Singapore

This is an entry written after we departed Singapore. The flight there had been fantastic (we were to experience worse later), and flying was easy...

Stepping off the plane we felt the heat instantly, since we had left the winter of Wellington behind us, and hit a wall of 34 degrees or so at the airport. After finally making it to the hotel, we decided to venture out into the nightlife of Singapore in search of the famous Singapore Sling, although we were only walking, so didn't make it as far as the hotel it was created at. Down to Clarke and Boat Quays, we were immersed in the heat and vibrancy of the city. So strange to wear a singlet and not have to take the old cardi with you just in case.

The next morning we hunted down a traditional breakfast, steering away from the Westernised places, and took the concierges advice to hop across the road to a cafe. Avoiding the frog porridge, and various other spine meats and bodily organs, we had a meal of noodles, duck and dumplings before venturing out to the city. Josh also got advice on how to barter with shopkeepers, and that took us to Sim Lim Square, a tower full of cloned electronics stores with people begging you to enter. We saw all of the tricks in the book, and whether we got had or not, Josh walked away with a digital camera he was happy with (but still slightly skeptical about). It was an experience nonetheless.

Off to Little India, where I couldn't find a mango lassi sadly, as the heat was intense by this stage, then jumped down to Chinatown. We wished we had come at night to try a meal at the markets and see the streets lit up, but trying to fit Singapore into one day was proving a bit difficult. And we still had the Night Safari to go...

The taxi ride to the zoo was an introduction to the driving in Singapore, and also an experience. A guy on the motorway had skidded off his bike and was nearly rammed down by impatient and speeding drivers, but luckily got up in time, and we did make it to the safari in one piece. By the end of the tram rides and walking tracks it was definitely time to call it a night, and we ended it with coconut jelly (which was sadly no match for our yum cha favourite!) The next morning it was off to the airport to board the plane to London...