Day two in Singapore

We've just returned to our hotel after another very full day on the sightseeing circuit. The weather was good this morning, so we took a ride on the Singapore Flyer, which is Asia's tallest observation wheel. I must admit, the views from the top were amazing. We were blown away by the number of ships which filled the harbour waiting to unload their goods, there were literally ships as far as the eye could see. We shouldn't have been surprised, as Singapore is one of the world's busiest ports.The other piece of trivia about Singapore that nobody on our tourist bus last night knew, (but I did, not bragging or anything) is that Singapore's biggest income earner is manufacturing, specifically petrol and oil rigs. Singapore buys crude oil from the Middle East, refines it and then sells it around the world. Indeed, the petrol we put into our cars in Australia is mostly refined in Singapore.

Gardens by the Bay from the Singapore Flyer

A soccer field which actually sits on the water. I don't know what happens if someone kicks the ball too far.

After the Singapore Flyer, we took the five kilometre long cable car to Sentosa Island, which contains an adventure theme park, luxury hotels and hundreds of tourist shops. However, we left the tourist hordes to explore Fort Siloso. Fort Siloso was one of the British forts which have guarded over the entrance to Singapore for over 100 years. It also played an important role in the surrender of Singapore to the Japanese in 1942. Singapore was thought by the British, and Australia, to be impregnable to attack, due to the massive guns which protected the harbour. So successful was the knowledge of this that the Japanese surprised the British and Australian troops stationed there by attacking from the north instead. Although our troops held on against the attack for almost two weeks, the eventual unconditional surrender to the Japanese imperial forces was inevitable. It was this fall of Singapore which eventually forced the Australian government to demand the return of Australian troop from Europe, something Churchill was not prepared to do, to defend our country. It also signalled the end of our historic military alliance with the British in favour of our new found defenders, the United States. For Australia, the focus of the war would now very much shift from the defence of Europe to the battle for control of the Pacific.

Singapore harbour full of ships, taken from Sentosa Island.

The beaches at Sentosa Island

Intriguing looking buildings. Singapore is a very futuristic looking city.

Alison surveying the guns of Fort Siloso. They turned out to be pretty useless against the invading Japanese Imperial Army.

This evening, we round off our two-day stopover with a river cruise, which we are really looking forward to. Apart from the stifling humidity, which has seen us wilting more than once, it's been a great couple of days. Singapore really is a lovely, diverse and friendly city to visit, and we get to do it all again in four weeks; how lucky are we!