01.17.636N 103.45.641E  Saturday 15^th November   The Republic of Singapore Yacht Club – we arrived here on the 10^th having crossed the divide from Nongsa Point in pouring rain and poor visibility amidst the busiest shipping lanes in the world – and what an experience it was!

 

 

Berthed up in the RSYC

 

The Rally have all congregated here and Peter and Annette Seymour have been on hand to help with immigration and customs clearances.  The commodore of the RSYC has pulled out all the stops giving us free Club membership during our stay here which includes access to the chart rooms, wifi in the members’ communications room, an infinity pool overlooking the harbour, two restaurants, numerous bars, gaming rooms and laundry.  Last evening we were invited to a ‘dragon’ dance show and superb buffet dinner; this stunning Club has recently won an architectural award.

 

 

Dragon show

 

 

Busy view overlooking the marina

 

It does have to be said however that the sea water in our berthing area is filthy: full of every despicable debris and diesel and this coupled with the gigantic swell, largely created by tugs and other transit boats buzzing around frenetically beside us, makes for the roughest seas we have experienced for a long time! Lines are fraying, electric cables are snapping with the constant violent snatching and poor Evelyn was rammed down the side two days ago; all her stanchions flattened. The monsoon season is upon us too so although it is customarily hot and humid we have also had torrential downpours.

 

 

The boat berthed next door to us!

 

 

The vibrant port full of ships, containers, building cranes

and tugs

 

Singapore!  So much to do and see in a short space of time….so many changes since its inception as a British free trading post in 1819 when Sir Stamford Raffles first arrived.  Without time to go everywhere we have tried to strike a balance and experience the different extremes of this amazing and diverse country: a huge plate of vegetarian curries laid out on a banana leaf in the Indian quarter after an amazing glimpse of their malls and bazaars (S$5); a shopping spree in glitzy Orchard Road – non stop high end consumerism; a live local band in the middle of town – the latest James Bond film, Quantum Solas, in an acoustic cinema; a freshly squeezed lime juice on a street corner and a cocktail at Raffles; an evening wandering with the hawkers on Boat Quay but dinner in a superb Indian Restaurant on Clarke Quay.  A heart rending emotional roller coaster visit to the Changi Museum and an incredible river trip seeing Singapore come to illuminated light by night……….it has it all here in trumps – the boys have been clubbing, visited Chinatown, smoked shish in the Arab Quarter, made full use of the gymnasium and enjoyed the infinity pool……..

 

 

A water massage machine……lovely!

 

 

And Paul had a go too …..see his hands?

 

 

Raffles outside bar and dining hall

 

 

And a visit to the famous Long Bar

 

 

 

Changi memorial for the forgotten fleets

 

 

Riverboat cruise

 

 

Theatre land

 

 

Singapore’s answer to the ‘eye’

 

 

Fancy a bungy jump?

 

 

Famous bridges

 

 

Sky scrapers

 

 

Spewing lions

 

 

Incredible architecture

 

 

And riverside restaurants and entertainment….in there thousands

 

 

Even water features on land……..

 

 

Today we are leaving Singapore one crew member light – Oscar has been invited to join the catamaran Liahona.  The American couple, Ed and Kay, only joined the Rally in Australia but Kay needs to go home for a few weeks and Ed could do with some help…..so once the crew changes are officially complete, customs and immigration will stamp our documents and we will be off to Port Dixon to clear into Malaysia – just a 140 nm passage….