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Published: February 24th 2008
ChinaTown
A well earned rest and a beer!(Tina)Arrived here ok and headed for the Joo Chiat area as one of the hotels we checked out looked like they had availability, and we were right so booked into the Gateway at 95$ a night, we are here for 6 nights and are trying to keep our spending down cos its alot dearer here than all the other places we've visited. Anyhow to cut a long story short there is an airshow here to coincide with our visit and so they said for the other 5 nights they were going to put our rent up by 30$, which seemed a bit steep to us. We did our usual trick and checked around the neighbourhood and Lynda came up with one opposite that would only charge us 75$ per night, which seemed like a bargain to us so we paid a deposit and said we would move in the next day.
We were absolutely dead on our feet once we got settled but decided we would check out Orchard Road. This is a huge street with a shopping mall on every corner along with all manor of different shops in between, a real paradise for shopping fans, Fletch, Nicky, you
Singapore Skyline
Taken from our Riverboat cruise would both adore it!! We found a hawker centre to eat as we had been told they were really good value for money and was not disappointed, it was all yummy. After food and a couple of beers we headed back to the tube to find our way to the Night Safari. It was a bit of a way out but arrived just as a tour was leaving.
You get taken round this forest in a tram and all the areas where the animals are are lit up. Quite amazing, we both really enjoyed it and it seemed to us the animals were playing up for the cameras as we saw two stags having a bit of a set-to with their horns and the lion gave us a really big roar. It was a shame we arrived a bit late so we didn't get to spend much time there before the coach left to take us back to the city, however it was a really enjoyable couple of hours.
Made our way back to our hotel and slept really well and really late, no breakfast here so up and packed and moved over the road to hotel Joo
the "Love Hotel"
Otherwise known as the knocking shop Chiat. Well what can I say about this place, its cheap and cheerful, clean, the staff are really lovely and helpful but they rent rooms by the hour, if you get my meaning. Its taken us a few days to really suss this place out but we've got there and wow, how entertaining, just sitting in reception is a real eye-opener, we have been told about hotels like this in Korea and they call them love hotels, certainly plenty of love going on in ours thats for sure.
Anyway back to the tourist stuff, more of that later. Next day after our move and getting unpacked in our twin-bedded tiny bedsit with no window, we got on the MRT (tube) and went down to the riverside. Went on a very nice riverboat cruise that took about 45 minutes but took you up and down, it was spotting with rain too and was really enjoyable. After riding up and down it we walked up and down it, saw the Merlion, Singapores modern symbol which is half lion and half fish, another name for Singapore is Lion City. We had a beer and then decided to move away from the riverside
Dolphin Lagoon
Pretty in Pink! to eat, looking for another hawker centre, bit like the food hall at bluewater or lakeside only on a much bigger scale and very cheap. When we arrived back to our area we found a local bar selling 3 large bottle of Tiger beer for 15$ so sat there people watching for a couple of hours. The people we were watching were mainly Social Escorts (the guy in our hotel said that is the name for them here). Highly entertaining for a couple of middle-aged grandmothers.
Man in our hotel suggested we go to Sentosa on Thursday as it gets really busy at the weekends so the next morning we set off first in search of a Post Office, found it eventually, then on MRT to Sentosa. What a lovely place, a little island paradise a stones throw from Singapore. I just parked myself on a sun bed with my book for the day but Lynda was more interested in seeing the sights so as she will be much more informative on the subject I will pass you over to her.
(Lynda) Hi everyone. Before I start I want to apologise for this being such a big blog
Merlion
Symbol of Singapore we will try to do little and often when we get to Oz but here it's really inconvenient (we have to sneak into another hotel) and expensive, as well as being really busy.
Wasn't sure what I felt about Singapore when I first got here, wasn't at all as I expected from what I'd been told, so Sentosa was like a god-send. Explored the island by bus, train, tram and sky lift, I loved it. went to Underwater World which was great but you can see the same thing in any city, I've promised the kids I'll take them to the London Aquarium when I get back. The same ticket also got me into Dolphin Lagoon which was absolutely brilliant. I've seen dolphins, even swam with them but I've never seen dolphins like this before. They were pink. The one in the picture is grey and pink as they are born grey and turn pink as they mature. Found another Merlion (absolutely huge, you can go inside, but I didn't do that). Found the southern most point of asia here (across another rope bridge and up a lookout tower. I loved it so much that I decided I wanted
Raffles
The place to be! to go back the next day to go on a bike ride around the island. So that's what I did, this time travelling on the cable car there and back. Great day, felt really energised except got a really sore arse!!
