Wednesday mid day arrival. First stop Jurong bird park. QB looking forward to this attraction.
Have been discussing this park with QB for many years, since my visits to Singapore. First stop after getting off the boat. Taxi ride to the park and several hours there. Could easily spend a couple of full days there if you are a bird lover.
In short: did not disappoint. The variety, the layout, the jungle like landscaping all fit together.
Several months ago started collecting latest and best places for chilli and pepper crabs – favorites of mine and many others in Singapore. Don suggest Jumbo Seafood and it was a fine choice; did not disappoint.
After gorging on the above we ordered and devoured Dungness crab with black pepper. Did not disappoint. Afterwards I sent a note to Don who asked “did you have the donuts?” Yikes, we were in waddling state after so much crab and some veggies.
Thursday, off the boat early to avoid mass customs clearance with luggage. Stationary stores with moderate success. Then a visit to Chinatown.
Hawker markets are an outdoor, meaning no a/c, institution here. Some stalls even have Michelin stars and require reservations. Too hot for us to sit outside but great for food browsing. Chinatown very relaxed feeling, no dirty side alleys, wide aisles, easy browsing.
Clearly fresh fruit is available and at far lower prices than the markets.
Buddha tooth relic temple. We saw it while wandering about Got to see a chanting ceremony, in Mandarin, with an variant style of Buddhism. Have video in phots but will not play in blog. Shoes on, oddly for us.
Singapore, as in all of South East Asia, has grown dramatically since I have last been here. Maybe Singapore the most. The general feeling of the group is that this is a first world country and the US is a far far back second rate one. Everything is functional, smooth running, easy to use (trains), available etc. It is what the USA could have been if we invested.
Asked a taxi driver about the government. No complaints, everything works well, nary a bad word or thought. Passed a giant condo. Oh, the government built it, made apartments, 2000 sq. ft, subsidized it, and then offered spots by lottery. Has doubled in value in a few years. Naturally, no non locals can buy.
Final dinner at TimHoWan, a dumpling place of some renown. Not disappointed. Return tomorrow. So ends another adventure.
Boog's Blog 
Small typo: Dungeness, not dungness crab.
Bird is called a shoebill stork, not a hornbill.
The quality of the shoebill stork photo is amazing. It appears that Singapore, overall, has exceeded expectations.
Yes. Much more interesting than it was 25 years ago. Cafe Verona days, so long past. Bird park completely redone as is the whole city. Still, very little to do here except the bird park, gardens, chinatown, and shopping, shopping, shopping, and more shopping. It is the real first world feeling that so impresses and shows how much USA has slipped in development.