Hi!!!

I have made it through my first day at Singapore! And what a day it has been! After my entry this morning, I ordered brekkie and then started out for a very long day!

For brekkie, I had two pieces of toast and a bit of fruit. I had dragon fruit, which I have never even heard of before, but it tastes rather nice and was something different. I then started walking to where I expected the train station to be. In Singapore, when you ask someone for directions, you are very lucky if you get a point in the right direction. A 'turn left then right for 2 blocks' or something doesn't seem to be possible! So after walking a little, I ended up on this bus talking to a man who couldn't understand my pronunciation of Chinatown. After a little while though, we managed to understand through writing to eachother (while all of the passengers on the bus are sitting staring at me) and he got me some change to buy a ticket. He then dropped me off at Chinatown, and after another 20 or so points in the right direction, I ended up at Chinatown where I met Mel.

It took us no longer than 15 minutes to realise we were dressed in completely the wrong style - she was in jeans and shirt and I was in 3/4 pants and a polo and we both had sneakers on. So, we went into a shop and tried on lots of dresses each until we found one that we liked. We wore them straight away ($15 each) and then went and got a pair of thongs each for 2 bukks! Bargain! So now we really look like tourists!

In Chinatown, we went to a Hindu temple, called something like Sri Merimeeam Temple. We arrived just as some sort of ritual was starting, so it was very interesting and I got some good video. We then walked back to the train station and caught a train to Little India.

Here, we bought a fruit juice each from a Hawker Stall, as they are called, and sat and drank that. We decided against any food from here - too risky! We then walked around and had a look at shops, but I didn't buy anything. The store owners come up to you and follow you around the store like they are stalking you. If you seem even remotely interested in something, they tell you prices and show you dearer alternatives. They say it is the cheapest price, but as soon as you walk away and say that I'll think about it, the price drops very quickly!

After Little India, we caught a train to Raffles' Place. Raffles is the man who colonised Singapore. We walked around the Colonial District for a little while. We saw Parliament House, the Supreme Court, St Andrew's Cathedral and other places too. Our feet were getting very sore by this stage!

We then caught a train to Bugis and walked another km or so to Arab Street. Here, they have lots of silk shops and the like. After more looking and stalking, we decided that it was time to head home for a shower. It was around 5.30 by this stage. I only had to walk another couple of hundred metres to my accommodation, poor Mel had a long walk back to the train station, then a train journey in peak hour!

I came back to the hostel and had a cold shower (no hot showers here!). It was very refreshing! I then reorganised my bag a little, before going back downstairs. I had a look around the street that I'm staying in, took some photos and videos of the mosque just a couple of doors up and then went for a walk. About a km from here, there is a hot air balloon attached by a cable that is slowly released so the balloon rises into the air. I paid for a ride on this, as I love heights and couldn't wait to see the view. While waiting for the ride, I gave Mum a call. It was good to talk to you Mum, but you made me feel homesick all over again! I then got on the balloon. It went 150 up! And the further you went up, the more the wind blew us around! I like heights, but this was a bit of an effort to keep the heart rate down! I have some good video, but the pictures didn't work out cuz the ground was too far away.

After hopping off the balloon, I walked back to Bugis Central where I got out some money and then bought some dinner. Dinner cost me $4.40. That was for 2 kebabs and an Orange Juice freshly squeezed - pretty cheap! After dinner, I went to this awesome little bakery they have here. You pick up a tray and tongs as you walk in and then everything is laid out all around you - everything sweet and savoury that you could imagine! I just got a loaf of bread and this neat little sausage roll thing about 3cm long. It was so nice! Unfortunately, they had run out of mudcake, but I'm sure they will be seeing more of me!

After this, I dragged my tired little feet back to the hostel. I am writing this, then am heading upstairs, where I anticipate an excellent night's sleep! At least until 5.00am, when the mosque up the road starts singing into one very loud microphone!

Thank you all for reading, I hope I haven't bored you all too much! I am just about to try and upload some photos, so check them out too!

Love always,

Melody