Singapore

As you've realised already we are running behind with this 'blog'....... we've not been in Dubai all this time and we've been to many places, done all kinds of really cool stuff and we are enjoying life trying to live it to the fullest! We are however making note of where we've been and when we find ourselves a quick 2 minutes we attempt to convert the notes into the blog.

So (picking up from last time) we arrived in sunny Singapore at 15.00 (Saturday 19/07/14). After collecting our bags and feeling the humidity on leaving the airport (nothing like we experienced in Dubai but in comparison to the UK it was hot) we jumped in a taxi making our way to Normanton Park the home of our good friends Rachael and Mo. On our journey we saw some of the sights of Singapore including MBS (Marina Bay Sands) and the surrounding buildings of the CBD. It only took about 25 minutes until we arrived at their apartment.

We chilled out, chatted and caught up in the apartment which was great considering we'd not seen each other in quite a while then got ready to head out into the city. Pyn arrived at the apartment to meet us too. He had only arrived a few days earlier into Singapore. It was so good to see him too - we'd not seen him since he left on his travels 2 1/2 years ago - he was looking great if not a little skinny! ;) We had a quick change and application of sun cream then headed out for the afternoon together.

We walked to the metro (MRT) station 'Kent Ridge' and headed towards MBS. We had a little wander round the MBS area and mall. We attempted to go in 'Ku da ta' the rooftop bar but we were all in flip flops and shorts (given the heat) and with it being a Saturday tea time they said we needed to come back dressed smarter or on a different day!

Due to this inconvenience (our own fault) we went to China town to try some of the local cuisine where Rach and Mo took us to a place they'd been before. We wanted to try something random like frogs but then didn't have any! Rach and Mo chose a great selection of dishes for us all to share. Highly recommend the garlic veggies and the noodle dishes - Good work! 

Just like in Dubai it got dark really quickly once the sun went down in Singapore. After dinner we headed back towards the MBS and went into the surrounding gardens. There were lots of photo opportunities here!........MBS is quite iconic for Singapore - a MUST see.

 

We wandered a little further and walked along to the marina. We found a nice bar to sit outside and had a cheeky cider overlooking the marina. Following this we got the bus home back to the apartment and continued our much needed catch up. 

The next morning (Sunday 19/07/14) Rach and Carol got up early and went for a swim before the sun came up. It was so nice being able to do a few lengths in an outdoor pool and not be freezing but it was great having a proper catch up with Rach chatting about loads!

After our swim and showers we woke the boys up for breakfast - scrambled eggs a la Rach...yum! We headed out then for the day to Sentosa Island. We got the MRT into the city then headed over to the boardwalk towards Sentosa.  It was hot, hot, hot. They had travelators on the walkways towards Sentosa so it was a pretty speedy walk over to the island. We were all just chatting lots like we've not been apart which was really nice. We went through one of the food courts and picked up some random Singapore baked goods and some drinks from the nearby shop to take with us. (I don't know how Pyn does it [staying all skinny] because every time we pass a food place Pyn will get something!)

Sentosa Island is a pretty cool place - lots to do and it has a number of beaches so we decided to head to Siloso beach to the Mambo Cafe beach bar (it has a swim up bar in the pool - easy decision on which one to choose). They were playing great tunes, we got an ice bucket of ciders and sat in the pool drinking and cooling off - awesome! Ant and Mo went for swim in the sea and a chill on the beach while the rest of us chilled at the pool listening to the tunes drinking cold cider catching up.

Pyn and Carol went for a stroll right along the beach chatting lots and catching up - again it was really good to spend quality time together - something I'd missed over the last couple of years whilst he's becoming travelling champion of the world! On our walk we found some surfing wave pools and watched some guys fail badly at surfing.... I was going to have a go but didn't want to show them up! ;)

Once everyone was sunburnt enough and wanting to get out of the sun (never enough sun for me) we headed back to the food court to get a late lunch. Antoni and I attempted to get the famous Singapore 'chicken rice' but ended up with a clay pot version which just tasted burnt! LOL not the best dish we've ever had! Rach and Pyn had varying noodle dishes which we all tried and we shared satay chicken (Michelle's nutty favourite LOL). Mo picked himself up some baked goods for later for after sunset as he was fasting. Again, and I can't stress it enough, Pyn is always wanting to eat! .......... In all fairness he needs feeding up! After our feed we headed back over the bridge to the mainland and onto the apartment.

Pyn headed to meet one of his many travelling 'lady' friends whilst we headed back home to get ready for the Singapore Zoo Night Safari. We had quick showers, applied the much needed insect repellent and jumped in a taxi to night safari (which was on the other side of the island but only took us 25 minutes to get there) Singapore really isn't that big of a place.

So we arrived at the much acclaimed Singapore Zoo Night Safari - Initially it was pretty busy so we decided to do the walking option rather than the tram and come back to it later. We started out on the walk which was pretty dark but we ended up latching onto private group walk round so we got all the information, advice and tips from the guide and it took us on a full tour of the safari. After this we jumped on the safari tram and got a trip around the main part of the safari and saw all the bigger animals. 

