b's sloths and singapore slings
Meg and I finished our short time in Singapore yesterday and are now in Sydney, Australia.
Singapore's ordered streets, efficient public transportation system and fanatically clean public restrooms were, at first, anti-climactic in comparison to our beloved Chiang Mai, Thailand. Meg and I met a local Singaporean on the plane over who advised us to throw out the last of our American gum lest we were searched and fined heavily for the contraband.
Our first evening, Meg and I moped around our hostel's neighborhood and to cheer ourselves up, we succumbed to the local cineplex and saw the new animated film "Happy Feet." We returned to our hostel in better spirits and got back into the swing of the backpacker life.
Our hostel was a beautiful little oasis, styled Japanese architecturally. It was located on a one-block street closed off to automobiles, lined with brightly colored shops and dead-ending at a beautiful mosque. For the first time since Oman, we got to wake up to the call to prayer at 5:15 a.m. once again.
We only had a few days in Singapore and spent much of that time meeting other travelers. We also took in the well-maintained Singapore Zoo and went on the adjacent and fantastic Night Safari. The highlight was a walk-through biodome where we stood on a bridge within touching distance of gigantic sloths and fruit bats hanging from the trees.
One day we joined a fellow traveler on a short bus ride over the border into Malaysia where we spent the day supporting the local economy (a.k.a. "shopping"). Our money went much further on the Malaysian Ringet than on the thriving Singapore Dollar and we indulged ourselves on some "real world" clothes, as we truly stood out as backpackers in the well-dressed Singapore.
The following day, we dressed up and went to the famous Raffles Hotel's Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling was invented. We each ordered one of the overpriced beverages (except for Meg with her still-recovering stomach, who had an iced tea) and took plenty pictures of ourselves with them.
Later in the evening, our last night in Singapore, we went to a fabulous Saudi Arabian restaurant for dinner with our new group of friends. After dinner, as we were walking back to our hostel, we ran into the cast and crew of a local Singapore TV drama who were shooting a scene in the street. The group of us got to be extras in the scene--if you're ever in Singapore and catch the episode, I'm the one with dreadlocks wearing a skirt and carrying a 7-Eleven bag.
Singapore turned out to be a lot of fun once our attitudes improved, but we're excited to be on the road again! Last night, upon our arrival in Sydney, Meg made a point of spitting on the sidewalk (very classy) and we're back on gum again.
Singapore's ordered streets, efficient public transportation system and fanatically clean public restrooms were, at first, anti-climactic in comparison to our beloved Chiang Mai, Thailand. Meg and I met a local Singaporean on the plane over who advised us to throw out the last of our American gum lest we were searched and fined heavily for the contraband.
Our first evening, Meg and I moped around our hostel's neighborhood and to cheer ourselves up, we succumbed to the local cineplex and saw the new animated film "Happy Feet." We returned to our hostel in better spirits and got back into the swing of the backpacker life.
Our hostel was a beautiful little oasis, styled Japanese architecturally. It was located on a one-block street closed off to automobiles, lined with brightly colored shops and dead-ending at a beautiful mosque. For the first time since Oman, we got to wake up to the call to prayer at 5:15 a.m. once again.
We only had a few days in Singapore and spent much of that time meeting other travelers. We also took in the well-maintained Singapore Zoo and went on the adjacent and fantastic Night Safari. The highlight was a walk-through biodome where we stood on a bridge within touching distance of gigantic sloths and fruit bats hanging from the trees.
One day we joined a fellow traveler on a short bus ride over the border into Malaysia where we spent the day supporting the local economy (a.k.a. "shopping"). Our money went much further on the Malaysian Ringet than on the thriving Singapore Dollar and we indulged ourselves on some "real world" clothes, as we truly stood out as backpackers in the well-dressed Singapore.
The following day, we dressed up and went to the famous Raffles Hotel's Long Bar, where the Singapore Sling was invented. We each ordered one of the overpriced beverages (except for Meg with her still-recovering stomach, who had an iced tea) and took plenty pictures of ourselves with them.
Later in the evening, our last night in Singapore, we went to a fabulous Saudi Arabian restaurant for dinner with our new group of friends. After dinner, as we were walking back to our hostel, we ran into the cast and crew of a local Singapore TV drama who were shooting a scene in the street. The group of us got to be extras in the scene--if you're ever in Singapore and catch the episode, I'm the one with dreadlocks wearing a skirt and carrying a 7-Eleven bag.
Singapore turned out to be a lot of fun once our attitudes improved, but we're excited to be on the road again! Last night, upon our arrival in Sydney, Meg made a point of spitting on the sidewalk (very classy) and we're back on gum again.