Visited Chinatown and went to "Food Street" (Smith Street) where I ordered chilli crab, a delicacy and a must have here. Really lovely. Also tried other local specialities like stingray (good) and chicken rice (yuk). Rice and noodles diet OK but coming to an end, don't think I'll be eating them again through choice for a while!!
While we were in Chinatown Tina caught someone trying to dip her bag. In all the places we've been we haven't had anything like this happen to us - lucky I suppose. Don't think he got away scott free before he sidled off she gave him a good whack!
The highlight of our trip (Sentosa a close 2nd) was Friday night. We went to the 72nd floor of the Stamford Tower Hotel for the views. We were told to go see the sunset, but unfortunately there was no sun that day, but we still enjoyed it and saw a
Singapore Slings!
At the Long Bar. Hideout needs the recipe!! birds eye view of Singapore in the day, dusk and evening. To help us have a good time we ordered a jug of beer (our usual - can't afford LIITs here!) but got jealous of a couple who ordered a platter of shots. Well you know us - we can't be outdone, so we just had to order a platter too. There were 10 shots (4 varieties), all yummy, my favourite was the butterscotch. Rest assured people I now have my drinking head back on!!
After this nice little detour we headed over the road to Raffles. Even though we felt a bit out of place (yes, we did dress up as best we could) we still went into the main hotel for a photo shoot and a nose around. So elite and classy but understated. However, this was not our kind of place so off to the Long Bar for us. Much more at home here. The Long Bar was on two floor with a live band upstairs so we headed up there, plonked ourselves at the bar and ordered 2 Singapore Slings - as, I imagine, does every other visitor here. They had them semi made up
At last a dance!
Boogie-ing at Raffles! behind the bar. Very very nice but bloody expensive (just under a tenner each)!! Tina decided that for that price she wanted the glass as well, and sent me off to the loo to nick it!!
Well we couldn't afford any more of those so decided to buy a jug of beer for $32 (OK over the top but we were in Raffles) and there was a band and I wanted to dance!! While I was boogie-ing away Tina ordered the jug, well she was white when I got back - apparently the $32 was happy hour prices and, you've guessed it, it wasn't happy hour. The jug ended up costing is $54!! All in all we spent about $120 on booze tonight!! We didn't eat though, so that's OK!!! Oh that's a lie we went to "Satay Street" Boon Tat Street where stall upon stall barbecued satay sticks and prawns and served them up on the street to punters. The best meal I've had since I've been here - loved it. As you can tell we haven't starved - that's one thing you will never do in any of the places we've visited in Asia.
Yesterday we
Nuts to you!
Just a little message to show we care!! visited the Botanical Gardens (the manager at the hotel told us not to bother as it was "boring") so glad we didn't listen to him. It ws wonderful the best bits for me was the Orchid Gardens, Nicky you would have loved it, and the Rainforest (our first one). At one point we couldn't see the top of the trees. Bloody knackering but well worth the visit across the other side of town.
Leaving Asia in a few hours and onto Oceana - Tina's really excited about this leg - hope she's not disappointed (I learned my lesson when we stayed at the FCC in Phonm Penh and was so disappointed) so I keep telling her not to get too excited. Anyway the upshot is that (as with anything) there's good and bad but generally I'm really glad we did what we have and even the shitty bits had good moments like the orphanage in Phnom Penh.
(Tina)Just a little bit on what I was saying earlier about our hotel, I was waiting for Lynda in reception and obviously people here in Singapore like a bit of love on a Sunday afternoon cos every room in the hotel
Botanical Gardens
Beautiful and Serene was booked and there were four couples in reception all waiting to book in for their two hours, how funny is that while you lot sit at home eating your Sunday roasts!!
Well its goodbye to Asia and as I was a bit Asia-ed out a few weeks ago its fair to say that I am so looking forward to the next leg. Australia here we come!!
Lots of love to you all and just a little thank you to Natalie for singing me her lovely song on the phone just now!! xxxxxxx
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David Groves
non-member comment
big blogs R us
Hi Togas. Got the photo disks, do you want me to copy and distribute to the selected few, or wait to see if you want to edit any non-flattering ones out. I can also 'enhance' them with photoshop if there are any zitts, lines or blemishes that shouldn't be there, or you would like an enhanced bust or smaller waist. Also can you do the forthcoming itinerary, or send me the travel agents email and I can add it. Rambo4 DVD is on its way to Wilmington for distribution.