… to Singapore for an overnight stay …

… Singapore is known for the grand old Raffles Hotel and its signature drink, the Singapore Sling. Unfortunately, the hotel’s restaurant and bar are currently closed for renovations, so no Singapore Slings on this trip! The city is safe for tourists at all hours of the night and day, and we had two days to explore. We had only one excursion planned, a night time tour the first day. Unfortunately, Frank strained his back getting into a taxi the first day. We had planned to meet up with a group of crafters at a Singapura Plaza, a very nice mall, to shop at Spotlight, a large department store with a huge crafts department. We found the store, and then explored the rest of the mall; Frank spent time trying out high-end massage chairs in an effort to ease his back – and we returned to the ship with a new portable massage unit.
The next day, Frank saw the ship’s doctor, who prescribed a muscle relaxant and pain pills. Thus fortified, we set up by cab for Bugis Market (pronounced boogies!), a must-see destination in Singapore. The market was very empty because it was morning. It’s open 24 hours a day, with night being the busiest time. We sampled some deep-fried sweet potatoes and bananas.
 
   
The taxi driver told us about a Chinese temple near Bugis, and we went there next. The temple fronted on the street, and was filled with hundreds of different deities. Several seemed to be connected to fortune-telling.
 

Also near Bugis was a McDonald’s, advertising the “next hot Korean star,” a meal consisting of a Seoul spicy beef or chicken burger, kimchee fries, and a peach fizz drink. To Frank, this sounded like a challenge! Fortunately, the kimchee for the fries came in the form of a seasoning packet to be added to the fries in a paper bag and shaken. But the burger was preseasoned – and hot!
   
Hearty meal consumed, we did a little more sightseeing before returning to the ship. Some of my favorite sightings …
 
 
Singapore has some of the most striking modern architecture in the world. Its most striking building is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino, with a boat-like top resting on three pillars. The building also houses a shopping mall, and is an amazing sight, day or night.