Our travel adventure plans began a few years ago with the receipt of a brochure from our college alumni organization advertising a trip to Egypt and Jordan. Our daughter Lisa and husband Ray planned on joining us as well. Due to continuing wars in the region the trip was cancelled twice. We decided to apply that money to “Treasures of Southeast Asia.” Marla and I have traveled in this region for many years but the trip itinerary looked very good so we all agreed to go. After a 17 1/2 hour flight from San Francisco we landed in Singapore and checked into the Shangri-La Hotel.

On our first morning we all gathered for an informative presentation on “Contemporary Singapore.” On the left is Victor (Viroj Vattanakul) our guide for the entire trip. He was the most amazing, accomplished, and sensitive guide we’ve ever had! He made sure Marla received low sodium cuisine in each country for her heart health among other things.

We had a lecture about Singapore’s unique history, culture and religions on the first morning. Marla and I had a number of sales agencies who represented our fabric lines over the years in Singapore, but had never learned the full history.

This was the educational immersion we needed!

Marla with our Singapore tour leader.

When visiting Singapore be prepared for high heat and humidity!

The historic Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall. The statue is Sir Thomas Stamford Bingley Raffles who served as governor of the Dutch East Indies between 18121 and 1816. 

We enjoyed seeing old Singapore along with the new. This is the historic Fullerton Hotel. The iconic building was the “New General Post Office” erected in 1928.

In the background is the incredible Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

I’m next to the famous Merlion, the official mascot of Singapore.

Our daughter Lisa could easily be a United Nations’ goodwill amabassador! She had her picture taken with some tourists from Viet Nam.

Worshippers in front of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Singapore’s Chinatown district.

A worshiper prays to Bodhisattva Cintamanicakra Avalokitesvara.

A large bronze bell in the temple.

We loved our temple tour.

Rows of glass Buddha sculptures in the temple.

This is a statue of a guardian diety outside the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple.

Marla walks with the group tour of “Koon Seng Road.”

On Koon Seng Road you find excellent examples of Peranakan architecture. These colorful shophouses were built in this iconic style from 1900 to 1940. The Dutch colonial administrators in Malacca calculated housing tax based on the buildings width. This resulted in long narrow houses built with courtyards and air wells for better ventilation. This style was imported to Singapore. Today these residences are worth millions of dollars.

We took an evening tour of Gardens By The Bay which is always beautiful and fun to visit.

A giant indoor waterfall in the gardens.

I do not have a green thumb, but I love flowers and gardens!

These visitors were beautifully dressed.

We climbed many floors up to an observation platform overlooking the beautiful gardens.

We took Lisa and Ray’s kids to Singapore and the Gardens in 2019.

We stayed for the Rhapsody light and sound show at Gardens by the Bay. The show features the Supertrees coming alive with colors and lights synchronized to a soundtrack, and it runs twice nightly.

Next week we’ll tour the beautiful Perankan Museum and learn more about this unique culture.

Photos: Dick Gentry. Not to be used without permission.