Soon after Carol had spotted Ben and Jerry's so we stopped and had a quick ice cream and when I say quick due to the high temperature this was a quickest ice cream we have ever eaten - trust me! We nipped into the shop and got some funny pics with the random stuffed animal toys on sale to the point where we got other people laughing in the shop and then copying us and taking their own pictures!

We headed back in a taxi and Mo was still awake when we got home so it was nice to catch up with him for a little bit. The boys went to bed and left me sorting out photos on Mo's laptop - we've decided we definitely need our own laptop or notebook on this trip rather than just our iPad. I also wrote a bit more of the blog for Dubai and stayed up really late in the end! 

 

The following day (Monday 20/07/14) Rach and Mo were up early for work so we had a little lie in which was needed given I was up pretty late last night. We arranged to meet Pyn at the Botanical gardens so we jumped on the MRT and made our ways to the gardens. We met Pyn, went around the gardens briefly and took some random and funny photos.

We didn't last long in the heat and humidity so we jumped back on the MRT (Pyn stopped off for some food) towards the MBS mall with the much needed air conditioning. The three of us had a wander around the shops together - Pyn was looking for work shirts in Zara for when he actually stops travelling and starts working again! and got distracted by the really bad taste in Singapore clothes and Pyn and Ant agreed to model some. I was on WhatsApp with Katie in Australia during this shopping trip and sending her the pictures of the boys in the bad clothing- too funny! 

We also found a shoe/trainer shop with some of the worst trainers ever! There are some crazy Singapore/Asian fashions! We headed outside towards the MBS gardens and attempted to go to the indoor garden dome but it was unfortunately closed for maintenance. Instead we headed to look at the main structures within the gardens where there was a rooftop bar/restaurant and we sat outside on the balcony enjoying a refreshing drink in the sun. We went upstairs to see the panoramic view of the city and the MBS.

 

 

After a wander around the gardens we headed back into the MBS and headed up to the Ku da ta bar to see the view of the city overlooking the infinity view pool on the roof - this time they let us in. We got some great photos from here.

We headed back through the mall and saw the random Venice Boat where there was a lady being chaperoned on the boat ........ very random! We then jumped on the water taxi boat over to Clarke Quay (Clarkys recommendation - maybe it has something to do with his name?) we had a look around and headed for some Singaporean food and lots of happy hour cocktails and beers. Rach and Mo followed suit once they'd finished work.

 

As sunset was quickly approaching Mo showed us around the Arabic quarter and we had food at Ala Turka (again recommended) which was really nice. We then went to get some famous camomile tea from this 'famous' man with a beard - it was served in a take away plastic bag with a straw - it was nice but really sweet as it was made with condensed milk - you should definitely try it if you come and venture around these ends.

 

We said our sad "see you later" to Pyn as he headed off back home to get ready for his return to Tonsai in Thailand to meet another one of his many lady friends ;) and we headed back home to the apartment. Pyn - it was so good to see you and catch up in the brief time we had together - we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we look forward to our next encounter, keep well and stay safe...and keep eating! 

The next morning, our last in Singapore, (Tuesday 21/07/14) we decided to have a much needed chill out morning. We relaxed by the pool at the apartment complex and did a bit of sunbathing, swam a few lengths, and a few sit ups and exercises. It was another gorgeous day but as the clouds came over just after lunch time we headed back into the apartment for a bit of lunch, showered, changed and headed out into the city. It was whilst we were sat around the pool we remembered that we'd not visited the Singapore Raffles Hotel to sample the world famous Singapore Sling.....you know what's coming.....we jumped onto the MRT again and made our way. The hotel itself is quite a nice old building (something you don't now see much in Singapore) and we both had the famous cocktail sat in the hotel courtyard - a nice experience! 

Heading back towards the MRT we found the raffles market place. Here we found a supermarket where we got a little lost in the cheese section......Rach said she rarely gets chance to have cheeses anymore (which is shame as she resided in Southern France where it's a dietary requirement ;) ) so we decided to get her a little cheese surprise and some lovely Orchids. Due to the heat the supermarkets give out free bags of ice to place in your shopping bags when taking your food home so that it doesn't turn which we thought was a great idea. 

We arrived home just in time for sunset, Rach and Mo were back from work and Mo had cooked one of his Moroccan tagines which was fantastic! Rach had also baked a chocolate cake which we had for dessert which was also amazing! We spent the night chatting and laughing and although our flight was now at 5am as it had been delayed by three hours (good job that our airline Jetstar text us to let us know this in advance) we had a nice last night in Singapore. 

Rach and Mo headed to bed as they were up early for work so we said our sad "see you laters" and started to get our things together. We stayed up, had showers and got us a taxi to the airport at about 2am. We got there super early (given the fiasco we faced in Dubai) to guarantee our seats. We spent some time on FaceTime to Antoni's brother Stef and niece Alexia on the airport wifi, picked up some perfume in duty free and then we finally got to try our Chicken rice, even though it was nearly 4am, although I'm not sure the airport really did it justice.

Again a big thank you to Rachel and Mo for their awesome hospitality, it was so good to come and see you, catch up and share laughs and see where you live and the way of life and culture in Singapore. Let's not leave it too long until our next meet and now we're over this direction we really have no excuses. All the very best, keep well and safe and we'll see you soon, thanks again to both of you

So next stop Perth, Australia....