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Singapore
It is so great feeling the heat after our 4hr flight to this country; it's just what the doctor ordered, especially after the cooler climates of North Vietnam. Jade and I are instantly noticing the uber cleanliness of this country and also the greatness of the fines for everything… littering, smoking, or even carrying the smelly fruit Durian!
We catch a complimentary bus to the MRT terminal to board a short journey to a stop nearby where we are staying for our duration.
Once off the MRT we have a 20 minute walk to our Hostel, which isn't too great as we have our bags in tow in this stifling heat. The walk is very picturesque as we walk along the canal through many parks and many people doing fitness and keep fit along the way, Jade and I were not out of place here as I feel this walk is a great workout. Again Jades navigating skills are tested I as start to lead the wrong way and Jade is quick to tell me that our hostel is directly behind me…
We are staying in dorm rooms here as it is our cheapest option, luckily they had no record of our confirmation and we were upgraded to a private double room.
A quick respite and we are off to see how much Singapore is going to sting our pockets. We opt to stay in our area as it getting quite late. We go and have something to eat, here is going to be our first taster of the prices we have been warned about. We were so shocked as it is very reasonable, we had a buffet where you selected 4-5 items that they cook fresh to order and rice and gravy for both our dishes… it came to £3.50 altogether, we couldn't believe it, We could not of ate this much in Hanoi for the same price.
Up early and looking forward to explore the City of Singapore. A short pleasant bus ride into the shopping area of Bugis Street and we are in amongst the hustle and bustle of the city, but we instantly notice the organised chaos is a far cry from most of the other cities unorganised chaos. The Singaporean's seem to conduct their life with so much decorum.
Heading straight into the market across from the bus station it's all so up to date, the buildings that is and everything that is sold is quite modern too, from cheap watches to jewellery. We both are really hot and treat ourselves to a fresh fruit shake I have sour sop flavour (please check this amazing fruit out online)! It's a fruit that tastes like a packet of sour haribo! Jade had a red apple and cherry shake.
Next stop is Little India, another short ride on the MRT (mass rapid transit) This fantastic transport is like a Singaporean answer to a time machine whisking you kilometres in such a superfast fashion.
The streets are filled with the smell of curries and spices. The shops are very similar to the Indian street shops you get in the likes of Birmingham and Nuneaton. The people are so friendly and are also very willing to help you, we walk around Serangoon Road as this is the main commercial thoroughfare in Little India.
Back on The Singaporean time machine and heading to China town. As the largest ethnic group in Singapore is Chinese, Chinatown is considerably less of an enclave than it once was. The pedestrian ways are lined with markets and are spread out over a vast area. It is so pretty here what with all the Chinese lanterns that line all the streets. Jade and I are sat outside the Chinese heritage museum, it is a spectacular Chinese temple looking building. We are eating (for a change- but we have to try the new delicacies right?!) It was Battered pumpkin! Well it was more like kfc batter, delicious all the same, we decide on trying out a named food we didn't recognise and it turned out to be kfc style Banana. We head into a huge food court located opposite the museum, Jade and I are in our element we cannot believe the range of food here and at how cheap it all is. Jade really wants to try Congee ( a savoury rice porridge that resembles wall paper paste) and I have Adams favourite dish of Chinese roast duck, I tried Jades congee …erm it's an acquired texture, quite bland though Jade was very happy with it especially all the complimentary pickled chillies you get with it. My roast duck was just to die for, especially the sauce that it was drowned in!
We walk off our lunch with a brisk walk to the Central Business District, noticing the stench of cash immediately, Singaporean's walking around like robots along the preened streets and towering skyscrapers. There are many westerners too, all high-flying business executives I imagine. I am looking completely out of context in this area what with me acting the goat and in my traveller/homeless looking attire. They raise a smile at my tomfoolery all the same and break there solemn looking faces. The area has humongous, a food hall selling foods from across the world; it then starts to bucket down as we decide on our next stop.
Raffles! On recommendations of my mother; she said "you must have a Singapore sling at Raffle it's the cliché thing to do when visiting Singapore". Jade and I set a price limit for the cocktail, we decide on £5 each. Arriving at the grand hotel is a colonial-style hotel in Singapore, and one of the world's most famous hotels. The hotel was established by the famous Armenian Sarkies Brothers. Opened in 1887, it was named after Singapore's founder Sir Stamford Raffles. Managed by Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, it is known for its luxurious accommodation and superb restaurants. The hotel houses a tropical garden courtyard, museum and Victorian-style theatre.
Jade and I are somewhat thirsty as we window shop at the Hotels Perimeter and are looking out for the bar so we can try this famous cocktail in this famous Hotel… We reach the bar and Jade has noticed the drinks menu before myself we are flabbergasted at the price s$27 each! That's £13.50 I mean we are thirsty but not that thirsty, Ill skype my mum and ask her how it tasted. We go to the mall to as we are so parched. Mmmm H20, it's just not the same.
Well after we sip down our water cocktail we head back on to the MRT to our hostel, We are truly exhausted and are asleep within hours.
Up bright and early for a visit to the beach located just a 10 minute walk from our hostel. We head to this man made beach, which has small waves and has protected breakwaters. There are so many tankers that fill the horizon as Singapore is the 5th busiest shipping port in the world. Jade and I walk along the promenade, which, believe or not, has camping plots (of course which you need a permit for) and many barbeque areas; I imagine this would be great on a sunny day.
We had to change hostels, same company though (and a shared dorm room)as we need to be in the city centre to catch our bus too Kuala Lumpur in the morning. In the afternoon we go down to the harbour side; we look across over to Sentosa Island ( where Universal Studios theme park is located) You can even see the cable car used to get across. We visit many malls in this area, everywhere is so pristine, We walk onto the rooftop of this mall it has paddling pools and even a small play area for children. The view is pretty darn good here too.
Residing in our dorm for the night, we were unimpressed with the snoring tennis that was being played in this room; in fact it was driving jade and I potty, eventually managing to get to sleep just as we have to be up at 6 to catch our LUXURY bus to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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