Trump's and Kim Jong-Un's Visit To Singapore - see what they saw

Donald Trump, President of the United States of America. Photo from Wikipedia.

Problems
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un met in Singapore, happily with a historic handshake and no security problems. Where did they go? What did they see? What did they eat? What did it cost!

Answers
I was delighted that Trump and Kim met in Singapore. What a boost to Singapore's image, spreading worldwide knowledge on the tourist scene.

Landmarks I expected and hoped they would visit. They missed Singapore Night Safari. But Kim saw the Marina Bay Sands hotel with its rooftop, infinity pool, and the riverside walk. Wonderful.

Triple tower of the Marina Bay Sands hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

You can walk around the marina and look up at the hotel. The lower floors are a complex of shopping arcade, upmarket shops, and restaurants. For twenty dollars you can ride up to the observation deck, and the twenty dollars is taken off the price of a drink or food.

The North Korean leader's bill was picked up by Singapore and cost millions, but it put Singapore on the world tourists' map.

Journalists got to see the Fullerton hotel and, I hope some of the surrounding waterside statues which I have described and photographed in previous posts.

I have also shown the parts of the Shangri-la hotel where Trump stayed, not the private tower, but the public areas which you can visit.

Interior of the Fullerton Hotel, Singapore, where journalists stayed. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The doorman at the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The grounds of the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore, where Trump stayed. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The lobby of the Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The public areas of the Shangri-la hotel grounds in Singapore.  Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Sentosa island is another popular tourist area with a beach, a hotel, several attractions.

You won't be flying on a private US air force plane, but you can enjoy great comforts on the award-winning Singapore Airlines.

Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

The Line Restaurant At The Shangri-La Hotel

Co-ordinated colour scheme of orange. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

On a Saturday morning we had to queue five minutes for a table. The manager was efficient. We did not get a window seat near the gorgeous gardens and pool but by a blank interior wall with no decoration. Moral - go early for a table with a view.

The server rushed over and swept the crumbs off the table with a cloth. I prefer the system of brush and crumb container, so no risk of crumbs falling onto the floor underfoot.

I expect if you are at the hotel for two days you are used to the system. I found it confusing. My two companions sent me to fetch juice. The place is huge and no map. I went past the yogurts.

Copious food from the buffet. You can see Indian breads, fruit, baked beans and potatoes and lemon. Lively orange colour table setting. Photo by Angela Lansbury.  Copyright.

The food looked great: Indian food, the pastries. No indication of where to find plates and bowls - which had run out.  I asked for a bowl, waited five minutes The Chinese food.

 I spent ten minutes hunting. Finally, I found the juice. A sign said sparkling wine. I asked. Waited. Eventually a bottle appeared. Prosecco. My favourite.

But I nearly missed the sparkling wine.  My two companions had missed the Prosecco. They would never have found it if I hadn't turned up with it.

I went back for a plate. Then for the eggs and sausages and baked beans.

I didn't find the water until later.

A waitress bringing coffee couldn't find the adjacent table who had ordered another coffee. I suggest tables marked with numbers, like in British pubs. Even if the tables are not marked with numbers, the hotel could have a numbering system on the waiters' notepads. We were distracted because we thought it was our coffee and she was looking for us.

When we asked for the bill, and then the machine for credit card, she disappeared with our bill. Maybe she had not understood or was afraid to ask.

I was so busy hunting for bowls and plates and spoons and knives and forks and water - hardly any time to eat and speak to my friend. Our friend was catching a cruise so she was impatient to check out. We hailed the manager who instantly brought back the bill and the machine.

For the money we paid, $100 for two, you might think wonderful value as the sparkling wine and coffee were included. However, in a historic flagship hotel which proudly proclaims it entertains prime ministers I would expect better decor and service and the Prosecco on arrival, like at a wedding, not just a typed note saying sparkling wine which most people missed.

Nobody said goodbye and thank you and come again.

'Efficient and clean, 'says my husband.

Huge food choice and if you are not rushed and get a window seat I bet you'll be very satisfied. Lots of good things to say. Most people were happy.

However, all in all, an interesting experience.

Shopping
After breakfast, what next? Shopping. No shop. Just a cake shop. Nowhere for our friend who had arrived late last night to buy a Chinese dictionary, guide to Singapore, sarong, swimsuit, orchid jewellery or any Souvenir of Singapore before catching the shuttle to her ship. I suspect the hotel guests in the VIP wing think it's great. See my other posts about the shopping and the Orchid.

