Day one Singapore

I arrived yesterday afternoon after a painless flight from the Gold Coast. i can vouch for Scoot business class in terms of comfortable seat and service. Can't say much about the internet or scoot TV as both were ineffectual.

The trip from the airport was fast efficient, clean and very cheap. $5.60 one way. Puts Sydney prices to shame. Not only cheaper but farmore comfortable, clean and efficient. The walk to my hotel was thankfully short.

One word about the heat. It is not like Australia. Here you are enveloped in this warm moist blanket, At home it is searingly hot. It seems to be constantly waiting to rain, the sun being shadowed by grey clouds. you do not see anyone carrying an umbrella. Either they have them cunningly hidden about thier person or they simply keep to the tunnel like eves and awnings that sit beside every road. Now I know why my memories of Canberra always take me back to Asia. In the centre of town the shops there are set back leaving a covered walkway. So cool.

Last night I kept my promise to eat Singapore Chilli Crab. It was delicious, just the right amount of chilli and the crab delectable. I found a resteraunt which had it on thier menu in China Town in the food market street, just down the road from the Hindu temple (see photos) and a very old mosque. After my meal I strolled sated through the streets and lanes of Chinatown complete with a plethora of stalls, all trying to sell you something. An early night was had. I was exhausted and was in my airconditioned bed before 9:00pm.

I woke early this morning. I went out into empty quiet streets, this being a complete contrast from the night before. For Asia this is a bit of a shock for me. One expects chaos and mayhem not the quiet, clean streets of this morning. I strolled around the streets I had sashayed the previous night looking in vain for breakfast. Clearly Singaporeans have different dietary habits tomine. Eventually I hailed a cab and told him to take me to Raffles.

My word some things change and some things stay the same. Raffles sits there an unchanged institution amidst the chaos and anarchy of the new Singapore. High rise blocks all views. There aren't the cranes of construction but it looks like the builders have just moved on. The place is spotless. I had breakfast in the bakery bar, I was not allowed in the foyer as I had shorts on, I strolled aimlessly and blamelesslly through the gardens and courtyards. It was great and provided me with little flashbacks of my childhood in all those years gone by.

Getting back to Chinatown and my hotel was simple thanks to the MRT railway system. It is so efficient. you never have to wait long and it is bloody cheap. Raffles to China Town cost $1.60. It is now time to wrap up and head to the Airport. Siem Reap here I come!