With the exception of the Jurong Bird Park, Mom and I explored the Zoo and the Night Safari extensively. The only reason we saw probably a quarter of the Bird Park was because we were exhausted from the heat and travelling, so we went shopping along Orchard Road instead. Because all three facilities boasted such colorful and engaging animals, as well as enthusiastic keepers and trainers, every photo was a potential photo-op. Enjoy them, as I did! [View Full Entry]

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I was going to write something about accommodation shortly, but now I'm also answering a question, so this is especially for Monica. I've heard twice now, that over 80% of Singaporeans live in small apartments, in these huge apartment blocks you can see everywhere outside the CBD. Those apartments are heavily government subsidised and cost S$100,000 - S$400,000. One of my guides still lives with his parents, so they have one on the biggish side, and it was S$400K. The other, less than 20% of Singaporeans live in either dilapidated "shop houses" (you know the ones, very old, shop [View Full Entry]

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Hello! We've had a great week since the last blog. We flew to Perth in a wee plane that reminded me of Jimbo (a cartoon from when I was wee) - it was small, round and noisy, and had to stop to refuel half way to Perth cos it wasn't big enough to get the whole way on one tank of petrol... We stayed in Fremantle, a town about 18k out of Perth, rather than Perth city, as we were a bit bored of bit cities. Fremantle turned out to be a good choice - a bohemian sea side town with [View Full Entry]

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The Botanical and Orchid Gardens of Singapore are must-see tourist attractions. The Orchid Garden, a three-hectare plot of land inside the Botanical Gardens, is home to the most species of orchids in the world. Orchids are sent from all over the world to add to its insurmountable collection and to create new hybrids in this garden center. Although we expected to spend at least four hours at the Gardens, we were there for only half that time... it was too hot and humid, so we rushed through everything. Here's the pics, enjoy! [View Full Entry]

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Yes, it is National Day, but I've kinda done all my celebrating. The countdown and fireworks will be the biggest thing I go to, as the National Day Padang (square) tickets only go to residents, who got picked in this ballot thing. I did however see all the army tanks and personnel and all sorts of stuff on the streets of Singapore today, which will later be in the big parade and at the Padang. Everyone who can't go to the Padang watches the live coverage on TV, which, if I go home soon, I'll catch some of. I'm heading home [View Full Entry]

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"Singapore is certainly the handiest city I ever saw, as well planned and carefully executed as though built entirely by one man. It is like a big desk, full of drawers and pigeon-holes, where everything has its place, and can always be found in it." William Hornaday, 1885. Hornaday's appraisal is certainly more valid today than it was in 1885. Singapore-a city, island, and country-is the land of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings. The envy of S.E. Asia, it is shockingly hi-tech and ultra-modern, with meticulous, regimented, yet stunning civil engineering. From road planning to its [View Full Entry]

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I don't know if everyone knows already, but I wasn't sure, .... Singapore still has compulsory National Service. I thought I'd write a couple of things about that, because it's not happening, at the moment at least, in Australia and many other countries. * Firstly, there is no negative connotation to "Compulsory National Service". Singaporeans love their country, are proud of their country and feel it treats them well, so they don't mind their little service time. * There are many different areas that the kids can be put into, including the obvious army, navy, police, ambulance [View Full Entry]

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I've gotta tell you, I heard the craziest thing about getting a licence and getting a car. I asked someone else and they backed up this other person's story, so I think It's safe to tell everyone now. * Getting a Drivers Licence costs S$2,000 just for the card!! * Lessons are compulsory and cost a fortune * You know how we have one little learners' book, of maybe 100 pages max of something? They have about 10 books - I've got a photo I took at the bookstore - they have a manual for driving for beginners, more advanced, for [View Full Entry]

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These are the servicepeople's parade, along the streets of Singapore, before they actually take part in the full parade at night. We had great seats on the top of the open tour bus. [View Full Entry]

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Time ran out on me last time while I was writing about the Red Lantern Tour, but i thought it would be worth it to add a whole entry about prostitution. I thought I'd tell you what I'd heard from guides and seen so far. Firstly, I have to clarify something I'd misunderstood. You remember me talking about Pink Street before, well that's actually guy-girls only, transvestites, whatever - not born-females. It is in the heart of where the Indian visiting-workers stay. There is another area, Geylang, that has the girls. It used to be the Bugis area and has since [View Full Entry]

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