Singapore
Singapore
The gateway passage, opening to the door to the wonders of Asia
Captains Log Day 5 - 07/11/23 2:15 pm.
Scoot TR992
The lead-up to this epic holiday felt unlike any other. It wasn't merely the prospect of travelling for three weeks with a toddler in lands where language, culture, landscape, and climate would be vastly different, but rather a sense of acceptance. They had ample time to confront the overwhelming reality of what the upcoming weeks would entail and had achieved a mental state of Zen, ready to go with the flow.
They made a conscious decision not to stress about the Cadet's sleep routine, diet, and the myriad of concerns that come with caring for a child, issues that had troubled them in the past. There was no point in worrying excessively and they also realised they were all in this together—truly embodying the ethos of "one for all and all for one" (even though they were unsure if the 2.8-year-old Cadet grasped this concept).
Like countless times before for the Captain and Admiral, and the 5th time for the Cadet, they boarded their Jetstar flight to Singapore—the initial destination of their upcoming three-week adventure. The eight-hour flight passed relatively uneventfully, with the Cadet sleeping for a portion of it and entertaining himself by jumping on the seat for the remainder. He even succeeded in befriending fellow travellers within a six-seat radius, frequently approaching them and expressing his affection or, perhaps, his eagerness to break free from the Captain and Admiral's watchful eyes.
They watched the mesmerising lights as the aircraft descended into the Merlion City. This sight brought a sense of relief not only to the Captain, Admiral, and their fellow travellers but also a feeling of anticipation. As they disembarked the plane, a wave of humid air greeted them, akin to the sensation of a chef skillfully chopping up Kotthu Roti on a sizzling grill.
The efficiency and process-driven nature of Singapore had its advantages and disadvantages. Initially, they encountered a lengthy immigration form that consumed a significant amount of time. While the Admiral tackled this task, the Cadet explored the airport floor, making friends with a cleaning robot. Following this, further delays ensued due to the assigned Immigration officer, who seemed to embody the sloth character from the movie Zootopia.
On the positive side, luggage retrieval was swift. Despite the delays, they managed to navigate through the airport arrivals process and reach the exit within 40 minutes of disembarking the aircraft.
They were picked up by the Admiral's brother, Lieutenant Colonel Reza, a resident of the city. Escorted to his meticulously maintained residence, the group headed into town towards the barracks where they would stay for the initial part of their travels.
Recognizing the Cadet's hunger, they made a quick stop to pick up Hana, the Colonel's wife, and promptly headed to a nearby steakhouse for dinner. The Colonel had mentioned his fondness for Jacket Potatoes several times. They were not disappointed. Despite it not being a traditional Singaporean meal, the Jacket Potatoes lived up to the hype. They enjoyed their meal and left the venue, situated in a mall with an astonishing play area comprising an intense rope course between mall floors. Well fed and exhausted they headed to the Barracks for a shower and a well needed rest.
The following morning began with breakfast at the Colonel's house before they swiftly hopped into the car, making their way to the Science Centre. Upon arrival, while the Colonel sought breakfast, the Cadet and Captain embraced the warmth and ventured into the outdoor area, marvelling at the engaging hands-on displays. Once they were fueled with coffee and prepared, they delved into exploring the centre.
Initially disinterested, the Cadet dashed towards the parked Car Pram they eventually hired. However, as they ventured further, his inquisitive nature sparked, leading him to engage with the exhibits. They explored various sections, with a standout being the 'scary science' area where the Cadet had a blast being startled by a tiger that leaped out from the screen. Another highlight was the typhoon simulator, offering a vivid experience of what a typhoon feels like with its gusts of wind.
After spending several hours immersed in interactive displays, they decided it was time to find a place to sit and eat. The idea of a traditional Indonesian lunch intrigued the Captain and Admiral, leading them to a nearby mall for their meal. As anticipated, the Cadet ate heartily, his hunger apparent after hours of exploring the science centre.
