Happy Halloween - Oct 31, 2011

Wishing all a very Happy Halloween from just outside of Jakarta, Indonesia.
Some staterooms were decorated.

 Cheers.

 With Dhani - our waiter assistant.

 With Dajang and Dhani

 With Shore excursion manager, Michelle, a fellow Canadian.

 With assistant cruise director Mark, a guest (Stephanie) and Tai Chi instructor, Allison.

 Our Cruise Director, Gene

 The Piano man, Stryker...

Enjoy your Halloween !

Singapore, Republic of Singapore - Oct 29, 2011

The city of Singapore, an island and the smallest country in Southeast Asia, is located on the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. The site of several ancient port cities and a possession of several empires in its history, Singapore was a Malay fishing village when it was colonized by the United Kingdom in the 19th century. It was further occupied by the Japanese Empire in World War II, and was later part of the merger which established Malaysia. When Singapore acquired independence, having few natural resources, it was socio-politically volatile and economically underdeveloped. Foreign investment along with rapid government led industrialization has since created an economy which relies on exports of electronics and manufacturing primarily from its port. With a population of approximately five million, Singapore is known to have the highest standard of living in Asia.

Our noon sail in was just beautiful with a tour at 1:00 pm. We began at one of the three Quays along the Singapore River, Clarke Quay is where we enjoyed a Bumboat ride down the Singapore river going under picturesque bridges and past buildings of old and new. We disembarked our bumboat at the area where Sir Stamford Raffles landed in 1819 and claimed Singapore for Britain.

 A couple of other main highlights:

Getting caught in a major Singapore shower, the only good news is that it was warm rain.

 We visited the famed Raffle’s long bar to sip on a Singapore Sling, I could have sworn I saw Rupert Kipling and Somerset Maugham off in the corner sipping their drinks under the very interesting swaying fan system.  

 After returning to the ship for a quick change and dinner it was off to the Singapore Flyer, the largest Ferris wheel in the world, an engineering marvel - just amazing.

 Our travel companions, Ingrid and Ted

 Then it was off to see Dr. Fish... no not a doctor doctor, but a fish spa where you place your feet into pools where the little fish nibble away all the dead skin while getting a back and neck message. Yes drive you crazy tickling was going on, especially when we change pools when the big fish really started nibbling. You know what they say, when in Rome or in this case when in Singapore.

 We ended our night with a night cap at the Marina Bay Sands before getting back to the ship at about 1:30 am - a great day in Singapore. 

 Halloween party night in Singapore.

 Sail away at noon the next day... another wonderful experience.

 Tip or comment of the day, see picture...