Singapore
Saturday, December 6, 2025
After that, we did the OCBC Skyway and the observation deck. The views over Marina Bay and the skyline were fantastic. Singapore from above never disappoints.
We jumped back on the Hop-On Hop-Off bus, but there was a marathon in progress, so several routes were temporarily rerouted. No big deal. We rode it over to Zion Riverside Food Centre for lunch.
Perfect timing.
Sophon wanted duck. I wanted Char Kway Teow.
When we got in line it didn’t seem too bad, but within a few minutes the line behind us started growing quickly. As I got closer to the counter, I noticed the stall had a Michelin Bib Gourmand sign. Apparently we either have good instincts… or very good luck.
The portion of Char Kway Teow was massive. I got back to the table first and assumed Sophon would end up helping me finish it.
Wrong.
He showed up with multiple dishes of his own. In the end, we both cleaned our plates. No sharing required. It was that good.
After lunch we hopped back on the bus and discovered the marathon had wrapped up and the routes were back to normal. We got off near The Fullerton Hotel Singapore to see the Merlion — the classic Singapore photo opportunity.
I always get a laugh watching people pose so it looks like the Merlion is spitting water into their mouth. It’s right up there with people “holding up” the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Not exactly original.
By late afternoon we were running on fumes. We grabbed a taxi using Grab — and that’s when my phone died. I had taken so many photos and used it nonstop all day.
Rookie mistake.
Travel rule: always carry a power bank.
We’re staying near Clarke Quay, so that evening we walked around the area. It’s lively, colorful, and buzzing with energy. We eventually found a British pub that looked promising.
It wasn’t.
Service was bad. The food was forgettable. After two days of incredible hawker meals, it felt like a major letdown. We cut our losses and kept walking before heading back to the hotel.
As much as I like 21 Carpenter, it isn’t perfect. The bathroom walls around the sink could use a proper wipe-down. And the bigger issue is noise. There’s a bar across the street. They’ve clearly tried to soundproof the rooms, but when people are yelling at 2:00 AM, you hear it as if you were standing next to them.
Singapore might be one of the cleanest and most efficient cities in the world…
…but drunk people are universal.
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