Discovering Singapore

It is always fascinating to visit new places and Singapore is no exception. After a week's work in the confines of Changi airport, which is very good by most airport standards, I was eager to see what this famous city has to offer and this weekend was the ideal opportunity because Khamma had arrived from Thailand on Friday evening.


The Singapore Flyer is the city's latest attraction. It's a copy of the London Eye and whilst it isn't in the heart of the city like the Eye is, it does nevertheless offer a spectacular view of the locality. The floating football pitch caught my eye and visions of the arguements about who should jump in to fetch the ball. A different spin on the 'early bath' and go and 'cool down' for those who argue with the ref!

We moved on to Raffle's Hotel which is probably Singapore's oldest attraction. It still retains a bit of the old colonial atmosphere, but the abundant designer shops and expensive prices to match have replaced the echos of the foot steps of Noel Coward, Somerset Maughan et al. We sipped back a Singapore Sling cocktail in the Long Bar to soak up the hype, but in all honesty none of this can match the experience of having afternoon tea on the spendid lawns of the immaculate Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe.

Talking of 'Mad dogs and Englishmen' today we bicycled along the East Coast Beach road which is a very long stretch of road, without the hazards of cars and buses and whatever else, along the, well East Coast Beach! It was also a roasting hot sun that eventually got the better of me but for Khamma it was just the 'same same' as Thamuang. Welcome to the tropics!

This is a view from the Bedok jetty off the East Coast Beach and somewhere in those tower blocks is my humble residence.