Days 1 - 5 Heading to Singapore

Greetings all!  It’s time, actually way past time, for another travel adventure.  For this trip the Bean & I are Asia bound, Singapore and then on to Indonesia (Java & Bali). Hope you enjoy sharing this trip with us.  Singapore and Java are new destinations and Bali is a very highly anticipated return trip. Because Beanie & I often have different views and writing techniques (I know, hard to believe), the correct entries are preceded by (RC) to indicate me and the “alternate” views as (KC) to indicate Beanie.  Here we go!!

Day 1:  9 May

(RC)  This is a short day, a repositioning flight from Phoenix to San Francisco to catch our Singapore Airlines flight out tomorrow.  We’re cruising at an altitude of 38,000 ft, weather is clear and it’s 55 degrees in the bay area.  Like a brisk winter day in the valley.  We got in early and are staying at the Marriott Waterfront which we're hoping is far enough away from the feces and needles trail.  We’ll let you know – maybe even pictures! 

(KC)  Nice travel day.  The Marriott is just 10 minutes from the SF Airport and has a fabulous view of the the runway. Plane spotting was excellent.  The hotel was nice with a good lounge, where we ate dinner.  There was a nice walking path along the water with the planes taking off and landing in the background.  It was a beautiful, sunny day but windy and cool and we didn’t have warm clothes so didn’t walk for long.  We saw our Singapore Airlines A350-900 taking off for Singapore.  We’ll be on her soon enough tomorrow!  She’s a beauty.  I love that she has the old-style livery.  We were also happy to see a Boeing 747, Asiana Cargo, not too many 747s still around, and an A380, Emirates.  We thought of you Pat. 

Airbus 380 - Don't See Too Many Of These Big Boy Double Deckers Around Anymore

Lobby View from The San Francisco Marriott Waterfront with the runway in the background

Days 2 & 3:  10 – 11 May (AKA “The Flight”)

(KC)  Got to the airport 3 1/2 hours before our flight because we wanted to enjoy the United Polaris Lounge, which Singapore Airlines shares with United along with several other international airlines.  United Polaris Lounges are several notches above regular United lounges, and they're only located at a few international terminals like SFO and JFK.  We had never been in one before.  It was very nice and had both a buffet and a sit-down restaurant.  We had breakfast in the restaurant.  It was very good and I had a glass of champagne to celebrate the start of this much anticipated trip.  

Beanie Breakfast "We're Out Of Here" Champagne Toast

Very difficult to walk away from an open bar with this much really good stuff - it was 0830!!!

We just happened to look out the windows as we were leaving the lounge and saw our flight arriving from Singapore.  

Our inbound Singapore Airbus A350-900

"Porthole""view of the Marriott as we taxi for takeoff

(still KC)  We are now 4 hours into the flight.  We have the best seats on the plane and here’s the story about how that happened:  Row 11 on the Singapore A350-900 is bulkhead seats and, though all the business class seats are excellent, these are just a bit “more excellent” with more legroom and a larger area for your feet while in the lay flat mode.  You can’t reserve these seats online because they are normally assigned to people who have elite status with Singapore Airlines.  Well apparently, there weren’t any of those folks on our flight.  When we checked in, I asked if these seats were available and she said maybe not but she would make a note.  I figured well at least I tried and forgot about it but about 15 minutes before boarding our names were called and we went up to the desk and they gave us new boarding passes with row 11 bulkhead seats.  Sweet!  It’s nice to get to try them.  

Forward Business Class - No center seats filled at takeoff

Somehow I will make this seat work. Not easy being Randy!!

For some reason Beanie thought we needed this picture.

Lunch was good.  I had lobster thermidor and Randy had short ribs.  I didn’t eat all of my lobster and when the flight attendant took my tray he said the lobster was much better on the flight out of Singapore to SFO.  So I’ll try it again on the way home.  This is a 16+ hour flight so we’ll have another meal and a snack before we get there.  

Starter Salad

Beanie's Lobster Something Something

(RC)  We arrived at Singapore Airport just a few minutes late.  Overall a very good flight.  I think this was our first time on an Airbus 350.  Seats were good, but I still managed to make my seat look like a garage sale was going on.  

