RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 10October2025: A Gringo and His Singaporean Dollars Are Soon Separated

Singapore 10October2025: A Gringo and His Singaporean Dollars Are Soon Separated

We met a few fellow tour members in the lobby of Singapore Shangri-La and decided to have a Singapore Sling at the landmark Raffles Hotel as after all that cocktail was invented there. We took a taxi to the Raffles and followed the lobby signs to the bar. At the entrance to the bar a swell of gringos mostly from the United States were braving the lineup and a 40-minute wait. A Singapore Sling for $44 Singaporean dollars ($47CDN). What a gouge! Headed instead to the Raffles’ courtyard bar for a Swiss Sling at half the price. How quickly a gringo and his Singaporean dollars can be separated.

View from the Raffles courtyard bar

Stunning example of British Colonial architecture.

RKS 2026 CANADIAN WINE: Jackson-Triggs Shiraz from Niagara

You are more likely to see “Syrah” instead of “Shiraz” on Ontario wine labels. Is Jackson-Triggs hinting at an Australian Shiraz experience with their label for this wine?

Aged in a combination of American and French oak.

AROMA: Indeed, this has the richness and intensity one might expect from an Aussie Shiraz, but such attributes do not necessarily make a good Syrah. Definite Niagara in the wine but a richer than ordinary Niagara Syrah! Blackberry, blueberry, cherry pie and dark chocolate complimented by precise oak.

PALATE: Moderate but solid tannins with a texture of perky sophistication. Toasty. Peppery black fruit. Its rough creaminess may be a question of youth reticently guarding its fruit performance.

PERSONALITY: Consider me a rich Niagara Syrah. I can’t hide from my roots. I am not Australian! Plenty of that on the market.

FOOD MATCH: Monkfish slowly cooked (for 25 minutes) in a just about ready rich tomato sauce including garlic, onions, Kalamata olives, capers and San Marzano tomatoes.

CELLARBILITY: Will improve in the cellar. Consume prior to end of 2029.

PRICE: $30.

RKS 2026 CANADIAN WINE RATING: 91/100. Decanter 2025 World Wine Awards 90.

(Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate 2022 Grand Reserve Shiraz, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Jackson-Triggs, Niagara-on-the-Lake,750 mL, 13.5%).

RKS Literature: Frankenstein’s Creation Wretched, Miserable and Alone (Mary Shelley)

“Like Adam, I was apparently united by no link to any other being in existence; but his state was far different than mine in every other respect. He had come forward from the hands of God a perfect creature, happy and prosperous, guarded by the especial care of his Creator; he was allowed to converse with and acquire knowledge from beings of superior nature, but I was wretched, helpless and alone. Many times I considered Satan as the fitter emblem of my condition…..”

Mary Shelley, “Frankenstein”, 1818.

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY CONTEMPLATES HIS DESTINY AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY

RORY CONTEMPLATES HIS DESTINY AND SENSE OF COMMUNITY

I was born late August 2025 in Denfield, Ontario. I have 4 brothers and sisters all destined to leave the warmth and protection of their mother to play in the lottery of life.

I recall Bob and Fay paid me a visit four weeks after my birth. They picked me up and sweet talked me. Bob looked in my eyes and we rubbed noses. I almost pooped on his shoe! Then in November departure from Denfield with Bob, Fay and their son A who sat in the back seat wrapping me up in a towel to keep me cozy warm. Yes I peed in the towel.

I was both frightened and excited to arrive at my new home. I ran around and around the walls of the main floor whimpering in awe at what the real world was throwing at me. I slept in the crate and woke up early in the morning crying and yelping being very fearful. Bob had to sweet talk me and rock me in his arms so I could fall asleep.

You have read about my adventures here to the present day so I will not bore you by repeating them.

My destiny is tied to Bob, Fay and A They have been good to me living with my stubbornness but playing with me, training me, encouraging me, feeding me, walking me, cleaning up my messes, bathing me, brushing my coat, taking me to the animal doctor and teaching me manners and some cool tricks. They sometimes become cross with me but give me a break saying that I am only a puppy but you are smarter than some of your errors may indicate. If my life is comparable to a lottery I have won the big prize. I even am blessed with a godfather Mr. G!

My community is all that I encounter including Dash, Mooky, Billy, Nigel, Remy and Jasper and their masters. I see them on my walks. All of them let me jump on them and give them my happy greeting. Billy and I play fight. My community will grow.

What adventures await me?

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version): Singapore 10October2025: Garden of Eden at Singapore Shangri-La

Singapore 10October2025: Garden of Eden at Singapore Shangri-La

After breakfast up to room to smear on sunscreen and take it easy. We arrived a day before our tour commences to help acclimatize to the time difference. Feel groggy but not excessively so.

To the left of the reception desk are some very impressive gardens, gorgeous creations with tropical flowers, ponds, waterfalls and koi. Serene and unique for the interior of a hotel.

Outside more gardens and a wooden shell structure covered in orchids from its base to its ceiling. Humid but bearable this morning. Our driver in from the airport said there are three climates in Singapore: rain, sun and cloudy.

Walked down the entrance street to the hotel, Orchard Street to the start of the main shopping street. Well manicured winding streets with high end condos and “executive residences” for corporate executives from abroad working in Singapore’s financial centres. No toiling masses here!

