When I got to Singapore I had already decided I was over the cities and wanted to get back to the beaches. So roll on Australia.
Still, had a couple of days to kill so I may as well see something of the city.
I arrived in the evning and tried a coulpe of hostels on North Bridge road, but they were all full up, so I took a walk to the YMCA on Orchard road and they had rooms. I decided to splurge a little bit and go for my own room, rather than a dorm room. I was looking forward to a bit of chilling and me-time to get on the net and update a bunch of things.
Since I bought my Dive Computer off my instructor, Dee, I have wanted to change the battering in it as it was on one bar, and also to buy the docking station, which allows you to upload your dive profiles to a computer and look at them.
I spent most of the first day just walking along Orchard Road in Singapore trying to get everything sorted out (again, City=chores). I also wanted to buy some new Poi, since I had given mine away and found a girl called Dipa who made / sold them. I took a walk out to her place to pick them up and we had a nice chat and swapped a couple of Poi moves. This was cool as I hadn't practiced in quite a while.
When I got back to the YMCA I was really looking forward to a swim in the pool. Unfortunately that never happend and I just chilled in my room, watching tele and
messing around on the net, talking to a load of friends back home.
I think Singapore feels quite a lot like London... I think it is mainly the large, affluent city thing. It is also super super clean. I love that! For someone with slight cleaning OCD it was amazing. Although I only saw the shopping mecca of Orchard Road (very similar to Oxford Road) I had built up quite a warm feeling to Singapore. I like this place... a lot.
The next day I woke up nice and early (about 11am) and went for breakfast. I figure, if I am in the city I should see a bit of it. I took a taxi to Merlion Park. The Merlion is a contentious statue that is half lion half fish. Built for the tourists and something to give singapore something unique. It certainly is that!
I had heard about a tour around part of the city called Ducktours, and figured what the hell. At least I get to see some of the city. I arrived, paid for my ticket and wen to walk around another shopping mall for the hour before my tour left. In this time I thought I may as well get a hair cut. It has not been cut since Saigon, which must be 2.5 or 3 months ago. It was getting fluffy and curly, in the way it always does! I think this hair cut was the second worst hair cut I have ever had! (Yes, I remember the worst!) The guy who cut it seemed to really not have a clue what he was doing. I am sure he has only just left the worst hairdressing school in Singapore (or maybe somewhere less developed) From the moment he first touched my head I had concerns.
I asked him to make a couple of changes and tidy a few bits up when he had finished, and i left with it look "alright" It it generally fine, it just feels like the length isn't very consistent! Still, it will grow even in a few days.. it really doesn't look bad, no-one would notice... but it wasn't a good hair cut!
Back on my Duckie. I sat next to a nice Chinese girl called Crystal, who worked for HSBC. Upon mentioning my mum also works for the back, she gave me her business card and asked for my email ;)
The duck tour was hilarious. We had the craziest tour guide, but he was so funny. The Duck tour is an amphibious vehicle.. it used to be a vietnamese war machine, now used for tourism.
You start on the road, drop into the Sea around Singapore for a ride along the coast, round to the Merlion and then back and onto land again for a drive around that part of the city.
All very good fun, new friend (unfortunately she was in town visiting her boyfriend!) and I saw a bit of the city.
When we finished the tour, Crystal asked what I was dong for the rest of the afternoon. Nothing, of course! Although I did have to be back at the hotel for 6pm to shower and
leave for the airport! We took another open top tour bus from the same company that went around more of the city, so I got to take in Little India, the Arab area and Chinatown.
We got off in Little India at 4pm at a temple where the local indians were in prayer. We walked around, took some photos and listened to them play music, sing and pray. It was quite an experience. The temple was beautifull, the smell of the incesnse was fantastic (I normally don't like incense, but this smelt like food) and the music was really good fun.
At one point, I am sure the woman on the microphone was rapping in Hindi.
We got back on the bus and rode it round to Chinatown. We jumped off here for half an hour and walked around, before getting back on and riding the bus back to the start point. It was very funny as I was trying to get into the sun to get my skin darker and Crystal was trying to get out of the sun to stay pale! It is amazing how different things are considered beautiful and ugly in different cultures.
Still, I got to see Singapore, which was good and ended up with a very good feeling about the place. Cities, in general, I am still undecided upon, but if I was to travel round a few with work, Singapore would definately be one of them.
I got back to my hotel, showered, got my bags and went to the airport.
I am definately ready for Australia. Bring back the partying!