Arriving in the early hours of the morning we all prepared to dock. Friendly staff from Nongsa Point Marina were there to give assistance and it was then back to bed for all, waking up to the peaceful sound of silence. The stays rattling in the wind, boats reflected in the emerald glass like water. Friends from Bali seemed to have found the marina as a good stop off. I got the chance to say a quick hello in the later part of the morning. Monika and I gave STARSHIP a good wash down and crossed our fingers that the trip across to Singapore was going to be pleasant.

As we departed from the beautiful bay in which Nongsa Point marina is found we could make out the Skyline of Singapore on the horizon. Singapore lies almost on the equator and is a short fast ferry ride to the islands of Raui. In the later years it has become an affluent city-state that even with the lack of natural resources has become the source of power of economic trade through Asia. This feat itself has been achieved in less than two hundred years, the ugly duckling became a swan and the marshy island is now a modern industrial nation.

Modern Singapore as seen from the sea is a city built of concrete, thousands of different types of glass, a multitude of shopping malls, fashion houses and luxury hotels. You can eat out at a variety of international restaurants, be wined and dined on a variety of foreign wines. It’s hard to believe that this is a part of the east. But don’t despair there are still many aspects of Singapore that have traditional eastern influences; you can enjoy the great taste of Asia right at your doorstep.

There are the crowded streets of Chinatown laced with fortunes to be told, busy temples and tricycles with sidecars everywhere. This is apparently the best place to find traditional Sari material in a flurry of hues. The rickshaws are slightly modernised with the added bonus of an in house stereo. Raffles is one of Singapore’s most illustrious hotels and will give you a little flavour of the old era. Fancy a slow waltz with a dry martini under a wooden ceiling fan on a hot summers evening, it is definitely the place. Otherwise if you prefer the local jazz scene take a stroll down to ‘Harry’s’ and you will find it very pleasurable and soulful.

As for Raffles marina our entry was one of high class. A friendly gentleman in a flashy marina boat headed out into the busy waterways of Singapore to guide us into the marina. Entering a slightly tight passage Charles and Trevor gave us directions on where to put fenders and in what order they wanted lines. Standing dockside at least ten of the marina boys watched on as STARSHIP squeezed into a cosy dock that fit like a glove. After adjusting the lines and giving STARSHIP a quick spruce up it was time for a swim in the pool, one of the Marina’s many facilities. Passing Britta and DJ at the bar we headed into the pool area. Monika, James and I were all excited at the notion of unsalted water. If you are wondering, it has been a very long time since any of us have been swimming in a pool so it was a novelty to say the least. Splashing about for a while we became water logged and decided it was time to head back to the boat and see what the rest of the team was up to. Everyone along the way has been saying "Welcome to Singapore", very friendly.

Britta is leaving to return to Germany tonight, so we all went out for dinner to say farewell and wish her safe travels. She has been a very friendly and bubbly character to have on board and will be missed. The evening affair was something of a culture shock to have rows of bars and restaurants. We ate at a local place called Newton Circus, the food certainly had quite a bit of spice and the local beer Tiger pretty was tasty. There was a variety of local cuisines with loads of flavour but more about the night life of Singapore tomorrow.

See you then, enjoy the sunrise if you’re up.

Lou