Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
10/12/2009
The journey into Singapore was easy and comfortable, as was the border crossing despite it being 3am.
We were dropped at a bus stop around 4:30am but reception our hostel didnt open until 8 so we hung around the bus stop chatting with a couple of women we had met on the journey and who were staying at the same hostel. The sun came up and the hours rolled past until we were allowed into the hostel so we all shared a taxi.
They let us in and also let us have free breakfast which was brilliant as we were both hungry from a long night and little sleep. The hostel was really nice and clean and had a cool communal area with a big TV and DVD and beanbags so Steph and I curled up on them with a DVD on and caught up on a bit of sleep before our room became available.
After dozing for a couple of hours we freshened up and went out to take a look around. We jumped on the super clean and easy subway and headed for the main shopping district of Orchard Street. This street was amazing. It had all its extravagant christmas decorations up and it was the first time we had felt like it was Christmas. It was full of all the designer stores - all out of our price range but cool to walk around. We walked into some electrical stores and saw that the netbooks here were cheap and contemplated buying one. We thought we would still sleep on it, so we headed for the bizarre island right at the south of singapore called Sentosa. It was like a little theme park, with loads of activities like the luge and an arena where they do big elaborate performances, as well as two man-made beaches. We had a strole along both of the beaches and eventually made it to the southern most point of continental asia!! Some of the island was still under quite extensive construction, looked like they were building a big resort hotel with roller coaster and other theme park rides, pretty impressive once its finished!
Time was ticking and we wanted to visit the infamous Singapore night safari so we jumped back on the subway and were back at our hostel in no time. When we got there it was a little more touristy and zoo like than we'd imagined but it was still really good fun. We rode on a tram all around the park getting a guided tour around the animals, half way through we went for a walk on the leopard trail which, along with leopards, also included walking through a bat cage with flying foxes - a little scary because they flew right over our heads. Back on the tram for the rest of the tour then we saw tigers, elephants, hippos, and lots more all acting how they would at night time in the wild (well as good as). At the end of the tram ride there was a night animal show in a big auditorium, where the animals did all kinds of cool tricks, the otters even knew how to recycle!!
With still so much of the city to see, the next morning we got up fairly early to check out and walked to the world famous Raffles Hotel. It was really cool although we did feel a little out of place in our flip-flops and shorts. We arrived there just before noon and, despite our atire, we decided it was late enough for us to have a little alcoholic drink, so a Singapore Sling it was. However, at almost s$30 our budget would only stretch to one between the two of us, so we sat there for a good while sipping away, making our drink last.
We then headed to the the Singapore flyer, which is literally a smaller version of the London eye so decided not to go on. From there we followed the river up to the city centre and accidentally found part of the course for the singapore grand prix which was pretty cool. Further up the river there was an odd New Years area that encouraged everyone to right a message on these white Bouy-like balls which they then placed on the river and did something with them at NYE?! We both wrote a little message and went on our way. Along the river there were great views of the city centre and all its skyscapers. So impressive.
On our way round the city we stumbled on a mall that was having a massive electronics fair, so we had a look in and found the netbook that we'd seen yesterday for much cheaper with higher spec, so decided to go for it! This way we can keep up to date with all our blogs and be able to use wireless internet rather than having to pay to use computers along the way. Plus, Sandy and Dave gave us some money for christmas when we left them in Phuket so we put that towards it making it even cheaper.
It was time to head back to the hostel now to get our bags and make our way to the airport again on Singapores train system, it was so good and cheap we think London needs to take a leaf our of their book!
We both loved Singapore, its just so clean and easy to get around. There is so much to see and do and although it is a huge city you dont get the same congested and cramped feel as you do with KL and Bangkok. Would highly recommend it as a stop over.
Anyway, we're both really excited about getting to Oz now and chilling out on some beaches AGAIN :) See you down under!!
- comments