Remember that nice, tidy seat - now it looks like a garage sale!!

The Changi Airport is magnificent!  Very well laid out, easy to get around and staff at every turn to help you out.  It’s really half airport and half greenhouse.  There are large full grown trees and greenery everywhere inside the terminals!  We did all our entry paperwork ahead of time so it was no muss – no fuss. It is interesting to note the additional “security” steps they have in place.  First everyone is videoed leaving the plane enroute to the main terminal.  When you clear customs your picture is taken again as well as both of your thumbprints.  For customs we just selected the “Nothing to Declare” lane and ran like hell!!  Easy peasy.

It was about a 25 minute cab ride to the Conrad Centennial Hilton.  I think this is the first time we’ve stayed at a Conrad.  It is VERY nice and a very gracious staff.  Another really nice perk is each room has a dedicated car and driver.  We originally had a 2009 Fiat, but once Beanie started whining, "but it's our anniversary!" management came up with a better option!!

Okay, The Car Story Might Have Been Bullshit!!

Lobby at the Conrad Hilton Centennial

Beanie had made her normal “special request”. I think this time it was for our 45th
Anniversary, which is nice considering our 45th was in 2020!! When we got to our room there were cookies, chocolates, and Happy Anniversary was spelled out on our bed with flower petals, okay, they were fake, but it was still a very nice gesture. We immediately threw all that crap on the floor and went to bed – felt great after 26 hours.

Nice job of decorating our room

Chocolates were yummy! Beanie liked the Conrad bear and duck.

View of the city from our room - that's the sports arena with the large open door 

Day 4:  12 May – Day 1 in Singapore

(RC)  Shockingly we woke up early, after a mere 10 hours of sleep! Our room included a breakfast buffet – a really nice feature, especially if you’re trying to watch your weight. It was huge, most Asian breakfast options as well as American favorites such as omelet bar and of course – BACON.  We finished pigging out, well actually, it was mainly me, and headed out for the day.  Beanie has selected the Gardens by the Bay (GBTB) for the day.  I figured, what the heck, shouldn’t be too tasking to walk around some gardens.  I’ll leave the day’s events to Beanie to share.

Singapore has two basic seasons – hot and really hot and sticky.  The humidity felt a bit oppressive the first couple of breaths and then it eased up a bit. The part of town we are staying is a very walkable part of the city.

(KC)  Buffet breakfast at the hotel – American, Japanese, Chinese and Malay food.  Far fewer Anglos than Asians at the hotel.  We put on our walking shoes and headed to Gardens by the Bay.  Some of the highlights along the way are below.

Small portion of the very impressive skyline.

Fullerton Hotel

The Merlion

The statue above is in front of the Fullerton Hotel.  It's called a Merlion, the fish-like body symbolises Singapore's origins as a fishing village and the lion head represents the city's original name of Singapura, the Lion City.

Left the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and the lotus shaped Arts & Science Museum

(KC)  The Gardens by the Bay in real life was even more impressive and expansive than the pictures I had seen.  There are acres of beautiful outdoor gardens and two huge glass domed gardens.  The first dome is the Floral Fantasy and we were lucky to be here when Tulipmania was going on.  It was sponsored by Turkey – who knew that tulips were the Ottoman’s favorite flower?  Even without the tulips this garden was incredible and had so many of my favorite plants – succulents and euphorbias.  There were also a lot of wooden sculptures of animals and fantasy creatures throughout the garden.  (RC) It appears they are a combination of different driftwood and stone, but they are incredible.  Obviously some artistic talent and imagination that are way beyond my abilities.  By the way, Gardens by the Bay have plants from every continent except Antarctica.

Floral Fantasy Dome Entry - with the skyline of Singapore in background

Beanie at the Floral Fantasy Dome

I call it driftwood art, but it's way more complex. Dragon was my favorite

This art was interwoven throughout the dome.

School tour - really "energetic and cute"

The Tulipmania Displays Begin - I can't wait to share this with the Wed Golf Group!!!

