We visit the local market, participate in an Iftar and see the Tsunami Monument

DAY 1 – ARRIVAL

The bow opened at 6 am to let guests get a better view of Malé as we approached. About 50 guests were on the bow. Warm Panama Canal Rolls were available, but they weren’t branded as Malé rolls, as is usually the case during sail-ins—they were simply Danish Rolls. The Maldives are FLAT—the highest natural point is 7 feet above sea level, so there aren’t the mountain vistas you find on other islands.

Sunrise on the bow approaching Malé

 

PLANNING OUR EXCURSION

This is our first trip to the Maldives, and we were anxious to explore Malé, the capital and largest city in the archipelago. For many on this cruise, this was their first visit to the Maldives, as it is pretty far from everywhere. Malé has limited appeal for cruise lines since the main attraction is the resorts on the dozens of outlying islands. Getting here from the USA will take 29 to 36 hours.

While most tourists head to the private island resorts scattered across the archipelago, the capital city of Male offers a unique and authentic Maldivian experience.

A popular tour many passengers took was going to one of the private resorts on a different island for the day. HAL offered a tour for about $280. The same tour was available from Maldive Traveller HERE for half the price, plus you got more time at the resort. Since we were here overnight – there wasn’t much risk of missing the ship.

I found a Malé based tour company, Secret Paradise, which offers a variety of tours – from 4-hour walking tours to multi-day tours to other islands. We originally planned to take one of their food tours, but those aren’t offered during Ramadan. Ruth Franklin, co-founder of Secret Paradise, is very responsive to email. She suggested we take the 4-hour walking tour and share in the Iftar (breaking the fast) with residents at a local restaurant. Our tour started at 1:45 pm, and we would eat dinner with our guide after sunset at 6:15 pm.

MALÉ WALKING TOUR

After a 15-minute tender ride, we arrived at the Presidential Jetty. The ship set up its typical shoreside water and lemonade refreshment tent, but due to Ramadan, they had to cover the sides of the tent so guests could drink their water in private.

Our guide, Shaffaf, met us on time, and we were on our way. His English was excellent, and he was very knowledgeable about the Maldives and the local culture.

Shaffaf gives us an overview

 

We spent the next hour exploring the local market stalls. They were spotless and didn’t have any of the odor we have often experienced in some markets. Shaffaf took us from stall to stall, where we sampled various items from Sea Almonds, Dried Tuna, Coconut crisps, and more. All the vendors were very friendly, and we felt welcome.

 

Our tour was a 1.8-mile loop. See the map below for the track. Along the way, we stopped at a couple of souvenir shops and a local restaurant, D’Olive, for a cool beverage. While many restaurants were closed for Ramadan, many were opened for tourists. A sign on the door of the local Burger King said they were only open for tourists during the day. More about D’Olive HERE and HERE. D’Olive is called The Olive Garden on TripAdvisor.

Note – When we returned the next day, we learned that D’Olive has two menus – one for locals and one for tourists. For example, the local price for Coca-Cola was about $2 USD, and the tourist price was almost $5. You could try asking for the “local menu,” but if you find the tourist prices too high, you should go elsewhere. If you get up to leave after you see the tourist menu, you may get offered the local menu on your way out.

D’Olive advertised a Ramadan Pizza, but we learned that pizza wasn’t available until 4 pm. They had excellent air conditioning in an enclosed seating area way in the back. We enjoyed soft drinks as Shaffaf talked about life in Male and answered our questions.

After we cooled down, we continued on at a leisurely pace, stopping at Sultan Park and continuing past the Old Friday Mosque, the President’s Palace, and the Parliament Building.

Kalhuvakaru Mosque

It was now around 5:45 pm and we headed to the Sea House Café on the waterfront where we would join local residents in the day’s Iftar at sunset.

IFTAR

Sunset was at 6:15 pm which is when the daily Ramadan fast ends with the Iftar which is the first meal of the day after sunset. The traditional first items at an Iftar are dates and watermelon juice which is then followed by a more substantial meal. Prophet Muhammad is quoted as saying: “When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates”.

The Sea House Café was set with a Buffet for the main meal. Each table place was set with a plate of three dates and a glass of watermelon juice. The buffet had a nice selection of salads, meats, fish, vegetables and pastas. Everyone was in line before sunset, loading up their plates. Immediately after sunset everyone popped down some dates with some watermelon juice and then dug into their food.

