Singapore - No Sling For Me !

Singapore greeted us with a completely different mood today—clear skies, bright sun, and a skyline that finally showed itself. Just five days ago, as the Coral Princess slipped past Singapore, on our way to Kuala Lumpur, the city was hidden behind a dark storm cloud, as if Singapore had pulled a curtain across the horizon. This morning, that curtain lifted, and the “Lion City” shone exactly as its reputation promises.

The Marina Sands Hotel, Convention Center

and the World Famous Museum shaped like a Lilly

This blog is somewhat different from others as I wanted to share our experience by the various areas we travelled and what we we able to see on our travel around the city. The history of the area is important and I hope you find it interesting. I have also included some video of very special moments during the evening Light & Laser Shows so, I hope you get a chance to watch them in full screen and don't be afraid to use your volume. They wer amazing in person.

Singapore’s modern story carries the weight of World War II. In February 1942, British forces surrendered the island to Japan in what became one of the most significant defeats in British military history. The occupation that followed was harsh and traumatic, leaving deep scars but also shaping a fierce determination about security and resilience in the years after the war. Singapore later moved steadily toward self-government, and in 1963 it joined the new Federation of Malaysia. The partnership was short-lived. Political and economic tensions grew, and in 1965—just two years later—Singapore separated and became an independent nation. It was an uncertain beginning for a small island with few natural resources, but it also marked the start of one of the most remarkable transformations of the 20th century.

Getting onto our Taxi heading into Singapore from the Port

We started our day by leaving the ship around 9 am and hired a taxi to take us into the main part of the city where we found the Hop On/Hop Off bus Our plan was to see as much of the city as we could on the bus and as quickly as possible, then head to some key areas to get a more in-depth experience.

On the bus these were some of the buildings we saw including the world famous Fullerton Hotel which overlooks the bay. It is a Five Star Hotel but it is where Singapore's past and present meet in quiet harmony. Housed in the city's former General Post Office, the building's neoclassical grandeur is matched by warm, attentive service and modern comforts. It is Singapore's most iconic hotel in the city center.

Singapore is well known for plant material all over the city, as both the city streets and buildings are rich in greenery and many buildings utilize it from the ground floor to the top of the roof areas. Singapore is known as the "Garden City" due to it's lush greenery urban planning and it is evident in the buildings. Many rooftops and especially the bus stops had plants on the roof areas. It is also known as the "Lion City" which stems from a 14th century legend where the Prince reportedly saw a lion (it was likely a tiger) on the island. It has also been called the "Little Red Dot" which references Singapore's small size on world maps. So many nicknames for a city!

Chinatown and Little India

Chinatown and Little India exist because Singapore grew as a trading port built on newcomers—Chinese and Indian workers, merchants, and families who arrived in large numbers in the 1800's and formed strong community centers close to work, markets, and places of worship. Chinatown is one of the larger historic ethnic districts in the central city area, known for conserved shophouses, busy food centers, temples, and heritage streets that still hum with life. Little India is smaller and more compact, centered around Serangoon Road, and it’s wonderfully vivid—spice and textile shops, gold jeweled windows, Hindu temples, and restaurants, especially lively on weekends and during celebrations like Deepavali. Today, people live all across the island, but these districts remain cultural “hearts” that keep traditions visible and thriving. We first ventured into Chinatown and grabbed some lunch and walked through the area.

In Chinatown the streets were clean and lined with stores on either side but it has very modern streets and buildings. There were signs in the stores advertising sales, sort of like our Dollarama Stores but much more of a selection and extremely inexpensive. You could buy a Smart Watch for $25 but there is no guarantee it would work for long.

Little India was very different from Chinatown, as the streets were small, cars and vans parked everywhere along the side streets and in front of the stores and there was lots of people in this area. We ventured into a small store front, only to find it was a large store, full of young men buying perfumes, medical supplies and candies. We did some research to see why there were so many buying these items and no females anywhere around. What we found was that the items were inexpensive and the men were likely immigrant workers from India that were in Singapore and had the day off as it was a Sunday and they were purchasing items to send home. The medical items (pain and headache treatments) were 20% off the price elsewhere. So what did we do - we also bought some too. We stocked up on the other personal items including Suntan Lotion as the sun here is very direct and we didn't want to burn.

