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Mission Impossible? <br />To travel the world and give you all a run down of adventures, experiences, things to see and the best bars in town! I may even stop here and there and earn a few bob...but after this who would have me...

Asia, part X: Singapore

Richard Rosss
2006-04-03 13:53:07

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Singapore and my final week!

After 18 months, 560 days and 19 countries visitied, its time for me to hang up my backpack and sandals. Yes, I am heading home in a few hours after spending the rest of my cash in Singapore. Its been an amazing 18 months where I have met loads of fine people and seen some spectacular stuff...alas, the tube and 'city' beckons! However, I am not looking forward to 're-entry'!

Singapore is fast cars, faster women and the DOLLAR! The shopping here is intensive and comprehensive - there is no recession here! People are buying computers, flat screens, fones, cameras and loads of clothes.

I have spent a few days wandering round Little India (getting my fortune told from a parrot!), Chinatown, Arab St and the CBD. Its a pretty impressive city centre with some ace looking buildings which are amazing at night. I have been shopping here in one of the many malls...its great fun!

Went to the night safari - kinda like Jurrassic park - you go round the park looking at the animals on trains. There we saw tigers/bears/deer/elephants and fighting hyena's! I went to Raffles long bar for a 'Singapore Sling' which was delish, if pricey ($18)!

The Swiss Hotel was great for some smashing views of the city lighting up at dusk. Drinks were pricey here too! Seem to be doing the decadent drinking thing here, but also been drinking in the bar across the road from the hostel. Dravida's Wines is a real local bar with such friendly chaps in there - most folks drink bottles of spirits.

Yesterday, I went to Sentosa island. There are artificial beaches, which were surprisingly nice to lie on and swim in the sea. The Southernmost point in Continental Asia is also there! You could almost see the equator 100m away! But I had to make do with oil tankers and Indonesia!

Singapore seems like a nice place to live and has a lively ex-pat community. The only problem is that you need loads of cash!

Loads of ads here for the army and navy?? Seemingly, they have a pretty large, scary defence force...strange!

Love

Rich

PS - Below are some interesting bits...

Nationalities travelling:
UK 50%
Irish 15%
Euro 15%
Canada 6%
Japan 3%
US 1%
Israel 4% (rising in Thailand/Nepal)
Oz/NZ 4%
Other 2% (S Korea/Mexico/Brasil/SA)

You know you have been in Asia too long when:

sign in toliet advises people not to squat on toliet, but you have seen footprints.
hotels get recommened to/by you if they supply toilet paper.
tea is always full of leaves/twigs and milk is usually from a can.
asking for chopsticks, when u are given a knife and fork.

Top 5 bars:

Scruffy Murphy's, Sydney, OZ
Kilkenny's, BA, Argentina
The World, Queenstown, NZ
Nha Trang Sailing Club, Nha Trang, Viet Nam
Windows, Shanghai, China
Top Clubs: Pacha, BA, Argentina/ Sounds on Sunday, Sydney

Worst Club: Fireclub, Kathmandu, Nepal

Best Hostels:

Wake up, Sydney
YHA Wellington, NZ
Grand Palace, Cairns

Worst:

Sydney Central Backpackers, Kings X
Friendly Volcano, Quito, Ecaudor
Sun Va Hospedaria, Macau, China

Best Beaches -

Whitehaven Beach, Oz
Cape Trib, Oz
Florinopolis, Brasil

Best Countries -

Myanmar
China
Bolivia