Each table setting had dates along with a glass of watermelon juice

 

We were seated on an uncovered patio with a view of the Zuiderdam. The food was great and we enjoyed continuing our conversation with Shaffaf during dinner.

After dinner we walked along the seawall back to the Presidential Jetty where we said Good-by to Shaffaf, boarded a tender and headed back to the Zuiderdam.

DAY 2 – MALÉ WALKABOUT & EASTER

I tendered ashore around 10 am along with tablemates, Kim and George. Judy remained on the ship. We planned to head to the Tsunami Monument and then head back into town for a Ramadan Pizza. You can see our track on the map below.

We stopped at the same Market we visited yesterday and picked up some almond cookies. Everyone was very friendly and we browsed for a bit before continuing north toward the Tsunami Monument, about 1 mile away. As we left town, the sidewalks became a little uneven in parts but were always passable. A few times we had to venture into the street as the sidewalks were blocked due to construction.

Typical street as we walked north toward the Tsunami Monument

 

Along the way, we stopped at Rasfannu artificial beach, which was empty, and the snack bar was closed for Ramadan.

Rasfannu Beach

 

TSUNAMI MONUMENT

The Tsunami Monument is at the end of the road and memorializes the 74 people who were killed on 26 December 2004 from the Tsunami. There are 74 vertical rods, each engraved with a victim’s name, representing the 74 people who died, and the 20 spheres represent the 20 atolls that make up the Maldives archipelago.

Entrance to the monument area Tsunami Monument

We turned inland to walk down different streets on our way to the STO—Peoples Choice Store. This store is air-conditioned, very modern, and has a nice grocery section if you want to pick up some snacks. It’s not very far from the tender landing. Even though we were in Ramadan, the streets were busy, and most stores were open. It’s hard to say if they would be busier outside Ramadan.

After cooling off in the STO Store, we returned to D’Olive restaurant for a Ramadan Pizza. Unfortunately, we learned that pizzas weren’t available until 4 pm. This is also when we noticed the different menu prices when we were here without our guide.

I asked for the cheeseburger but was told that the cheeseburger came with a choice of cheese, chicken, or fish, but not beef. I asked if it was possible to get beef, and he replied Yes, but you need to order a Beefburger with cheese. So OK – Then get me a Beefburger. Tourist price of a Beef-Burger and Coke was about $20 USD

Beefburger with cheese

 

On our way back to the tender landing, we stopped at one of the many souvenir shops near the Presidential Jetty before heading back to the Zuiderdam.

EASTER ON THE SHIP

There was a 6 AM Interdenominational sunrise service at the Sea View Pool.

During the day, there was an Easter Cake in the Lido, along with other snacks.

Easter Cake in the Lido Entrance to the MDR

 

WORLD STAGE

Vocalist Le Jacques was on the World Stage tonight – He sang a variety of classic songs including. –

– Fly Me To The Moon
– Mack the Knife
– Straighten Up And Fly Right
– That’s Amore
– Something
– That’s Life

He didn’t use the Grand World Voyage Band for backup but sang to his prerecorded backing tracks, contributing to the show’s lack of energy and his lukewarm reception.

Le Jacques

MAP

This map shows our walking track over the two days along with the location of the places we visited

We enjoy a fun April Fool’s day with a special Pinnacle Dinner followed by a Costume party in the Rolling Stone Lounge

APRIL FOOL’S

The day started with Cruise Director Kimberly’s announcement that we would soon be arriving in Helsinki with frigid temperatures.  She may have spoken a few words in Pig Latin but I wasn’t sure.

Here is the first page of the Daily Program.  You can download a copy HERE

 

Everyday at Noon the Captain comes over the PA and gives a nautical update.  Today, Kimberly and the Captain switched roles, with Kimberly announcing she was the Captain and giving a comprehensive nautical brief.  The Captain followed announcing that he was the Cruise Director and provided only a brief summary of the events for the rest of the day.

I spoke with the Captain later and he said that Kimberly did a better job as Captain than he did as Cruise Director.  He smiled and noted that Kimberly did write out a complete briefing for him to read, but he couldn’t get past the first paragraph.

