Day 14 Singapore - 10 January 2019

Today we thought that we would get up earlyish and get on the Hop On, Hop Off bus. The night before the zoo driver had dropped us off in Chinatown and said he would be leaving from the same place at 9:30am. But do you think that we could find the stop? After 45 minutes of walking around in circles a young woman approached us and asked if we were looking for the Hop On, Hop Off bus. She was looking as well and had been waiting at another stop and one had whizzed past. Finally we found one and climbed aboard for the full circuit. We find that this is a good way to see a city and usually the commentary gives you all sorts of interesting information. Not so on this bus. If we had prepared better we would have got Big Bus tours, see what happens when you don't over prepare! We also had to wait nearly an hour for the second bus. However we did see a fair bit of the city which is the greenest city that I have ever seen. Even the construction site had a living wall on it. We were told that rather than making Singapore a city with gardens they wanted it to be a city in a garden. Sky scrapers are draped in foliage and at any opportunity and even where you would never think it possible they have things growing. Maybe that is why the sky is clear and looks unpolluted. 

Our new friend Sarah from Austria came with us on the bus tour and when we finished we stopped off in Chinatown and shouted her lunch. Actually Lance said "our shout, just say yes". She had no idea what he meant, must be a down under thing as she spoke great English. She looked at me in confusion as she stuttered "yes" so I explained that we would pay for her lunch. 

Lance had been craving dumplings and finally we found some and got the order right. After all the gallivanting I needed the loo and was directed up some stairs. Four flights in fact to a very clean toilet with the most ornate basin. 

After a cool down by our pool we headed off to Gardens by the Bay for dinner. We wanted to make this a quick trip as we were going to go back the next day. It was the right thing to do. The gardens are magnificent at night and it was a beautiful temperature. After a dinner of duck which cost us $13:50 for the two of us and a beer which was $22 for two we made our way home.

We are finding it difficult to stop taking pictures of the Marina Bay Sands. It is a bit like when you are in Paris and have to take a snap of the Eiffel Tower every time you see it. There is a connection though. The top of the Marina Bay Sands is the length of the Eiffel Tower if you lay it on its side. 

All of these trips were done on the MRT and we are getting really good at it. It is such an efficient way to get around. There is a notice on the train that tells you that molesting is an offence and if it happens it must be reported. The consequence of molest (sic) is jail or caning. I am not a supporter of corporal punishment but this does sound fair to me.  

My cough is still hounding me and my black eye is going from purple to yellow. Or maybe the yellow is my liver telling me it is time to go home a start a cleansing diet. Other than that we are both well. Lance’s back is holding up and my toilet stops are back in urgency but for a couple of old crocks we are having a great time.