Where to start with Singapore. What a truly amazing, futuristic, spotless, dynamic city. A city where East really does meet West. A city showcasing an awe inspiring juxtaposition of buildings, people and cultures. A city where the internet is fast, the shopping malls are numerous, the trains are easy and the tv is lousy. In the twenty plus years since we were last here Singapore has undergone a complete metamorphosis. This is our third day in Singapore. We arrived early one morning, floating into Singapore harbour towards an incredible city skyline. Its been easy to keep ourselves occupied. Never have I felt so safe in a city nor found it so easy to negotiate. English is taught as the first language in the schools and everything is signed in English. I feel none of that corrupt, about to be ripped off feeling that one feels in a lot of other cities.
Yesterday was spent visiting some of the locations Singapore has to offer – Chinatown, Little India, Marina Bay, Botanical Gardens. The day ended with dumplings and Tiger beer at a street cafe near our hotel. Today we conquered the MRT (Singapore underground). We also managed to visit a few of the forty plus shopping malls that line Singapore’s main shopping area – Orchard Road. Dinner comprised of various Burmese/Myanmar dishes at a small cafe deep underground. We were meant to then head to the spectacular gardens and light show of Gardens in the Bay but unfortunately Singapore’s monsoonal weather put paid to this. Instead its cab sav, chips and a movie back in the room. This respite has also allowed us to catch up with some of our washing. At the moment our room looks like a Chinese laundry.
Tomorrow – after our daily over the top buffet breakfast, should see us doing a Raffles Gin Sling reconnaissance. We plan to have a few to celebrate our upcoming birthdays on our return to Singapore in a few weeks. Next it will be preparing for the next leg of the journey – finding some Malaysian ringgit, working out how to get from Singapore into Malaysia by taxi to catch the train north, packing. The evening to be spent trying again for the light show in the Gardens by the Bay. Unless we get back to you again tomorrow – next blog Malaysia!