Dinner in the MDR had a special entrée – A Full English Breakfast – Download the complete menu HERE

 

 

JELLICLE DINNER

The Pinnacle was sold out this evening for the $69 per plate Jellicle Dinner which is held every World Cruise on April 1st.

Ready for The Jeliicle Dinner

 

 

NOTE: Jellicle is a fictional word made up by Poet T.S. Elliot in a series of poetry about cats that was later adapted into the Musical “Cats”

About 20% of the guests wore costumes in preparation for the April Fools Day party in the Rolling Stone Lounge later in the evening.

Marty, Judy, Pete, Joel, Sharon, Gail

 

The wait staff were all wearing officers uniforms complete with shoulder board rank insignia.

Cellar Master, Jacques Torres, was the master of ceremonies.

We had a choice of wine: Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s de Villaine, France or Train Wreck Cabernet, Chile

 

The menu was billed as “Breakfast” with each course given a breakfast name.  However each dish was actually a dinner item creatively named and with outstanding presentation.  Everything tasted great and even though the dinner lasted 3 hours – it didn’t feel slow and we had a wonderful time.

Here is the Jellicle Dinner Menu

 

APRIL FOOL’S DAY COSTUME PARTY

After dinner we headed to the Rolling Stone Lounge where the party was in full swing.  The lounge was packed and the dance floor was full.  There were probably 30-50 people wearing costumes.

The dance floor was full when we arrived around 9 PM

We arrived in time to participate in the costume party, which was really a dance contest.  Everyone who entered had to dance to 16 bars of Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love”,  We aren’t very good dancers and we weren’t in contention.  The judges declared a tie among 3 teams – one of which was a crewmember team where one of the women did the splits to finish their number – no one could top that.

We didn’t win the dance contest – but we tried! Judy with Cole, Cast Singer

 

We stayed for a few more minutes before heading to the World Stage to catch the last 30 minutes of Comedian Jim David’s show.

Jim David was very funny and put on a great show

We visit Pulau Ubin island and go to the Night Safari

ARRIVAL SINGAPORE

View of Singapore Skyline from the SeaView Pool

The Zuiderdam moored at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCC) instead of the more convenient HarbourFront Cruise Centre (HFCC). I think the days of HAL mooring at the HFCC are long gone. Cruise and Travel Director Kimberly tried to spin our location as being better since it is closer to downtown – which is true if you are walking, but the nearest MRT station to MBCSS is 3/4 of a mile walk, while the nearest MRT to the HFCC is 1/4 mile. Additionally, the nearest MRT station to the MBCSS doesn’t sell the Singapore Tourist Pass as they do at the HFCC MRT station.

Note: The walking distance from MBCC to Chinatown is 4KM while the walking distance from HFCC to Chinatown is 5KM. More on using the MRT later.

HarbourFront Centre remains the more desirable Cruise Terminal in Singapore

IMMIGRATION

The ship was connected to the terminal from Deck 3 via a jetway-type bridge. Once inside the terminal, we first had to clear Immigration using the automated clearance lanes. There are two steps: First, we scan our passport, and if everything is OK, a gate opens and lets us go a few steps to the second station, where we are asked to place our thumb on a scanner glass. We have to remove any masks, glasses, or hats when using the automated lanes.

NOTE: Before you arrive, you must complete the Singapore Arrival Card HERE. If your cruise ship is not listed, select OTHER. After you complete the card, take a screenshot of the email you receive with your reference number and bar code. You shouldn’t need to show it as the card is linked to your passport. But if it is not linked, having this email handy will save you time later.

This is a photo of the Automated Immigration lanes at the airport, but they look the same as the ones at the Cruise Terminal. Photo linked from www.singaporetravellers.info

NOTE: If you have a choice, pick a lane without anyone ahead of you. During my first trip, I was behind someone who had difficulty getting their thumb to scan. I had to wait 5 minutes until they sorted him out.

After immigration, we headed down an escalator to baggage claim, where we would clear Customs. There is a choice of GREEN or RED lanes depending on whether we had anything to declare. Here, our bags went through the X-ray machines, and we passed through a VERY sensitive metal detector. Our waiter told us later that a crewmember was fined SD$200 because he forgot to leave his cigarettes on the ship. Read the list of prohibited items carefully.

