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Published: December 7th 2008
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Singapore zoo
Polar bear feeding. So I am in Oz! First of all though I will tell you what I got up to in Singapore since my last blog.
I have done most of the tourist things in Singapore. I went to the area around Raffles, saw the famous hotel and saw the statue of the man himself (Sir Stamford raffles founded Singapore) and the Merlion across the bridge. Went to Chinatown a couple of times. It seemed a little fake to me, there were barriars at the end of it saying 'thank you for visiting Chinatown', seemed a little touristy. When I came off the mrt was immedietly hit with it, loads and loads of stalls lining the streets. There was a food street too, where I had stingray from one of the stalls. Was quite nice actually!
Another day I went to Singapore Zoo. It is different to most because most of the animals are not caged in as such, there is no barrier between you and the animals apart from a ditch. I saw the polar bears and rhino's being fed. I loved the zebra's and giraffe's. Was thunderstorm near the end of my day there, didn't mind though, needed some rain!
Another day went to Sentosa Island. This is just off the south coast of Singapore, took a little train from Vivo City there. The first bit of the Island that you go across on the train is just a huge construction site and I mean huge, when I eventually put photo's on here you will see what I mean! It's going to be a new resort in 2010. Saw the giant Merlion then headed for the beach. Unfortunately as I was about to step onto it it started raining! Headed up the east side of the island to Fort Siloso, a 19th century and WW2 fort. It was really good, loads of exhibits and tunnel's to walk around. It was also a POW camp during the Japanese occupation of Singapore. After, I headed to another beach at the other end of the island and had a little sit down, just so I can say I went to the beach! Were lot's of couples there who has just got married having pictures taken. Then made my way back to the main bit for the Magic of the Sea's show. There were actors on the beach and a long wooden platform
Singapore zoo
The Zebra's and I. Remind you of anything? (Hot 'n' cold?!) in the sea with wooden huts. The actors sung and talked and there were these charaters from the sea that were projected into the air from the platforms, water sprayed so that you could see the projections. Told a story about something, I didn't really listen that much, then were fireworks at the end. Worth going to see.
The Island seemed not very busy and bits of construction here and there, things were more spread out than I expected. I wouldn't go again and I saw what I wanted to see. It's worth a look though.
Got back that night and there were three new people in my dorm, two who had just been to Thailand and another from HK and Africa. We went to the botanical gardens together the next day which were nice, got caught out in a massive thunderstorm though and being British decided to walk back in it, leaving us throughly drenched, until we gave up and got the bus! Went to Little India that day too, which I loved. The atmospehere was great, seemed to be a place where people actually shop and use rather than just for tourists! Took them to Clarke Quay
that night, had to show them.
I liked Singapore, it was clean and efficient, always people at the attractions wishing you Happy Christmas and just being friendly. I highly recommend a visit there!
Friday I had my flight that night so just stayed around, did some washing and went for a little walk to Bugis. I wish I had gone here earlier, I loved it! There is this undercover market type place with hundreds of clothes stalls, bought this beach type dress for $10 which I saw the exact same one in Coogee yesterday for $25, so got a bargain there! Then there was this shopping centre, not as big as some, but the right size for me, manageable!
My flights that night/next day were a little uncomfortable, but it was a budget flight so there you go, slept most of the way. Had to change at Darwin, so Darwin was the first landing point in Australia! It must be very very hot there because at 5am in the morning it was 29 degrees! Landed in Sydney 2.30pm Saturday and got taken to Coogee by OzIntro. The room I am in for Saturday and Sunday night is
a dump! Or at least looked like it, disgusting bathroom and stuff everywhere, but the cleaner came this morning so is in a bit better shape! It's quite cool, it's got a little lounge area just for this room. Got the bus into the city and saw the harbour bridge and opera house. Someone was having their wedding reception inside the opera house, looked very nice! Got back and went for a paddle in the sea with Lara, one of the girls in my OzIntro group. Nice today, not too hot but not cold, a tempurature I can cope with! Was going to go on the beach just now but it's started to rain!
One thing I have to say is that the currency here is huge! The 20c for example are bigger than the size of the old 10p's Britiain used to have and heavier! Also chocolate appears to be rather expensive, I shall have to cut down my habit!
My OzIntro starts tomorrow so that should be good, got city tour, surf lesson, blue mountains tour and other stuff.
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Carly
non-member comment
Haha, sounds like you had mass fun times in Singapore :) Cut down on your chocolate habit, missus! You will save money. Lol. Have fun with your OzIntro people xx