Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hi all, finally managed to find a few quite moments to update by blog. I've just been so busy going on tours, sightseeing etc. I'm currently in Alice Springs at the moment(its 10.00 local time and and 00.30 UK time, I'm heading for Sydney in two hours time). I have tried to downlad some pics, but I'm having problems with the application from my Notebook. I've mailed OffExploring helpdesk and should hopefully have a solution soon, if not guess I'll have to go back to going into sticky internet cafes ! Its very very hot, and I know I shouldn't complain, but 40 degrees (man I'm sweating) ! Anyway, heres a bit from Singapore and I'll update my Perth visit too.......
Sunday 10 Jan - Arrived in Singapore at 16.30 local time. After checking into my room and unpacking my bags, I headed for Chinatown, which concierge informed me was a brisk 15 minutes walk from the hotel. After 10 minutes of walking I came across some restaurants and shops and as there were a few Chinese people congregated outside the restaurants I presumed this was Chinatown. Well my presumption was wrong, as I found out from another tourist passing by, who told me I needed to walk a further two blocks and turn right, and then I would be in Chinatown. So I continued with my latest direction and as I turned the corner, I knew I had arrived at Chinatown - the place was heaving with people, mostly Chinese or from that region (Cambodia, Laos etc.) shopping, eating, waiting for buses / trains, it. I felt very safe wandering around the shops and market stalls and could have bought loads of stuff for me and pressies for you all, but being restricted with only a backpack....sorry no presents from Chinatown in Singapore !
Monday 11 Jan - Today I headed for Little India - yep you guessed, it was full of people "Made in India" ! My main reason for going there was to purchase a Notebook, which my brother Aslam had advised me on. Now, I'm not sitting in a hot and sticky Internet Cafe, but outside by Backpacker residence in Alice Springs - result !
Apart from the Mosque, nik nak shops and loads of restaurants, there was nothing else of interest in Little India, so I headed back to the hotel to use my Notebook !
That evening, I went on a Night Safari to Singapore Zoo. We were taken around on a toy train and as we started approaching the animals, the lights on the train were switched off - for obvious reason (the animals were trying to get some kip, as I should have been doing too). It was a good tour, but guess you'd have to be there to experience seeing the usual zoo animals in the dark (elephants, giraffes, hyenas, tigers, rhinos and loads of others). I didn't take any photos as nothing was showing on my camera ("thank goodness for that" I can here you say !).
Tuesday 12 Jan -After breakfast, decided to take the SIA Hopper bus, which took me around the main parts of Singapore for S$12. My first hop off was at Singapore Botanic Gardens. The gardens were beautiful and my favourite was the Orchid Garden. I ended up walking around the gardens for about 3 hours. I took loads of pics, mainly of the orchids, which are on the blog - hope you enjoy them !
My next hop off was on Orchard Road - this is basically a shoppers' paradise. If you don't like shopping or don't have the money to shop, avoid Singapore. Every couple of hundred yards, you can find a shopping Mall, crammed with little outlets selling everything under the sun - there's only so much window shopping a gal can do ! So after walking around aimlessly for an hour or two, I headed back to the hotel, to get ready for my "Singapore by Night" tour.
The tour started with meal at a restaurant at Clarks Quay, beautiful location to chill and enjoy a good meal and ended with a visit to the infamous Raffles Hotel ! We were taken to the "Long Bar" (not the original one from the film Casablanca) where we sat back and lazily sipped a Singapore Sling (of course I had the non alcoholic version), ate peanuts and threw the shells on the floor. It's the only place in Singapore where you can legally throw rubbish on the floor.
Wed 13 Jan - Checked out of the hotel at 1pm and took a taxi to the airport at 4pm to catch my flight to Perth at 19.45......................
- comments