Uber is not available. There was a taxi stand, and since there were two ships there, the line was long. I learned later that it took about 15 minutes to get a taxi.

USING THE SINGAPORE MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT)

You have several options for using the MRT, and they are described in detail in the links below:

HERE  is a great blog post that explains how to ride the Singapore MRT.
HERE is where you can buy the Singapore Tourist Pass.
HERE is where you can learn about the different types of passes.
HERE is a post about how you can use your contactless credit card on the Singapore MRT.

The two day Singapore Tourist Pass costs SD$29 which includes a SD$10 deposit which you can get back if you return the card to a station where they sell the card. The net cost of a card is SD$19 for two days. Most MRT rides in the tourist area are about SD$1 to SD$1.50 and can go up to SD$2 if you go to the Zoo or the Airport. This means you would need to make at least 10-15 rides to break even with the Singapore Tourist Pass.

They no longer sell single trip MRT tickets. You will have to buy a stored value card (EZ Link) first if you arrive at the MBCC to get to a place where you can buy the Singapore Tourist Pass. You may be better off simply using this card (EZ Link) for your entire visit. You can also use your contactless credit card instead of a EZ Link card which is even simpler. My advice – do your homework before you arrive and decide what may be your best option if you plan to use the MRT.

PULAU UBIN ISLAND

Prior to our arrival, I connected with an old Navy shipmate, Bill, who now lives in Singapore with his wife, Nic, a Singapore native and their children. They picked Judy and me up outside the terminal and spent the next two days showing us a wonderful time.

Our first stop was the Changi Point Ferry Terminal near the airport where we took the ferry for the 10 minute ride to Pulau Ubin island. The ferry – or “bumboat” cost SD$4 each way and you pay in cash on the boat.

Typical Bumboat – photo from The Occasionaltraveller.com – see their site for more information about how to get to the island HERE

NOTE: To get to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, take the MRT to the Tanah Merah station and then take Bus 2 to the Changi Village Bus Terminal—it’s a short walk from here. The bumboats don’t run on a schedule, but leave whenever they fill the 12 seats. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes.

This map shows the location of Pulau Ubin Island and The Night Safari

Pulau Ubin, a small island located off the northeastern coast of mainland Singapore, offers a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that dominate downtown Singapore. More than 80% of the island remains undeveloped and visitors can enjoy the lush greenery, mangrove swamps, and scenic coastline. The island is a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering a plethora of activities such as hiking, cycling, and bird watching.

After we arrived on Pulau Ubin we headed to the right and spent some time exploring the Sensory Trail. This trail contains a variety of plants and is designed to appeal to all five senses: Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell and Taste.

When you head off to the left you discover the small village center, bustling with activity and local charm. Here you can rent bikes, browse through shops selling handmade crafts and souvenirs and sample local Singaporean cuisine.

We stopped at the Season Live Seafood Restaurant and enjoyed some fresh coconuts filled with chilled coconut water before returning to the ferry pier and returning to the mainland.

Note the sign – “No Durian” in the upper left in the restaurant seating area. Durian is popular with some people, but the smell is very strong. It has been described as a combination of sulfur, sewage, fruit, honey, and roasted and rotting onions. It is usually banned in any common area. Fresh cold coconuts with refreshing water inside

CHINATOWN

After about 45 minutes, we arrived and parked in the Chinatown Point Parking Garage. We headed to Old Cheng Du restaurant, which specializes in Sichuan Cuisine. The restaurant is on the first floor, and the closest MRT station is “Chinatown” Exit A. You order using your smartphone after scanning a QR code on the table. You don’t have to interact with a server unless you don’t have a phone, in which case they will bring you a menu.

This is one of Nic’s favorite places, so she ordered it for all of us. The food arrived quickly and was fabulous.

I got a chuckle out of this sign in the bathroom – I didn’t realize that vomiting in sinks was a problem requiring a sign banning the activity,

As we headed back to the car, Nic stopped by a street vendor and picked up a Singapore Ice Cream Sandwich. This is simply a slab of ice cream between a folded slice of ordinary white bread. Classic.

Nic with a local favorite – a classic ice cream sandwich.