After lunch, exhaustion was evident in the Cadet's eyes, prompting a decision to split ways. The Admiral and Cadet would return to the barracks for a much-needed rest, while the Captain stayed with the Colonel for a watch shopping excursion. The Admiral departed, and the Colonel and Captain first headed to acquire SIM cards, which took a considerable time to activate. Then, they strolled around exploring second-hand Rolexes. The Captain was taken aback by the exorbitant prices of the inventory, some shops boasting items worth millions of dollars.
After spending a few hours browsing, they were unsuccessful in finding a watch within the Captain's range. They left, leaving the Colonel's wife behind for some pampering at the infamous Sim Lim Square.
Sim Lim Square was renowned as Singapore's go-to tech market hub and a frequented spot by tech enthusiasts, including the Colonel, passionate about all things tech. Entering the establishment, still reeling from the staggering value they had witnessed earlier, the Captain accompanied the Colonel as he visited his favourite store to collect computer parts he had ordered. Sim Lim Square was as impressive as the previous location, with vast inventories housed in unassuming "hole in the wall" style shops. Unlike the watch exploration phase, they successfully completed their mini mission, acquiring silicon-based items, and returned to the Colonel's home
The Captain arrived just as the Cadet woke up from his nap, feeling refreshed and ready to go. However, the Captain needed a moment to recover as the Cadet's restlessness started to manifest in mischievous behaviour. To calm him down, the Captain resorted to a threat, stating, 'If you continue, I'll throw your Dummy off the balcony.' Initially effective, the Cadet settled down and began playing with his cars—or so the Captain thought. About five minutes later, the Cadet picked up his dummy, walked to the balcony, and tossed it over, returning inside with an intense glare directed at the Captain. Astonished, the Captain was left speechless by the power play demonstrated by the Cadet, asserting his dominance as he continued playing. It felt like he was the Captain now.
To diffuse the tension, the Admiral suggested a swim in the downstairs pool. Still processing the recent incident, the Captain agreed and sent the group downstairs for some aquatic fun. Meanwhile, the Captain remained upstairs with the Colonel, who had begun assembling a new PC with the parts gathered earlier from Sim Lim, joining them later.
They wrapped up their activities and returned to the apartment, freshened up, and decided to visit Mustafa Centre, a renowned supermarket in Little India. The place was bustling, especially with Deepavali approaching, attracting shoppers, tourists, and pop-up stalls geared towards the occasion. Navigating through the crowds, the Captain, Admiral, and Cadet explored dining options, strolling along the strip. The Captain recalled a childhood eatery and was determined to locate it. However, the Admiral felt overwhelmed by the heat and crowds, eventually pleading with the Captain to halt the exploration, to which he reluctantly agreed.
They decided to immerse themselves in Singaporean culture and dine at a Hawker hall. The Captain, brimming with excitement, ordered an extensive selection from the menu. Despite the subpar service, understandable due to the multitude of diners, the food was exceptional. They indulged until their stomachs were content. After the meal, the Captain discovered it was a staff member's birthday and, unaware of Singaporean cultural norms, stood up in the dining area to sing 'Happy Birthday.' To his surprise, no one joined in, leaving the moment awkward and embarrassing. With a blushing Admiral, the Captain settled the bill at the counter.
The Admiral was feeling better, and seizing the opportunity, the Captain invited her to join him in exploring Mustafa Centre. After a security check, the Cadet insisted on being on the ground, out of his pram. As they entered the overcrowded centre, it was packed to the brim, body to body. The Cadet's voice cut through the chaos as he urged people to move aside, pushing and squirming his way through. Chaos seemed an understatement. Seeking children's items, they headed to a lower level housing clothes and baby items. It was narrow, congested, and certainly not suitable for a 2.8-year-old—or even 28-year-olds. Despite this, they managed to find a nice outfit for the Cadet, and the Admiral found the supplies she needed.
Exiting the centre, the Admiral's patience seemed to be teetering, but the Captain insisted they walk through the Deepavali market. Filled with pop-up stores and bustling with activity, the market was busy yet far more comfortable and manageable than the earlier Mustafa Centre. They strolled past handicrafts and glamorous Indian garments. Though it was a brisk walk, the Captain could sense the Admirals' patience wearing thin. Exiting the market, they sought taxis to return.
