Singapore Day 2

“Amazing Singapore” is the tourism office description. Our second day here leaves us in awe, that they have it figured out. This tiny city state gained independence from Malaysia 30 years ago and rewrote the rules on building a people based city. Ultra clean, virtually no crime and a pristine subway system that weave the old with the new. We returned to old Chinatown where the frenzy of thick crowds frantically are around us. Everyone is buying gifts of chocolate, flowers and delicacies to accompany their holiday visiting. The traditional streets were highly decorated in red, yellow and florals for the New Year. We wandered into an enormously ornate temple, where Buddhist monks were chanting and clanging their bells. We are told that there is box to drop coins in for the church down the street. This is either a symbol of a community supporting each other or givers trying to cover their bases.

Then entering another world we caught the 7 minute monorail over to Sentosa; a giant man-made island in it's final completion stages. Sentosa is a fantasy wrapped spectacular botanical garden with an observation tower with a view that brings it all together- a cityscape out of the future, hundreds of cargo ships out in the bay readying to unload, and views out beyond the city itself. Opening in a few days is the Universal Studios park, Hard Rock Hotel, casino and beautiful man made pocket beaches. We get a sense that this little island will become a major destination for Asians. The Night Safari is our last adventure of the day. The Zoo has taken it's thinking into fast forward by creating separate natural habitats. People movers and hiking takes us into dense rain forests, jungles and plains. We “secretly” view animals in their nocturnal natural environment; many within feet of us. A wow adventure of elephants, zebras, tigers and hundreds of animals not realizing we were there.

On our return at midnight, there is another Asian gambling ship next to Discovery, awaiting a morning departure on a three day cruise. Despite the giant dragon painted on the side, I recognize it as the Royal Caribbean Song of Norway, we sailed on in the 70's. Interesting to see what happens to old ships.

Our third and last day in Singapore now has us thinking we're locals. We walk the shops and people watch. It's amazing that smaller foreign stores are also here; Max Brenner Chocolate (Israel), Sensa, Aldo and Bata (Canada). The internet cafe/general store on the docks is now our second home.