First Stop - Singapore

The idiot's war forced us to get tickets on Qatar reimbursed and rebook on Singapore Airlines. Once the war began, prices more than doubled. Many thanks butthead.

The day we wished to fly to France, we couldn't find seats. We decided to book a stopover in Singapore. If we must stop in Singapore, why not book into the Marina Bay Sands and do so for 5 nights.

Here we are, in our customary multi-room suite overlooking the Singapore Straits.

We arrive just in time to enjoy the aperitif hour at Wakuda. But where is James? He and Mia are returning from South Korea. Sammy is on holiday in New York. We are left in the able hands of Marcin, the General Manager, and Chuan, Sammy's able replacement. We know Marcin. He's from Poland and has worked in Adelaide.

First order of business is to retrieve the two bottles of sake Sammy set aside for CJ. Once Chuan finds and delivers the bottles, we now have instant credibility. He serves us Blossom Moon, the Spring cousin of the delicious Autumn Moon Sammy served on our last visit. We have good visit with Chuan and Marcin.

Day 2 is R&R day. Brekkie is our usual Asian fare. CJ continues to doctor the laksa or chicken soup with unimaginable quantities of killer additives.

Today the treat is red dragon fruit. On another day the morning fruit specialty will be longons.

At 3pm we have a late lunch at Afternoon Tea. It's nearly enough to call it an early dinner.

At half past five we rendezvous with James at Wakuda and the fun begins. James bears a gift, a bottle of rum from the Philippines. Aperitif hour has a set menu. Carol orders one of the two cocktails. James ignores her order and prepares a special strawberry cocktail for her in place of the one on the menu.