After all those calories, a walk around the grounds. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Wonderful 'Orchid'
Make sure you see the Orchid in the grounds. See my other posts on the Shangri-La hotel.

Useful Websites
http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/the-line/
visitsingapore.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, Food Shopping and Window-shopping

Problem
What to buy to take home from the Shangri-la hotel. I feel every major hotel should have at least one shop. Especially a hotel such as the Shangri-La which is not conveniently near a department store nor a corner shop. Why has the shop gone? I presume that the shop was rented out and either the rent charged went up or the shop owner was not making enough money.

Some hotel spas are run on a similar basis. But imagine if the hotel swimming pool was allowed to disappear because the manager could not make enough from the swimming pool bar, and sales of swimsuits. I've been to motels without the pool. Sometimes outdoor pools don't operate in winter, in
the cold or rainy season.

I once got my money back from a hotel which advertised itself as having a pool when none was available. We checked out for the next two nights and complained. (The place was also being removed with missing ceiling tiles and daubs on walls.)

I feel the same about a five-star hotel with no shop. Shopping and eating are considered the two major activities for Singaporeans. (Swimming pools comes a close first, second or third for most holidaymakers. One of my friends booked a day at the Marina Bay Sands hotel so his children could enjoy the rooftop infinity pool.)

I feel that hotels are missing out by not having a second pool only for users of the restaurants who are not residents.

However, the Shangri-La compensates with a pleasant walk. And a food shop next to the lobby door.

From a distance, my first thought was, that's a cake like Rodin's The Thinker. Then I thought Batman, a more likely subject for a cake. Then spider man. You can all argue with each other. He is sitting on a skyscraper. They could probably make any subject, if you had a photo.  He is a cake, yes a cake. You can see the words Custom Made Cakes on the top of the glass.

A cake with a little bear on top.

 Fancy cakes in fancy shapes with vivid colours.

Wow. A carousel cake. Plus little cakes for little guests.

So clever. So intricate. Hours of work. And practise.

The window display of cakes is a delightful stop for Mums towing children past. We admired the car, the Lego brick cake.

At the back of the shop we checked the wine prices. One wine was cheaper in London.

We bought two of the jams. I fancied mango and durian. The other one we chose was calamansi brandy. Unusual.

Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/the-line/
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Hotel_Review-g294265-d302109-Reviews-Shangri_La_Hotel_Singapore-Singapore.html

Author
Angela Lansbury

Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore's - what's it got? A Swimming Pool with flamingo drink holder, and Orchid oasis

The Shangri-La
Opened on 23 April 1971, the hotel is the flagship and the first hotel of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts. The hotel has 747 guestrooms and suites spread over the Tower Wing, Garden Wing and Valley Wing, ...
747 rooms - wow - that's a lot of guests. No wonder the breakfast room was busy. That's without people like us, visiting guests in the hotel.

However, the VIP wing's guests have their own dining room. 

Problem
What can you see and do in a hotel when you aren't a resident and just went for a meal and have no right to use the swimming pool? I took my swimsuit and cap in hope, but we walked around the grounds. Very pleasant too.

The Pool
One swimmer had a pink flamingo in which to balance her drinks. I assumed it belonged to the hotel.

Flamingo support for drinks in the swimming pool at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. This one is bigger than most of the very inexpensive ones offered on Amazon and Ebay, looks more stable, with two outside pieces.

The Lawn
The lawn was green and fine. A nice path between the green. Not that thick straw-like grass which is put down to withstand the feet of footballers in public parks.

Squirrels
I loved the sign about do not feed the squirrels. I did not see any squirrels. Perhaps they had gone elsewhere looking for food. the problem with feeding birds and animals is that they will come back looking for food, grabbing food from plates of those eating outdoors, running off with bags and hats and possessions, even getting aggressive when they expected supplies of food are not given.

Best of all was what I call the oasis or the coconut and what they call the orchid.

The Orchid oasis in the Shangri-La hotel, Singapore.

Inside is a table for two, or one. For evening drinks. Or for one, writing poetry, a short story, or a chapter of a novel, a blog or a diary.

