So this is Singapore

Hi Guys!

I had initially planned to send one e-mail upon my leaving Singapore, but after the brain overload and senses overload from this morning alone...it may be wise to send mail before then!!

I just want to say that it's currently 31.5 degrees with a humidity of around 90% no wonder I'm like dying here!! I swear to you the humidity alone is a killer! I feel like I could go back to the hotel and sleep forever...the only issue with that is that I'm not entirely sure where my hotel is from here...I'm in some dingy little arcade in the basement of one of the millions of shopping centres here and I mean millions. In the general area of my hotel alone there are three shopping complexes, like six stories high! These people can shop!

My flight wasn't too bad. We were half hour late taking off but generally with International travel the only flight that runs on time is the one you get on to come home! Singapore Airlines is even more impressive than it was last time I flew with them. They've now got what you call 'On Demand' for their movies, TV shows and audio. So basically there were like 60 movies, 120 shows and 220 CDs to choose from any time of the flight I wanted. Oh my gosh! Natty they had Elvis!! I fell asleep listening to Elvis and when the "Ghetto" song came on I just had this image of us at our desks singing!! He hehe...oh dear. But yes, I only watched one movie 'Coach Carter' whichI really enjoyed. Watched a docco on Singapore and one on Castles in England. Then listened to some music, played a few games and slept for a bit. Ate food like all the time, and it truly was great food too! Had the most delicious Chicken Pot pie thing...mmmmm

So got to Singapore and blow and behold I was actually on the same flight as Karen Chatto's parents! And they're at my hotel too!! Ha! Apparently I stand out in my uniform...but yes, easy run through customs, my bags were untouched and waiting for me. Turned my phone on and there were all these welcome messages from the different telephone companies in Singapore! On the subject of my phone. It won't pick up reception in some areas, and the only time is doesn't cost me is if you send an SMS. Either incoming or outgoing calls cost me. My phone will be mostly off but I will have it on for a couple of hours each day. Here in Singapore we are two hours behind you guys. So turning the phone on and finding the odd SMS is lovely...I've sent a couple back but not sure if they're getting through...

Got to the hotel last night and discovered I'm actually in the old building which is a bit of a disappointment, but it's not terrible either. My room at the Holiday Inn at Melb airport was better and if I thought the TV was dodgy there, I've only one English speaking channel here which seems to have American Idol on every time I switch it on. Okay so I've turned it on three times...by the time I got in last night I checked in, dropped my bags at my room and went downstairs to sort out my stopover tours. From there I went in search of a seven 11 to stock my room up with some food. Found this neat little lolly shop in one of the arcades...only issue was the woman didn't speak English. We established one word 'sour' and I don't know if she was telling me which ones were sour or the ones that weren't sour. Needless to say I now am a bit iffy about eating the little sweets that I have...regardless, wandered around by myself but didn't feel too safe doing so as most people I bumped into didn't seem to have very good English. I was tired, a little emotional and quite far out of the comfort zone so did a quick wander (had a very delicious ice-cream) did my little bit of shopping (hello Starbucks in a glass bottle at seven 11!!) and went back to the room, ordered room service and sprawled out for some TV, tour working out and just general rest.

Got up this morning and got ready and was down in the lobby at 9am for my City tour. As the bus was driving around, the tour host was talking about all these really interesting thing like how a lot of the buildings are built taking into account feng shui and how one particular area Suntec City -or similar- is built on the whole notion that the new millennium is modern, thus so is its architecture, but alot of the older traditions determined just exactly how the whole thing was put together. Like the fountain in the middle which actually flows inwards as a sign of wealth. Visited Little India, Civic Area, Esplanade, Chinatown, Gem Stone Centre and the BotanicalGardens /Orchid Park. There was an interesting tradition mentioned in little India to do with coconuts. Apparently, if you pick up a coconut and smash it on the ground, it signifies the breaking of Ego. The outside of a coconut is hard and the inside is soft. This can be said about some peoples Egos. Anyhows, this went on but it was just really interesting. So if you get a coconut in the mail....you're ego needs breaking! Ha! Just kidding!! Saw a self serve curry puff place and found some glorious silks in Chinatown, they were just amazing.

