One last stop before we head home! Singapore

We were really conscious of the fact that we were on our way home as we landed in Singapore. This was the beginning of our "Western inoculation" as we transitioned from South East Asian culture back to our own. Of all the major airport locations in South East Asia, Singapore is probably the best for this process as it is the most orderly place in the region, but still with that Asian flavour. Of course, the Singaporean take on social order is quite Asian (i.e. a little more individual sacrifice is demanded than would be tolerated at home, which is very Confucian), but that will only make us appreciate our home the more. But first, we had to check out this fascinating place.

The first exposure to what would become "normal" for us in Singapore- the bombardment of rules governing public behaviour.

Our hole-in-the-wall room. The low ceiling caused a few headaches. Poor Bowen spent a lot  of time in this closet feeling ill. This was the most expensive room we rented, which caused Remy and Liz to feel a bit ill as well.

A lot of  money has been spent on cool architecture in Singapore (many more photos to follow).  This office tower incorporated open garden spaces in the structure, which of course is easier to do in a tropical climate.

They grow their mangoes big around Singapore, but they come with a big price tag,too - about $8 Cdn for one of these babies. To put it into context, You could feed yourself very well for about $5 at one of the food hawker centres.

We discovered one of the oldest coffee shops in Singapore, which sold some of the best coffee we had on our trip, which is really saying something in this part of the world!

Our enjoyment of the coffee was enhanced by the great pottery in which it was served.

All too often, we were reminded that we were in a major financial centre of the world. Like Calgary, the abundance of easy money has created a standard, and cost, of living that is unlike anywhere else in the region.

In the background is another view of the amazing architecture of Singapore, while in the foreground shows how you have to stack people one on top of the other when you are an island city state. As you can see, it would be a good living to be an AC technician here, or to own shares in the power company.

Everywhere you turn in Singapore there are more examples of interesting architecture.

This sculpture in the centre of the financial district reminded us of "Wonderland" in front of the Bow Tower in Calgary. 

Even the back alleys in Singapore are clean and orderly. It is rumoured that the rats here are licensed. The tower in the background has the tallest rooftop bar in the world.

One of the food hawker centres that are spread around the city. This is where the working class folks eat, and it is possible to have a delicious bowl of food and a drink for about $5 Cdn. There is something for everybody- Chinese, Indian, Malay and Muslim halal.

The fact that Singapore is so comprehensively wired has rendered the commute home quite anti-social.

The subway system is amazing- spotlessly clean, safe, efficient and economical. Too bad we have no such thing in Calgary.

The shopping mall at the Marina Bay Sands was surreal- every luxury brand in the world is represented here, and often more than once. Bowen was still feeling quite ill, but we doped him up on medication and he was able to take in a lot of it. We had to see it as a phenomenon, but it was still just a mall- yech!

We had lunch at a dumpling restaurant in the mall that the New York Times had rated as one of the top five places to eat in the world. We are not too sure where else the writers at the NYT have been, but it was OK. This is certainly not how the same dumplings were prepared in Malaysia or Cambodia.

Bowen was excited to see the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in real life. It is an amazing structure, and Bowen was able to educate us on the manner of its construction after he had extensively researched it online.

The interior view of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Every room has an exterior view of either the inner harbour of the the straits, some with big balconies, and the entrance to the rooms is from these open walkways which allow a view down into the lobby. It was not cheap, and the hotel was quite well booked. 

From the Marina Bay Sands you can connect with the Botanical Gardens. This is the view of the gardens from the hotel. Most of the trees are real- can you pick out the ones that are man-made?

The three towers of the Marina Bay Sands, with a view of the underside of the roof-top gardens and pool.

Family shot overlooking the garden park. The "trees" in the background light up for a show twice each evening, and the largest of them on the right has a restaurant with, reportedly, expensive and sub-standard food. Shocking to hear of in this surreal paradise!

Album cover shot of the boys as we descend the escalator to the botanical gardens.

As you can tell, the Marina Bay Sands is very photogenic. The rooftop garden looks like a ship's hull, afloat on a sea of green.

Inside the "jungle"building of the botanical gardens. It was possible to climb up the interior of the mountain behind, which gave a great panoramic view of Singapore and the straits from the top.

Bowen was still feeling yucky, and had to take a break from touring the temperate gardens, which would have otherwise been of surpassing interest to him.

We never got to see any real Rafflesia flowers in Borneo, and so had to settle for these Lego versions in the botanical gardens.

Don't think we have to name that building for you. This was the view from the top of the jungle mountain.

We found a very hip and trendy roof-top bar overlooking the inner harbour to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. As you can see, we really dressed up for the event.

A neat juxtaposition of colonial and modern architecture. In the foreground are administrative and government buildings built by the British that line the harbour.

Anniversary treats, for about 80$ Cdn. Remy ate all six oysters, but only three of them worked (old joke).

Art shot of the Singapore skyline, with all the beautiful people from the nearby financial district who shared our roof-top patio.

Another artistic shot of many of Singapore's iconic structures. Liz has become a fantastic photographer over the course of our travels.

We are used to doing interesting things to spice up photos of tourist attractions, but this took the cake.

Bowen hamming it up with the Merlion. This is the symbol of Singapore.

A view of Singapore's financial district from the waterfront. The city captures the tropical evening light nicely.

The light show at the botanical gardens. Music was broadcast in conjunction with the lights- pretty cool!

Then we had to run across to the harbour for the light show there. Lasers were played on jets of water, set to music, which made for an amazing show. It was the 50th anniversary year of the creation of Singapore as an independent state, and the show had this theme. Pretty amazing what they have managed to create in that time. 

A Porsche, a Mercedes, and  McLaren- over a million dollars' worth of cars. Wonder what the rent is at those apartments.

We managed to make it onto the roof-top terrace of the Marina Bay Sands without paying- our idea of fun! The Botanical Gardens and the entrance to the harbour in the foreground. Some military aerobatics team was practicing over the straits, so we got a free air show as well.

Panorama from the roof-top terrace of the marina Bay Sands.

One of two roof-top restaurants at the Sands Hotel, with the pool in the background. The pool has an infinity edge on the side overlooking the harbour- freaky! 

Inside the Louis Vuitton store. This hammock, made of leather and with gold-plated fittings, would set you back about $38,000 Cdn. We ordered a his and hers set.

Still feeling ill and exhausted from walking all over Singapore, Bowen had a nap on the outdoor balcony of the Louis Vuitton store. Again, this is our idea of fun! We had the place to ourselves for well over an hour while we relaxed and listened to some very hip music.

Simply the nicest bathroom we encountered anywhere in South East Asia. Not surprisingly, this was at the Louis Vuitton store. You still had to wipe your own bum, though.

Singapore was a nice end to our journeys around South East Asia, but we had become used to the grit and economy of the region, so it was somewhat jarring to encounter the orderliness and cost of this place. It was a drag that Bowen, who had been so excited to see Singapore, was so ill for most of our stay. And, we have to admit, our minds had turned toward the return to Canada, and we had to keep reminding ourselves to enjoy our time here, as the trip and this reality was coming to an end. Next up was the arduous journey (well, not that arduous) to Vancouver via Beijing. Lots of time confined to aircraft seats with mindless entertainment and crappy sleep ahead. Travel is not easy.

~Remy