Relaxing at Gardens by the Bay

Day 38, Grand Asia 2017

Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017 – Singapore

While each of the great cities we have visited so far has its own must-see sights, I try to discover the feel and flavor of each port as much as possible during our short visits. I think of a cruise as a sampler – for some ports the visit is enough; others go on my list of places to visit for longer.

It’s not easy to get a sense of a city from bus-level windows on a big organized tour. So yesterday I put in seven miles walking the streets of Singapore, from the skyscrapers of the business district, by the hotels of the convention center area and through the narrow alleys of Chinatown.

Today was a welcome change – a leisurely visit to the Gardens by the Bay complex with my friend Joyce. Rather than walk the mile or so from the pier or take the MRT train with a connection, we opted for a taxi (approximately $16 there and $8 for the return, and a chance to use up some of our Singapore dollars). I had been a bit discouraged by the morning rain, but by noon the clouds lifted and by sail away after 5 p.m. the sun was shining.

The Gardens by the Bay is a huge complex between the pier and the Marina Bay Sands (the three towers connected across the top by a boat-shaped terrace). At the center are two large pavilions. Joyce had toured the Cloud Forest pavilion the day before, so we spent a couple of hours in the Flower Dome today.

The staff is in the midst of decorating for Christmas. Hundreds of poinsettias lined the walkways.

Other staff members were meticulously grooming the various exhibits.

The multi-level pavilion is divided into zones, each accented with native animals made of natural materials and sculptures. We “traveled” through South Africa, Australia and the Mediterranean, among others.

One favorite in a desert section was “Aloes in Wonderland.”

Just like at Disneyworld, the pavilion exit directs you through the gift shop, which had some beautiful jewelry, scarves and decorative items. We settled for lattes and complimentary WiFi at the coffee shop before returning to the Amsterdam.

Our sail away parties in the Crow’s Nest have become the liveliest place on the ship. During happy hour you can buy a second drink for an additional $2. (Both must be the same drink and you get both delivered at the same time.) Passengers fill the dance floor as the band plays swing, pop and rock. When the ship starts moving, they break into a rousing version of Anchors Aweigh.

One welcome result of the influx of new passengers in Hong Kong is that many of them are eating at 7 p.m. and later. Before, there was a scarcity of dining partners after 6:30 or so. Now I am meeting many new people over dinner and working hard to remember new names and faces.