The toll system here is an interesting one. The rates change every half hour. So you could end up paying some astronomical amount when you don't particularly want to. It's to discourage city traffic, the idea is that public transport is the way to go. Mind you with the bad smells, horrific drivers and dodgy buses I can understand why people drive cars! Which in itself is another interesting story. In brief, to buy a car you basically have to go through a tendering process which means in the long run, you may lose the bid to buy the car.

Every Friday is a significant day at Changi Prison. Here in Singapore, Armed Robbery, Murder and Drug related crimes are a hanging offence for both genders. Thus every Friday is hanging day...oh and if you'rein Shanghai in three years time, you'll be there to see the opening of the new tallest hotel in the world. Apparently its currently in Dubai. And did you know that about 70% of the water in Singapore is actually imported from Malaysia? And that any given time of the day there is approximately 900 boats in the Harbours at Singapore?!! Singapore alone has approximately 8 million visitors each year, that's twice it's current population...of which 71% is Chinese...do you think I've learnt alot already today?!!! Talk about brain strain!

Oh my gosh...we were down by the Esplanade this morning and I held a HUGE yellow python while this guy played the flute to make it move. I was SHITTING myself!! It was so heavy and I was just thinking it was gonna bite me! It was sooo funny! The look on my face in the photo, you can so tell!! Met a lovely woman from Korea who is in Singapore with her husband who is working so she's out playing. Sounds like agood deal to me. Also had an ex-guide leader on my tour this morning, she's from New South Wales. The were also some ratbag kids on the tour bus, they were Indian (not that it's relevant) but they looked so cute but were a trio of ratbag kids! We were driving along and the driver just shouts out at this kid who is just running up and down the isle, the parents didn't even care!

Now, there is apparently one thing everyone is Singapore has to do. And I've done it! No crude ideas please, I can hear some of you thinking already (not looking at anyone in particular....). Yes I have been to The Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel and had a Singapore Sling and here I met Mary-Anne and Kevin from south of Auckland in NZ. So I sat there chatting to them for ages!! Well an hour. The drink was somewhat interesting really. Had a photo taken too, just to prove it!So from there I did the wanders and have ended up where ever it is I am now....I should probably think about finding my way back. I have to be on my Night Safari at 6pm and I want a shower and a nap before I do that...the day has been so long and tiring. BUT I am having fun and have seen LOTS of interesting sights and smelt some not so nice things...plenty of photos, lots of money spent and only a small amount of things to show for it. Mind you, food is a bit costly. And I got ripped off I think. No not really. My hotel takes commission when exchanging money...thus I got my Aussie dollars at a rate of 1.19 Singapore dollars when I could have got it for 1.34 just down the road *sighs* oh wells, we learn from these things.

Tonight is the night safari and I think tomorrow I will head out to the Bird Park or do breakfast at the zoo...haven't decided yet. Actually I think I want to head over to Sensota Island for the day and see everything there...Oh I don't know, I may even just play it by ear and see how things go.

Well that got very long!! All I wanted to say is that I'm sweltering. There are zillions of shops everywhere (inc Marks & Spencer's), there's some weird fashion and many things to excite the senses. All in all, am really enjoying myself. Over the solo fact now, I can deal with being a loner in daylight, well the times I haven't found someone to talk to!

On that note I should be off, if you don't get an e-mail from me on Friday when I'm at the airport...you know I got even more lost and never got back to the hotel!! JUST KIDDING!! Mum get up off the floor I am FINE!!

Rachael :-)

BTW all those sorry's I have in my inbox -DON'T BE SORRY!! It's all fine, seriously.