First Time in Singapore: Marina Bay, Zoo & Eating Frog Legs

First time in Singapore. We checked into the Capri by Fraser and found the room decorated for our honeymoon trip. After settling in, we went out. Full day, full itinerary, a lot of food.

For the hotel details, see the Capri by Fraser China Square Review.

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Biking Around Marina Bay

We rented bikes and covered the Marina Bay area. Around 87 degrees and humid, which is standard Singapore weather, but manageable with the breeze from biking. We rode past Marina Bay Sands and pushed through the crowds at the Merlion for a proper photo. Very touristy, worth it for a first visit.

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First Meal: Char Kway Teow and Choping

Our first Singapore meal was at a local food center.

The chope system: Before you order food, you "chope" your table by leaving a packet of tissues or an umbrella on it. This is how you claim your spot. It is a genuinely clever system and a uniquely Singaporean thing to observe in action.

What we ordered: Dry Char Kway Teow, a mix of long and flat noodles with a subtle sweetness and spice. We also had a plate of large, very fresh prawns. A good first meal.

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The Zoo: Monkeys and a Komodo Dragon

The next day we went to the zoo area. The monkeys here are completely unbothered by visitors. They sit directly in front of you and go about their business: grooming, eating, posing. No interest in moving.

The most memorable moment of the day happened at the river exhibit. We were watching fish when a large Komodo Dragon appeared, walked to the edge, and swallowed an entire large fish in one motion. The monkeys nearby stopped to watch too. We all just stood there.

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Street Food: Sugar Cane Juice and Crispy Pork

Singapore heat and humidity require constant hydration.

Fresh sugar cane juice: They extract it in front of you. The result is completely natural, refreshing, and not artificially sweet in the way that canned or bottled versions are. Also ordered a fresh coconut and scooped the meat out.

Roasted Char Siew duck and crispy three-layer pork: Vincent has strong feelings about crispy pork in the US. His position is that the American versions are never crunchy enough. He was very satisfied with this one. The duck was also good, but the crispy pork was what the afternoon was really about.

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Bacha Coffee, Cheese Ice Cream, and Frog Legs

We ended the day across the full range of food experiences.

Bacha Coffee: Expensive-looking and expensive-tasting. Fruity, rich, distinctive. Worth stopping in at least once.

Cuban Cocktail: We tried a cocktail that tasted like alcoholic Milo chocolate milk. This is not a complaint.

Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory ice cream: A vanilla and cheese twist cone. Sounds strange, is actually very light and not heavy at all. The cheese flavor is subtle enough that it works.

Frog legs: We ordered both ginger spring onion and Kung Pao preparations. They arrived whole, looking exactly like what they are. I was nervous. The flavor is essentially chicken, maybe slightly firmer in texture. I ate them, I would order them again, I recommend trying them if you visit. The Kung Pao preparation is the stronger of the two.