Tag Archives: RKS 2025 Travel

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 11October2025: Hokkien Temple in Chinatown

Singapore 11October2025: Hokkien Temple in Chinatown Away from the modern urbanity we head to a more rustic and “authentic” destination in Singapore, a Hokkien temple; Thian Hock Keng Temple located in the heart of Chinatown dedicated to Mazu, the goddess of the sea and protector of sailors, the temple was built between 1839 and 1842Continue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 11October2025: Hokkien Temple in Chinatown”

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 11October2025: Singapore Panoramic Tour: Is Singapore Soulless?

Singapore 11October2025: Singapore Panoramic Tour: Is Singapore Soulless? “Singapore Panoramic Tour” sounds a bit easy peasy just what the doctor ordered for haggard jet laggers. On a luxury coach (no WC facilities) at 09:15. First stop Merlion Park at the Esplanade Bridge. Right behind us one views the Singapore skyline with innumerable skyscrapers many withContinue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):Singapore 11October2025: Singapore Panoramic Tour: Is Singapore Soulless?”

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)

Singapore 11October2025: Cultural Enrichment Session on Singapore: Getting the Quietly Obscene Gesture from a Trumpist Jagged sleep. Nightmare about giving a botched political speech. A portent of political mischief to come momentarily? Given this is the first day of our tour and our group of 18 are Americans (5) and Canadians recently arrived suffering fromContinue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)”

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):

Singapore 10October2025: Yet Another Parsimonious “Welcome Reception to Meet Your Fellow Travellers” Given the hefty sum paid for this tour upon reading in the itinerary “Welcome Reception” one expects somewhat of a full-blown reception with nibbles, cocktails, wine and perhaps a bit of music. But my past experience with our tour company ABC International inContinue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version):”

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

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

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 RestaurantContinue reading “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”

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

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)

THE TOUR DIRECTOR: The glue that binds the group together Your tour will have a tour director travelling with you for your entire tour present when you arrive up to your departure and handle all administrative details in between. Part drill sergeant. Part parental figure. Part diplomat. Caregiver. Interpreter. Friend. Part object of blame. TheContinue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)”

RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)

GROUP TOUR PERSONALITIES: THE WINDBAG The windbag never stops talking. To fellow travellers. To the tour guide and director. To anyone fortunate to have been born with ears. Then those long-complicated questions with a microphone in hand on the tour bus. Digging into the minutiae and the weeds with questions of importance only to theContinue reading “RKS 2025 Travel: Destination Southeast Asia (Short Attention Span Version)”