Our first full day of touring Singapore required sustenance. Luckily, this incredible full spread buffet was included (good thing too as lunch was literally a sandwich each and a bottled water and it was $108! Singapore is expensive) Ice cream at a breakfast buffet? Don’t mind if I do!
Fueled, rested and ready to go, we first took the elevator up 57 floors to the top of the iconic Marina Bay Sands. Opened only in 2010, it’s hard to imagine the Singapore skyline without it as it seems no matter where you are, this three towers with the boat on top is your background.
The ground floor is shops and restaurants and these giant potted trees are actually an art exhibit called, “Rising Forest”
The elevator goes one floor a second so in less than a minute, you are at the top. I was disappointed nothing happens in the elevator. I was surprised there wasn’t video like you find in the elevators for 30 Rock or the new World Trade Center in NYC that tell the time lapse story of each building.
Views from the top are lovely and on clear days you can see Indonesia
The world’s only floating stadium and the seats are individually cooled
The Helix Bridge or DNA bridge because, wait for it… it looks like strands of DNA
The Singapore Flyer wasn’t working while we were there. Our tour guide said it had been down for about two weeks. Fun fact: the wheel originally turned counter clockwise but Feng Shui masters convinced the owners that the wheel was bringing fortune out of the land, instead of towards it, because it faces the financial district and then turns around towards the east and open sea.
The company reversed the wheel and made it rise up on the eastern side and then turn towards the financial district – supposedly a sign of bringing fortune inwards and flowing to the city.
The SkyPark of Marina Bay Sands (the boat part) has an infinity pool that is over 600 above ground. The SkyPark is accessible only to hotel guests for security reasons.
Tomorrow we will be visiting Gardens By The Bay. Here is an aerial view
Overlooking all of Singapore
Our tour guide, Jeremy. He was with us all three days and was one of the best tour guide I’ve ever had. Very personable and fun and really knew his city.
Up next was a trishaw ride through Little India
Followed by a scenic cruise on the Singapore River where we went from a bird’s eye view to a water view and our guide had some fun taking pictures with me.
One of my favorite things to see was the Merlion. A Merlion is half lion and half fish and is the official mascot of Singapore. The fish body represents Singapore’s origin as a fishing village and the lion head represents Singapore’s original name, Singapura, meaning “lion city”.
A cub was later added that you cannot see from the water but you can see on land in Merlion Park
We were on our own for the aforementioned expensive lunch and we checked out the mall adjacent to our hotel. Singapore seems to be endless malls and shopping is a sport here and could definitely be called the national pastime. I’m not a big shopper myself but I do always enjoy seeing how locals spend their time. I don’t know how anyone affords to live in Singapore and I’m used to NYC prices! This mall had a whole section of high end stores including Ferrari Junior, Gucci and Dior that were just children’s clothes. The adult versions were at the other end.
I loved this adorable Tiffany’s little mouse Christmas display
And I could have lived in this tea shop
Starbucks is everywhere but my local Starbucks doesn’t carry prawn mayo chia seeds sandwiches
You can see from the crowds in the food court, the malls are a popular spots
We went back to the hotel to clean up for our dinner at the members only China Club. Located at the top of the Capital Tower, the China Club serves traditional Chinese food in a tea house setting
The menu
The Suitcase Whisperer 