Useful websites:
visitsingapore.com
http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/the-line/
https://www.qoo10.sg/s/CUP-HOLDER-FLOAT?keyword=cup+holder+float
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Inflatable-Drinks-Holders-Floats-Flamingo/dp/B06XZMJJLK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1523760213&sr=8-2&keywords=drinks+holder+flamingo+for+pool
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Flamingo-Floating-Inflatable-Drink-Coke-Can-Cup-Holder-Pool-For-Kid-Bath-Toy-UK/272782590037?hash=item3f831c0055:m:mRa2nRMJbLOUD5D5ZDOWA7Q
http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/about/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La_Hotel_Singapore
For a virtual tour (panoramic video of the grounds) go to
http://www.gardenbyshangrila.com/Virtual_Tour_The_Orchid_At_Shangrila_Shangrila_Garden_Shangrila_Orchids_Seasonal_Orchids_By_Shangrila

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

The Shangri-La Hotel Breakfast Buffet With Prosecco in Singapore

Problem
Where to eat for a Saturday brunch in Singapore?

The Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, door man is his colourful uniform.

 Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Answer
Since our friend was staying at the Shangri-La hotel for one night before a cruise, she had breakfast included and didn't want to go anywhere else. Settled. I was satisfied because it's a lovely hotel and I wanted to see it again. The only negative is finding it. I found the street on a map of Singapore which I picked up at Changi airport. The hotel is not convenient walking distance of any MRT station, so we caught a Grab cab, which is cheaper than a taxi and very fast.

Happy Arrival
The hotel entrance is a delight. So is the lobby.

Sculptures of playing children on the floor.

Birds sculptures overhead.

Spherical sculptures echoing the moon shape door.

A bride-to-be group was sitting in the hall lounge by the window overlooking the gardens. I don't know whether the bride had brought her balloons, bride-to-be, or whether the hotel had provided them, on request and for free or for a fee. Either way, I thought the balloons were delightful. They make the bride-to-be feel important and cherished. They add amusement to the scene. They remind staff to take extra care with bigger smiles and indulgence.

Come on, be honest, I can hear you saying. Is anything missing? yes, a souvenir shop with swimming costumes, sarongs, souvenir tee-shirt, souvenirs for the family back home? The hotel is a long walk from the shops. Our friend wasn't even planning to leave the hotel. Her transfer to the ship was within two hours.

I asked the girl serving in the shop if there were any other shops. She said no. I remembered a shop. So I double checked with one of the porters.

He told me, in typical Singlish, "No more already."  That sounds like a direct translation from Mandarin. Easier than you think to translate into Mandarin.

What would we say in Engish? "Not any more."

We had to queue for the breakfast. My impatient husband wanted to leave and go to the club. However, our friend was adamant that she wanted her free breakfast.

The Buffet At The Line Restaurant
Finding plates or bowls and cutlery, was the first challenge. They had run out.

I went for the juices and spotted a typed sign about sparkling wine.
"Where is the sparkling wine?" I asked. Coming.
I waited. It arrived.

I chose a mixture of Western and Indian food. I could have had Chinese.

We were sat at the back. Alongside a blank wall. No view.

I started with yogurts. Assorted sausage and baked beans. Indian breads. Lots of pastries. Mango juice.

Prosecco. Juice.

Finally, double espresso coffee with milk.

By this time we were all full. So we called for the bill.

The price was S$100 - yes, one hundred Singapore dollars for two. Sounds a lot. Convert that into £75 for two. Call that £37 per person for a buffet brunch all you can eat including unlimited Prosecco. (I had trouble finishing one small glass.) That's about standard for Singapore for a buffet breakfast including sparkling wine and coffee in one of the top hotels.

Perhaps not good value, compared to lunch in Petrus in London - on special offer - including waiter service. But we weren't in London.

Service
What about the service? Nobody looked pleased to see us. The man managing the queue was rushed. He was efficient. What more could he have done/ He could have beamed and said, "Thank you for waiting so patiently," Or, 'Welcome to the Shangri-La!'

It's good to remember where you are. I nearly typed Sheraton.

The two serving girls and the boy were sweet and shy, but slow. Like school leavers. Nobody told us where to find the cutlery and plates nor the drinks such as water and coffee.

In America the cheapest restaurant has staff anxious to get tips which make up their wages. 'My name is. The water is there. The drinks are here.' I can get you anything you want. And so on. I admit that sometimes it's good to be left alone, unobtrusvie service, no need to tip. On the other hand, sometimes some help would be useful.

One of them wondered around cluelessly holding coffee looking for the right table. I wanted to write a comparison with a hawker centre. However, my husband says I am damning it unfairly and going over the top. The service was adequate, but intermittently slow.

We waved down the manager and got instant attention.

We got our moneys worth from the entertainment of a walk around the grounds. See next post with
more photos of a walk through the grounds around the swimming pool.

