On the way to Singapore

Singapore from our hotel window

If you're more of a viewer, rather than a reader, there is a 17 minute video of this trip on youtube.

Our route to Singapore was through LA and Hong Kong. We started out somewhat nervously when the United Airlines agent struggled to produce luggage tags because we were flying two separate itineraries. The LA to Hong Kong leg was 15 hours leaving at 10:15 PM and arriving at 6:15 AM. Since it was dark the entire flight and Mary was taking a muscle relaxant, we both slept well. We arrived in Singapore after another 3 1/2  flight and were happy to see our bags. There were ships everywhere as we flew close to the island, since Singapore guards the Singapore straights, a key shipping channel.
   Our first impression of Singapore was how clean the city was, the amazing amount of construction going on, and how efficient everything seemed to be. We had one of the landmarks of the city visible from our hotel window - the surfing board style hotel on the waterfront.  Singapore is an island, just off the coast of Malaysia. It was a British colony, but has been an independent country since 1965. The island is a major financial hub for the world, it's downtown area is crowded with high rise banks and they are reclaiming more land to actually move the financial center there.

Bronze Drum

   We freshened up then proceed to walk with Connie and Enzo to the Asian Civilization museum. The most interesting portion of the museum was the artifacts from Southeast Asia: everything from bronze drums to textiles to Buddhist artifacts. The exhibit included items from many of the different cultures and tribes of SE Asia. The traveling exhibit featured Buddhist art from Thailand including items from Ayutthaya which we will visit in a few days. In addition, there were sections on China and Western Asia, filled with Islamic items.

Makana, sea creature from Hindu mythology