Boating around the Singapore River and Bay
Taking the long way (and back) to Singapore
Perspective is everything – be you in the air or on the water. Sometimes it’s nice to be on the water, boating around on a bumboat. Even in the heat of a Singapore morning.
In this adventure
- I needed a break
- 02:40 on the coach? Nothing changes, with Heathrow Terminal 5 and British Airways South Lounge
- BA776 London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda (Club Europe)
- An afternoon in Stockholm featuring ABBA The Museum
- Off to Stockholm Bromma, AY840 Stockholm Bromma to Helsinki Vantaa with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- A Rapid Helsinki Transit and The Finnair Lounge
- AY099 Helsinki Vantaa to Hong Kong International with Finnair (Business Class)
- Transiting Hong Kong and Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Lounge
- CX715 (AY5855) Hong Kong International to Singapore Changi Terminal 4 with Cathay Pacific (Business Class)
- Into Singapore, IBIS Budget Crystal
- The Mercure Hotel, Bugis
- Boating around the Singapore River
- Exploring Hawker Markets and random fooding around Singapore
- The Best Camera is the One You Have With You – Exploring The Gardens by the Bay
- Up to the Marina Bay Sands Skypark…
- …and the fallout of a stolen and returned iPhone
- Back to Changi Airport the Pokemon Centre at the Jewel and Terminal 4
- 3K513 (AY6379) Singapore Changi to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (Jetstar Asia Economy Class)
- One night in Bangkok and the Avagard Capsule Hotel, Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
- An early morning at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi and The Miracle Lounge, D Pier
- AY142 Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Helsinki Vantaa with Finnair in Business Class
- Out of Vantaa Airport and into Helsinki… and a little beyond
- Holiday Inn, Helsinki Airport
- Early morning at Helsinki Vantaa Airport and The Finnair Schengen Lounge
- AY841 Helsinki Vantaa to Stockholm Bromma with NoRRA (Economy Class)
- The slow return to Arlanda Airport (with a military band)
- D84459 Stockholm Arlanda to London Gatwick with Norweigan Air Shuttle
- How to get home… coach or train?
- Sometimes, Simple Isn’t Needed… Or Wanted
There’s nothing like getting to view a city from different angles and perspectives and one of the ways I like to see a city is on water.
In the Central Area, there are two boat tour operators – one which operates at Merlion Park, the other at Mariana Bay South and Clarke Quay. As I took the bus over from Bugis, I would be using the one at Clark Quay.
With departures on the hour, timing is a little bit critical (unless you want to be suckered into some of the bars of Clark Quay), so I lucked out on my timing to there.
Tickets can be purchased in advance – I just rocked up on the day, with it costing S$28 (around £16.40) at rivercruise.com.sg
They were rather insistent that you didn’t bring your own food and drinks – and purchased theirs instead. That water bottle in the bag would have to boil in the heat a little bit more.
Two bumboats were used for the queuing passengers – so they weren’t overloaded and most groups and passengers had a row to themselves.
With that, the tour began, heading further north past Clark Quay, before loping and heading down to Marina Bay – itself now a freshwater reservoir and home to some of Sinagpore’s drinking water.
So remember that when you’re drinking water from the tap.
Passing down Boat Quay
Passing down the Singapore River, you find the first ones diving in. Although, good luck doing that these days without a fine
The commentary was pre-recorded – it was… fine. A little bit non-relevant, but still informative – if a little loud.
I spent time sitting down, but also on the back deck snapping photos – whilst the sun and the heat did its thing.
Of course, I was sat in the back row, where the window doesn’t come down on this bumboat, so I was on what little breeze there was going through the rest of the boat.
Passing the Fullerton on the left
If you want a clear shot at photographic Singapore’s iconic Merlion, in all seriousness – take a boat trip. Far fewer tourists to deal with.
Merlion and a city
On the left, you’ll pass the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay – more commonly known as The Durian.
And of course, dominating the skyline to the front is the Marina Bay Sands integrated complex.
The bumboat does a circle around the bay, allowing you to bake in the Singaporean sun, get those Instagram selfies and so on.
The downtown core
But don’t look back in Anger.
Closing in on the Marina Bay Sands and its complex.
A bit of city panorama.. with a bumboat.
More sands
The Singapore Flyer.
The route then loops, back towards the Singapore River, giving you a further chance to capture more memories on the way.
Easy Game – play “Spot the Merlion”
Correct.
Side on view of the city.
Under the Bridges
Cavenagher Bridge
His back to the River. Standford Raffles still keeping an eye on his city.
They did mention at the end that these bumboats were electrically powered, as opposed to diesel-powered – an interesting way to power your equipment in a city.
The boats finally return to Clarke Quay, where you can disembark. Thankfully, the “buy photos before you go” experience doesn’t exist here.
Overall
For 40 minutes – it was a reasonable experience. I’ve been on better tours, I’ve been on a lot worse ones (although the record narration never sits well with me – live tours always give a little bit of extra chance of spontaneity and spice.
But sometimes, it’s nice to see the world from a different perspective.
Next:
Time for some food, wouldn’t you say?
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