Went for a round trip on the island ferry.

We didn't get off at either of the islands, but it was good to get a glimpse of exotic island paradise - golden beaches, exuberant growth, quiet temples.



Felt very jealous of the cruisers anchored in a small bay.



The sea was solid with big commercial boats at anchor, stretching off into the distance. We went halfway down the coast for supper, and there were just as many boats anchored down there.







Lovely seafood by the beach. Drunken Prawns, a Singapore speciality, and some amazing looking fish.


It started to rain as we were finishing, so the staff took the tables inside. Literally.

Went to Dhoby Ghaut station, at the other end of Orchard Road, to recharge my bus/train card. Got sucked into the big shopping mall beside it.

There was a Japanese + Korean Food Fair on the ground floor, and the Singapore equivalent of a pound store, and a book rental shop, so that was all interesting.

I tried again to take the bus back to the hotel. Orchard Road is one way, the wrong way, so I got on a bus that does a loop. What I failed to notice is that it loops via Changi Airport!

So I finally suceeded in getting a bus back to the hotel, but only after a 3 hour trip.

A day in the hotel, so not much to report.  




In the evening we tried the Chinese restaurant in the hotel, which was stunning. 

One of the taxi drivers had told us it was the best Chinese restaurant in Singapore.








Not sure I'd order the duck's tongues again though.

The Singapore zoo has a special after dark opening.  There's a tram round, and several walks.  We only saw about half of it from the tram. 





No pictures of the animals, sadly - no flash photography allowed.

It's a natural kind of zoo, with water and rock barriers instead of fences, so you feel much more like you're seeing the animals in their natural habitat, and the darkness helps that illusion. In fact we did actually drive through the middle of the very mild creatures, deer and tapiers.

Some of the creatures are only active at night, so in a normal day zoo you'd only see them sleeping. Most were creatures I've seen in normal daytime zoos, so I'd assumed were diurnal, but apparently they're active day and night - giraffes are crepuscular and elephants need to eat for up to 14 hours a day. You live and learn.

After the ride we ate at the zoo restaurant, which was good by our normal standards, but not that special by Singapore standards, and watched an act with blow darts and fire dancing.  Not your average night out.

 

Amongst the shophouses and restaurants, churches, mosques and Hindu and Buddish temples are all mixed up together, sometimes right next door to each other.





I've been exploring by public transport, and have managed to get to the area I'm aiming for eventually, but haven't yet succeeded in getting back. As I find myself heading out of the centre for the second or third time I've given up and got a taxi.

The taxis are air conditioned to about 22 C, which now feels quite chill, but is wonderful to step into off the street. What seems amazing to me is that the trains and even some of the buses are also air conditioned.