Staff from the retail stores stood outside with microphones inviting everyone to come in for their sales.......... "Two Dollar,,,, Two Dollar.... Two Dollar" they bellowed - That's all you could hear as you walked past the storefronts

The storefronts were packed with items for sale such as luggage sets for $20, jewelry, gold chains, electronics and tourist type gifts, not to mention all the stores with food, spices, incense and perfumes. Also located along the streets were many Tailors doing both modifications or actually sewing new items they would then sell. They were within 3 feet of the curbs at roadside.

There were many tailors on the curbside doing modifications or even making new items.

It’s hard to grasp just how small Singapore is until you look at a map. It is roughly 730 square kilometers—smaller than many cities back home—yet home to about 6.2 million people. And still, it feels ordered, efficient, and intentionally designed. In a few decades, Singapore developed from a vulnerable port into a world-class city and global hub for shipping, finance, technology, and aviation—it's harbour and skyline standing as proof of what planning, trade, and ambition can build on a tiny patch of land. There are few cars on the streets and most residents and tourists use the underground rapid transit system although we didn't have a chance to use it - there is only so much one can do in a 10 hour visit.

Car ownership is deliberately expensive, with licensing and fees designed to limit traffic, which is why so many people rely on the MRT—an underground rapid rail system that’s fast, clean, and efficient, making it easy to cross the island without needing a car. If you buy a car in Singapore it can cost you about $90,000 US to get a permit to drive it in the city. Hence most do not own nor drive cars.

The city was easy to get around and not many cars on the roadways although there were lots of high end vehicles such as Ferrari, Mercedes and Maserati driving around.

After our morning stroll and Chinese lunch in the Chinatown, we ventured back to the Hop On/Hop Off bus and took it to a stop near the Gardens by the Bay. And then, in classic Singapore fashion, the city flips the idea of a garden into something futuristic.

Built on reclaimed land beside the Marina Bay, it’s a brilliant example of an engineered showcase on a 260 acre waterfront park. The Super Tree Groves—towering vertical gardens—are both art and infrastructure, wrapped in living plants and designed to support sustainability features like solar power and rainwater collection. Nearby, the cooled conservatories create entire climates under glass. One area is cool and misty with changing floral displays, the other warmer and drier with Mediterranean and desert landscapes. Every night, the Supertrees become a stage for the Garden Rhapsody light-and-music show, glowing and pulsing in coordinated color with the skyline behind them.

Jan and I walked the park in mid afternoon and took in the beauty of the design. It was endless however, it was full of tourists, locals and a special gathering for an "Anime Party".

Here are images of the park during day time hours

An Anime "Weeb" in the Gardens

During the day there was an Anime get together of several thousand Asians that included two loud concerts with their favorite boy band during the day and a female singer at night. This gathering in Asia is called Otaku (enthusiasts). When these groups meet for specific activities they might be participating in Seichi Junrel or sometime referred to as a Pilgrimage to Anime. It's also pop culture fandom or referred to as a "Weeb" gathering. We had no idea regarding these concerts but they lasted all day and into the evening.

These are images of the kids having fun - and most enjoyed when I took their photos.

After a full day in the city, Jan and I were tired and we decided to head back to our ship, even though we had another three hours before boarding time. We hired a taxi and the two of us went back to the Coral Princess. I later decided to go back out for the evening because Singapore is known for it's light and laser shows after dusk. I met another couple from our ship at the taxi stand and we decided to go to the Garden Bay Light Show and then to the Marina Sands Laser and Light Show later that evening. It was a fantastic choice and great to go with two Canadians from Vancouver. Thanks Rob and Michel for agreeing to go hang together - we didn't get lost and made it back to the ship with 30 minutes to spare before the planned ship departure.

