slight taste, given our short time in port.

A neighbouring much larger ship berthed at Marina Bay Pier

The Sea Princess schedule gave us eight hours, but we knew the port authorities would take their time allowing us on-shore.  Singapore is very well-known for that.  The queue to exit the ship snaked almost twice around the large atrium on Level 7, but it moved fast.  Moving through customs was a different matter for most passengers – some waited 75 minutes – but we were lucky to be ushered through a “mobility impaired” shorter queue along with ship’s crew lucky enough to get a shore pass.

Indian gardeners along the walkway to train - no English

We walked to the previously mentioned SMRT where we queued for help to obtain rail tickets, a return from Marina Bay Pier to Orchard Road was a mere $3.30 Singapore dollar, with the latter being roughly equivalent to AUD.  Great value.  The station platforms are fenced off, something I’ve only seen previously at Atlanta Airport.  The trains stop with doors opening only at the barrier openings – thus preventing accidents or those tempting fate.  I’m sure this is the way of the future.

We caught a redline train to Orchard Road where I bought a swimming costume, having forgotten to pack mine.  I used it in the hot tub yesterday – beautiful.  The underground shopping areas were very busy, as were the streets above.  

Margaret at Orchard Road station

Johnny the dog at Orchard Road

An outsized avocardo at Orchard Road

Marina Bay Sands

The obligatory icecream at Orchard Road - a very humid day

We didn’t stay long, just an hour or so, before catching the SMRT to Bayfront, changing to the Circle Line at Marina Bay.

John said we walked about 14 km that day – fortunately with breaks for me to rest.  It was certainly hot and humid, 31C and about 90% humidity.  A bit different from Sydney this month.  We were back on board before 4:00pm after a satisfying day.

Definitely a place to visit for a week or more.

Some more photos of Gardens at the Bay below.