Singapore

Technically it wasn't my first visit to Singapore as I'd stopped off on route to Oz in '06 with Jason & purchased a Brietling,(ed - not that those two are posh horologists!!) However ,this time with Miranda I'm delighted to report that we actually got further than the arrivals lounge at Changhi Airport!(though the Miranda influence has meant no large expenditures on jewellery!;( )

In fact we managed to get all the way into town without so much as a hickup. Decending on the main drag of Orchard Road, we checked into our 'budget' hotel & set out to explore the delights of the city.


It's certainly as vibrant & bustling as you might expect, but its sub-terrainian interlinked shopping malls are rather unique & unexpected in our view. Extensive & extremely crowded these sprawling retail centres attempt to extract every ounce of wealth from about your person before finally, thankfully & mostly disorientatingly spitting you out at the hidden metro station within. For any keen shopaholic these malls would be 'heaven on earth', but for those less inclinded to splash the cash its almost the exact opposite!


Still having negotiated the "Mecca of shoes & sales" we boarded the LRT metro & travelled the very well trodden route to 'Raffles,' The Long Bar & a well earned 'Singapore Sling'! Whilst not entirely memorable in itself (The Sling that is! As its made from bloody pre mix!) it will be hard to forget the barmans face when Miranda proceeded to order a Coffee! After some astonished choking on his behalf, Miranda agreed to opt for a typical cocktail, but further suprised the poor chap by asking "How can one possibly be expected to order a cocktail without knowing whats in it!", ( ed - NB.there is some author exageration in the tone of this question - I was not trying to be royal!) With a fully detailed menu in hand, a 'Brass Monkey" was ordered before calm was restored & the next load of customers walked in to order their Slings.

Above Left & Centre: Raffle's Hotel. Above Right: A Singapore Sling in "The Long Bar"

For any keen Blog follower it may seem that we continue to rate accomodation, eateries & cities of interest in a 'Travelers Guide' kinda way? In part I guess we are & so we must just point out that our 35GBP/night 'budget' accomodation in Singapore (The Orchard Hotel, Orchard Rd) has shot to the top of our 'best stays' list. Not only did we get a very clean, comfortable & stylish bedroom with en-suite, huge plasma TV (ed - for him) & Mini fridge (ed - & nice toiletries for me!) but the place offered us another roof top pool, huge buffet breakfast, helpful staff & free luggage storage! (A major benefit as we planned to visit the worlds only Night Safari later that evening.) So if you are intown, look them up as we are sure you wont be disappointed! (www.nightsafari.com.sg)

Above: Our wicked 'Budget' Singapore accomodation.

Still, whilst 'Zoo' environments are somewhat contrived & artificial, Singapore's attempt at a Night Safari was both novel & exhilarating, since the various animals on show appeared to be oblivious of there voyeristic human neighbours. This in turn meant that we got to see as natural a behaviour as you can for such animals, without needing to go trekking for days and days in the deepest darkest rainforests of the world! Staged or not, seeing a leopard sleeping but only 3" from your own face is an unforgettetable experience, even if the engineer in us all does start to worry about the strength of such flimsy Perspex windows!

Likewise, convincing Miranda to walk through a pitch black enclosure as huge fruit bats swooped
inches over head is an experience I shall never forget, as not only did my hand get slowly squeezed to death but the cheeky thing actually poo'd in my eye! (ed - the bat that is!!!!)

Below: Singapore Zoo Night Safari starts!


























Below: The sleeping Leopard only 3" away. (No Flash as we didnt want to wake him!)