Singapore (GMT +8)

Wow... has it really been 10 weeks?

Just got back from quite an enjoyable farewell dinner out with my new friend and colleague, Alok, and running mate from the States, Steve.

Enjoyed a terrific dinner with drinks and a ton of laughs at a Japanese restaurant in Chimes right next to my hotel, finally getting back to my room at 2230 to finish packing!  I am soooo looking forward to getting home to Rosie and my 'normal' life and, closing this chapter in my professional life!

The week's been extremely busy starting off early morning on Saturday, 1/8/11, ~0030 in Changi Airport catching Steve coming in from Washington, DC.  It's been relatively non-stop since then between showing Steve the ropes all over Singapore and tying out my last work related tasks with the local leadership team here and submitting my trip report.  It's nice to be done... with this phase/round anyway.  There's a high probability that I'll be back in a couple of months if all continues down this path.

Steve on the marina with Marina Bay Sands Hotel behind

On the Helix bridge

Helix bridge

Gondola rides in the Casino Mall

Better view of the Gondolas

Marina Barrage park

Singapore Flyer

Commercial flotilla in the Straits of Singapore

Steve 650' up on the Skypark

One of several hot tubs on top of the Marina Bay Sands

Infinity pool, Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Steve and the pool

Enjoying a cold Tiger beer

2 Tiger beers atop the Skypark = $37/SG

This Ferrari and one other were available for rent!

Just before we climbed aboard the Flyer

Steve in the flyer

Like spokes of a wheel, the cables that support the Flyer

Marina Barrage - project to turn the bay into a fresh water reservoir

Marina Bay Sands Hotel/Casino complex

This has been an amazing experience and I've appreciated the opportunity... but, time to get home.  :-)

All the sightseeing I got done by myself, with Roy and with Rosie over the holidays enabled me to show Steve the ropes as a good host this past week.  Believe me, he's taken advantage of every situation and really enjoyed himself and has acclimated nicely to this part of the world.  I leave him in theatre to fend for himself over the next week.

Little Arabia from the Flyer

At the apex of the Flyer circle

Marina Bay Sands Hotel & Casino

Steve in Chinatown

I spent a lot of time on this Street

On to Sentosa Island

Reclamation activity to the west

Steve coming out of the Jewel Cable Car gift shop

One of many attractions requiring hands-on

Steve at the base of the 37m Merlion

Sentosa Monorail

View from top  of the Merlion looking south

Some of the cool resorts on the southern part of Sentosa

View towards Sentosa World Resort

Steve on top of the Merlion

No words needed

On our way back to Harbour Front

2 cruise ships awaiting departure

Harbour Front, Vivo City and downtown Singapore in the background

Coming to the end of our ride

My last official chore is this close out blog... before I shut everything down and hit the rack for a 0500 wake-up call followed by a 0530 taxi ride to Changi and United Airlines flight on my initial leg to Narita, Japan.  For the first time since I can't remember, I upgraded to BusinessFirst for the 13hr leg from Japan to Newark - and I'm looking forward to it!!!  Cost me some miles and $$ but, ask me what I think after I land in New Jersey!

Besides re-acclimating to the East Coast, I've got several 'books' to work on publishing from my recent blogs in order to capture and archive this rare opportunity of a lifetime on, mostly, some one else's nickle.  Will be fun!

To all of you loyal blog followers, my apologies for the temporary outage in Australia and I hope you were able to appreciate a bit of what I was enjoying while over here in Asia!

Changi Airport Star Alliance Lounge

Star Alliance Lounge

My ride to Narita, 777-100

Until my next blog...  Later!