Day 47 Singapore

This has to be the grand finale of hotels. I know that in fact, the former ocean liner QE2 in Dubai will be the actual final hotel of this trip. But it cannot be as phenominal as where I am right now. The Marina Mandarin is huge and cavernous. I may be slightly disappointed that my room doesn’t overlook The Bay, but the view of a forest of spectacular high-rises is incredible. So, is my room, complete with tiny balcony. Of course, outside, it’s very warm. Sadly, I am now back in the Northern hemisphere, by just one degree. I have located $75 Singapore, which I doubt will get me very far! It’s late; hopefully not too late for supper.

A few “first impression” pictures. This hotel is massive. The later pictures are taken from one of the restaurants on the 4th floor, where Reception is situated. Even so late, I partook of a gorgeous vegetarian “three curries of the day” dish. Futuristic is no exaggeration when describing this enormous hotel. This trip around the world is no “flash-in-the-pan” special treat. Every single day has been extraordinarily special in its own way. “The Dream” is now inadequate terminology for this far-fetched fantasy of a journey. In 1983, an American journalist wrote of me, “he had the wide eyed enthusiasm of a child who had found a train under his Christmas tree!” I cringed when reading the author’s impression I must have given him when being interviewed on a very early Orient Express trip. I fear I might have been giving a similar impression to people I have met along the way on this oddysey. It’s hard to believe I am now in Singapore, letting a curry settle, as dance pop music serenades gently, before I go to sleep on the 19th floor of this giant monolith.

More tomorrow as I take in as much as I am able tomorrow.

Thanks for reading, and for your feedback, David.