Days 99-100 - Monday-Tuesday April 22 -23, 2024, Singapore, Singapore

Arrival: 08:00 Overnight in Port Departure: 18:00 following day

April 22

There are three overland tour groups returning to Insignia at some point today resulting in the overnight here. These included tours to the Taj Mahal, a visit to the pink city Jaipur and Bengal tigers and finally our tour from Nepal and Everest.

As we make our way back from Katmandu, I notice a huge construction development being carried out in Singapore. The vast size of the container ships has resulted in creating Tuas Mega Port which will become the world's largest fully automated port by the year 2040. The area around the present cruise terminal will change dramatically during this time creating new opportunities for developers.

Our friends Karen and Tom will be joining the ship tomorrow for the Singapore to Dubai three-week segment. We decided to meet up with them at the Raffles Hotel along with our other friends on the ship Joy and Ed.

The process to leave the port is cumbersome. A long walk from Insignia brings us to the customs area where we are required to scan our passports before entering the terminal. Security is present and when we walked off the first time there were armed police officers walking the area. Janice got between some of them and wanted me to take her picture but unfortunately no pictures are allowed in this area.

A taxi brought us to the Raffles Hotel and its Long Bar. So, what does one drink at the bar that created the Singapore Sling, of course it is the Singapore Sling - well at least I had one. Karen and Tom were there already thankfully as the line to get into the bar was becoming longer. As we introduced Joy and Ed to Karen and Tom, we found out that Joy, Karen, and Tom went to the same university in Ohio - Drayton University while Ed and Tom went to USC when Karen and Tom moved out to California. Another example that it a small world. It surprised us that it was a peanut bar as shells were thrown on the floor. It's a good way to get the punters to drink more.

Joy and Ed left after one drink but the four of us decided to go out for street food. We had been to Singapore in 2018 with Karen and Tom so it was off in search of the same Hawker market for dinner.

It had been a long day as we were up early to catch our flight to Singapore from Seim Reap. We both called it a night after supper and made our way back to the ship via the subway. I am not sure whether I may have mentioned this before about Eastern Asia subway's but while you are waiting for the subway there are lines on the floor directing you to stand here. This allows the passengers leaving the cars to exit quickly before passengers on either side of the door climb on board. Definitely very organized and efficient.

April 23

The segment Hong Kong to Singapore has come to an end with a total of 2,771 nautical miles travelled.

It was up early as we made our way through security again to take the subway to the Botanical Gardens which is recognize as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The national flower is the orchid that grows within the gardens. Janice and I had visited the gardens back in 2018 and we both remembered how hot it was. Things have not changed; it was still hot, and the humidity was off the charts.

A ship tour was present at the Gardens. Our cost was under $30 for both of us while I imagine the ship tour was considerably higher.

The cruise terminal is attached to a huge shopping mall so of course shopping was added to the day.

It is back to the ship now as we depart for Port Klang Malaysia (the main port for Kuala Lumpur) 204 nautical miles away.