So our last day in Singapore today - for exploring, anyway - we fly out tomorrow morning!
We had booked a harbour cruise and the pick-up was 10am so we went and had some brekky at a Dome Cafe we found in Suntec City - nothing like supporting a West Oz business - and had coffee and raisin toast, YUM! it was beautiful!
Our pick-up bus was spot on time and we were whisked down to Marina South Pier to catch the "Imperial Cheng Ho", which is a modern Chinese junk. There were only a handful of people on board so we chose to enjoy the unusually (for Singapore) strong sea breeze out on deck! The cruise took us past a new private accommodation development being built on reclaimed land overlooking the harbour and then around passed the beaches of Sentosa before heading out into the harbour proper.
What an amazing sight the Singapore port is! Hundreds of container cranes dotting the skyline and ships everywhere. The port is the busiest (by tonnage) port in the world and over 140,000 vessels dock each year - that's an average of one every three and a half minutes!!!!!!!!!!!
At any one time there can be over 800 anchored in the harbour and it makes for an awesome sight. Ships of every size and shape are coming or going or are at anchor!!!
We stopped for three quarters of an hour at Kusu Island, about 5 kilometres from Singapore city, and had a look at the Chinese Bhuddist Temple there. The little island is a favourite place for weekend picnickers and anyone wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle - a very pretty place with lots of palm trees and sandy beaches. I would imagine that it would be packed on weekends etc.
The cruise then headed back to the Pier, sailing amongst hundreds of "bum boats", which are the small boats that zip in and out to the anchored ships, ferrying supplies and crew to the shore! How they keep drugs and illegals out I have no idea, such is the number of little boats plying their trade!
It was a great way to spend the morning and amazing value at $27 per head including hotel pickup - I am sure not may people would consider such a trip , but we thoroughly enjoyed it.
The bus dropped us back at the hotel and we spent an hour or so doing a bit of last minute shopping then it was back to our room for a quiet beer!
So that is Singapore done and dusted! We have had a fantastic time - it would be such a great spot if not for the bloody heat and humidity - and would happily recommend the Pan Pacific Singapore to anyone. The whole trip has been a great success.
Have to be at Changi Airport by 7am, for a 9.05am flight home, so an early night!