A quick day today, as we fly to Bali at 5:30pm. We decided to visit the S.E.A. Aquarium and then the observation deck at the boat suspended over the three towers. So we packed our bags, dropped 'm off at the front desk and took a taxi to go on our way. When we entered the taxi, our first clue should have been the driver asking us 3 times "Aquarium??" You never really know if they can't understand you, or you can't understand them, they don't know what you're talking about, or maybe they're just messing with you. Anyways, we agree on "Sentosa" (the resort island), which he knows how to find. 30min later we enter the resort island and he asks the guard where the aquarium is. That was our second clue. As we drove for another 10min, I decided to turn on Waze and found we are completely on the opposite side of the island when he stops and claims "Aquarium!"… So he is kind enough to let me direct, which leads us back to the city… And then we cross the bridge again, and he angrily protests the misdirection (right-left should have been right-straight) and we got in for free the second time. We are dropped under the Casino (suuuure), and I decide to take my chances, which worked out. We are here.

Being somewhat of a connoisseur on these things, I have to say, they have a nice aquarium. A few large exhibits, maybe the size of Atlanta's beluga exhibit, and most very Pacific Ocean driven. They have a lot of life corals, which I know people want to see, but unless they found (and hid) a new way of growing these extremely quickly, they aren't growing their own as we do in Atlanta. That's not fact. It's ungoogled, it's just an opinion. Overall, they have a lot of dry stuff around it (really a historic maritime museum) that makes it large, but the wet side is not as diverse or impressive as ours in Atlanta. For the price (same as the ATL), I'd say a little high for a little less. Having been at the Georgia Aquarium for 10 years, not sure I'm completely unbiased, though.

Then off to Marina Bay Sands and it's iconic Skypark Observation Deck. We line up where 5 exotic sports cars and a Rolls are parked, feeling right at home. Only we buy a ticket for the privilege to experience vertigo on the 57th floor, where they probably are staying in some $500+/night suite and have with that free access to the private, adjacent, 20x bigger rooftop area.

We fly up there, ears popping and all, doors open and you have the most expansive (and expensive) view of Singapore. It is, I have to say, spectacular, even if it did take me a minute or two for my stomach to settle enough to get near the edge. I've learned breathing and relaxation help with vertigo, although it never really goes away. Yes, it's high, and yes, it's spectacular, and yes, you need to go there if you're ever visiting Singapore. The day-pass space is not very large, so if you ever do visit and plan to pick up the light shows around town, be there early enough to catch the sunset, and bring a small briefcase with cash if you want to both eat AND drink something. Some good pics attached today.

And then it is off to the airport. We get there a little early, check in, wait for the fam to arrive from their 12.5hr flight from Amsterdam, and sure enough, a few minutes after the plane arrives they (causally and slowly) walk into our arms. They must really love us. Anyways, we chat, we wait, we wait some more and chat some more, we deal with a scratch in the fuselage, which after a 30min delay turns out to be perfectly safe (TMI people, TMI) and finally hop on and get to Denpasar with some of the best turbulence I've experienced in years while Liz and I were waiting by the bathroom. We wait some more to get our passports stamped. Three really great drivers, waiting for us, took us the hour-ish ride into Ubud (all dark, so not much to say about it), and we all fall into our rooms (we found we have a pet snake in ours, but since nobody reacted it's probably safe) and go out for a drink once settled in. Too late for a bar, but that doesn't hold this crowd back. We stop at the local convenience store for some local beer (quite affordable) and sit and chat just a little more before I'm tired enough to ignore the pet and go to sleep. Haven't seen 'm since, by the way.