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On the way to the boat trip<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Arriving at the river cruise<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Colourful apartments on the Malacca River<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Malacca River murals<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Malacca River murals<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Cruising on the river<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nThe tour concluded a little before noon and I called a “Grab” to take me back to the airport. The driver was talkative, and peppered me with questions once he found out about my trip; apparently his son was a huge fan of airplanes! I gave him a card showing the website, and encouraged them to keep in touch. It is always gratifying to see how many people are interested in the trip; being in the middle of it, it’s easy to forget that to most people it probably seems a little eccentric!<\/p>\n\n\n
N9953H, ready for action<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Waiting for my flight plan time<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nGetting through the airport was as easy as ever. The added step of immigration, as this would be an international flight, was a breeze; the three ladies handling security and passport control teased the youngest one about how this pilot was alone, and she should go with him! The airport was fairly busy, and ATC had a just-landed airliner turn off the runway into a turn-around and hold there while I took off, before allowing him back onto the runway to backtrack to the terminal.<\/p>\n\n\n
I was vectored around to the south, and out over the coast, to join the airway running along parallel to the beach. As I drew nearer to Singapore, the controller took me away from my flight-planned route and vectored me inland, sending me on a wide loop around to line up for the south-westerly runway at Singapore’s Seletar airport. The closer I got to the straights separating Singapore from the mainland, the more built-up and industrialized the land below me became. <\/p>\n\n\n
Departure from Malacca<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Climbing out from Malacca<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The haze continues to worsen<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The coast just visible in the haze<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Over Johor, as I get closer to Singapore<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>New builds on Johor<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nWith hazy conditions, it wasn’t until I was over the water that I was able to spot the runway at Seletar, which is on the north shore. I was cleared for a straight-in landing, and directed to taxi to one of many open spots for light aircraft such as mine.<\/p>\n\n\n
Industry on Johor<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Shipyards on the Johor straight<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Oil terminals on the Johor straight<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Final approach to Seletar<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Landfall in Singapore<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Private jets lined up at Seletar<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nI parked up alongside a locally registered PA28, and tied the aircraft down; for once, there were actually tie-down rings to use! I was met by the agent from the Wings of Asia handling company, and threw my bag in the back of their very plush van for the short ride to the Business Aviation Center. I arrived in the middle of some kind of disciplinary session; one immigration officer was being soundly berated for not following some procedure. I waited quietly for them to finish, not wanting to draw unwanted attention! Happily I was waved through without fuss, and was soon in a “Grab” with my overnight bag, and a bulging bag of laundry (a permanent challenge on these trips) on my way to the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n
Parked up at Seletar<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The Carlton City Hotel<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nMy regular flying companion Juvy was to be joining me in Singapore, and had taken charge of most ground based activity for the next few stops. This was very welcome, leaving me to concentrate on the flying side of things. She had set us up at the Carlton City Hotel near China Town, within easy walking distance of many Singapore attractions and, importantly, plenty of good food! I set myself down in the hotel for a quiet few hours to update the website, and check on the status of the plans for the next few legs, before Juvy’s flight landed at 5pm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Juvy arrived at the appointed hour, and after settling in her room we met up to plan dinner. Nearby was one of Singapore’s “Hawker Centers”, the Maxwell. These are a very Singapore solution to what was seen as the problem of untidy, sometimes unsanitary open air food markets, which are now consolidated into purpose-built centers with a myriad of stalls selling all kinds of food and drink. Some of the stalls were clearly overwhelmingly popular, with lines snaking off around the center; the majority were far easier to get served at! Much to Juvy’s dismay, I ordered from the stall set up in the style of a British pub rather than interesting and authentic local cuisine. What can I say – sometimes after flying you just want something easy and familiar!<\/p>\n\n\n
Maxwell Hawker Market<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>One of the most popular stalls<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Approaching Chinatown<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Entering Chinatown<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Barbecue in Chinatown<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Decorations up for the holiday<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nAfter eating we took a stroll around Chinatown. It didn’t disappoint with its throngs of people, bright lights, and stalls selling everything you can imagine. There were celebrations ongoing to mark the lunar festival with dancers and singers galore. We stopped to take a look around inside the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple which was founded in 1827 by Naraina Pillai. Pillai was one of the key individuals in the birth of Singapore, arriving in 1819 with Stamford Raffles, and spending much of the rest of his life contributing to the development of the young city. Today, as well as being a center for worship, the temple plays a central role in various social, cultural and educational activities for the community. When we visited, a large celebration was both being prepared for, and apparently already started, limiting the visiting opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n
Fruit stall in Chinatown<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Celebations in full swing<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Chinatown<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Durian stall<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Breakfast the next morning was something of an abortive effort; Juvy led us to another nearby Hawker Center but sadly almost all of the stalls were closed and her search for something spam-based was in vain. The streets of this part of the city were almost deserted at this time of the morning on a weekend. We cut our losses and jumped in a car to head to the island of Sentosa, off the southern shore of Singapore. Once a British military base, and then Japanese prisoner of war camp, it is now a holiday resort island welcoming more than 20 million visitors a year, and hosting attractions such as Universal Studios, a water park, aquarium, and many others.<\/p>\n\n\n
Chinese Methodist Church<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Chinese Methodist Church<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>A quiet morning in Singapore<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The mall on arrival at Sentosa<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Breakfast of champions<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Exploring Sentosa<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nWe had another go at breakfast, with Juvy finding some kind of spam sandwich, and me contenting myself with Dunkin’ Donuts. If you’re wanting any kind of a food blog, you’re definitely in the wrong place. We wandered through the multi-level mall by the casino until finding the exit that led us up to the island proper; when the taxi dropped us, it had done so underground below the mall and resorts. We soon came across the Sentosa Merlion. Not a moment too soon, it turns out, because in late September it was announced that the Merlion will be demolished! This mythical creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish is the mascot of Singapore, and the 37m Sentosa version dwarfs the 9m original on the main island. <\/p>\n\n\n
Ready to ride the cable car<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Ready to ride the cable car<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>You can sense the enjoyment<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Looking out towards Bukom island<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Shipping in the Singapore bay<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>So many ways to ride an escalator wrong<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nSentosa island has a network of cable cars spanning part of it, and also connecting it to the mainland. Despite loving small aircraft, Juvy is terrified of heights in all other situations, so naturally we bought a day ticket and glided serenely at high level to the western end of the island while Juvy clung to her seat and gibbered quietly. The views out at the mainland, and the other way towards the oil facilities such as Bukom, were spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n
Views from near Fort Siloso<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The cable car station<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Looking back towards the main city<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n\n\n\nThe cable car disgorged us in front of the Shangri-La hotel. At this end of the island sits the restored British coastal gun battery of Fort Siloso, now a military museum focused on Singapore in the Second World War. Contrary to the myth, these guns were indeed turned 180 degrees inland and fired on the rapidly approaching Japanese troops, but to insufficient effect. When hope was lost, the guns were tipped into the sea; the fort ended up being used as a prisoner of war camp during the Japanese occupation. <\/p>\n\n\n
Arrival at Fort Siloso<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Exhibits in Fort Siloso<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>The Japanese surrender<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Fire control tower<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>Looking towards the city<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div>