There are many things to do in Singapore and you can’t do them all in two days. It’s just not happening. You pick and choose your biggest interests and then you can find a reason to return. When we were in Singapore we saw a lot (as you’ll see, too) and didn’t see a lot. We didn’t see the Zoo, for example. We did see Sentosa, the “Island Resort” (man-made, kind of Disney-epic) the first full day of our trip. Jason’s a shark guy. He’s a shark fanatic, and it was his birthday. So it was of to the world’s largest aquarium, which has many, many sharks. Below you’ll find a lot of pictures from the Singapore Aquarium, but also a lot of pictures from walking around a fraction of Sentosa. If I go back to Singapore, I want to revisit Sentosa–not to pay to go to Universal Studios or any of the other expensive activities, but to walk around the “Free Area” and see what there is to be seen.
Curious about this creature below? Look up “Merlion.”
“Floor is Wet. Slippery Surface.”
Below: withinthe “entrance” to the aquarium, which currently features a pretty extensive history of sea trade in Southeast Asia,.
“I am Only a Display. Please be Gentle with Me.”
“Interactive Point.”
The introduction to the 4D theatre, which is one way to go from the aquarium’s entrance into the actual aquarium.
The name of my next sci-fi thriller book: “Plant Room 1.”
Jason touching a shark!
“Fishermen of Sri Lanka.”
“Great fish name: Banded Blenny.” And below: what nightmares are made of.
“Strange Sea Urchin.”
Singapore’s aquarium also has the largest aquarium viewing display in the world, apparently. There’s also a restaurant that allows you to sit right next to the tank, but the minimum table amount was something outrageous like $70 USD.
The shark tank.
Jason and the Lemon Shark:
And last but not least, the aquarium gift store, which had candy bar characters!
After the aquarium, we went for a bite. In Singapore, life can easily be structured around eating food, which is everywhere, and usually good. Of all the places we ate in Singapore, though, Sentosa’s was the most absurd. We had heard about McDonald’s in foreign countries having exotic versions of their standard US menu. We found that to be the case. From the durian McFlurries to the seasonal Rendang burger, McDonald’s was trying to cater to the locals. I should note that I rarely eat fast food and hadn’t had McDonald’s in probably three years (the last time was in Nevada when moving across the country, and having no other options for food in the small town).
Don’t get your order by the time the hourglass empties? Free ice cream for you. (We got the free ice cream, by the way.)
Next: our second day in Singapore reveals what it’s like to live large, walk a lot, and eat a lot!
Cambodian Life and Times of Greg Bem 