This is a series of photos I took at the Garden on the Bay show.

Rob, Michel, and myself and then on our backs watching the show.

I made a short video of the 15 minute show entitled, Dedication to Opera. The place was packed and we laid on the concrete to stare straight up at the trees as they lit up and twinkled. It was impressive.

I would suggest that you turn your sound ON and UP to view this in Full Screen

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/71f626_21a35154f48f44dc9c3aea51c5ab3aeb/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

I only made these 2 videos, as it was difficult to lay on my back, shoot a video and watch the show at the same time. These videos are a small portion of the 15 minute Light Show.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/71f626_d2a6c6217e3d4c1cb27a2bbf80e4d8b0/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Following the Light Show at the Gardens By the Bay we walked via a skyway to the Marina Sands Hotel for the Laser Show. There were several thousand people that did the same route and although there was lots walking, it moved quickly.

Marina Sands Hotel at night

Down at the Marina Bay, the architecture becomes bold, modern, and waterfront-focused—designed to be seen from the water and remembered. The convention and exhibition spaces are built on a global scale, with huge halls and clean-lined design, meant for international conferences and events, surrounded by hotels and towers that frame the bay like a showcase. Inside the structure was a huge shopping mall with all high end stores. The headline landmark is Marina Bay Sands - three soaring hotel towers topped by a single ship-like structure that seems to float across the skyline. That “ship” is the SkyPark, home to observation areas with sweeping views, restaurants and lounges, and the famous infinity pool that appears to spill into the city. They are presently building an additional tower as well as a 25,000 seat Concert Hall to be located beside the existing 3 towers.

At night, the bay turns into an outdoor theatre again with the Spectra light-and-water show—lasers, moving lights, fountains, and projections playing across the water with the skyline as a backdrop.

These were some photos of the Laser Light Show. I was able to stand directly in the middle of the deck and had a super advantage spot to get decent video. It was memorable and I do hope you enjoy - Full Screen with sound !

Enjoy the Light & Laser Show Videos

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/71f626_822bd35a2be44204ae59d70766c7f02b/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/71f626_91857ea062c343779a92de2e43e055c2/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Marina Bay is part of the Singapore Water Reservoir System, created when the Marina Barrage was completed in 2008, turning the area into a freshwater reservoir. It supports water supply to the country (after treatment), and helps with flood control in the city center,. It keeps a stable water level that makes the waterfront promenades and makes sure that recreation on the bay is possible. In a small island nation with limited natural freshwater, it’s a powerful example of how Singapore builds for survival and growth at the same time. The bay at the marina, where the Laser show was held is part of the water reservoir system and connected to the 17 other reservoirs in the city.

This is part of the Singapore Water Reservoir System that feeds the entire nation

Raffles Hotel remains a grand colonial-era landmark, and it’s also the birthplace of the Singapore Sling, created in the early 1900's at the Long Bar—an elegant tropical cocktail that became part of the city’s identity. And for all the glamour, Singapore is intensely practical about daily life. I wonder if Phil and Ann enjoyed a Sling - our Brit friends that have since abandoned ship. Bon Voyage !

Singapore Slings at Raffles Long Bar are $45 each - We did NOT get one.

Looking ahead, Singapore feels like a city that never stops planning—expanding green space, pushing sustainable design, improving public transit, and continuing to reinvent its waterfront and neighborhoods while protecting the heritage that gives it character. That forward momentum is exactly what makes it such a fabulous place to visit. In a single day you can move from the traditions of Chinatown and Little India to the calm of the Botanic Gardens, then end the evening in the futuristic glow of Gardens by the Bay and the Marina Bay’s nightly Light and Laser show.

Today, under blue skies, Singapore didn’t just look impressive—it looked like a place that earned every inch of its shine. We were tired from our adventure and all the walking in 32C heat, but it's all memorable.

Now with two days at sea, the rest will help us get ready for out next visit to Kho Samui, an island in Thailand followed the next day with a two day excursion to the city of Bangkok for an overnight visit.