More Tulipmania

And some more Tulipmania

Yep, more Tulipmania

Some really pretty Tulips

And a collection of pretty Tulips

Tulipmania was sponsored by Turkish Air

Couple of dweeb tourists lounging around the Turkish Airlines display 

(KC) The second dome was Cloud Forest with The Avatar Experience, here's a link,  Avatar The Experience.   It was as amazing as the first dome.  We were skeptical of the Avatar part, but it was very well done.  I’ll let the photos and the videos do the talking.  

Short Video of the entry to Cloud Forest - pretty cool waterfall.

View from the skyway walk

Nice shot of the skyline with Supertrees on the left & the Marina Bay Sands on the right

In the Cloud Forest dome there was an elevated walkway, probably 8 stories high that, in addition to dome viewing provided some really good views of the city, the harbor and the Supertrees.

Workmen On Top Of The Largest Supertree

View Of A Dozen Or So Supertrees

Dale Chihuly also did a Christmas glass display at the Phoenix Zoo in 2015

Dale Chihuly Glass Flowers Display

Elevated Skyway 

Some "Avatarians"?  Hey, that's all I got!!

The Avatar theme is interwoven into the rainforest  

I think this dude is a Mountain Banshee - you Avatar fans will know.

This was a really neat robotic display - seemed like the eyes followed you around the room.

(RC) Then it was onto the Supertrees.  Did I use the word “amazing” yet?  Well it was.  There was a walkway between a couple of the trees that provided an incredible view of the city and the gardens. These Supertrees are basically metal tree frames that have been lined with soil "pouches" that are then used for planting either vine or hydroponic vines that eventually will cover the metal frame with greenery.   They are also equipped with various lighting schemes and there are two light shows at night.  We read that because we didn't go back that night!

Ground level view of a few of the Supertrees.

Supertrees with skyline background. Note the maintenance workers/gardeners & crane

Shot of Supertree with city backdrop. See how workers are getting closer?
Don't be scared!!

Now you can be scared!  They're HERE!!

Supertrees and elevated walkway  

Supertrees elevated walkway with a super dweeb

View of Supertrees and elevated walkway from ground level

(KC) That evening after the second shower of the day (looks like it will be a two shower a day trip!) we walked to the Raffles Hotel, famous for creating the Singapore Sling, and I had just that in the Long Bar there.  Randy had a beer.  So cool to visit such a historic hotel.  (RC)  A big thank you to Tommy V for recommending this stop.  I would have hated to miss the opportunity to spend $61 for a beer and a Singapore Sling.  Should have at least lifted the glass!!  Just kidding – it was a pretty cool way to spend some time.

Local talent working the Raffles Hotel

Full frontal view of the Raffles - adults only!

Commemorative plaque for the hotel, named after Sir Stamford Raffles, Singapore's founder

Ahh, finally the Long Bar - historical drinking awaits us!!

My lovely bride with perhaps the most expensive drink of the trip!  She's worth it!!

(KC) From Raffles we walked to Chjimes, which is what I would describe as an underground, upscale hawker court.  The stalls were more like restaurants side by side with tables in the walkway in the middle.  It felt more like one big, rambling restaurant rather than a food court.  Any kind of food you can imagine.  We were too tired to be hungry so shared a couple of small plates which were good.  Ended up being a 25,000 step day for those of you step counters.  We slept very well that night.

Day 5:  13 May – Day 2 in Singapore

(KC)   Today was exploring the city – again walking.  We feel like although we cover less ground that way, we often see more.  First, we went to the Middle Eastern neighborhood, called Kampong Glam.  We were mostly on Arab Street, with their shops full of merchandize from the Middle East, and Haji Lane, with its beautiful murals. No high rises here but lovely old shophouses and mosques.  

On the way to Kampong Glam.  A little different look - art deco in Singapore

Getting into Kampong Glam - The Middle Eastern Area

Haji (A title for a Muslim that has been to Mecca) Lane - Known for its murals

Murial with Aztec theme and featured dweeb!