GOLDEN DRAGON YARN SHOP

The Golden Dragon Yarn Shop is on the second floor in the People’s Park Centre. The shop sells yarn and other items and is more like a smaller version of JoAnn Fabrics in the USA. Judy scanned the yarn section, looking for brands she wasn’t familiar with. She bought two big balls of Jewelspun by Sirdar, a UK brand. At 546 yards, each ball has enough yarn to knit a hat and a small scarf. She also bought Big Value Chunky by King Cole, another UK brand. It’s a lovely dark blue for a friend who likes to crochet scarves and blankets to relax.

Judy shopping at the Golden Dragon Yarn Shop

 

NIGHT SAFARI

The Mandai Wildlife Reserve is the parent company for the following attractions:

Bird Paradise
Night Safari
River Wonders
Singapore Zoo
Mandai Wildlife WEST

We visited the Night Safari, which is adjacent to the Singapore Zoo but is a completely different attraction. The Night Safari is only open in the evenings and was designed to view nocturnal animals. The Night Safari opens at 7:15 pm and closes at midnight.  The tickets cost SD$55, and there is a 10% discount if you buy them online in advance. The tickets are sold for a specific entry time, and your preferred time may be unavailable if you show up without a ticket. For this reason, you should buy your tickets in advance HERE.

The Night Safari is accessible via the MRT, and the bus and directions are available on the website for buying the tickets.

There is 30-minute show, “Creatures of the Night,” where various animals are brought onto the stage, and some of their behaviors are explained by the hosts.

Creatures of the night stage – It will be dark when the show starts A Safari host describes some of the Owl’s behavior

The tram ride is included in your admission and is worth the 30 minutes it takes for a loop. There can be a line, particularly after the first “Creatures of the Night” show. I recommend going to the tram ride instead of the first show when the lines may be shorter. The show was just “OK” and you won’t miss much if you skip it.

We went to the show first and then had to wait about 30 minutes for the tram. The tram ride was a nice overview of the animals, but you only had a few minutes to view them at each stop. Given a choice, try to get seats toward the middle of the tram, as sometimes the seats toward the back don’t have a good view of the animals at each stop.

HERE is a park map. As you can see, there are walking trails that visit areas where the only access is on foot. Even though we didn’t have the time or energy to walk after our tram ride, walking is probably the best way to see the animals as you have more time to observe.

We visited the park after a long day with an early start. If you have the flexibility, I would sleep in on the day you visit and arrive well-rested after 8 pm. This way, you will avoid some of the crowds and the temperatures.

HAL offers a tour to the Night Safari for $130 USD. Nothing else is included except round-trip bus transportation. You can buy a park admission for $40 USD in advance. A taxi will cost around $20 to $30 USD each way, so going on your own, even as a single will always be cheaper. You could take the bus and MRT, which would be cheaper still, but not as fast.

There is a nice snack bar and gift shop available.

 

We visit Pulau Ubin island and go to the Night Safari

ARRIVAL SINGAPORE

View of Singapore Skyline from the SeaView Pool

 

The Zuiderdam moored at the Marina Bay Cruise Centre (MBCC) instead of the more convenient HarbourFront Cruise Centre (HFCC). I think the days of HAL mooring at the HFCC are long gone. Cruise and Travel Director Kimberly tried to spin our location as being better since it is closer to downtown – which is true if you are walking, but the nearest MRT station to MBCSS is 3/4 of a mile walk, while the nearest MRT to the HFCC is 1/4 mile. Additionally, the nearest MRT station to the MBCSS doesn’t sell the Singapore Tourist Pass as they do at the HFCC MRT station.

Note: The walking distance from MBCC to Chinatown is 4KM while the walking distance from HFCC to Chinatown is 5KM. More on using the MRT later.

HarbourFront Centre remains the more desirable Cruise Terminal in Singapore

 

IMMIGRATION

The ship was connected to the terminal from Deck 3 via a jetway-type bridge. Once inside the terminal, we first had to clear Immigration using the automated clearance lanes. There are two steps: First, we scan our passport, and if everything is OK, a gate opens and lets us go a few steps to the second station, where we are asked to place our thumb on a scanner glass. We have to remove any masks, glasses, or hats when using the automated lanes.

NOTE: Before you arrive, you must complete the Singapore Arrival Card HERE. If your cruise ship is not listed, select OTHER. After you complete the card, take a screenshot of the email you receive with your reference number and bar code. You shouldn’t need to show it as the card is linked to your passport. But if it is not linked, having this email handy will save you time later.