“Lost in Puppydom: Rory Dylan Stephen’s Puppydom”: RORY’S POSEIDON ADVENTURE

RORY’S POSEIDON ADVENTURE

Bob and I watched “The Poseidon Adventure” with Gene Hackman, Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters the other day on Turner Classic Movies. A passenger ship sinking!

We are in the midst of a blizzard starting last night and continuing into the afternoon. As Bob says, “A real old-fashioned Canadian blizzard!”

Oh JOYOUS SNOW!

Bob opened the sliding door to the backyard and out I ventured as I sunk like a leaking ship into the snow. For a moment I was like a submarine in “Das Boot” or a tank under the river in “Der Tiger” with my nose like a periscope! I managed to pee and rushed back in not wishing to be completely submerged and sink to the bottom. I was not blubbering in fear like Shelley Winters and Bob was no gruff and belligerent Ernest Borgnine trying to save me. WE MADE IT!

Then again plunging into a snowdrift on the front steps. I struggled avoiding the fate of so many on the Titanic. Bob picked me up and we had a jolly walk following the tread marks on the street.

I have heard there is a spring and a summer in Toronto. What are those seasons like?

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 10October2025: Breakfast at Singapore’s Shangri-La Beyond Belief: Dazed and Confused With a Happy Gut

Singapore 10October2025: Breakfast at Singapore’s Shangri-La Beyond Belief: Dazed and Confused With a Happy Gut

So much for the fantastic sleep even with the little white pill. Woke up at 02:30 and 05:30. Dealing with a 12 hour time difference.

Stumbled down to breakfast and the bright colours of the breakfast dining room Line Restaurant assisted with wakeup. Psychedelic 1962 and where is Twiggy? Minimalist and clean with windows offering a view of lush gardens. Three styles of breakfast cuisine; Chinese, Indian and “International” aka bacon, eggs, toast and beans as after all Singapore was under British rule for many years. Chicken congee with hardboiled eggs and chicken floss, dim sum and Singaporean noodles for me. Who are those turkey Brits eating beans with toast and stewed tomatoes? Mango, papaya and dragon fruit. A buffet breakfast from heaven! But small cups of tea with tea bags???? Bizarre given this is Asia. Where are the teapots with looseleaf tea? Highest quality breakfast if not memorable! What a way to start the day. Dazed and confused with a happy gut!

RKS 2026 Wine: A Good Perspective on Portugal’s Douro?

2025 witnessed a dearth of Douro wine in Ontario for reasons unknown but we start 2026 with a LCBO Vintages 10January release with 5 Portuguese wines 3 of which are from the Douro.

What about Perspectiva 2020 Red from the Douro? Does it offer a good perspective of a Douro red?

Aged 12 months in French oak.

Aroma: Black cherry, black raspberry, Portuguese roasted almonds, licorice root and discrete vanilla.

Palate: Moderate tannins. Clean. Vanilla bean. Pomegranate. Blueberry pie. Black cherry. Raspberry jam. Moderately long finish.

Personality: I am a solid Douro wine absolutely dependable and not flashy. Pardon the expression “excellent value” but at $14 I can live with that tired phrase.

Food Match: Douro duck salad preferably overlooking the river below on a Douro November day with woodsmoke in the air and knowing Douro pancakes are being served for dessert.

Cellarbility: Consume by 2026-year end.

Price: $14 CDN.

RKS 2026 Wine Rating: 89/100. Roger Voss 91.

(Perspectiva 2020 Reserva, Vinho Tinto, Douro DOC, Santos & Seixo, Medroes, Portugal, 750 mL, 14%).

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):SINGAPORE ARRIVAL 9October2025

SINGAPORE ARRIVAL 9October2025

Arrived in Hong Kong from Toronto late afternoon. Beaten and bedraggled after 15 hours on Cathay Pacific. Huge airport. Boarded Cathay Pacific for a 3 ½ hour flight to Singapore. Bulkhead seats. Bizarre curry chicken over rice. Close to spoiled fruit salad and browned lettuce with processed ham slices on a bed of slimy quinoa. Cathay Pacific food this time on par (not a compliment) with Air Canada. I stick with a Betsy lager and more or less pass out opened mouthed and snoring.

Present Singapore arrival card electronically and then through customs. Our 56 year old driver Tan Eng Tiong had worked in Toronto for a real estate developer company. Gave an interesting talk about public housing in Singapore and not the public housing we have in Toronto. Generous governmental subsidies make it the predominate form of housing in Singapore. Based on a 99-year lease requiring a 5 year no disposition period. There are an incredible number of highrises. The wealthy can own their own property. Foreigners can purchase property but must pay a stamp duty (oh such a British concept) of 60%. Tan also mentioned governmental social engineering in public housing where residency based on the proportion of ethnic groups in the Singaporean population. The major ethnic groups are Chinese, Malay and Indian. Checked into the Shangri-La after being up for 30 hours. Orchid balls throughout the reception area are delightfully unusual. Exceptional room. Ready for the sleep of a lifetime!

My only impression of Singapore at this point (in late evening darkness) is relief that the journey has ended, the roads are superb and there are highrises everywhere.