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Singapore! I don’t think anything can prepare you for the heat that you are going to feel when you step off the plane. It felt like someone took my clothes and put them in the dryer on “I am surprised it doesn’t melt my clothes” setting. Then places them back on your body, causing you to sweat profusely so that you feel all sticky and your clothes cling to you like they are holding on for dear life.
I arrived in Singapore at 3:00 am. Tuesday morning. It was a good flight. I was quite surprised at the level of service the budget airline Tiger offered. The plane wasn’t very full so no one had to touch elbows with each other, only if they wanted too. I was able to sleep most of the way in a somewhat comfortable position, I took advantage of the empty seat beside me.
Coming through immigration was a breeze, add another stamp to my passport. My bag was one of the first ones out on the belt, no dramas there. Wow if only my last flight was this great! I stopped by an ATM to grab some cash; no money exchange had
Singapore dollars in Perth. I hopped in a taxi, not waiting to see if any of the younger people on the plane were going my way. I am going to do this on my own. The Taxi was cute, reminded me of a car off an old James Bond movie, I felt classy. I am actually feeling quite awake and excited. The hostel had forwarded me good directions and the door code to get in as reception closes around 10 at night.. I walk in the hostel and there is a note with my name on it taped to the message stand with directions to my bed, a key to get into the room, and a nice “Welcome Janine! Have a greet sleep and see you in the morning!” I have to leave my shoes at the bottom of the stairs (no shoes in living areas) and open the door. I am surprised to see a huge open room with blocks of bunk beds with curtains pulled around them. I follow my mini map and find my bed, it has another note on it. “Hi Janine, Sleep on me. I am comfy and waiting. Good night. ZZZZZZ” It is the
Raffles Hotel
Singapore's most expensive hotel (averaging $1200 SGD a night) and claims the Singapore Sling. little touches like this that makes a hostel a great hostel.
I sleep late the next day. That’s ok because you can get breakfast at anytime of the day, they prepare it for you. You have the choice between toast and fruit or cornflakes with banana and tea, coffee or water to drink. I sit down at the table and notice the girl across for me. It is a girl I shared a room with in Melbourne, what a small world! She is on a short layover, on her way back to Germany. Her trip is ending and I feel very lucky and grateful that I get to carry on traveling.
I spend the day wondering around, trying to get used to the climate. Singapore is a very clean city and I mean clean. No rubbish anywhere, could have something to do with the outrages fines they have here for things like, smoking in public, chewing gum and littering. I visit the Asian Civilisation Museum to learn more about the country I would call home for the next 3 days. Singapore, consisting of the mainland and some 63 off shore islands (totalling 699 square kilometres), is located in
Southeast Asia at the tip of the Malay Peninsula. To the north, the Straits of Johor separates it from Malaysia. Singapore has a population of nearly 4 million and has one of the busiest ports in the world. A lot of travelers come here for a stop over on their way to Australia or coming back from Australia. The average daily temperature is around 27 degrees with a humidity of around 84%. It is like this all year round.
After the museum some guy tried to hackle some money out of me by claiming he can tell my future. Lucky for me, not so lucky for him I didn’t fall for it. I gave him $2 for telling me what he did and then I left. He actually was trying to get $200 out of me claiming he is in the process of building a temple and he doesn’t have the funds to get it up and running. If what he says does come true well maybe then will I come back to find him to give him the other $198.
Feeling a bit tired and exhausted from wondering around all day and the heat I stop in
at one of the many malls here, Singaporeans love to shop! To my delight I see a Haagen Dazs shop. How could I resist??? MMM Belgium Chocolate Espresso Mocha Shake and I get to drink it in the comfort of air conditioning, I think I am in heaven. After slurping that down and wondering around for a bit, ok more like waddling, I make my way over to Raffles Hotel.
Raffles Hotel’s claim to fame is the Singapore Sling. While one is in Singapore they must sip on a Singapore Sling! The bar in the hotel Long Bar is two floors and has more of a “pub” type feel to it. They give you peanuts to munch on and you throw the shells on the floor. I order round one, Singapore Sling. It is so tasty! I wonder why I haven’t drank these before. This could be my new drink. After a couple of those and $46 later (yup $20 a piece plus tax) I return to the hostel for a good night sleep.
Day 2. Today I meet a girl in the hostel from The Czech Republic, Susana. She is leaving to go to London that night
and wants to souvenir shop in China Town. I planned on going there today anyway so we go together. China Town here is unreal! It is what I expect a China Town to be. Vendors everywhere, decorations, weird food, people trying to get you to buy their merchandise. It was so cool. Makes the other China Town’s I have visited seem so Westernized. We popped into a food court for lunch to have the famous chicken rice, another Singapore claim to fame. After China Town we stroll on over to Little India to check out the bargains there. Lots of silk and tailors. The material is just fabulous.
Last night I went on the Night Safari. You can go on a tram in the park and/or walk around and see the animals at night. This is way better then the day because you can actually see how nocturnal animals really behave. The park is set up great. No visible boundaries. It is a wonder the lions don’t jump and attack you or make the deer living next door their next meal. I saw all kinds of animals the usual, lions, tigers, cheetahs, bats, flying squirrels and some animals I
didn’t even know existed. I couldn’t take any pictures because the flash would hurt their eyes so I didn’t even bother trying without it.
So this has been my life in Singapore. Tonight I catch my flight to Bangkok. I am ready for my next destination. My friend Matt is picking me up from the airport and on Sunday I am meeting my friend Kate (UK) for a birthday drink.
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Bryan
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Wholly Crap
How much was the hostel there? From the sounds of it I totally want to move there!