This is a photo of the Automated Immigration lanes at the airport, but they look the same as the ones at the Cruise Terminal. Photo linked from www.singaporetravellers.info

 

NOTE: If you have a choice, pick a lane without anyone ahead of you. During my first trip, I was behind someone who had difficulty getting their thumb to scan. I had to wait 5 minutes until they sorted him out.

After immigration, we headed down an escalator to baggage claim, where we would clear Customs. There is a choice of GREEN or RED lanes depending on whether we had anything to declare. Here, our bags went through the X-ray machines, and we passed through a VERY sensitive metal detector. Our waiter told us later that a crewmember was fined SD$200 because he forgot to leave his cigarettes on the ship. Read the list of prohibited items carefully.

Uber is not available. There was a taxi stand, and since there were two ships there, the line was long. I learned later that it took about 15 minutes to get a taxi.

USING THE SINGAPORE MASS RAPID TRANSIT (MRT)

You have several options for using the MRT, and they are described in detail in the links below:

HERE  is a great blog post that explains how to ride the Singapore MRT.
HERE is where you can buy the Singapore Tourist Pass.
HERE is where you can learn about the different types of passes.
HERE is a post about how you can use your contactless credit card on the Singapore MRT.

The two day Singapore Tourist Pass costs SD$29 which includes a SD$10 deposit which you can get back if you return the card to a station where they sell the card. The net cost of a card is SD$19 for two days. Most MRT rides in the tourist area are about SD$1 to SD$1.50 and can go up to SD$2 if you go to the Zoo or the Airport. This means you would need to make at least 10-15 rides to break even with the Singapore Tourist Pass.

They no longer sell single trip MRT tickets. You will have to buy a stored value card (EZ Link) first if you arrive at the MBCC to get to a place where you can buy the Singapore Tourist Pass. You may be better off simply using this card (EZ Link) for your entire visit. You can also use your contactless credit card instead of a EZ Link card which is even simpler. My advice – do your homework before you arrive and decide what may be your best option if you plan to use the MRT.

PULAU UBIN ISLAND

Prior to our arrival, I connected with an old Navy shipmate, Bill, who now lives in Singapore with his wife, Nic, a Singapore native and their children. They picked Judy and me up outside the terminal and spent the next two days showing us a wonderful time.

Our first stop was the Changi Point Ferry Terminal near the airport where we took the ferry for the 10 minute ride to Pulau Ubin island. The ferry – or “bumboat” cost SD$4 each way and you pay in cash on the boat.

Typical Bumboat – photo from The Occasionaltraveller.com – see their site for more information about how to get to the island HERE

NOTE: To get to the Changi Point Ferry Terminal, take the MRT to the Tanah Merah station and then take Bus 2 to the Changi Village Bus Terminal—it’s a short walk from here. The bumboats don’t run on a schedule, but leave whenever they fill the 12 seats. You shouldn’t have to wait more than 10 minutes.

This map shows the location of Pulau Ubin Island and The Night Safari

 

Pulau Ubin, a small island located off the northeastern coast of mainland Singapore, offers a stark contrast to the skyscrapers and high-rise buildings that dominate downtown Singapore. More than 80% of the island remains undeveloped and visitors can enjoy the lush greenery, mangrove swamps, and scenic coastline. The island is a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering a plethora of activities such as hiking, cycling, and bird watching.

After we arrived on Pulau Ubin we headed to the right and spent some time exploring the Sensory Trail. This trail contains a variety of plants and is designed to appeal to all five senses: Sight, Sound, Touch, Smell and Taste.

 

When you head off to the left you discover the small village center, bustling with activity and local charm. Here you can rent bikes, browse through shops selling handmade crafts and souvenirs and sample local Singaporean cuisine.

 

We stopped at the Season Live Seafood Restaurant and enjoyed some fresh coconuts filled with chilled coconut water before returning to the ferry pier and returning to the mainland.

