So, our second diary entry finds us in the city/country that is Singapore.
Our first night was spent in the 'Fragrance Hotel' - an ironically named budget hotel in Singapore's red light district, where ladies of the night lined the streets waiting to be picked up and three cockroaches greeted us under our pillow. Our visit thankfully picked up when we moved to a new hostel the next night called Lollypopcorn. Although not in the city centre, this homestay provided us with clean towels and bed sheets- a good base for visiting the city and a little insight to ordinary Singaporeans.
Singapore itself is a classy, modern, clean metropolis that appears to be taking control of its own future with the creation of a new resevoir, a pedestrians pathway around the city and the first night grand prix. We spent a large percentage of our time just walking around the city and now have the calf muscles to show for it!
To celebrate Kate's 30th, we splashed out on a plush room at the boutique hotel 'The New Majestic' based in China Town. The room was decorated in true traditional oriental style with opulent red silk walls and chinese lanterns. With a welcoming bottle of complimentary vino and a swimming pool on the roof terrace it was a real treat - a world away from our back packing!
After enjoying a tour of the city followed by a dip in the pool, we donned our glad rags and headed out for dinner at the Pan Pacific hotel's 37th floor restaurant. Once recovered from our intial feeling of vertigo caused by taking the outside glass lift, we were able to enjoy the panoramic views while sampling the culinary delights of shark's fin soup. Not quite sure as to whether the dark floating bits were shark or exotic mushroom the lesson learned is: just don't ask! In truth, it was actually quite tasty.
The night ended in true style with a delicious Singapore Sling at Raffles Hotel - the only place you are allowed to legitimately drop litter in Singpore as the tradition is that you throw your peanut shells on the floor of the bar. We didn't take much encouragement and were soon joining in with the rest, flinging left, right and centre.
So 30 years young and ready for an exciting new era beginning with our long train journeys to Kuala Lumpur and then overnight to Bangkok in Thailand.
