Last Stop Asia: Singapore

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Last Stop Asia: Singapore

With three days left in Asia we decided we had to make the most of Singapore.

We definitely timed our visit well to see Chinatown at its best. They were just putting up decorations for the Chinese New Year and, by the evening, celebrations were in full flow. The streets were packed with people watching chinese dragons, dancers and fireworks. The atmosphere was great.

The next day we had the very colonial (and touristy) experience of a Singapore Sling in the Long Bar in Raffles. Never has Pete made a drink last so long! And we definitely got our money's worth by eating our own weight in monkey-nuts. If you don't know, in the Long Bar it is tradition to eat monkey nuts and throw the shells onto the floor for the pigeons. Nice to see how the other half live (thanks to Janet for this treat).

A whole afternoon was easily spent at Singapore Zoo and then the evening at the Night Safari there. The zoo's well looked after and the animals content. We especially enjoyed the feeding times for the white tigers (where Ang had to dodge the blood as meat was thrown into them by the zoo keeper next to her) and the polar bears. Another highlight was watching the hilarious baboons. The females were obviously ready for the taking on the appearance of their inflated red bums and as a consequence the males were in a permanent state of readiness and pounced on anything that moved. Embarrassing times for parents trying to explain what the army of baboons were up to!

The night safari gave us the chance to see noctural animals - the walk through flying fox bat enclosure was especially amazing. The walk around the park felt like walking through the jungle as the darkness concealed the enclosures. Probably the only time Pete will ever come face to face with a leopard - 3 inches apart with only a pane of glass to protect the leopard.

Goodbye low-cost Asia, next stop Australia...

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Photos

Chinese New Year
You can buy anything as long as it is red.

Pre New Year's Celebrations
Every night's a party night in the lead up to the Chinese New Year

Singapore Slingers
Enjoying a long, long drink in Raffles

There was no hiding the evidence
Monkey nut remains surrounded them.

Polar Bear in the Tropics
Fortunately he had his own air-con enclosure

101 Randy Red Arsed Baboons
Their enclosure was big but feeding time was competitive

Far beyond the duties of any wife
It must be true love

Meercats
or prairie dogs? Can't remember which!

Night Safari
The only photo we got - understandably you are not allowed to use flash photography