Singapore Slung

Evening all,

It's my last full day in Singapore, and here I am on the computer. Well, frankly it's far too hot to be doing anything else, even if it is nearly seven. I'm just above the Equator here, and it's frankly baking. Thankfully, Singapore is almost fully air-conditioned. Almost every building has it, it's just lovely. There are other wonderful things about this place, of course. They serve Guinness here - not in dingy bars that you'd never drink it from, because it's probably been sitting there for years, but from proper, classy establishments. They charge a bleeding fortune for it, but I don't care - my first Guinness in two months made me smile for an hour. Another fine thing - the Singaporeans know how to queue. I was being driven mad by Thais milling around and pushing in! Thank heaven for Commonwealth countries!

I haven't just been drinking though - although I've had some very nice little (if pricey) snifters in the Hilton and the Raffles. I've also been highly cultural, taking in many sights and museums. I've relaxed at the Botanical Gardens, and had the chance to look around the Istana, the Presidential palace; due to my excellent timing, I was here for Labour Day, one of only a handful of occasions when the establishment is open to visitors. I've been to the Art Museum, the National Museum, the Museum of Asian Civilisation and the best of the bunch, the MINT Musuem of Toys. Such a grand collection of Daleks, and the man in charge even had a Dan Dare bust! Once I told him I was from England, he got all excited and wanted to show me his Matchbox cars collection. Also highly enjoyable was the Singapore Science Centre - clearly intended for children, and thus absolutely perfect for me. What Singapore lacks in monsters and mythological statues, it makes up for with the SSC's dinosaurs. Best of all, of course, was the littl'uns getting into it all.

Travelling alone, if just for a while, is a pleasant change. Without being attached to a group of volunteers, I can go where I want, when I want, and stop for a cake if I like (and Singapore has some nice cakes). Still, it's never the same on your own - running around the SSC pushing buttons and getting electric shocks isn't as much fun without an embarassed female friend telling you to behave yourself. Still, it's been a grand few days, and I'm highly excited about the final stretch of my trip - four weeks in Malaysia. I'm nearly home - one month till I get back. But, before then, I've got a whole other country to explore...

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