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So we are here on Singapore. What's it like?
Well, rather good actually. People are incredibly friendly, our hotel is good, albeit the room is small and the weather is hot but very humid.
They are so efficient here - through security into a taxi and right to hotel no problems - about 30 minutes in total max after another good Emirates flight.
Good night sleep then yesterday we had a good luck around the city.
Kept on getting lost at first. A kind old man on a scooter seemed amused at Anna's impatience - "ohhhh ... where the **** is the Raffles hotel?" and guided us there. Had a look around and sized up the Long Bar before deciding we would return that night for a Singapore Sling. Went into the Raffles museum which gave a glimpse of what it was like in the 1920s and 1930s when it was THE hotel (along with an idea of just how widespread the British empire was). Walked down by the river and decided to take a river tour which was a good way of getting our bearings - getting off at Clarke Quay (more later) and Marina Bay - which is a high end shopping mall. Taxi back, get into our finest and then back to Raffles.
"Two singapore slings please" - guessing the barman must have heard this before. Bloody lovely. Place is decked out in Colonial Style with monkey nutshells everywhere.
Quite a few couples in, doing the same thing - some Aussies and some Brits. Got talking to an older British couple who were good fun andhad a heart attack when the bill came (£65 for four drinks) with an automatic $10 tip. "Thank you Mr Andrew" the barman said as we left.
Off back to Clarke Quay, which is an entertainment area by the river under cover (it can rain a lot here). Was quite late at this point so had a sneaky pizza at a place opposite a Persian restaurant watching the belly dancer. Good atmosphere - and busy on a Thursday night. Anna made us walk back to the hotel.
So, today - we could have gone to the Asian museum of history or gone shopping down orchard road or maybe
the botanic gardens.
NO - it was Universal Studios on Sensota Island for us!!! As our friendly Ibis waitress, Vicky told us - "if you like the wooooo and the wahhhhhhh you should go but no compare to America". She was spot on.
Start off by getting the free resort bus opposite our hotel. Malaysian women waiting in line gave me a right "once over" from head to toe. Her friend cottoned on to the fact that me and Anna had noticed and could not stop laughing and starting pointing at me. Don't think they had ever seen anyone as white before or dripping in sun lotion. I am a curiosity in this part of the world.
On to Universal - smaller park than US versions but cheaper to go in.
Had a great time, going on the rides which are slightly different to the US versions - they do have the mummy, transformers 3D. Jurassic park flyer etc. Happy days - I was pulling a few strange faces on the mummy ride captured by the photo which Anna found amusing. Wouldn't let her buy though - not at my best.
Just got back to hotel now, deciding what to do tonight. Any suggestions - let me know (in the next half an hour please) ...
Will update next from Bali on Sunday when hopefully Liverpool will have beaten the Man Ure.
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