Vietnam: 2~A Singapore fling

I had a short stopover in Singapore. If I had been there later in the day, I might have been able to call this post A Singapore Sling. But it was too early for cocktails so I had to do something else for my brief dalliance with the city.

My state was not one of feeling fully rested after the overnight flight. I was impressed with Singapore Airlines but the legroom sucked.

A few hours were at my disposal. During my research I thought I’d have enough time to catch the bus into the city, go on the Singapore Flyer, and perhaps taxi back. I asked at the desk where to get the buses from… but when they realised I was in transit they looked at me like I was mad. I couldn’t be bothered explaining my logic and instead just headed for the taxi line.

The Flyer is Singapore’s equivalent of the London Eye. It is the tallest Ferris wheel in the world and I figured that being able to see across some of the city would be a practical use of the limited time I had. But I was a bit early and had some time to kill so wandered around the area near Marina Bay. It was humid, overcast, hazy and humid. Did I mention it was a bit warm?

The Singapore Flyer

Around the marina promenade

Eventually we were in business.

During my 'flight'. Given the time of day, I had a pod to myself.

There was much evidence of construction in this growing city

At the time I didn’t know what the skyscraper thing was being built in the above photo. The luxury Marina Bay Sands Hotel has since opened and I have great certainty that the top viewing deck (which they call the skypark), being 57 stories up, would give me the absolute willies.

Half way through the rotation

Didn't realise til after that in this frame I was looking at part of the grand prix track and pits

I felt so thick that I hadn’t realised where the F1 track was, as that would have given my early morning meandering a bit more purpose. O well.

Crap photo through the pod window, but sufficient to see how busy the Strait of Malacca is. It is the main shipping channel between the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

The Flyer was a nice relaxing way to spend half an hour or so. Afterward I found a cab and headed back to the airport. As it was I had oodles of time before my flight so I could have done something else, or taken the bus, but as many will attest, Changi is somewhere you can easily kill a few hours.

Singapore as a destination isn’t on my must-do list, but it had a good feel and I would happily stop there for a day or two another time, if opportunity presents.

From there it was 1 hour 40 minutes to Saigon.