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Singapore
So we arrived into Changi Airport, Singapore late last Saturday after a few Sydney Airport problems, to find the one and only Laura Griggs holding a LEGEND sign! We drove back to the lovely household with a glimpse of a pretty night time sky driving past all the lights from Boat Quay and Marina Bay Sands. Our Sunday morning began with a delicious family cooked breakfast where Siobhan made an excellent first impression by lobbing the ketchup bottle into her beans haaa. We spent the day swimming and sunning around the pool and then ended the evening at Singapore's Royal Botanical Gardens to watch 5 year olds embarrass us with their extreme musical ability.
On Monday it was slightly cloudy so we decided to venture on a historic encounter and visited the WWII Prisoners of War Changi Museum where we spent a rather extensive amount of time- we found quotes from Siobhan's Grandpa and his friend, successfully managing to persuade the museum lady to bend the 'no photos' rule. We made it back on the MRT (Mass Rail Transport) for 7pm on the dot just in time for BBQ :) (yes, we've heard that the entire British population have had BBQs this weekend blah blah). We played 'The Game' (blue eyes won whilst struggling to obey some of the rules) and watched My Sisters Keeper that evening and embarrassingly balled our eyes out- what a way to end the evening.
Tuesday we lounged around and went to have a look at the Kranji War Memorial (in full heat of the sun) and also went to visit the gorgeous St. Andrews Cathedral which is where Kate's Grandparents were married! We were yet again worrying about returning on time but Kate heard an English accent on the MRT which had to be Ali Griggs (and it was). That evening we went to Lao Pa Sat for food and ate satay on the appropriately named Satay Street. Siobhan, feeling adventurous, chose a brightly pink coloured drink named Bandum (tasted like Parma Violets) and later chose a second drink which tasted the same after taking full advantage of the late night shopping hours.
We were looking forward to a day at the Water Park on Wednesday however after waking up at a healthy 12pm to find thunder and lightning, the day drip was unfortunately off the cards :( After a One Tree Hill marathon and bacon butties we were fully rested for Ladies Night! We went for a drink to a little outdoor place known as Colbar (Siobhan was cheated into believing we were going to some form of Ice Bar I.e. Cold Bar and warned to wrap up warm- there was no ice and it wasn't cold). We returned, showered and ate yummy Singaporean Curry.
So, how do we explain Ladies Night. For those that aren't aware, every single Wednesday of the year, the country offers FREE ENTRY AND FREE ALCOHOLIC DRINKS TO ALL FEMALES... ALL NIGHT. After a small hiccup involving footwear (Siobhan and Katie were denied entry) we thoroughly took advantage and made the most of this unbelievable night, we danced our feet off to a really good cover band. The night was topped off with a most welcome reunion with multiple slices of Marmite toast!
Malaysia
We were sad to leave the following morning- it was a lovely to spend a good few days with familiar faces and homeliness, not to mention really comfy beds but our onward journey to Malaysia was calling. After struggling to obtain appropriate currency, we successfully managed to catch our 5 and half hour train to Melaka (with one very worrying moment that we had missed our stop). We took a VERRRY FAAAAAAAAAAAR taxi into the town where we eventually found our 'Backpacker Freak Hostel' (good pick Siobhan). In all fairness we had a very spacious twin boudoir for 2 pound 50 per night (perhaps the closest we've ever slept). Recommended by the hostel owner from Surrey, we ate Curry off banana leaves and which left us extremely full for a pound (a sign of good things to come).
Friday we ventured on a 'Duck Marine'(!) style tour bus/boat and got to see a floating mosque, very random but pretty. We wandered round the depths of Chinatown for the rest of the day. Ate lunch in a place called Chicken Rice Ball so Kate found it appropriate to eat Chicken Rice Balls. Some kind of performance was being set up in the square so we hung around to watch a very random Chinese Cultural Performance involving music, singing and dancing. People were taking photos of us as we were embarrassingly the only Brits there! By the end of the show we were fluent- Hannah you'd have been proud. We have also noticed a little problem involving other people's ability to queue or at least be orderly in some kind of fashion. It was this evening that Kate has decided to start issuing tickets to the Kate Staniford Queuing Convention, we could have given away multiple that evening. May I add, during the night Kate (whilst sleeping) pulls off a wolf whistle. On questioning she replied 'well... that's the last time I'm ever woop wooing again!' To top an amazing nights sleep off (NAAAT) Siobhan, when showering turned around to find her precious travel towel had fallen off the hook straight into the squatting toilet! Horrendous to say the least.
On Saturday we casually ate Chinese food AGAIN then got the bus to KL (the most luxurious coach ever with air con and reclining seats all for a couple of quid). After two successful train changes we then struggled to find our Hotel (again). Apparently taxi drivers here do not work with road names or even have the ability to read simplistic maps. (Griggo- maybe you should teach them a spot of Geography). After multiple trips in taxis to incorrect destinations, we eventually found the only cab driver in this city that knew where our Hotel was- the Chill Inn (our first officially listed Hotel!) which had the added bonus of air con. We sat for an hour wondering why the room was still SO hot, only to realise we had failed to turn it on. That night we paid a visit to the Hard Rock Cafe for our Easter treat. Two drinks with two courses each all for a tenner in an extremely air conned restaurant (score). We then went to watch Siobhan's neighbour's band, Mad Sally in a really nice bar conveniently located under the Petronas Twin Towers which we stumbles across without realising. Had a lovely evening and enjoyed our waiter filling our glasses as soon as they were close to being empty.
Woke up the next day at a casual 2pm (whoops) and got a brief 10 mins of sun before being stranded in a rather fancy restaurant drinking literal iced tea until the thunder storm stopped hours later. We were bored of walking round like ducks for the rest of the day avoiding slipping over so returned to our 'Hotel'. We went out for Korean food that night with some new friends- there was a coal BBQ in the middle of our table where we cooked the meat and ate unlimited amounts of side dishes. Kate also learnt how to use chopsticks and has now vowed to eat every meal hereafter with these utensils.
Monday we ventured in Chinatown, bought some pricey designer sunglasses (!) and got a manicure- they were very unimpressed with how dirty our nails actually were- but now look lovely. This morning we committed ourselves to getting up at 6am in order to queue rather inappropriately for tickets to the Sky walk half way up the Petronas Twin Towers (queuing very organised- Kate didn't have to issue any convention tickets). To be fair we did get a good view from up there but were rather tired after the whole ordeal. We treated ourselves to a Nando's breakfast before going back to bed :)
We are leaving KL tomorrow and flying to Langkawi which we are really excited about. Staying on Beaches/Islands for the foreseeable future so hopefully we shall see a dramatic increase in the Brown Rating.
Brown Rating: Don't wanna talk about it.
- comments
Marco Best entry yet girls!! Absolutely loved the KSQC (Kate Staniford Queuing Convention)..that girl just loves order
Andrea This is my favourite blog so far...! Everywhere you've visited sounds amazing, plus love the little slip ups (not the best at first impressions dunne! and what shoes were you wearing exactly?!) Miss you lots xoxoxoxo (short and sweet)
Mum/Ginny Ditto Marco. Your attention to detail was spot on. Very impressive. I sense many sighs of relief that life has become cheaper at last. xxx
Han/Lew Sounds amazing and like you're really enjoying yourself : ) x