Singapore, Take Two: Peanuts, Ferris Wheels, and a Michelin Star

After an epic Thailand adventure and one glorious sea day (blog post on that joyride coming soon), we docked in Singapore—again! Thanks to a previous day lost to illness, we were determined to wring every last drop out of our second visit. And let’s just say, we did not disappoint ourselves.

Spinning High and Slinging Drinks

First up: the Singapore Flyer, the world’s second largest Ferris wheel (we’ll let you guess who's number one). This 28-minute sky spin offers panoramic views of the city’s sparkling skyline. From up there, you get a true sense of just how vertical and dense Singapore’s architecture is. It’s like someone took a city and clicked “stack” in Photoshop.

After taking in the view and resisting the urge to start narrating our own IMAX documentary, we headed off to the iconic Raffles Hotel for our second round of Singapore Slings. Unlike our previous visit where we waited in line with hopeful tourists and sweaty anticipation, this time we came with a tour group—which meant zero waiting. We were ushered upstairs like cocktail royalty, and boom! Cold, colorful Slings appeared on our table like magic.

Fun Fact Sidebar: The Singapore Sling was created in 1915 by bartender Ngiam Tong Boon at Raffles. It was designed to be a socially acceptable cocktail for women to drink in public. Now it’s a rite of passage for tourists and a pink badge of honor.

Peanuts, too, were part of the tradition—served in canvas sacks right on the table. The best part? You toss the shells on the floor! (Sorry, neat freaks.) The peanuts were smaller than the baseball game variety, but just as tasty. Mike even found a rare four-nut peanut. Jackpot.

Gift shop damage was done, and we were off to Clarke Quay, a riverside hub buzzing with nightlife, restaurants, and some seriously photogenic bridges. Here, we hopped on a traditional wooden-hulled boat for a cruise down the Singapore River.

We drifted past food stalls, luxury hotels, and old colonial buildings now reborn as bars and boutiques. As we glided under bridges and waved at passersby, the boat brought us to the iconic Marina Bay Sands and the legendary Merlion—the half-lion, half-fish mascot of Singapore, spouting water like a fountain of national pride.

Fun Fact Sidebar: The name "Singapore" comes from the Sanskrit words Singa (lion) and Pura (city), meaning "Lion City"—which explains the lion-headed icon.

Geography Sidebar: Singapore is a city-state island at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a population over 5 million packed into just 280 square miles, it’s a masterclass in urban efficiency and design.

After our river journey, we zipped back to the ship via MRT, Singapore’s ultra-clean, super-efficient subway system. If teleportation ever becomes real, it will probably look like this.

Michelin Meals and Korean Magic

With a quick rinse and wardrobe refresh, we hopped in a Grab (still the MVP of Southeast Asia travel) and headed to dinner at Nae:um, a Michelin-starred Korean restaurant tucked into the city’s Korean quarter near Chinatown.

Tired of cruise ship buffet lines (oh, the tragedy), we were craving something special. Nae:um, opened by Chef Louis Han in 2021, delivered in spades. The restaurant’s concept revolves around aroma and memory, offering curated tasting menus in themed "Episodes."

We dined on Episode 9: A Hancock Prelude, a six-course journey that took our taste buds on a soul-searching, spice-loving, umami-hugging adventure. The atmosphere was elegant but relaxed, with an open kitchen buzzing like a Michelin-powered beehive. There were almost as many people working behind the counter as there were guests dining.

The staff was ultra-attentive, checking in often (but not too often), and Chef Han himself brought out multiple dishes and chatted with us. Extra points for the pull-out drawer in the table stocked with extra utensils—a tiny but genius detail. Mike got a no-raw-fish adaptation, no problem.

Cultural Sidebar: Korean cuisine is rooted in bold flavors, fermented ingredients, and shared meals. Fine dining interpretations like Nae:um’s bring tradition into the future, preserving authenticity while elevating presentation.

The wine pairing? Let’s just say we’re picky. Some were great, others missed—but we appreciated the creativity.

Back to the ship, bellies full and spirits high, we fell into a deep sleep powered by kimchi and gratitude.

Sky High to Street Savvy

Our final day in Singapore began with a visit to the Marina Bay Sands. You’ve seen the photos—the three towers with a surfboard-shaped rooftop casually balancing on top. Inside, it’s a glitzy, high-end mall with designer everything and air conditioning so intense you’ll wish you brought a parka.

We lunched at LAVO, an Italian restaurant perched at the top with sweeping views. We had pizza, salad, and some truly great French fries—because sometimes, comfort food just hits the spot. The views were as good as the risotto, and that’s saying something.

By day four, we were navigating the city like seasoned pros. MRT? Got it. Grab app? Nailed it. Crossing the street without getting run over by electric scooters? Mastered.

Singapore has a unique vibe: it’s clean, orderly, and feels like the future... with a few caveats. There’s a bit of a Big Brother atmosphere. Think: tons of rules (no gum, no jaywalking), tons of cameras, and a very visible social order. But the people seem to get along well, and everything works. It’s safe, it’s efficient, and it’s gorgeous.

Social Note: Singapore has strict laws designed to maintain public order and cleanliness. While they can seem intense to outsiders, locals often cite them as key to the country’s success and quality of life.

Would we come back again? Absolutely. Singapore grows on you — like a perfectly trimmed orchid in a meticulously pruned rooftop garden.

Sawa dee ka! (Okay yes, we know that’s Thai, but we’re on a Southeast Asia kick. Bear with us.)