Yesterday was certainly a full day. First up, of course, was the famous Fullerton breakfast, where I acquitted myself fairly well, luxuriating over coffee, cereal, full English, toast, and the International Herald Tribune, whilst I watched the world go by from the terrace next to the river.
After breakfast I set off for the grand tour, and started by walking along the esplanade to the new Singapore Flyer that was being built last time we were here. It is the same idea as the London Eye, but larger - it boast of being 165m high. The views were spectacular, and yes, I did take rather a lot of photographs! The Flyer turns out to be next to the start / finish straight of the Singapore Grand Prix circuit, and so I continued my tradition (started in 2006 in Monaco) of taking photos of tarmac!
Off the flyer and next stop was the Citylink Mall, where a certain jewellery shop is located. Having completed my instructions (!) I wandered through to the City Hall MRT stop and took the train to Orchard Road, and walked back along, perusing a few shops along the way. Just before I got back as far as Chijmes, I stopped in at the Singapore Art Museum (cultured soul that I am)! It was supposed to be no photography inside, but I simply couldn't resist taking a sneaky picture when I noticed that one of the pieces of modern art included a spinning Mickey Mouse light, just like the one we once bought for Jake when we were waiting to watch the Fantasmic show in Orlando!
Chijmes was a bit of a disappointment compared to what I remembered - I think that some of the little ships have closed down since last time. So I stopped for a quick drink at Harry's Bar (and chatted to Nicky at home!) before heading up towards Arab Street. I didn't want to buy carpets or tailored clothes, so Arab St was a bit of a loss, but the next road up (next to the mosque) was the one that we'd remembered from last time, and I managed to get a few pieces of lacquer-ware.
By now my feet were starting to tell me that I'd been walking around for rather a long time and a long way in the heat. I went back to the Suntec City Mall, and whilst I was in there, the heavens well and truly opened. Still, I was especially impressed with my ability to get back to the hotel whilst being in the rain for less than about 20 yards or so. It involved lots of walking through underground malls back to the City Hall MRT, getting the train down to Raffles Place, and then walking under cover of buildings back to the Fullerton.
I sat out the rain back at the hotel, and ordered some room service (I had thought about going back to the floating restaurant that Nicky and I had been to last time, but "table for one" is such a depressing phrase). Once the rain had abated it was dark, and I took my weary feet out for another stroll, along the quays this time, stopping to watch people getting terrified on the bungee rides. I stopped in at the Funan Mall (I really want the dinky new Sony - for reference it is the VGN P13G (or poss H) and it costs S$1299 here) and went to the coffee shop that Nicky and I had been to before - and had cheesecake and milkshake!
As I walked back to the hotel, the heavens opened again, but as I knew that I was just going to go back to the hotel and go to bed, it was actually quite refreshing getting soaked!
This morning I've been for a swim, been out for a little wander and here I am at the airport.
It's been a great little trip to Singapore. It would have been perfect, but for the lack of the company of the people I love.
Next stop home.