Singapore is a very unique location as it not only serves as a city, but also as a sovereign country, making the entire city a single country. It consists of one main island and 63 smaller islands, and is considered one of the few and most prominent city-states. As a city-state, it serves as the capital and the nation. It was originally a trading post of the British Empire. During WWII, Singapore was occupied by Japan and returned to British control upon Japan’s surrender in 1945. In 1963, it became a part of Malaysia, and in 1965 it gained its own independence as a sovereign nation.

Singapore has developed into a top business nation. Singapore has the highest PPP-adjusted GDP per capita in the world and is the only country in Asia with a AAA sovereign credit rating from all major rating agencies. The skyline is remarkable and the city well planned. It is one of the cleanest and organized cities we’ve ever visited.

Today we were guided by a Tours by Locals guide, Edwin, who has lived here his entire life. Singapore is a melting pot of Chinese, Malays, Indian and other cultures. Edwin’s family came to Singapore from China in the 1800s. He shared how Singapore is intentional in encouraging its citizens to integrate with each other; housing, employment and land use is all designed to benefit all. In fact, the nation celebrates all of the religious holidays; New Years Day, Chinese New Year, Good Friday, Vesak Day, Deepavali, Christmas Day, Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, recognizing the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu and Muslim religions of its citizens. Amazing!

We started by visiting Merlion Park where the iconic fountain stands along the waterfront of the Sands Marina Bay. The Sands Marina Hotel looms over the bay, with its unique architecture and attention-grabbing design. We visited the historic general post office building, which has been converted to a gorgeous Fullerton Hotel and went inside to see its beautiful lobby.

Chinatown was next on the agenda and we wandered the streets, admiring the large murals depicting historic Chinese households, street life and entertainment. We tasted a traditional Pandon cake, which we all agreed reminded us of angel food cake.

We returned to the Sands Marina Bay Hotel to take the super-fast elevator to the world’s highest park on the top. Opened in 2010, on reclaimed ground that was once the Singapore Strait, the complex hosts a massive mall, a convention center, a casino and the hotel. The view was spectacular, especially of the harbor where hundreds of ships awaited to pick-up or drop-off their goods. We could also see the Apple store on an island in the bay, which we visited later in the day.

Back on the ground, we proceeded to visit Little India and Kampong Galem, both unique in their architecture, markets and restaurants. While the government might require integrated housing, the historic neighborhoods continue to exist to support cultural meals, groceries and goods. Edwin dropped us off at the Raffles Hotel so we could enjoy a signature Singapore Sling drink.

After enjoying a cool drink and a rest, we taxied back to the Marina Bay Sands to visit the world’s only Apple Store on an island. But beforehand, we decided to pop into the Marina Bay Casino for a look, alas, there was no “popping in”. We had to present our passports and go through facial recognition before being allowed in. Once inside, we marveled over the size and scope of the facility. On our way out, we again had to provide passports and facial recognition. This was serious security.

We accessed the Apple store from inside the mall. Up an escalator, we soon were inside the bubble building and it was a really cool experience. The design was open and modern, and despite being made of glass, and 95F outside, it was very cool inside. Marshall had a great time looking at all of the displays and wandering around. To leave, we walked outside onto a short ramp that takes you back to the promenade.

We killed some time and grabbed dinner along the bay, and at 8:00pm, we enjoyed the light show, which incorporated lasers, fountains and lighting, synchronized to music. The show lasted 15 minutes and though we were exhausted, we all agreed it was worth the wait. We stood along the right side of the display and we were so close, we could feel the mist. Afterwards, we caught a cab back to the ship and were back onboard by 9:00pm, long before our all-aboard of 10:30pm.

Tomorrow: Sea Day