We're off on the road to Morocco...2012: Singapore

The stay in Singapore was busy to say the least. We stayed a little out of the centre at the rather unusual Wangz Hotel which was reasonably close to the very efficient train system.

The Wangz Hotel with rooftop bar

Wangz Hotel bar located right at the top in the open area shown

Our first day was spent doing an initial explore and then meeting with friends, Gene and Bee Ling and their children Lex and Riddle, getting a guided tour of the city and eating some delicious food.

The Merlion, symbol of Singapore	In the shade under the arches of the Esplanade bridge	Peeking through the trees, the ship-like prow of the Marina Bay Sands. There is a 150m pool and a viewing deck up there, plus full sized palm trees.	Looking towards Boat quay on the river. The boats are no longer there but once this was crowded
A very traditional British remnant at Boat Quay	The entrance to Raffles Hotel	The entrance to Raffles. Non residents not allowed	Gene and Riddle at Raffles

Nick’s panorama of the Singapore waterfront looking to Boat Quay. Once this would have been filled with small working boats but since they dammed the river to provide additional reservoirs of fresh water, the boats no longer have access. Now it is just a few tourist boats.
There are a number of separate ethnic areas in Singapore, each with its own architecture, food centres, markets and temples, so we set out to explore a few as well as see some of the reminders of British heritage and some of the extraordinary architecture of modern Singapore.
First, Little India, then Chinatown

Fresh flower garlands for offerings and for decorating your bride	Hindu temple gate	Deities and altars inside the temple	This colourful house was the only Chinese house in Little India, owned by a wealthy merchant
The culturally and geographically confused bar in which we revived with a cool lime drink. The servers wore British kahki and solar topees and the jungle contained all sorts of animals and trees plus the delightful addition of a native American	Alley in Chinatown	Hindu deities again but now in Chinatown, where we were privileged to witness a ceremony.	Temple of the Buddha’s tooth with many offerings and much we did not understand

We spent some time taking a river cruise to see the architecture and followed that with a walk through Clarke Quay and a visit to the Asian Civilisations Museum. We also visited the Gardens by the Bay for the amazing space they have created, including artificial trees they are filling with bromeliads, and in which there is a light show each night. This in turn is connected to that weirdest of hotels, the Marina Bay Sands, a place that can’t possibly exist, but does.

Clarke Quay	Lights	The ornate stairway in the Fullerton Hotel	Commemorative statue on the waterfront
Old Police buildings converted to a new purpose	A serene Buddha	Rod puppets	A Garuda at the museum

We took the very efficient and clean subway system to places like Marina Bay Sands and The Gardens by the Bay which are connected by walkways.

On via train to Marina Bay Sands. This is the spacious interior of a driverless train.	This is the subway to the Hotel and Bay Gardens, lined with mirrors and pictures. Sydney, are you taking note?	The dragonfly bridge leading to the Gardens by the Bay and the artificial trees that will eventually be all green	Dragonfly sculpture
One can walk on this skyway among the trees. However, it poured rain and we took sanctuary in the hotel.	The evening light show among the trees	The Singapore Flyer	The impossible hotel
This is the marina Bay Sands complex, the hotel, a massive shopping mall, a conference centre and the Museum of Arts and Sciences known as the Lotus	The soaring atrium of one of the towers of the Marina Bay Sands hotel	Restaurant in the atrium where we ate. The “lanterns” are private dining rooms	The Museum of Arts and Sciences
There is a reflecting pool below the lotus with water-lilies