Saying goodbye to Bali and continuing on to my first day in Singapore

I spent my last day in Bali mostly relaxed without major sightseeing plans. I wandered a bit through the markets to spend my last Indonesian rupiah, took my laundry to the laundry service for the last time on this trip and later picked it up fresh, visited the local barber again, who I startled awake with my appearance, indulged in some snacks here and there, and took one last dip into the (less) cool water for a few swimming laps...

Yesterday was then the farewell to Bali and heading to my final destination in Singapore. Early in the morning, it was time to pack again and just a quick last trip for a breakfast snack, and then off to the taxi for the flight. The plane departed at 12:40 PM, and by 3:30 PM, I was approaching Singapore. The immigration procedures went quite smoothly with an electronic form. Then came the usual process of acquiring local cash and getting a local SIM card. Although this is now a familiar scenario, there is still a feeling that it might have some challenges associated with it. But it was as problem-free as the immigration procedures, even if you can see the significant price differences compared to my previous travel countries. Then it was by bus and subway to the hotel, where I arrived shortly after 6:00 PM with light rain. The public transport works really well and simply. You just have to hold the payment card at the beginning and end stations, avoiding the ticket buying process. This is how I envision the digitized world ...

After freshening up and a small supply run, I was quite worn out and only managed to watch the unfortunate evening Dynamo match against Oldenburg while reclining.

This morning, I checked the weather first thing after waking up. It was drizzling. So I initially took it easy and relaxed, but at some point, I trudged out when it was only a bit gray and no more raindrops were falling from the sky. I aimed for Marina Bay. I wanted to wander around there and take a look. Marina Bay is the youngest - but also the most famous - district of Singapore, mainly because it features the well-known skyline of skyscrapers. It was primarily created through land reclamation as part of the Singapore River developments. When I reached my destination by subway and had walked a bit, it started to rain again. I stood under cover for a moment, but it did not stop. I was near the 'Singapore Flyer,' which is a giant wheel with 28 gondolas, each accommodating 28 people. A complete rotation lasts about 30 minutes and offers a magnificent view of the city, as the wheel reaches a height of 165 m. I decided to get a ticket for that. The accompanying complex also houses the 'Singapore Time Capsule,' a very modern, digital journey through Singapore's history, especially focusing on Marina Bay, featuring many animations. There are also other animated components in the exhibition, such as the 'Infinity Room.' After spending quite some time in the really well-designed exhibition, I reached the floor where the boarding for the gondolas to the wheel should take place. But no luck. In the meantime, the rain had developed into a stormy thunderstorm, with booming thunder and pouring rain, forcing the operation of the wheel to halt for safety reasons. No one could tell me how long that would be. So I had a new ticket issued, hoping the weather would improve tomorrow. There was no thought of going further in the pouring rain, so I, like many others, sought shelter and treated myself at the local kiosk to coffee and a small snack... and stayed there for quite a while... Eventually, the rain stopped, and just as I was about to leave, the announcement came that the wheel was running again... I thought, while the view might not be extensive due to the weather, I was already there, so I might as well use the ticket... I ended up enjoying the 28-person capsule all to myself. Despite the inclement, overcast weather and the large raindrops decorating the capsule’s windows, the view was breathtaking; even if visibility was not like on a clear day. After that, I continued wandering through the district, always keeping Marina Bay Sands in the foreground or background — the hotel resort comprised of three towers and 55 floors, boasting a 340 m long rooftop garden and a 146 m pool, which forms the landmark of Singapore. My paths led me across the Helix Bridge alongside the skyline and then to the 'Gardens by the Bay'; a 101-hectare park with two gigantic greenhouses and, notably, the Supertree Grove. The 18 futuristic, artificial trees in the Supertree Grove are plant-covered steel structures that also serve various technical functions (electricity generation via photovoltaic panels, rainwater collection for irrigation, exhaust air outlet for the nearby greenhouses). So, I strolled through the quiet park with its many small attractions and waited for the evening light show, which is accompanied by music at the 'Supertrees.' Thus, the rainy day turned out to be quite an impressive experience. In the dark, I then walked back through the city’s sea of lights to my neighborhood, where only the evening meal awaited me...