When we originally decided we were actually going to travel after merely talking about it for 10 years, Singapore wasn’t first on our list. It was only when researching the cheapest way to get to Australia that we discovered Singapore was a viable option. Rather crazily – but also luckily for us – the cost of a 4 day lay over matched the price of direct flights to Perth from Gatwick. My wonderful Mumma had always spoken with such fondness about the few years she lived there as a child whilst my grandad was in the Navy so we thought why not? Lets start the trip (and Daves last year of being in his twenties HAHA) with a little whizz around Singapore and it DID NOT disappoint.
Singapore turned out to be one of the most culturally diverse, colourful, green and efficient cities we have ever visited. The streets and roads were immaculate and so well cared for (you were fined crazy amounts for littering, including cigarette butts) as well as being SO green. Every street, be it a highway or side street, was lined with trees, shrubs, grass making even the most insignificant street appear to be an oasis. Even buildings were covered with living gardens! This was by far my FAVOURITE part of Singapore and made me wish so much more of London was the same.
There was also a wonderful mix of Chinese, Indian and Malaysian cultures and communities all living peacefully amongst each other whilst celebrating their individualities too. We were lucky to have arrived in Singapore right at the start of the Deepavali celebrations – Serangoon Road, at the heart of Little India (and home to the best Chicken/cheese/tomato curry called a Murgh Machilici, that had Dave had ever eaten… as well as FIVE NAAN!! “4 naan Jeremy? 4! Thats Insane!” Peep Show quote for you there…) was so beautifully lit up and full of the most colourful markets – we found ourselves there a few times over the 4 days. On one particularly rainy day, we were surprised but chuffed to stumble upon an open day at the Indian Heritage Centre. Here, they served sweet tea, traditional Indian snacks (like the Bombay mix you got at Auntie Anns Christmas Eve party..) as well as activities for the kids to try. Naturally, I found myself decorating a traditional Rangoli with sand at the kids table and thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Chinatown was equally as stimulating to the eye and taste buds. We spent an afternoon wandering the packed streets, perusing the markets and soaking in the atmosphere. I got my nails manicured at a little side street beauty salon whilst Dave sampled the local beer – Quindao Laote Beer – before finding a street performer with a guitar and playing him some Steel Panther (of course!). Another success to our day in Chinatown was our first official use of Chopsticks which Im pleased to announce was a resounding success – neither of us left wearing our roast duck and roast pork noodles which I definitely count as a success however, I cant promise that we were all that elegant in how we ate our noodles…
Speaking of food, the wonderful David turned the grand old age of 29 the morning we flew into Singapore and as a Birthday treat booked us a table at LAVO restaurant situated at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. The views were spectacular, as was the ENORMOUS thunder cloud that we watched roll in across the sea… Despite the weather, the atmosphere was lovely, the food even better and the waiting staff were so very attentive, even finding out the name of a song playing after overhearing Dave say how much he liked the music. Additionally and without my knowledge, they set up a Happy Birthday Cheesecake for him and I to share as a surprise.
Following on from our jaunt up the impressive Marina Bay Sands which is like a small city of its own, we were lucky enough to miss the rain and witness the Gardens by the Bay lit up in all its glory. Day or night, the gardens are really quite something. Unfortunately, due to the weather, we were unable to walk amongst the trees BUT that left us plenty of time to visit the Flower and Cloud Domes whilst a small hurricane howled outside. Despite it being crazy busy, we thoroughly enjoyed spending 3 or 4 hours wandering amongst the different countries flowers and displays including Alice in Wonderland, dragons and animals sculptures made entirely from drift wood. Across in the Cloud Dome, we timed our visit perfectly to witness the mist being released to really make you feel as if you were amongst the clouds. We were greeted by an enormous waterfall, spanning the entire height of the Dome and one which you could walk to the top of. As well as being filled with beautiful flowers, ferns and trees and being able to walk amongst the canopy, the Cloud Dome really hit home our impact on the world. Towards the end of the tour, we were able to see a few perspex boxes with gorgeous flowers/ferns growing in them – unfortunately, after being identified in the wild in the late sixties, no one has seen them since meaning they exist purely in our research labs or cultivated for viewing and education purposes. It was incredibly sad to think that they were just a few examples of a much larger problem. A problem that, whilst we have been away, is being reported as critical – we have just 12 years left of living the way we do before the damage we have done to our planet, the place we call home, is totally irreparable. That fern, in the little perspex box really hit that truth home.
Now to waffle about Raffles… (Dave told me to write that…).
EVERYONE who heard we were going to Singapore said we had to go to Raffles for the famous Singapore Sling. A quick internet search found it was CLOSED. Yes, closed until mid 2019 for a huge refurb – gutted. So, on a rainy Sunday afternoon, we thought we would go be nosey and see what this refurb entailed and to see if we could at least find the gift shop – we did and it was underwhelming to say the least. Defeated, we headed back down the road to see if we could find the flea market we had stumbled upon 10 minutes previously. As we reached the corner of the road and what was the Raffles Hotel, I spied a photo opportunity against a picture of a cartoon Singapore Sling…. However, on closer inspection, I realised said picture was direction to the newly refurbished and OPEN Long Bar. I proceeded to drag Dave half way around the building and up a tiny flight of stairs where we found the last available table at Raffles Long Bar complete with monkey nut shells scattering the floor and the Singapore Sling cocktail shaking machine. I, obviously, broke my health induced alcohol fast for not one, but two Gin cocktails that afternoon – The Singapore Sling and a cocktail comprised of their 1915 Gin. Delicious and a wonderful way to fill a rainy Sunday.
We left Singapore mid morning on Monday and even on the journey out the country we were reminded of its beauty. The beauty of a thoroughly efficient train system – 50p journeys, never once was a train late and the AIR CON, oh the air con – as well as the beauty evident in the Changi Airports Sculptures. Within the departure lounge, they had created 2 separate oasis filled with running water, the sounds of wildlife, comfortable seating and mosaic hibiscus flowers twice the size of me!
Singapore, you were a wonderfully busy, walking filled 4 days and despite never having thought to visit before, you will be seeing us both in the very near future (we are currently trying to convince mum and dad to come meet us there, of course!).
Next stop, Perth…
Free Bird 