It would have also been good if we wanted to buy stuff! I got the impression that there were plenty of deals to be had. But we already have all the cheap consumer electronics we want/need, didn't need any more clothes after restocking our supplies in New Zealand. Sadly, we could have availed ourselves of the cheap alcohol but were only scraping through on our baggage allowances as it was.
Here is the view out our hostel window. Probably quite a familiar Asian alley scene to many travellers, though ours was quite quiet and pleasant since our hostel was out in the 'burbs. The windows normally stayed shuttered to keep out the heat of the day but I just had to fling them open to see what was out there!
Our hostel was a fair way out Serangoon Road. Maybe it was a bit cheaper being a bit further out, but it doesn't really matter. The hostel had a friendly, laid back vibe. I wouldn't rate it if you're after a party hostel, but if you're after somewhere pleasant and relaxing to base yourself then check out "The Hive". Being out in the 'burbs meant that it was a wee walk into town, but we soon figured out that we were only 10 mins walk from a MRT (subway) station. The subways and stations - in fact everything in Singapore - is remarkably clean, especially in comparison to British cities, which are a little, umm, dirty.
The hostel was on the edge of Little India and we took a walk through on the way into town. We walked past both of the temples above and one of them had a festival on - the street was absolutely crowded day and night from the evening after this photo was taken. I didn't take a photo, but part of the processions seemed to involve people walking inside huge jangly mini-floats that were suspended from their skin with hooks. They didn't look like they were enjoying it much and were walking very carefully.
No, thank you!
Singapore's skyline is quite modern and some of the architecture was impressive. These buildings were particularly cool. The Chinese New Year celebrations were approaching when we were there, hence the decorations.
They did seem to have a thing about putting holes in their buildings so they could squeeze in a garden. We saw a couple of buildings like this. Changi Airport also has lots of vegetation and water inside it. It was by far the nicest airport either of us had been in (although Schipol in Amsterdam is pretty cool too).
We saw these tortoises at the Botanic Gardens, our compulsory stop-off on the dirt-cheap (because we flew Singapore Airlines) bus trip around the city. I didn't have the heart to tell him he was 90 degrees out, I'm sure he can figure it out for himself.
One of the biggest tourist attractions in Singapore (apart, perhaps, from Orchard Road shopping and Sentosa Island themeparks) is the Singapore Zoo. It is very big, but it's also very sensitively designed. A lot of the time the animals wouldn't know you're there, and they have made good use of moats, low walls, and other more natural types of barrier. Not so much of the pacing, frustrated-looking animals which was nice. This is a spider monkey I think?
I also quite liked the ring-tailed lemurs and the flying foxes. I was also impressed at how bats can fly around you at such high speed almost - but never quite - flying into you all the time.
The white tigers are united in their disdain.
The award for "cutest animal" should probably go to the mouse deer. They're not actually deer but look close enough. They stand barely a foot high.
If I'm descended from apes, I hope it's not this one. My what a big red bum you have! All the better for...sitting on? His appearance actually reminds me of someone but I'm not going to say who.
Located adjacent to the zoo, and conveniently opening just when the zoo is closing, is the Singapore Night Safari. This is possibly the coolest thing we did in Singapore. We thought we might have been zooed out after three hours in the zoo but we weren't (though we did have sore feet after a day walking around!). Cool shows, a very well laid out network of paths through all the enclosures and clever lighting made for a fun evening. No wonder it's won heaps of awards.
Singapore is a very regulated nanny state in some regards. Littering? That'll be $500. Spitting? The same. Carrying a durian on public transport? No fine specified but just don't do it, OK?
It is a real melting pot of cultures and seems to have all the barely-controlled street chaos of an Asian city, but in a slightly more regulated way. For example, how many people can you carry in the back of a ute? 13 in this one apparently!
Keep your eye on this blog as more posts are likely to follow in quick succession. Upcoming features include:
- Hilary and Andy visit us, and just what exactly is a Schiehallion?
- Mark and Steve go climbing. Why won't Steve ever be allowed to go climbing with Mark again after last weekend, and is "thrutching up a dirty chimney" as rude as it sounds?
Stay tuned...
