Day One:

Dear Friends,

It was a full and very enjoyable first day in Singapore. We had breakfast at 8.30am which was delicious! Every type of breakfast anyone could want was offered - English, Asian and European, with pancakes and fresh fruit to finish. Everyone tucked in happily.












We then set off for a walk along the famous Orchard Road. The christmas decorations are magnificent.

The shopping malls are huge and we spent some time window-shopping and browsing in a bookstore before finding some lunch near our hotel.

After a quick tidy up we set off for the afternoon tour. We had a very funny guide who was not only entertaining but soon proved to be a walking encyclopaedia. On the way to the Changi War Museum he gave us a fascinating account of the Japanese occupation of Singapore from 1942 - 45, which was very helpful towards preparing us for the visit to the museum.
The visit to the Changi War Museum was sobering indeed - the Chapel, the numerous personal anecdotes, the photos and mementos were very moving. It gave us a profound and memorable understanding of some of the things the prisoners-of-war went through.

After the museum we visited the Eastern district of the city. Whilst we walked through narrow streets with middle eastern architecture, the Muslim call to prayer echoed around us. The environment was evocative and took us to yet another place very different from home.
We visited the imperial palace and learnt about a time when Singapore had a King. On the way back to our hotel our guide proved extremely informative again by telling us about life in Singapore today and the many ways it is a unique society.



After a quick tidy up back at the hotel we caught a bus to the Marina Bay Sands.

We walked through the Sands three Hotel Towers, the luxurious shops in the Shoppes complex, and stopped to eat dinner in the gi-normous food court. Yum!

Thus fortified we headed outside and sat down to enjoy the stunning Wonder Full - South east Asia's largest water and light show. It was amazing - lasers and pictures appearing on a screen of water and fountains - all to music!

Then we headed straight up - up to the breathtaking Skypark. We walked along a roof garden to an Observation point. We were immediately overwhelmed by the stunning architecture that surrounded us - the Cloud Forest and Flower Dome, the surreal looking Supertrees.








We were in time to watch another extraordinary light show. This time watching the Super trees change colour in hundreds of different combinations, all to music! These futuristic 'Avatar' like vertical gardens are not just aesthetic. They collect rain water, generate solar power and act as venting ducts for the park's conservatory.

The Supertrees















This area of Singapore is so incredible we immediately made plans to come back to see inside the conservatories.

For the trip home we jumped on the MRT underground train which whisked us back to our hotel.

So it was a huge first day - we saw so much and experienced a full gamut of emotions.

Much is in store for tomorrow - so stay tuned!