I only have one day in Singapore and I have a task to do. I haven’t organised my rail pass for Japan yet so I have to visit a travel agency. There are some in China town. The subway is fantastic here, very logical and easy to use. And if I do hesitate in front of a map, somebody comes up to offer advice.
Yes Singapore has a Chinatown like everywhere else in the world. I’m not sure of the history here and because of my short stay, haven’t applied much energy to find out. No doubt the Chinese are a big part of the history here. Chinatown is beautifully authentic, unlike the too-perfect harbour area. Street decorations add character and there is fantastic food everywhere. I visit Death Street. In this street were houses where you could take yourself to enjoy your last moments of life. The old and infirm would come here voluntarily (suspect there may have been some family encouragement) to die, either to get relief from pain or to spare the family of dying in the home. It is considered bad luck to the house to have someone die there. I suspect it probable still is.
I get my Japan Rail pass. Non Japanese have to organise this from outside of Japan to make rail and bus travel there affordable. After lunch I subway back into the Harbour area for some afternoon photography.
From the subway I get hopelessly lost in a labarynth of marbled clad shopping malls, with an artificial canal complete with gondola rides. I’m clearly the scruffiest dressed person here. Get me out of here! Santosa is an island just off Singapore. It’s possible to boardwalk there or catch a monorail. It’s main thing is a theme park – not my thing but the walk across was nice. It’s possible to take an elevated walkway through the impressive Marina Bay Sands hotel. The bit of height gives great views all around and under the glow of a sinking sun, there are plenty of photographic opportunities. Inside the hotel is out of my world. Outside is a garden. No ordinary garden of course. Metal trees tower many stories high. There is a walkway that can take you to the matrix shaped canopies of these structures. There are many of them and they make an impressive addition to this futuristic skyline. I understand at night they light up and there are all sorts of laser light displays happening.
angusmccoll 
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