Slinging It In Singapore

So a quick entry this time about our 4 days in Singapore - at least that's the aim!

We arrived late at night and then did our usual ritual of sitting in arrivals with the Lonely Liar figuring out where we would stay and after what seemed an eternity we finally decided and got the shuttle bus into town. It was very quiet on the streets and from what I could see at that time very...city like. They have a Singapore Eye (like the London Eye...) which was all lit up and looked very pretty and lots of tall buildings.

The hostel was cheapish but clean and quiet. As we didn't get to bed until about 4am we slept in quite late before we set off to explore Singapore. We woke up to a lovely hot day so we were still in the kind of weather we were accustomed to. We'd ended up choosing (unknowingly) a hostel in the Muslim Quarter, but thankfully there was no wailing! The city map was HUGE - you had to open it up about 6 times before you could see it all and we were thinking that it was going to be a long day walking around and maybe it would be better to bus it, but as we set off for our first walk we realized that the city is infact tiny!! Tymon's mission whilst in Singapore was to buy some lenses and camera stuff as he has just purchased a professional Canon back in Holland (because of insurance) that his parents are bringing to Vietnam (so needless to say he's like a child waiting for Xmas day right now ;0) so our first day we pretty much spent in camera shops! Preeeety boring for me, but I know it'll be worth it in the long run when I see the photos!! The sad thing is we thought that it'd be so much cheaper in Singapore than back home and it turns out that it's not! So that was a bit of a let down - so after all the waiting around and comparing prices we went back to the hostel and he ordered it all online from Holland! Typical huh.

So after sitting in a shop most of the day for early evening went for a walk down to China Town to have a look around the street market and food courts. China Town is...China Town, the same everywhere else really, but a little more authentic. (Well obviously not as authentic as in China, but you know - at least Asian!) It was very big. On the way in by the river there is restaurant after restaurant with loads of fish tanks outside full of crab (a specialty), lobsters and prawns from which you can choose to have freshly made :0( and as you get into the market the food courts just take up a huge part of it. it's very basic and each kitchen cooks in a tiny space but the food is really cheap and for the most part good - if not very spicy!

The following day we slept in late again as we were on a night rhythm due to the late arrival & mainly caught up on emailing for the most part. We had a walk around the colonial district which is beautiful and the government buildings and architecture in general is pretty cool. Especially this huge 3 tower empire that is being constructed, which we later found out is actually going to be Singapore’s very first casino and mega complex. Although the locals aren’t allowed to go in and gamble unless they pay a S$100 every time!! The government only wants foreigner’s money to be wasted – not the local!! Pretty smart if you ask me! In the evening we took it easy & I worked on the computer doing all this and Tymon was sorting out buying his camera and phoning home. The only thing to report was that at one point about 2 hours had passed since Tymon said he was heading out to make a phone call and I went to look for him in the hostel and the receptionist said he’d left ages ago! So I started to panic. I waited another 20 mins and then my mind went into overdrive. What if he didn’t come back? What would I do? I started to think of the logical steps to take. I didn’t know where he had gone so how the hell would I find him? What if I never did? I’d have to call his parents! Oh the list goes on and before you know it I’m pacing up and down crying my eyes out. Checking his Facebook account to see what he last wrote for clues!! Eventually he comes back and wonders what the hell is wrong with me! Thinking something terrible has happened! Hahaha. I have to stop worrying – but I can’t help it. Whenever he’s out of my sight for more then 20 mins I start to panic. I just can’t bear the thought of anything happening to him. It didn’t help that I was in the middle of reading P.S. I Love You!! If you’ve read the book – you’ll understand! Heartbreaking!!

The following day was spent walking down the equivalent of Oxford Street and Bond Street called Orchard Road enjoying the local flavoured milk ice tea, except for the gooey, chewy, a bit like what you imagine fish eyes to be like, balls they put in for whatever reason!! It’s a very long road and the Gucci’s and Dior’s stores are MASSIVE!! Oh to go shopping!! :0)

Then that night was the night! Tymon had a friend from NL living in Singapore so we had agreed to meet up with him and his girlfriend for dinner followed by cocktails at Raffles!! Exciting! They took us for dinner to this all you can eat Japanese restaurant which no lie is the most amazing buffet I have ever seen. For 25 EUR you could eat all the lobster, crab, sushi, hot foods, salads, soups…the whole shebang – incredible!! Soooo goooooood. I can’t wait to go back to Singapore and go again!!

Then with an extremely full stomach we went to Raffles – the legendary hotel. (By the way this Mr. Raffles has been quite the busy man – his name is on pretty much everything in the city. Raffles Hospital, Raffles Cinema Complex, Raffles City Mall – loads!!) Anyway, the hotel is absolutely gorgeous and a very big complex. The architecture is quite impressive with a very English Indian Colonial style to it. It also has an arcade of high end shops running around the perimeter. So up to the bar we went anticipation in the air. The bar was…not what we were expecting. I though it was some high class cocktail bar when infact it’s more of an old English run down gentleman’s bar with peanut shells ALL over the floor! There was a really great live band on so it was really cool – much more fun! I’ve never had a Singapore Sling before and it’s…ok. Not my first cocktail of choice, but the moment was made and recorded, another tick on my checklist, as we toasted to Slinging It In Singapore!

Next stop that night was across the road to Swiss Hotel and the 72nd floor to a very swanky bar with fantastic views all over the city. We’d ran out of money at this point so we didn’t stay for a drink, just had a cheeky peek out of the windows but it was well worth the visit! And if you go for a holiday and have some mullah the hotel itself I’m told is pretty lush!!

So that was our time in Singapore. It’s a really nice city – very clean and very strict – I mean no chewing gum is allowed!! Bit extreme but the pavements are immaculate. They also have a lot rules, especially in the hostels and everyone seems to be on their best behavior. I’m looking forward to going back and hopefully we’ll be with my mum and dad!!

The next day we flew out to Vietnam and were extremely excited. We had a feeling the real adventure was about to begin – Asia: he we come!!