Ahhh Comfort!!

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We arrived in Singapore at about 11:30pm and were pleased to see that we could exit out the rear of the plane near where we were sitting. Quite lucky really that we didn’t queue up to sit in the front and fight the crowd when the doors opened. Singapore was hot and humid just like Hanoi, but somehow felt less so; maybe, we were just in a different frame of mind. The kids were zonked by the time we got our luggage and faced the prospect of finding a ride into the city. We had planned to take the light rail system into the city from the airport but of course the last train departed at 12:10am. We got through over to the main terminal from the new budget terminal that’s home to Tiger airlines at about 12:20. 10 minutes!!! Oh well, Changi airport is a big one and has lots of places open. The kids managed to wake up instantly from their groggy need-to-find-a-place-to-sleep-right-now sort of trance when we came across the 24 hour McD’s in the main terminal. Aside from the bag of Doritos in Hanoi they had gone 24 hours without any junk food, so the place HIT THE SPOT. They were wide awake for the taxi ride down to Orchard Road.

Orchard Road is the center of Singapore’s shopping scene. Now, we’ve been to Singapore several times before, but this was the first time that I have ever actually ventured on to Orchard Road. Jo’s sister in Malaysia arranged some free lodging at the Le Meridien Hotel on Orchard. It was an enormous change from the likes of the Hanoi Star Hotel in Vietnam. We did like the small little place in Hanoi and the staff was very kind and helpful, just not the most knowledgeable. This place in Singapore was full service. When they saw us as a group of four they upgraded our room to a suite. Imagine that! We were wondering just what Jo’s sister had done to arrange this, wow!
We slept soundly needless to say.

The next day and a half was spent swimming, shopping and eating. We didn’t really do much shopping just comparing of prices. Once you go to Vietnam and see the prices anywhere you go in Singapore doesn’t compare. We kept thinking “It’s cheaper in Vietnam”. I did make one major purchase in Singapore that I hadn’t really planned on, but started to open up to once I got there. I had a suit made to measure for me. The tailors there are really quit slick at selling their skills. One Indian shop in particular roped me in. I managed to get out without buying a suit, but checked around on prices for an identical suit of the same material. I went back and to the shop and started the measurements. I end up with a tailor made three-button navy cashmere suit for much less than a retail suit. The only thing is that I haven’t actually seen it yet. I had the option to get it made within something like 8 hours, but opted for more time to bring the price down. Plus, I didn’t really need it right away. I’ll have to get back to Singapore to pick it up on the way back to Vietnam or have someone pick it up for me. I could have had it made in Vietnam, but…Vietam…fashion…hmmm….ok..Singapore. Let’s hope when I get it that it’s not some horrific creation.

On Friday, May 2 we left the spic and span of Singapore and headed across the causeway by taxi to Johor Baru.

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Photos

Arriving at Changi in Singapore
A no frills budget airline that seems to be getting a lot of business, Tiger was smooth and efficient even if they want to charge you snacks or a blanket. We arrive from Hanoi just before midnight while other flights from Thailand were arriving too.

Will enjoys the suite life...
I somehow think the kids enjoyed the Singapore hotel more than the place in Hanoi. I know they liked having a pool, I did.

Orchard Road malls
Just a snapshot of one of the endless number of malls in Singapore's main shopping district. After a while they all begin to blur together.

Telling it like it is?
Singapore is pretty straight laced but some of the advertising that you see here just makes you laugh and say "hmmmmmmmm". This is from a bus stop in Orchard road, it caught both Jo's and my eye at different times.