At this point, the Captain asked the Admiral to check the distance on Google Maps. It indicated a 15-minute walk. Pushing his luck, he suggested walking instead of taking a taxi. Initially, the Admiral disagreed in an enraged manner, but then reluctantly warmed to the idea. Little did the Captain know, she was actually brooding.
On the walk back, the Captain and Cadet led, while the Admiral followed. They paused briefly to purchase some overpriced fruit and supplies from a grocery store. The Captain was laughing and chatting with the Cadet, completely oblivious until they passed a Durian stall. Turning back to share his discovery, he realised the Admiral, looking unimpressed and angry, had already noticed it. She yelled back, 'YES, I CAN SMELL IT.' This not only startled the Captain but also surprised a lovely old lady who witnessed the Captain's joyous expression swiftly shut down by the Admiral. The Captain thought it wise to remain silent for the rest of the walk.
Upon their arrival, physically unscathed but with considerable mental discomfort for the Captain and a visibly upset Admiral, they took a moment to cool off from the heat. After a bath, the Admiral regained her composure. Putting the Cadet to bed, she returned to her normal self. They gathered to watch the F1 race and the film 'Dungeons and Dragons' before retiring for the night.
The following morning began eventfully as the Cadet accidentally broke a bowl and left a dent in the fridge by slamming it against the kitchen door. Concerned about the damage, knowing how much the Colonel cherished the appliance, they departed before he woke, heading to check into a hotel for a night in Sentosa, the resort and theme park destination of Singapore.
Arriving early for check-in, they dropped off their bags at the beautiful hotel, clearly a holiday spot popular among honeymooners or affluent tourists. The upscale establishment boasted several exquisite pools, including an Infinity pool. They spent some time exploring the grounds before opting to walk to Universal Studios via the Monorail
They began by visiting a gourmet food park located outside, where they enjoyed coffee and juice. They were impressed by the food trucks, housing Michelin-starred restaurants and Timeout winners, although they had not yet opened. Ready for their day of theme park fun, they entered the park and were instantly struck by the lack of crowds, offering them the chance to maximize their rides.
Starting in the kids' section, they joined the Cadet on a Sesame Street ride, which he loved so much that they went on it again. Following a random show featuring performers dressed as candy, they moved on to the Transformers section. Here, the Cadet enjoyed an extreme teacup-style spin ride.
Shortly after these initial rides, the Cadet decided to take a nap, allowing the Captain and Admiral to venture freely. They hurried to the extreme roller coasters and discovered a parent pass, allowing one parent to wait in line while the other stayed with the child. When the first parent finished the ride, the other could proceed straight to the front without queuing. They kicked off their thrill-seeking with the biggest, most intense roller coaster, ending a five-year hiatus from such rides.
They were informed it was an ideal day to visit, with usual park attendance at 12k, but that day felt more like 3k, enabling them to ride virtually all attractions without waiting. Continuing their thrill-seeking, they experienced 'The Mummy Returns' ride, a highlight of their visit.
Having completed all the adult rides, the Cadet woke from his nap. They moved through the park, exploring the dinosaur section and eventually found a roller coaster suitable for the Cadet. He laughed throughout the ride while others around him screamed.
Meanwhile, drama was brewing with the Colonel, understandably upset about the earlier incident with the fridge dent. Heated discussions soured the mood, prompting the Squad to leave the theme park and return to the gourmet park they had visited earlier to feed the Cadet. They got him some butter chicken and rice, but it turned out to be a bad idea as it was slightly too spicy, resulting in the Cadet throwing the food and having a meltdown.
Hastening back to the hotel amid the fridge drama, they realised they were lost. Emotions were high, and in their stressed state, they accidentally hit a rock, breaking the pram wheel, which fell off unnoticed until much later. They stumbled upon a resort with overpriced food. While the Cadet and Admiral sat inside, the Captain spent nearly 30 minutes searching for the broken wheel, walking in circles back to the theme park. Fortunately, he found it and returned to re-insert the wheel. To their relief, the Cadet was calm and eating dinner. The fridge situation had also been subdued and rectified, restoring a sense of normalcy and calming stress levels.