Useful websites:
visitsingapore.com
http://www.shangri-la.com/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurants/the-line/

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Waterside Restaurants and Waterfall Hotels

For a romantic meal, a romantic holiday or a scenic photograph or selfie, look for waterfalls with nearby restaurants or bridges and hotels which are waterside, lakeside, seaside, have outdoor waterfall, indoor waterfalls, or are near waterfalls where you can take a day trip. Here is a list of my favourites in the UK, USA, Malts, Singapore and more. Plus tips on how to find and photograph waterfalls.

I have fond memories of:

Waterfall hotels in Singapore:
Hyatt Hotel, Scots Road Singapore. Waterfall into pool, accessible to residents and if you book a table for food and drink at the poolside bar
Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore.

If you don't find a hotel or free spot by a waterfall, invest in a day trip to the indoor gardens with the huge waterfall - a half day trip. Gardens By the Bay, Singapore.

Wedding Photos in Singapore/Malaysia Brides often take a trip to a waterfall in Singapore or Malaysia, dressed in bridal gear. The photo can be blown up to life size as a welcome sign at the door of the wedding reception venue. Afterwards the picture can be made into a poster of framed, or made into a mock oil painting with a canvas effect and framed. Other uses of your picture are wallpaper or a photo over your bed at home.

Philippines:
Shangri-La, Manila.
Peninsular Manila had waterfall but it was turned off last time we went there.

Waterfall hotels in the UK:
Fishguard Bay Hotel, (by Goodwick and Fishguard station), Wales. Restaurant with best views from tables for two or six seats by window. (Others tables with part view, or no view, against wall or obscured by pillar!).

Malta:
Grand Hotel Excelsior with outdoor pool (seasonal).  Indoor pool. Tiny beach, might be viewable but accessible only at certain times, not when I was there.

Waterfall hotels in the USA: (Being researched - updated later.)

Reasons For Closing Pools
When using pools or waterfalls for a holiday swim or just a photo, check before booking that the pool will be open in the dates you are visiting. Get the reply in writing and make it clear if your booking depends on this (i.e. a refund or free drink as compensation will not do).

Ski, Gym and Swim
Years ago we stayed at a Best Western hotel at a ski resort in the USA. We'd booked the hotel because of the pool so the non-skiers in the group would have an alternative entertainment and exercise and meeting place. The pool was shut with access blocked by a huge roll of flooring. We were offered a free drink as compensation. This did not make up for the embarrassment as we had booked for ourselves and friends as we had boasted about our hotel and planned to invite them to our hotel and show off.

Nor did it cover the wasted weekend for some of us. The hotel was getting renovated elsewhere. When we sent pictures to head office, the organisers were horrified and we got a full refund. I could have saved my family, the hotel, and the umbrella organisation embarrassment, and money, if I had made a phone call and follow up email confirming that the pool was open during the whole of our stay.

If you are at a ski resort or on business and want to use the pool, poolside bar, or waterside restaurant, in the evening and weekends, check the opening times. Especially if your flight arrives late in the day and you want dinner on Sunday evening in the waterside restaurant with the view.

Malta
In Malta the riverside restaurant's buffet had closed and last orders were taken and chef gone home after we had checked into the room, got our luggage, showered and changed. We had to have bar food with no view instead. We got the big restaurant with the view next day at breakfast time.
On the smaller island of Gozo which we visited by ferry for the day, we found a restaurant serving lunch overlooking the pool with a waterfall near a public beach. We had lunch elsewhere at a grander hotel with views over the swimming pool.

Droughts and Water Restrictions
What else could interfere with your view of water? Drought and flooding. Rarely the waterfall reduces to a trickle.

Water can be turned off because of restrictions on water usage in high summer in a country or city drought. More local problems include hotel renovations, or pool cleaning. The pool may be drained for cleaning, or to stop people falling in, or covered to stop autumn leaves, in the off-season.

Pools are also shut in cold weather (perhaps because of the lack of heating, or cost of heating water). Or lack of demand. And dismissal of lifeguards required in some US states - when we lived in Maryland, USA, by insurance.

Late Night Pools
Outdoor pools can also be a source of noise at night from official parties or revellers. Or they could close at 5 pm, 6 pm or 8 pm, when the door through the leisure centre where towers are provided is locked at night.

Closed Pools
I have found the outdoor pool inaccessible off-season in Malta (although the indoor pool was available).

Securing Views
Free seating (Fishguard Bay Hotel, Wales, on Writers' Holiday every July) means you have to arrive early to bag a table with the best view. A little research and the romantic retreat can be yours.

Angela Lansbury, BA Honours, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.