Yep, another mural

And another mural

And yet another mural - note Marilyn Monroe on the pillar. Lots of folks snapping pics here.

 Shophouses - owners have a shop downstairs & live upstairs

This is an old Jaguar - not really sure what year, thinking late 50s-early 60s. Few add-ons!

Yes, it is the Beary Best Hostel - it's also the only one we saw!!

Some of the more beautiful shophouses

And yet more shophouses

We then went to Little India.  We explored for a bit.  At this point it was getting very hot.

Welcome to Little India

Hindu Temple - see above

At least it's not ostentatious!! Note the hotel sign behind it.  We stopped here for a beer and a coke.

Nice job of making your shops stand out!!

(KC)  We then checked out The Vagabond Club Hotel.  This is the hotel I booked originally for our second hotel in Singapore but then cancelled and booked The Sheraton on the river instead.  Something told me that we would like the river area better – and we did.  The Vagabond Club is a boutique hotel that consists of several converted shophouses and is truly unique and beautiful in a very over the top way.  It would’ve been fun to stay there but Little India was a little seedy for us, plus there were only Indian restaurants in this area from what we saw.  

 Nice Hotel - Glad we didn't stay at it though.  The Sheraton turned out to be in a better location for us as you'll see 

Front porch of Vagabond - cute, but right on the street

The Golden Rhino is actually the Reception Desk!

At least there was nothing gaudy!

Very nice bar area!

Lots of unusual artwork and Chinese inspired furniture.  Very nicely done. . . if you like the look.

The Vagabound is known for its art displays

Beanie really liked the embroidery on the back of the chairs.

Truthfully, at this point we were really hot and tired, and I had a blister on one toe, so my impressions Little India were probably tainted by that.  We hobbled, well I hobbled, back to the hotel after another wonderful day of exploring.  We didn't include many pictures of Little India because it looked exactly like the small towns we saw in India in 2016 and that trip is incorporated in this blog - with lots and lots of pictures!!! 

(RC)  Beanie said we could take it easy today – she lied.  I concur with her decision on not staying in Little India.  It probably would have been kind of neat for a day or so, but somewhere along the way one needs to sit down with a good Manhattan.  One of the unexpected finds for me are the military history buildings and sites.  During our walk about we passed a building called The NCO Club.  Being a military kind of family, we stopped by to see what it was and it turned out to be the NCO Club for the British troops when they occupied Singapore. Later it was transferred to the Singapore military along with a couple of assembly halls and now it is a private jazz club. We walked around looking at the vintage photos from the British era. Pretty cool.  

Plaque commemorating the NCO Club

Outside View - looks dated for Singapore, but close to original

The Assembly Hall next door where the troops marshalled for assembly

An additional highlight of the Vanguard Hotel is The Whiskey Library. It is laid out much like a library with a huge paper catalog of rare and not so rare whiskey, scotches, & gins from around the world. Quite a price range from $25 to $500 a shot.  It's also a member’s club where each member has a “locker” for storage of any private stock they wish to keep at the library.  Judging from the selections, I think it would be interesting to meet some of their members.  

My favorite part - all the bottles of knowledge stored in one location!   Ahhhh!

Beanie liked the brocade on this chair in the "library"

The final highlight of the day was we finally found a decent IPA.  There was a little microbrewery we stumbled across on the way back to the hotel.  I saw someone sitting outside with a beer that actually had a bit of color to it so we stopped by and they had a pretty good west coast IPA, good hops and flavor.

Once we got back to the hotel and got cleaned up, we decided we’d hang around the hotel and just get something small for dinner. We stopped by the lobby bar and struck up a conversation with an expat Brit living in Singapore. Lots of funny conversations, shared anecdotes, and experience sharing.  Oddly enough, he was having a drink (or four) before heading over to The NCO Club to catch a jazz band.  Very enjoyable encounter . . . well, at least for us.  He did kinda run away pretty quickly for a slightly overweight senior citizen!  We split a club sandwich for dinner – hey, at least it wasn’t a McDonalds hamburger. By then it was after 10:00 and we were done for the day.