Singapore

24.4.2024 Singapore

I went ashore shortly after 8 a.m. I hadn't booked an excursion and didn't take a taxi, but walked towards the city.

On the way I tried to find an ATM. But I couldn't find one either at the subway station or in the port building. In fact, I didn't find one until I was in the financial center at HSBC. I found that a bit disappointing.

Equipped with a little local currency, I made my way to the bay. I wanted to see the "Merlion" first.

First, I had to pass a unicorn elephant. Yes, there are statues of strange animals here, but apart from birds, there are no living ones. Not a single dog!

The Merlion was surrounded by other tourists, but I managed to get a few nice photos. Then I crossed the Jubilee Bridge, passed the Esplanade Concert Hall and the Esplanade Mall and reached the area around my destination for the day via the Helix Bridge: the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

I had booked a trip to the observation deck at Marina Bay Sands for 11:30 am, so I had to wait another hour.

So I visited the associated shopping mall, which only has luxury shops. The restaurants are also in the upper price range. There are no places to sit anywhere, only one café has tables and chairs next to an admittedly spectacular fountain for paying guests.

I then looked around the hotel itself, which consists of three towers. There are also restaurants and shops here. Overall, I didn't like the hotel; it gave me a sterile, uncomfortable impression.

On the way to the entrance to the elevator for the observation deck, I met four other passengers, and I discovered four more in the queue that I joined. A short time later, I went upstairs. From a height of around 200 meters, you have a great view of Singapore and the sea dotted with ships. There is a bar on the observation deck, from which I got myself a Singapore Sling. A fellow passenger was kind enough to take a photo of me sipping a cocktail.

After I was back on the ground floor, I completed my walk around the bay, took a look at the "Red Dot Museum", which exhibits products that have been awarded for good design, and walked back to the ship.

This evening's concert was given by Australian Liam Cooper, who played and sang songs by Billy Joel and Elton John.