Hot and sticky Singapore

Enjoying the city sunset, Esplanade Mall

The past two weeks have whizzed by in a whir of excitement. Our travels, in lieu of a birthday celebration have recently taken us north of Perth to the South East Asian country of Singapore!

Singapore, well promoted as a clean and green city, surprised us with its amazing underground rail transport system, its diverse ethnic and multicultural neighborhoods and the distinct wealth distribution between them.  On reflection, Singapore is (and probably quite accurately) a shoppers haven! Before arriving Kara had several preconceived ideas that Singapore would be covered in orchids, huge hotels and be hot and sunny.  So, surprisingly, we were slightly excited to arrive into Singapore at the beginning of a huge thunder and lighting storm with torrential rains!  The storm eventually abated after some amazing lighting and the weather remained very humid. We also had the opportunity to stay away from the main touristy hustle and bustle in a small hostel right in the centre of 'China town'. I guess in its own way it was also pretty crazy and wasn't at all close to the image of 'clean
 we were expecting.

Below are several photos highlighting some of the great times we had in Singapore. Overall we must admit that the entire week was amazing, but was built around an array of local (and international) cuisine that was dying to be tasted (turtle soup, shark fin soup, chilli crab, fish head soup, chicken and rice, and seemingly a large selection of ofal... hmm). Lucky we managed to do lots of walking or else we would have come home several kilos heavy, for sure!  One of the most memorable experiences was our fish foot spa! Where small little fish 'suck' the dead skin off your feet, yeh... its as uncomfortable as it sounds. John was even game enough to give it a try but I think we left there feeling a little violated. We did get the chance to see some beautiful orchards at the Royal Botanical garden and even drink New Zealand beer on the beach in Sentosa Island! 

Back to Auzzie!

Tot siens,
John and Kara

Duck and rice from the Chinatown hawkers centre- YUM! 

Taking a stroll through Gardens by the Bay

Johns foot during a 'fish spa'- yes human flesh eating fish
 all in the name of beautiful feet /'science'

Hanging out with the locals in little India

Singapore's highest building, One Raffles Place

Enjoying a Singaporean sling, Raffles Hotel 

Singapore at night, Marina Bay

Tucking into a local delicacy, red bean ice cream with bread

A baby Merlion, Singapore's iconic attraction, Sentosa Island

Eating shrimp dim sum dumpling at Tim Ho Wan
(after being first in line), Plaza Singapura 

We had time for a bit of snake charming,
Kara with the local boa constrictor 'Charlie Brown'

After a long hunt, John eating the much anticipated satay chicken

And lastly! Kara getting stuck into the local delicacy- Durian! (yuck)