Singapore

Hello Singapore!

Baby orangutan

Singapore, our first stop, and a gentle introduction to South East Asia.  In fact it couldn't be more different than the rest of the continent - spotlessly clean, not a mosiquito in sight and everything you could wish for at your fingertips.  Or at least it was at the very swish and very lovely 5* Mandarin Oriental Hotel - some start for a couple of backpackers!  Something tells me we shouldn't get used to this kind of luxury!  A very much appreciated wedding present from Lisa's sisters, the room boasted a fantastic view of the marina and Singapore's version of the London Eye.  We tried to act natural, like we were used to staying in places like this all the time and being treated like royalty.  But truth be told we were like excited teenagers running around marvelling at the little jasmine flowers they left everywhere for us and the rose petals scattered about the place with free wine and an endless supply of fruit!

Cheetah

Downtown

We ventured downtown on our first day - on what turned out to be a Paul shopping expedition.  Having had so little time to prepare before we left he was in dire need of being dragged into the naughties in terms of clothing!  And although most of his wardrobe now has "Surfer's Paradise" emblazoned across the front of it he fits in well here.  Apart from the very loud orange hawaiian shirt that is...... he's been scaring the locals with it - that and our recently acquired head torch, which he insists on wearing over dinner, and demonstrating its 3 light settings to anyone that passes by....

Hot hot hot

Lisa on the other hand is enjoying the fact that she isn't running around like a nut job for a change and is relishing the luxury of sleep!  Oh and thai fish soup - yummy!  Except whilst eating her husband sitting across from her keeps insisting on ordering the hottest chilli dish on the menu and then wondering why he can't feel his tongue for the next two days!  Some boys will never learn!

Fish soup

Oh and by the way, see all our Singapore photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/kodiak-jack/sets/72157604317487349/

Happy family

Singapore skyline

View from our hotel room