Arrival in Singapore
We took a bus from Malacca to Singapore. At the border, you get out and go through a customs and border crossing building where they remind you many times of the strict penalties for smuggling drugs into Singapore (death). Also, no chewing gum.
On the Bus, Almost to Singapore
Subway Platform, Singapore
Hawker Court with Friends
Back in Halong Bay in Vietnam we made friends with a couple from Singapore, Andrew and Soomae. We kept in touch via WhatsApp and got together for dinner one night during our stay. It was great seeing them and they also explained some subtleties about Singaporean culture and made sure we tried all the right foods. They took us to a hawker court, which Singapore is famous for. The hawker court is like a mega-food court filled with at least a hundred different food vendors. You walk around putting in all your orders, wait for a while, then go around again and pick them up.
Reunited with Andrew and Soomae, Friends from Our Halong Bay Cruise in Vietnam
Inside the Hawker Court
Hawker Booth
Satay Stand
Advertising
This Place is Huge...
Soya Bean Curd Stall
Hawker Food
BBQ Stingray
More Hawker Food
Potstickers
Satay
Noodles
Bento Box
Soya Bean Curd, Crazy Delicious
Around Town, Singapore
Singapore has an efficient subway system and we had fun exploring around town. Orchard Street is shopping mall after shopping mall, all decked out for Christmas. You could stand on a street corner and see 3 different Rolex shops. We loved all the Christmas trees and over-the-top lights and decorations. Another memorable neighborhood was Clarke Quay, a collection of nice colorful houses, shops, restaurants, and a riverside walk.
CBD Skyline
Cool/Weird Building
Under a Bridge
Strolling Through a Park
Clarke Quay
Ferry Boat, Clarke Quay
Us in Clarke Quay
Colorful Housing, Clarke Quay
James Gets a Terrible Haircut in a Singapore Mall
Hmmmm...
Art Deco Building
St. Andrews Cathedral, Built 1856
St. Andrews Cathedral
Inside St. Andrews Cathedral
City Hall
James Purchases the Latest Singapore Hipster Fashions
No Durians OR Mangosteens in the Hotel. So Many Rules!
Pineapple Beer. Verdict: Gross.
Dunkin' Donuts Innovating Every Day
Malls and Christmas, Just Like Home!
Christmas!
Daytime Christmas Street
All Lit Up
Christmas Diorama!
Inside a Walk-In Tree, Daytime
Inside a Walk-In Tree, At Night
Lin After Viewing the Walk-In Christmas Tree
So Many Lights
More Christmas Decorations
'Tis the Season
Deck the Halls
The Raffles Hotel
A family member of ours worked in Singapore during the 1960’s, and would tell us stories of going to the Raffles Hotel for scones. We stopped by this luxurious hotel for the same treat. Yum!
The Raffles Hotel
Outside the Raffles
Feet Pic, Raffles Style
Scones at the Raffles
Yum
Marina Bay Sands
The Marina Bay Sands is a massive building completed in 2011 that hosts a hotel, casino and shopping mall. According to Wikipedia, the project cost S$4bn to complete, thats almost $2.75bn US! The building consists of three towers with a large surfboard-shaped deck on top connecting all three. On one end is a cantilevered platform (the largest in the world) that hangs far out over the side of the supporting tower. This platform is the observation deck. Also nearby to the building is a park with two enormous greenhouses and a grove of “supertrees” — metal structures that have plants growing all up the sides. The “supertrees” are connected to each other with hanging bridges.
The Marina Bay Sands
Getting Closer...
View from Below
Lin with Marina Bay Sands in the Background
Selfie Time
What Is This, the Leaning Tower of Pisa?
View from the Roof of the Marina Bay Sands
Observation Deck on the Roof
James on the Observation Deck
The View
View from the Roof
View from the Roof
View
James on the Roof
Sunset View from the Roof
Another View of the Building
Yet Another Angle
Mall Inside the Marina Bay Sands
Gondolas Can Take You Around the Mall...
Inside of the Building
Lower Levels
Koi Pond Outside the Base of the Marina Bay Sands
"Supertree" Grove, Marina Bay Sands
Supertree Silhouettes
Supertrees
Lin with Supertrees
Inside of a Supertree
Supertree Canopy Walkway
Supertree Walkway
James in Supertrees
View from the Top of the Supertrees
View from the Supertrees
Chinatown
The largest ethnic group in Singapore is Chinese, however the city still has a historic and bustling Chinatown enclave.
Exiting Subway Station, Chinatown
Chinatown, Singapore
Chinatown
Chinatown Street
Chinatown
Paper Lanterns Everywhere...
Hindu Temple Near Chinatown
Coffee
Green Tea
Kaya Toast, Eggs & Coffee
Engineering Office
A Very Smelly Table Full of Durian Slices
Stuff for Sale, Chinatown
Dried Persimmons for Sale in Chinatown
Arab Street
Within Singapore’s Bugis district is Arab Street. A centerpiece of the neighborhood is the Sultan Mosque, the largest mosque in Singapore. The neighborhood has lots of interesting shops like rug stores and perfumeries. We made sure to try some delicious Lebanese food while we were in the area.
Singapore's Arab Street
Muscat Street, Leading Up to Masjid Sultan ("Sultan Mosque")
Sultan Mosque
Sultan Mosque
Entrance to Sultan Mosque
Prayer Hall, Masjid Sultan
Time to Pray? Check the Prayer Clock
Lebanese Food
El Sheikh Lebanese Restaurant
Lunch
Falafel
Hummus
Tabbouleh
Baklawi
There Are Lots of Rug Stores on Arab Street
Inside Rug Store
Rugs
Perfume Bottles for Sale, Arab Street
James Makes Friends with a Robot, Arab Street
Antiques for Sale, Arab Street
Onward!
Singapore’s Changi Airport has a reputation for being one of the best in the world, featuring a movie theater and swimming pool among other perks. Unfortunately, neither of these amenities were in our particular terminal, but we still found it to be a pleasant airport experience.
Hanging Out at the Airport
Duty Free: Placenta Collagen for Sale at the Airport...
The Airport Was Decked Out for Christmas, Sorry for the Blurriness
Our Airplane
Nice Lighting in Here
Mood Lights
Next Stop, Australia