Last day - Singapore

We guess you can see from the photos of us we are pretty weary by this time. We had asked the tour coordinator to recommend a relaxing tour and she suggested one to Sentosa, the island to the south of Singapore. Our first stop was the cable car.

Looking towards Sentosa from the cable car. Beyond the island you can see just a tiny fraction of the boats waiting to come and unload at the docks. Also some of the bulk oil storage tanks on the horizon.

Lesley in the cable car

Approaching Sentosa

Once on Sentosa we were transported immediately to the amusement park where we went to 1) the Images of Singapore, a type of museum which had static displays of the history and ethnic diversity of Singapore. It was very interesting.

Some of the dioramas

Another diorama

2) Then we were rushed to the Butterfly Park

Butterflies

Hatching pupae

Moth on the glass

3) Next we were hurried on to Underwater World which was very similar to any such place. (When was the relaxation going to happen?)

Upside-down Jellyfish

Garden Eels (well named)

4) Finally racing into the Dolphin Lagoon! (At last we got to sit down!)

A young Pink Dolphin. They are born dark and gradually get pinker.

They did all the usual tricks, but were very pretty.

Denise with well-travelled hat

Singapore's Merlion

We agreed that the tour wasn't relaxing as we were too busy, but did have a good time and saw more of Singapore which is a wonderful place to visit.

We were dropped off at our hotel about 1 pm and we had to check out at 4 pm. This gave us a chance for a short rest and time for packing. We still had 4 hours until we were picked up for the airport. So we strolled across the river to Robertson Quay where we had the most divine waffles and ice cream.

Enjoying our waffles and ice cream at Robertson Quay.

At 8 pm we were collected for the airport. We were looking forward to being home but had enjoyed our stay in Singapore. 

Denise surrounded by orchids at Singapore Airport

So now our holiday had come to an end and though we were very tired, as you can see by the bags under our eyes, we were very happy. We had travelled very well together and really enjoyed each other's company. We liked doing the same things, eating the same kind of food, and laughed at the same quirky episodes that came our way. All that was left to do was take one more piccie.

At Singapore Airport

The Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel

The Grand Copthorne is on the riverfront as the name suggests. There are some excellent points about this hotel, charming and friendly staff, an excellent restaurant though a tad expensive, comfortable and well-presented rooms, and a good position.

Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel from the waterfront

It has an excellent position looking down/up the Singapore River

                                     Up river

Down river

Lesley at Singapore River with the Copthorne in the background

The foyer

Foyer and restaurant from mezzanine

Denise having a mocktail 

Lesley having a mocktail

Copthorne at night

Copthorne waterfront at night

The Copthorne waterfront from across the river

The Robertson Quay footbridge from the Copthorne waterfront

The fountain and waterfront at dusk

Although we are home now and jet-lagged, there is still one more day in Singapore to come. Keep watching because it should be posted in a couple of days.

The last leg - Singapore

It was 11.30 pm when we arrived in Singapore and 1.30 am by the time we were in our hotel room. Singapore is a wonderful city at night. All the buildings are lit up and there are shapes and sizes to rival Dubai. Unfortunately our cameras aren't up to taking night shots from a moving vehicle so if you want to see some great images go to Singapore at night. When you're on the website scroll down to avoid the ads.

One of the views from our room

Another view. The apartment blocks in the foreground are government housing.

We had a late breakfast and relaxed before heading off in the hotel shuttle bus for the centre of the action, Orchard Road. This is just bursting at the seams with locals and tourists. There are very modern malls with very classy shops; Gucci, Tiffany, etc. Although there are plenty of ordinary shops and eateries to catch your attention. The photo below doesn't give you a good idea of the seething masses here.

After spending a bit of time, but no money, we caught one of the hop-on, hop-off open-top double-decker buses and took a circuitous route back to our hotel. Colonial buildings and modern skyscrapers jostle each other as well as green spaces, apartment buildings and strangely shaped bridges. Below is just a selection of all the piccies we took. Remember that some of them are taken from a moving vehicle so forgive any fuzziness or reflections.

Orchard Road

Apartments

Old and new

Crossing the Singapore River

Robertson Quay

Looming skyscrapers

Denise checking out a fountain

A quick glimpse through the trees. It was difficult to take some photos because of the abundance of street trees. They make the city very green and they're cool to walk under.

Colonial Architecture

The Singapore Art Museum, a former Catholic boys' school.

A small section of Raffles Hotel

The Marine Bay Sands hotel and casino from a distance

Marine Bay Sands hotel and casino

An interesting view of this awesome building

The stern end

If you want to see some spectacular piccies of this incredible building go to this link, Marina Bay Sands hotel and casino

That evening we were booked on a night tour. First we went for a Chinese meal at a riverside restaurant at Boat Quay.

Boat Quay

From there it was to Bugis Street market. 

Filled with locals ....

... and tourists.

Different dumplings ready to cook

Fruit stall

Then our last stop was for a gin sling at Raffles Hotel. The people who were on the tour with us were all very friendly, and we had a really enjoyable time.

The Long Bar, Raffles Hotel

Denise with her gin sling

Lesley and her gin sling, 

and she hadn't drunk a drop by this time! 

Enjoying ourselves at Raffles with John, Joan and Helen

Lesley at Raffles

Raffles Courtyard

Us outside the front entrance of Raffles

We were returned to our hotel quite late after a very happy evening.

There's more Singapore to come. Watch this space.