Yesterday was the official beginning of the Chinese New Year and we spent a delightful day at Sea. The ship set up a Chinese Buffet on the pool deck to mark the day. Today, the 34th day of our cruise marked our first arrival on mainland Asia as we docked in Singapore at the very end of the Malaysian peninsula.
In 1819, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles (British) landed here and saw this to be a potential strategic geographical trading post in southeast Asia. On behalf of the British East India Company, Raffles signed an agreement with the Sultan to develop the southern part of Singapore as a trading post and settlement. In 1824, through appropriate agreements with the Sultan, the entire island of Singapore became a British possession. It was 1965 before it attained sovereignty. The map below from the TV shows its location.
Approaching the Singapore docks.
Singapore has an incredibly busy harbor. At the bottom of the photo, right in front of the ship, actually on the other side of the terminal building not visible here is the ferry docks. There were about a dozen off to our starboard side waiting to come in.
Across the pier, a Hard Rock hotel! They seem to be in every major tourist city!
And passing by overhead, cable cars. After our tour we considered riding it, however, we looked at the line that was several hundred feet long and changed our minds.
Our tour for the day was "Spirit of Singapore", a 4.5 hour trip that might be considered a highlights tour. The first stop was at Mount Faber for a look down on the city. The tall buildings in the front are all public housing.
With the celebration of the year of the snake continuing, this vendor was picking up a few extra dollars.
Around the outside walls of the building there were murals depicting the history of Singapore.
Folks meditating on the open lawn there.
A view of our ship.
Singapore has its own version of the London Eye off to the right in this picture. On the left, the building with the pointy, jackfruit looking roof is the Singapore Arts Center.
Our bus made a photo stop for us to go see the Merlion, however, I found it too crowded so found this little park.
And, from there, a great view of the "boat" building, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Resort.
A quaint little bridge perhaps from the earliest days of Singapore.
And no tour of Singapore would be complete without a stop at the Raffles Hotel, probably best known for the Long Bar and the world renown Singapore Sling. We didn't go in (guests only allowed) but some friends whose tour took them there for High Tea did have a Singapore Sling for an additional $34!
A look at the courtyard.
Sultan Mosque in Singapore
Shopping and eating area near the Mosque.
Another look.
One of the many pedestrian over passes in the city. Note the flowers along the sides. That too is quite common.
Streets that are normally jam packed with cars and motor bikes were devoid of vehicles because of the New Year holidays.
Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple.
The temple and the surrounding Chinatown streets were highly decorated for the New Year.
One of the altars inside the temple.
Folks don't have clothes dryers as there is not sufficient electrical power so they dry clothes by hanging them out the window on flag pole like poles.
Contrast between the temple and the modern buildings beyond.
Chinese lanterns had been shaped into a dragon shaped display.
Just an example of the clean and lushly foliaged streets of Singapore. Singapore strictly enforces its no littering laws. Even discarding chewing gum on the street is a huge "no-no"!
The next stop was at the magnificent National Orchid Garden in the Botanical Gardens.
The seed pods on this tree / vine were quite fascinating. I don't recall ever seeing anything like it.
One of the hundreds, perhaps thousands of varieties of orchids in the garden.
And, another.
Headed out, we walked under this beautiful archway covered with orchids and ferns.
We only had time to see about 1/4th of the orchid garden and none of the rest of the Singapore Botanical Gardens. Wish we'd had a full day to visit there.
We had one more day in Singapore however, it was a "turn day", the end of one cruise and the beginning of another, and only two shore excursions were offered. One was the tour described above, the other was one that went to the orchid garden and then to Raffles for High tea. We chose to stay on board and it turned out to be a perfect day to get laundry done!
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PS: As I write this, it is Feb 19th and we are cruising the South China Sea off the coast of Viet Nam. All my good intentions of getting caught up with our travels have gone awry! Tomorrow, 2/20, we'll be in Da Nang for two days, thus probably another port behind in my scribing.
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