Note the sign – “No Durian” in the upper left in the restaurant seating area. Durian is popular with some people, but the smell is very strong. It has been described as a combination of sulfur, sewage, fruit, honey, and roasted and rotting onions. It is usually banned in any common area. Fresh cold coconuts with refreshing water inside

 

CHINATOWN

After about 45 minutes, we arrived and parked in the Chinatown Point Parking Garage. We headed to Old Cheng Du restaurant, which specializes in Sichuan Cuisine. The restaurant is on the first floor, and the closest MRT station is “Chinatown” Exit A. You order using your smartphone after scanning a QR code on the table. You don’t have to interact with a server unless you don’t have a phone, in which case they will bring you a menu.

 

This is one of Nic’s favorite places, so she ordered it for all of us. The food arrived quickly and was fabulous.

I got a chuckle out of this sign in the bathroom – I didn’t realize that vomiting in sinks was a problem requiring a sign banning the activity,

 

As we headed back to the car, Nic stopped by a street vendor and picked up a Singapore Ice Cream Sandwich. This is simply a slab of ice cream between a folded slice of ordinary white bread. Classic.

Nic with a local favorite – a classic ice cream sandwich.

 

GOLDEN DRAGON YARN SHOP

The Golden Dragon Yarn Shop is on the second floor in the People’s Park Centre. The shop sells yarn and other items and is more like a smaller version of JoAnn Fabrics in the USA. Judy scanned the yarn section, looking for brands she wasn’t familiar with. She bought two big balls of Jewelspun by Sirdar, a UK brand. At 546 yards, each ball has enough yarn to knit a hat and a small scarf. She also bought Big Value Chunky by King Cole, another UK brand. It’s a lovely dark blue for a friend who likes to crochet scarves and blankets to relax.

Judy shopping at the Golden Dragon Yarn Shop

 

SELATAR HILLS

We left the yarn shop and headed about 5 miles north to Bill and Nic’s house in Seletar Hills. The house is lovely, and we enjoyed meeting Nic’s parents and enjoying some snacks.

NIGHT SAFARI

The Mandai Wildlife Reserve is the parent company for the following attractions:

Bird Paradise
Night Safari
River Wonders
Singapore Zoo
Mandai Wildlife WEST

We visited the Night Safari, which is adjacent to the Singapore Zoo but is a completely different attraction. The Night Safari is only open in the evenings and was designed to view nocturnal animals. The Night Safari opens at 7:15 pm and closes at midnight.  The tickets cost SD$55, and there is a 10% discount if you buy them online in advance. The tickets are sold for a specific entry time, and your preferred time may be unavailable if you show up without a ticket. For this reason, you should buy your tickets in advance HERE.

The Night Safari is accessible via the MRT, and the bus and directions are available on the website for buying the tickets.

There is 30-minute show, “Creatures of the Night,” where various animals are brought onto the stage, and some of their behaviors are explained by the hosts.

Creatures of the night stage – It will be dark when the show starts A Safari host describes some of the Owl’s behavior

The tram ride is included in your admission and is worth the 30 minutes it takes for a loop. There can be a line, particularly after the first “Creatures of the Night” show. I recommend going to the tram ride instead of the first show when the lines may be shorter. The show was just “OK” and you won’t miss much if you skip it.

We went to the show first and then had to wait about 30 minutes for the tram. The tram ride was a nice overview of the animals, but you only had a few minutes to view them at each stop. Given a choice, try to get seats toward the middle of the tram, as sometimes the seats toward the back don’t have a good view of the animals at each stop.

HERE is a park map. As you can see, there are walking trails that visit areas where the only access is on foot. Even though we didn’t have the time or energy to walk after our tram ride, walking is probably the best way to see the animals as you have more time to observe.

We visited the park after a long day with an early start. If you have the flexibility, I would sleep in on the day you visit and arrive well-rested after 8 pm. This way, you will avoid some of the crowds and the temperatures.

HAL offers a tour to the Night Safari for $130 USD. Nothing else is included except round-trip bus transportation. You can buy a park admission for $40 USD in advance. A taxi will cost around $20 to $30 USD each way, so going on your own, even as a single will always be cheaper. You could take the bus and MRT, which would be cheaper still, but not as fast.

There is a nice snack bar and gift shop available.

DAY TWO

We took it easy on our second day. Bill picked us up, and we headed to the Tanglin Club, the oldest private club in Singapore, where he is a member. We had a very nice time enjoying a long lunch and headed back to the ship in time for the Sail Away party at 4:30 pm.

The Tanglin Club is very nice – don’t miss a chance to visit if you get an invitation from a member