We are often reluctant to repeat visits to the places we enjoy. We never want to tarnish the experiences we have already had. When we decided to spend extra time in Singapore, before the cruise set sail, we were determined to see new things, to have different adventures, so that those favorite experiences remain unique to the journey we are on..
This is what led to Day 2 of our Asia tour being a full exploration of Marina Bay Park. We hadn’t had time to see this amazing area of the city the last time we were here. This was a very active day for us and I would have preferred it to take place on day 3, due to our long travel days but much research had led me to discover that one of our “different” list experiences, that of riding a Sampan boat at the Marina Bay shopping area, took place only on Thursday, (March 19) of the time we would be in Singapore. So it was, that we had planned the entire day around a $10 boat trip!
The moment we began walking today, I knew it was going to be a challenge. Our feet were still recovering from yesterday, when we had walked 10.5 miles. My back, hips and knees were groaning too. It was a two Aleve type of day! Alan was only moderately impaired after having irritated a toenail yesterday. Our schedule called for another 6.5 miles of walking today. I was a little less enthusiastic to get moving this morning. We only made it to the Fullerton Hotel , which was just a short walk beyond the subway exit when we we spotted boats. Noting they covered a similar path to the one we wanted to walk, we chose to start the day this way, while letting the medicine kick in. . By 11a.m., the weather was already in the high 90’s and humidity was nearly the same. We had to wait for the 12:15 boat which meant we had some time to kill.
The boat docked outside the famous, Fullerton Hotel.Alan’s mom always says if you can’t afford to stay in a high end hotel, have dessert there, so we did! Rooms at this historic hotel start at $1,000 per night! The hotel sits nestled in the hug of skyscrapers among the developing city. The first Governor of the Straits Settlements gave his name to this monument. The current building dates from 1924, though it was built over a fort which once guarded the mouth of the river with a large gun, from 100 years earlier,
After our dessert and coffee, we hopped on the boat where we observed amazing architecture all around the waterfront. First up was The Cavenagh and Anderson Bridges dating from 1869 and 1910 respectively.
The massive Marina Bay Sands Casino towers over the bay. I have always called the structure at the top a boat, but it is more commonly referred to as a spaceship. There is a huge observation deck at the 54th floor and for a cost of $36-$48 you have the privilege of riding an elevator to look out over the bay. Be sure to make reservations in advance, this sells out quickly. There is also an infinity pool at the top but this is a luxury only available to hotel guests.
Next on our boat ride was The Esplanade. This is an arts complex and contains the Theaters on the Bay. The spiky design of the building has led locals to call it the ‘durian’ – a local fruit with a similar spiky skin. When riding on public transportation this fruit is banned to carry as it is nicknamed “the stinky fruit”. Another item on my “different” set of experiences was to actually try this fruit this time, which I will likely do tomorrow when we are in Chinatown.
The boat continued up the Singapore River to reveal the various “Quays”, full of colorful shop houses turned restaurants. At the end of our boat trip I had responded well to the pain meds and was now ready to walk the same path for a more up close and personal look at things. It was now sweltering outside. My hair has become a giant frizz-ball!. For a second day we had forgotten to carry water. My recommendations for a visit to Singapore;…fast drying clothing-,you’re either going to be drenched by sweat or the frequent showers, or both at the same time; bottles of water and sunscreen, oh and good shoes!
I wanted to see the Merlion up close. Surrounded by Instagrammers , it is very difficult to get a photo without people posing, pretending to catch the water flowing from his mouth.but patience and persistence usually pay off.
Next on our walking route was the Helix Bridge which connects the Singapore Flyer with Marina Bay Sands (MBS). The design of the bridge represents the double-helix structure of DNA. There are green and red letters on the floor (c&g, a&t), they represent the four bases that join together to form the helix of DNA.
We stopped for a soft drink then began by boarding the Sampan boat in the lowest level of the hotel/casino, which is also the mall area. Sampan boats are a flat-bottomed boat, traditional in China and Malaysia. The ride itself is meant to be similar to a Venetian Gondola. The ‘canal’ runs along one aisle of the mall. We were actually here for the incredible history of how Singapore recovers its water. The indoor waterfall/vortex was a delight to witness. It only runs every couple of hours. There was no education on the boat tour which ended up being a disappointing tourist trap.
The observation deck at the top of Marina Bay Sands was sold out, so that will wait for another opportunity. By 5p.m. we were simply spent for the day. We chose to skip the light show tonight. We enjoyed a nice meal along the waterfront and went to bed by 8pm. Jet lag is catching up to us!
Day 3 will see us revisit Chinatown, Little India and Kampong Glam, where we will take a much more immersive dive into the cultural part of this country.
Day 4 in Singapore will be all about exploring the Colonization of Singapore. We will view more amazing architecture as we walk along the waterfront in Clark Quay and finish the day off with a river cruise to see the light show at Marina Bay Sands.
Since we are on an ABC journey I can’t fit fit everything in this post, but don’t worry, you will soon be able to follow the links to learn more about how we explored each location in Singapore.
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