Leigh posting today …
We woke to another grey, thundery morning. Our start times are getting more civilised by the day (leisurely coffee in the room around 8, a bit of planning, cereal, fruit and yoghurt – breakfast of champions), and finally an exit into the steamy world outside around 10.
Today we headed to the end of the line, Harbour Front station, to catch the monorail across to Sentosa Island. Navigating the MRT like pros, we threaded through yet another shopping mall with ease and found the Sentosa Express. Skipping “resort land” (Universal Studios, Harry Potter World, the Oceanarium), we rode straight to the last stop, the beach.
Apparently this is a popular resort area. On a wet Tuesday morning, it was deserted and looked a little forgotten. The tankers on the skyline lent a utilitarian air to the supposed pursuit of leisure.
We wandered along the waterfront past shuttered bars and cafes until we found the base of the Imbiah Nature Trail. It was a surprisingly lovely bush walk, partly built over the old monorail infrastructure, and it wound past two waterfalls (both “closed for maintenance”) before reaching the Imbiah lookout. Except there was no lookout – just Madame Tussaud’s in an old army hospital, a theme-park drop ride called the Double Helix, and more closed cafes. It was all a bit surreal.
Back on the monorail, we regrouped and planned the afternoon. Clarke Quay proved to be another world entirely. A bumboat tour was the perfect way to appreciate the geography of the older areas, boat quay shophouses set against skyscrapers, and grand, imposing waterfront hotels.
We caught yet another angle of the Marina Sands building and finally found the Merlion – the official mascot of Singapore.
From there it was back to Tangs for salad (we’ve cracked GF Singapore!) and then home to repack two small backpacks. Tomorrow we leave for London, a civilised lunchtime flight, 13 hours in the air, and a whole new adventure waiting.
The Obligatory Blog 