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Published: November 27th 2008
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Going to try and be brief with entries now because currently in outback of Australia (20/11/08) and internet barely exists! Anyway...Singapore...
9/11/08 = Little India and Orchard Road
Yet another overnight train to Singapore, with lots of waking up for border control in between. Got off train and tried to find next one to take us near hostel we staying in. Met an English guy called Neil at this point and he came to stay at hostel with us. Trekked for 10mins with bags (good exercise) and caught train/tube to drop us right near hostel. Arrived really early, so while waiting for room, decided to try and find some breakfast. Our hostel in Alujinied (not such a nice part of town) and trying to find food turned into a survival mission. Walked for ages, passing loads of places selling noodles and rice, but at breakfast time, pork noodle soup just doesn't seem right. Finally found somewhere that advertised western breakfasts and tried to order eggs on toast. I suppose that is what came, but it definatly wasn't the eggs and toast we were imagining. The eggs came first. They were fried and still had oil on them, but were
stone cold. They must have been cooked the day before and saved. Took all my effort not to vomit on sight, let alone eat them, so swiftly covered them with a plate! Toast came next. Covered in some kind of thick sweet curd. Scraped off what I could but had to eat it just to survive. Desperate times, desperate measures!
Dejected, trekked back to hostel and tried out new room. First time we have had to share a room. 6 people in ours - feels like being on a school trip again when sharing. Difficult when showering, because somehow need to get changed in showers and showers the size of a cupboard. Have to somehow point shower in corner and squash body against wall just so can keep clothes dry.
After nap, headed out to Little India. Singapore really good to get around because have a really good tube system that runs everywhere and is really cheap. Little India was really cool. Hadn't realised it was Divalli, so lots of signs and culture around. Took a lillte guided tour of it that was on our map, thn left and headed for Orchard Road. Supposed to be really good
on a night here and was early evening when set off. Journey there was wierd. A random guy started talking to us in Little India and then walked with us for ages on our way to Orchard Road. He talked about religion, the greed of men and the end of world + other random topics that you wouldn't usually talk about with people you have just met! 3km walk to Orchard Road, so started to panic that he would be with us for whole journey or at least until we had converted into something more holy - thankfully he left us after 20mins and a little worse for wear at that!
Started to see the Singapore that everybody talks about then. Super clean streets, very modern and cool. Had a drink in cafe then wondered further up street as started to get dark. Had loads of pretty lights set up in streets, but really disappointed that they didn't turn them on. Went to an Australian place for dinner. Really nice food and a good treat. Got a bit carried away and ended up getting a dessert. Got the largest piece of chocolate cake I have ever attempted to eat
The Chocolate cake
Nearly didn't make it through this one alive. or even seen in my whole life! Been over a month since even had a proper dessert. Beautiful at beginning but turned into a labour of love at end, with a near sickly finale!
Back at hostel, chatted to some swedish girls before bed about christams and weather differences and ended up staying up until after 1. Out like a light after that!
Miles = 10.5
Steps = 24, 384
Calories = 639 (nearly enough to get rid of the cake)
10/11/08 = Clarke Quay by Night
Really heavy rain when woke up today, so zoo plans got cancelled. Slummed around in pyjamas until midday just chatting to people, then all decided to make a move and go and see new James Bond film - perfect solution to rainy weather! Stocked up on goodies like normal cinema trip and when film finished had forgot where I was.
Carried on lazing around when got back to hostel then went and got some take away food. Really nice vegetarian dishes and rice and only cost 1pound40. Got selves in gear then and got changed to go out to Clarke Quay = a mainish place to go
out on a night. Looked really nice too. All bridges, buildings and even steps lit up. Reminded me a bit of Hong Kong, only more spaced out. Really posh bars and restaurants along river (that we could only just afford to walk by). Headed for a Singapore Sling cocktail and in search of Merlion (famous statue). After about 40mins of walking we found him, but not really worth it to be honest - although we did find a cheaper part of town to drink in. Got our Singapore Slings (only 4pound rather than 9pound seen earlier) and chilled out by river. Headed home after that and put fingers in ears as tried to sleep through the snoring of someone else in our room - nothing worse than somebody snoring that you can't even kick to wake up! Nightmare...literally!
Miles = 4.6 (I may have been cursing the Merlion, but if it wasn't for him, I'd still be on 0)
Steps = 10,725
Calories = 278
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Tot: 0.219s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 32; qc: 160; dbt: 0.1591s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.6mb