Singapore stopover April 2008

Wednesday 23rd april. Our final day in singapore started with a sleepin and late breakfast before heading off to little india and arab street for some serious street hawker shopping. Picked up some nice silk cushions and some material for our outdoor furniture . Back to the hotel to do our checkout and then thru the city link mall an underground shopping complex that took us to Raffles City . We took the speedy lift to the 70th floor for some final cocktails to farewell Singapore at the New Asia Bar, a very funky spot indeed.

Tuesday 22nd April. Breakfast at Raffles was as good as we remembered it being 12 years earlier, although we think the first time was probably imprinted in our memory as the” best ever “. After filling ourselves as much as we could we thought a walk in the Botanical Gardens was in order, and what a delight it was. The orchid gardens were spectacular and we were both snapping photos continuously. The Cool House and the Rainforest were pleasant sanctuaries from the sweaty conditions.

After spending quite a few hours at the Gardens we took in the delights of the Red Dot Design Museum and then wandered around ChinaTown and the Temples and markets. Some of the old architecture is beautiful in colonial heritage style.

With aching feet ,we have stopped for a pick up rest , back at the hotel, ready to hit the town tonight around the Marina Restauarants and then our last day tomorrow to discover some more  of the Singapore we have not seen. It has certainly more to offer than we realised when we had a flying visit 12 years ago.

Had a lovely seafood dinner at the busy waterfront and then walked over the bridge to Merlion and the big water spouting lion ,there we took a private boat ride down the river past all the bustling restaurant

Singapore must be the restaurant and retail capital of the world ,they are everywhere in unnatural abundance.

Monday 21st April.  Not much sleep on the late night flight from Male but when we arrived at our hotel we were able to get into our room straight away at 9am ,sleep glorious sleep. Had some lunch and then wandered around the masses of shopping arcades and markets around the Marina district before finishing up at Raffles for a couple of singapore slings and some satay chicken. Raffles is an amazing complex ,love the classic colonial tropics style. We booked to come back for breakfast tomorrow and hope that it can live up to the reputation it gained with us on our first visit 12 years ago. quiet night in with roomservice pizza and early to bed .