Singapore
Trip Start
Unknown
1
12
33
Trip End
Ongoing
Singapore, Singapore
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Today I travel with the train from KL to Singapore. A seven hour journey for only £7. I was hoping to get a good view of the country but unfortunately there were too many trees along the track. So I just listened to my ipod and read my book. I'm reading Notes from a small island by Bill Bryson and will highly recommend it. It’s about England and is very funny.
The time from entering Singapore to stopping at the train station was not very long which gives you an idea of the size of the country. Singapore the city and Singapore the country is exactly the same thing, in case you did not know. From the moment I arrived I noticed the big difference between Bangkok and KL. This place is beautiful and smells of money, of which you need a lot if you want to spend any time here. Again I booked a room in China town. The hostel was not too bad and my room had an killer air conditioner for which I was immensely grateful. Singapore is hot and very humid. From the moment I stepped out of the hostel I started to sweat. Any deodorant i applied disappeared within the hour. I opted to walk as much as possible and covered a great deal of the city centre on foot. The tube system (they call it MRT, for mass rapid transport) are very good.
The first night I walked to the Singapore Flyer which is their version of the London eye, only a few meters higher to make it the highest in the world. Seeing the city at night from the sky is pretty amazing. On the way I saw many parts of the F1 Grand Prix track which I found very exciting. The next day I walked to Orchard street which is the equivalent of Oxford street in London, however, ten times the size. The road had big sidewalks and the shopping malls are spread out. This means you are not shovelling along the road with thousands of other people like in London. A much better experience. I needed some shirts so I was actually shopping and not just looking. And where do I find what I need? Marks and Spencers! Rather expensive I might add, but I couldn’t be asked to shop all day long so coughed up the money and left for the Singapore zoo and night safari. By the time I got there the zoo was just about to close so I could not get in. Disappointing. So I waited for the night safari and decided to have a burger where I met 3 Persian girls that were waiting as well. They were a good laugh and we travelled together through the safari, which is no safari at all. In fact it was rubbish. The little train that takes you through the place goes so fast that you only get a brief look at the animals. A real shame as there are some animals I have never seen before. So sadly I can only say I have seen the back of an ant eater, and the left side of a tapier. We did walk some parts as well but most of the animals are asleep and can’t really be seen either. So, if you ever make it to Singapore, give the night safari a miss. Go to South Africa instead for a real thing!
The last day in Singapore I decided to buy a ticket for the Hippo hop-on hop-off bus. I had enough of walking by now. The bus had 2 routes through the city and included a trip on the river and a transfer to Sintosa island. I quickly went to Sintosa, mainly to make sure I wasn’t missing anything, which wasn’t really. They are building a Disney park and other stuff which will be great if you are 10years old. The beaches feel a bit fake and are small. I suppose they don’t have much space so it’ll have to do, and it’s not the place to go if you want a beach holiday.
The bus routes were really good and I enjoyed learning a bit more about the buildings and history of some areas. I would recommend taking a guided tours, but perhaps on the first day you arrive in a city. This way you’ll have a much better idea of the city and places to visit. Something I have now learned and would try and do in the future.
At the end of the day on my way back to the hostel I realised that I have not tasted the infamous Durian fruit! So in china town I bought some at a stall and took it back to the hotel with me. This was a mistake. It was wrapped in cling film so I did not get a real smell until I opened it in my room. Nasty stuff! Sadly the fruit I was sold was mouldy underneath and very soft, but I was determined to taste it. So I stuck my finger in one and gouged a bit out and ate it. Not tasty at all and it repeated on me for quite some time. I placed in the bin on the second floor a gift to the rest of the hostel.
09/04/2010
Travel to the Changi airport for £1 to take my flight to Brisbane. I’m not feeling very well today and have a stinking headache and a funny tummy. I think it’s a combination of the Durian fruit and the Sweat and Sour Chicken I had in china town. I should have learned my lesson not to eat the Chinese food! It probably wasn’t chicken at all I suspect. Never mind hey.