After settling the bill, they returned to the hotel, securing a nice room to settle in for the night and unwind. While the Admiral and Cadet had a bath, the Captain went for a walk and ended up befriending a wedding party, receiving an invitation to join their reception. Dressed casually and with a sweaty appearance, he politely declined and headed back to the room.
With the Cadet asleep, the Admiral and Captain still hungry, they decided to order Uber Eats and got Shake Shack delivered. As the hotel room was a single space, they opted for the bathroom floor to sit and enjoy their delicious burgers before calling it a night and heading to bed. It had indeed been an eventful day.
They woke up the next day and checked out of the hotel. Despite the enticing pools at the hotel, they had no time to utilise them. Leaving their luggage, they headed straight to the waterpark, Adventure Cove. Arriving early, they found the park hadn't opened yet. They opted for a coffee and an ice-cream at the nearby gourmet park area. Sadly, the Captain's ice-cream flew away in just two licks.
With only two ice creams left, they entered the Lego store. Although they were told food wasn't allowed inside, an assistant suggested they stand in a corner to eat. However, the manager intervened, asking them to leave and finish their ice creams outside. Deciding not to enter, they realised it was already time to change into their swimwear and head to the waterpark they had eagerly awaited.
They entered, hired a locker and grabbed a doughnut floaty, heading straight into the Lazy river, floating around the park. After about 20 minutes of floating they disembarked at the wave pool.
The following hours were spent splishing and splashing at the epic wave pool, interspersed with numerous attempts by the Cadet to engage in risky behaviour: dunking his head, jumping into deep water, and riding the waves like a mini Kelly Slater. Meanwhile, the Captain roamed the park, realising there weren't many activities suitable for the Cadet to participate in. However, this didn't pose a problem for either the Captain or the Admiral, as they took turns enjoying the water rides while the other transformed into a Baywatch-style lifeguard, performing around 4 saves per minute. The Captain and Cated also had the chance to go into the man-made reef to do some snorkelling amongst some beautiful fish whilst Waterworld was being replayed in other parts of the park.
They stopped for some hot dogs at lunch before resuming the festivities in the wave pool and then moved to the water treehouse, allowing the Cadet to enjoy a water playground. However, just as they were about to finish up, sirens signalled the park's closure due to approaching thunderstorms. Exiting, they stumbled upon an intriguing vending machine offering freshly squeezed orange juice.
Capitalising on the Cadet's nap, they headed to the Lego store for some Lego shopping, then returned to the hotel to check out and retrieve their bags before heading back to the Colonel's residence.
Invited to a Melbourne comrade's place for dinner, they swiftly got ready and made their way to their beautiful home. Conversations flowed as they shared a delightful meal, reminiscing about the Captain's childhood memories and reflecting on life in Singapore. The evening was accompanied by an extremely tasty dinner and well-paired drinks, while the Cadet indulged in playtime, particularly with toy cars in the playroom.
After a wonderful dinner and catch-up, they returned to the Colonel's residence to pack and prepare for departure. It was their last night in Singapore before continuing their journey, so they readied themselves for a restful night.
The next morning, they loaded the bags into the car and got ready to leave. The Colonel took them to a nice breakfast spot where they all enjoyed a satisfying meal. The Colonel insisted they needed new suitcases, despite their initial reluctance. They ended up walking out with two brand new Lojel branded carriers. They headed downstairs, transferred their belongings from the old suitcases to the new ones, leaving the emptied old ones in the car park before heading to Changi International Airport.
They encountered initial difficulties checking in due to a document control issue that kept arising. Eventually, they managed to resolve it. However, they soon discovered that their flight was delayed. Rather than giving up, they followed the Colonel's lead and had lunch until it was finally time to bid him farewell. Thanking him, they felt emotional as they walked through the immigration gates."
The last memory they had in Singapore was being served a brandy cocktail made by a robot before boarding the plane and waiting for 40 minutes before takeoff. During the wait, the Cadet was hyperactive but eventually crashed right as the plane hit the runway, falling asleep. Meanwhile, the Captain and Admiral enjoyed watching the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, and the Admiral got a glare from the Air Steward for repeatedly asking for the immigration forms. They were off to Taipei, Taiwan and ready for some Food Comas.
