Days 13 & 14 - Abu Dhabi to Singapore

Day 13 - Abu Dhabi
Up around 9:00am and spent most of the morning packing and checking we'd not forgotten anything!
Out to the local bakers for a Zataar (flat bread with spices) as it was the only thing left on the 'to do' list for Abu Dhabi (except the Heritage Village which as you say mum, we never did get to!)
Home to have the Zataar with left over curry, write our latest blog and leave Sam and Jase's flat for the final time :o(
Taxi to the bus station and then on to the coach to take us to Dubai. Only 15 Dirhams each (around 2GBP). Coach full of people finishing work and heading home.

Coach dropped us at the Trade Centre roundabout where we fought with all the people leaving the convention centre (looking like Doozers running down the road in front of the traffic in their overalls and hard hats) to get a taxi.
Finally arrived at the airport with loads of time and headed for the Irish Village to have a delicious burger and chips!! Very Islamic!

Flight was on time with no problems although fuller than the one to Dubai. We had to stay in our own seats. Terrible!
I managed to sleep for the majority of the flight (no surprise there) but Dave was constantly interrupted by a strange Congan man sitting next to him who had no idea about personal space. Or the kiond of conversation you're supposed to have with people you've never met. Very odd! Although if we ever need to do business in The Republic Of Congo, Dave knows your man!!

M xx

Day 14 - Singapore
We arrived in Singapore very early - even the sun was still asleep!
I was immediately impressed with Singapore. The toilets were lovely, clean and very nicely tiled.
We went to fill in our immigration forms and my admiration for Singapore only increased. There were little pieces of tape on the floor to make sure the tables and chairs were always put back in the same place. I think I'm going to like it here!

Very humid and sticky, we got a taxi to take us to our hotel as we really couldn't face trying to sort out the trains.
Arriving at our 'New Seventh Storey Hotel' we discovered that...
a) it's not new
b) it's got 9 storeys
c) it leans as much as the tower of Pisa
d) we arrived at 7:00am and check-in was 2:00pm

So, we left our luggage and went off to explore.

Managing to only make it about 500 yards before needing air conditioning, we stopped in at a cafe for a delicious breakfast.
Heading in the general direction of Raffles Hotel we were soon approached by a man who later turned out to be called Steven. He seemed very helpful and showed us how to get around the city, where we should go and then took us to a local tailor for Dave to get a new suit made!??
As we left the taxi, Dave was given a warning by the driver... "don't trust him too much". I didn't hear this so carried on thinking "what a lovely helpful old man"!
Needless to say we didn't buy a suit (200GBP) and Steven seemed less interested in us after this, leaving us at a jewellery factory presumably to go and 'befriend' some more tourists!
No harm done but did make us both think that we mustn't be taken in by friendly folk.

We then walked. For miles.
Finally deciding we were brave enough to try the trains, we jumped on the MRT and headed for Harbour Front.
Following a spot of lunch, we purchased our cable car tickets and headed for Sentosa Island. Great views of the city and I was very brave!

We got off at the island and wandered round for a while - Dave losing the will to live as the effects of zero sleep was kicking in!

Not wanting to climb the hill back up to the cable car, we got a Skyride back (basically a ski lift) and then on to the cable car for the return journey. We decided we'd come back again tomorrow to use the beach...
Headed home for a shower and for Dave to finally get a few hours sleep.

Out again around 7:00pm for Chinatown. All very beautiful at the moment as there are loads of decorations for Lunar New Year which is on the 7th Feb.
Wandered around the markets and stopped off at a very busy street cafe for some great dim sum. Delicious!

Back on to the MRT to head to the North of the island and the Night Safari.
We are both really pleased we did this. It was awesome. We followed the walking trails and saw two fishing cats fighting - you'd have loved them mum. Even saw hog badgers!
We weren't allowed to take flash photography and the animals were'nt really in the mood for standing still long enough for night shots so no pictures, sorry!
On to the night show where we were entertained by a very pathetic wolf, a very clever recycling banded mongoose, a grape finding civet and a very irritating Singaporian lady! Very good though.
Finally made it to the tram to head round the safari again. This time seeing a lion, rhino, elephants and lots of deer very close to the tram.

Night bus back to the city then a brief walk back to the hotel to have our muffins that we'd saved from the flight, some water and then on to bed.

Another great day and a busy first day in Singapore!

M
xx