[password] kudzuu1114
[position] 08 01 13.897n 103 50.53e
[weather] hot,still, occasional T-storms
[speed] at anchor
[heading]
[status]One could run across a busy freeway. Or simply enter Singapore from the south as we did this morning. It would be much the same experience.

With Manjit Singh preparing the paperwork and emailing it to us in advance, this was the easiest entry procedure we've ever experienced! No traipsing dusty roads from one district office to another then waiting three days for rubber stamps on a cruising permit. Mersoleil simply entered the Singapore Quarantine Anchorage, called Immigration on VHF 74, "wait a few minutes, please, you are vessel number two," then moments later they invited us to motor to a specific waypoint. As we approached, a law enforcement boat pulled up alongside, one of the officers reached out a landing net at the end of a 2 meter pole, and I deposited our passports and paperwork in the net. The immigration boat dropped back momentarily, then returned with our approved documents and passed them back to Mersoleil in the outstretched landing net. Welcome to Singapore!

Raffles Marina doesn't have a berth for us until tomorrow so we've anchored at the location shown on the image above and will enjoy a spectacular city lights view tonight. Atlantis is anchored a hundred meters away and Robbie and Stedem have just taken Doggie1, our faithful dinghy, ashore where they hope to score some Singaporean dollars, telephone SIM cards and cellular Internet access.

There's a long list of boat tasks awaiting our attention in Singapore. In addition, I have a doctor's appointment on the 2nd and the exciting Singapore River Festival (see srf.sg) is scheduled for the 4th and 5th November. Gee, I hope two weeks will give us enough time to sample the delights of this fantastic country! How very exciting. We've never visited Singapore before. My dad once told me this was my parents' favorite country. We can't wait to find out why! Posted by Bev.
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