Singapore, Singapore & Penang, Malaysia (Days 75-77)

ce95003
Apr 3, 2019
2 min read

Miles sailed 20,501

I combined these stops for two reasons, 1) I didn't take a lot of pictures and 2) they are both near and dear to my heart. Penang was my first business trip (and passport stamp) and I had to cut through Singapore to get there. Over my career, many days were spent in each country configuring/optimizing software, team building.... and eating (OMG, the food!). Both countries have aged well. Singapore is meticulously planned and architecturally stunning. Penang island is a mix of old colonial, high rise condos and beach.

First up was Singapore. The day's itinerary included only two items: Chad and Hainanese chicken rice (one of my all time favorite dishes). Several years ago on an eBay business trip, Chad and I visited Singapore (his first visit). eBay put us up at the absolutely stunning Ritz Carlton Singapore. We laughed, sipped muddled drinks and ate every dish we could sink our chopsticks into. Oh yes, we did some work too. We've been friends since that trip and when he realized a business trip to India was close to our dock date in Singapore, he detoured to meet me. We met at the Ritz, sipped a few cocktails and then met some of my shipmates for chicken rice and Singapore slings at Raffles. It was a perfect day; laughs, hugs and full bellies.

Penang's stop brought my travels full circle; the first of many business trips and a stop on my retirement cruise. It was another pretty, perfect day. We hopped a taxi for a quick buzz through Georgetown, then out to the Shangri-La Rasa Sayang resort for lunch. I stayed at the beautiful Rasa Sayang on my first visit and on my last, it was being gutted. I'm happy to report, it's open once again and as lovely as I first remember. We opted for lunch and cold Tiger at a local hawker stand on the beach (the only way to eat Malaysian food) and then cut back through the resort for a fancy drink and our taxi back to the ship. Our cab driver was just great; informative and really funny. I wish we'd had a few more days to play.

Singapore: