Off to Singapore

Day 15
We had a pretty late night last night, as we watched a film (twice in 2 days is a record for me) "Mark Felt - The man who bought down the White House".  This time it was about the FBI and the Watergate scandal.  What with CIA the previous night and now FBI, it doesn't look good for American justice.   Scarily, the film has direct parallels with the just released Comey report......

Anyway that is a preamble to explain getting up a bit later this morning.  But still time for the usual morning activities and a *good* coffee at last.  Lunch was a Cruise Critic lunch and we took over at least a quarter of the MDR.  Vivian had to rush off to bridge and I resorted to my now familiar tussle with Mr Blogger and photos.  I will not be beaten, as I've been able to get them through previously, but in the meantime I may have to hold fire until we have proper land based WiFi.

It goes without saying that it is sunny, smooth & hot, with 95% humidity.  Most of the morning we were doing over 20kts - nearer 21, which is by far the fastest I've seen the old girl go.  Not certain why, but did notice on the TV that our course was  much closer to the shore than the planned direct route.  Who knows

Day 16
More overcast day, hot & humid.  Vivian has 9.00 bridge as there is *yet another* wine tasting this afternoon.  Really seems over the top to me BUT I think i have worked out their cunning plan.  Have as many " pay for" wine tastings on the early sectors as a huge number of passengers will become Elite later in the cruise and then get it for free!

I managed to get a deckchair on Promanade and it is interesting to watch all the walkers pass by - all shapes & sizes.  The one thing they seem to have in common is a blank look and the impression that they are walking out of sufferance or guilt - not pleasure.  The other thing noted is the number of ships and barges passing by, a sure sign that we are getting close to Singapore and the main shipping routes.

Later in the morning there is the "crossing the equator" ceremony, even though we are not quite there yet.  I don't recall a ceremony  going north on previous cruises, but perhaps old age/memory is catching up.  Lunch was at the pizzeria again, this time with both Gwenda & Graham and Margit & Jim.  It is good to have variety and as we share a pizza, it is pretty healthy. After lunch it was off to the theatre for LBJ - yet another American classic, with the assassination of Kennedy and LBJ's rise to power.  Did not show the Kennedy's or the Democrats in a very good light.

Took a later walk around the deck just before sunset, around 6.00 and were surprised that there were so few on deck.  They really missed out.  We must have still been walking as we actually crossed the equator as we didn't feel the bump 😀

Day 17 - Singapore
After breakfast we met with Louise & George at 9.00 as arranged and we eventually got through the disembarkation and immigration procedures by 9.45.  Grabbed a taxi from outside the terminal and headed for Gardens by the Bay.  It was very hot & humid as we looked at our options.  The gardens themselves are free and there are acres  & acres of grounds and displays to see, however after a "huddle" we agreed to go into the Cloud Forest & the Flower Dome ($28 Singapore each). 

All I can say is that it was worth at least twice that.  The Cloud was our favourite and an added advantage was that it was fully air conditioned.  It was an absolute marvel and was 3 to 4 times larger than the Flower Dome. After completing the Cloud, we went looking for a cafe and (yes, my fault) after circumnavigating the Flower Dome and getting back to our starting point, we found the cafe we'd been looking for just around the corner.  Fantastic coffee and Vivian also had an apricot tart - S$16. 

The Flower Dome was not as extensive and because we did it second, I was a little less enthusiastic.   A lot of cactus and arid displays on the upper level, but I must be fair and say that there were also some very colourful displays, particularly the begonias, on the ground floor.  Another aside, we walked through the Cloud earlish in the morning, well before the crowds arrived, but by the time we'd done that & had coffee etc. every man, woman & child were doing the same thing,  so much more congested, particularly with people photographing family & friends and then doing selfies.  Still, have got some great photos, which it looks as if I am not able to show unless the WiFi connectivity improves.

We then walked back through the gardens and over the connecting bridge to the Marina Bay Sands hotel & shopping centre.  Huge, huge, huge.  Amongst other things, George thought he may pick up a bottle of wine - at $700 I think not.  It was certainly an experience. We joined the queue at the taxi rank outside and back to the ship at around 2.30.  Everyone uses taxis and although there was a long queue, there were just as many taxis!   The taxi was $3 cheaper, so I assume that the Cruise Ship Terminal clip the ticket going out.  Still very cheap and convenient,  rather than having to change trains etc. on the MRT, plus having to buy a card ..........

When we arrived back at the Terminal it was bedlam, a local 4,500 cruise ship was on turnaround, apparently doing just a 3 day gambling cruise.  So yes, there were all 4,500 passengers waiting to board as well as a couple of thousand of us.  Fortunately we were separated, but it meant that we had reduced immigration capacity, so a slow process.  This was not helped by me giving Vivian my passport by mistake - an error which surprised the Immigration Officer, but did not illicit emotion.  Very serious people indeed.  As our friend, Hutch, continually says, Singapore is a fine country (they'll fine you for almost anything).

Safely on board and grabbed a takeaway coffee on our way up to the stateroom, where we ordered club sandwich, chocolate fudge cake & some green tea.  Almost feeling normal now as we wait for sailaway.  Sadly  I must say that I seem to have contracted the dastardly ship's cough, although I reckon it is more to do with the polluted and humid air.  Not that I expect the latter to improve in the near future.  The air definitely has an acrid taste which hits the eyes and the back of the throat.  Yet another early night may be the best remedy.  At least we have 3 sea days before our next port of call, Colombo.