Singapore a FINE city

I loved Singapore!

From the moment I arrived I could tell I was going to really enjoy my short time here. The queue at customs was non-exisitant and I was out of the airport 15 mins after landing. Once at the SMRT (Singapore Metro and Rapid transit) station I purchased my travel card and enbarked on the NE line. I was so pleasantly surprised to see everything in English. It was a breeze to travel to my hostel. The only moment of confusion was the transfer I had to make, but before I could even ponder which side of the platform to wait on someone asked me if I needed help. What a friendly city!

The hostel was lovely and I met new people. A guy from Mumbai, three people from Germany and two girls from the Phillipines. 

That night I walked down into Chinatown for dinner, amid the signs for Frog soup, Pig liver Laksa, I found some tame dumplings. After wards I ventured to Clarke Quay along the Singapore River. 

The next morning, after one of the best sleeps, I headed to Harbour Station to pick up my train ticket to KL for the next night. Then I walked to Marina Bay to see the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Wow! It is three towers connected by a "boat" at the top... No I didn't get to go up. :(

I happened to be there on the last night of an international art exhibition in the area. Massive light displays from artist around the world, free to the public. Made for some really nice pictures of the area at dusk. 

On my last day in Singapore I went shopping!!! Orchard Rd is home to all the major labels, Dior, Prada, Channel to name a few. I stuck to Zara, the Gap (where I happened to be in the background of what I can only imagine is the Singapore version of Fashion Television) and Lucky Plaza mall. Picked up a few bargins. Waiting for Bangkok to really give the credit card a work out. 

Then onto Little India. Given I didn't get my visa for India and had to cancel that leg of the trip, I was excited about seeing Little India in Singapore. Well, it wasn't that great.... The smells were amazing, the air heavy with curry and different spices. But it was dirty and slummy. Maybe it is a good thing I'm not going to India after all.

As for the title of this post, Singapore is known as the "fine" city. Perhaps the reason I like it so much is that all the rules make it very easy to get along. There are fines for just about everything, littering carries a $1000 fine, spitting, having food on the metro and chewing gum are also illegal. Singapore goes as far as putting little foot outlines on the steps of the escalators so you know which side to stand and which side is for passing. On some sidewalks there is a line with arrows instructing you to walk to the left.

Well, here am I am about to embark on my train to KL. Good bye Singapore, I'm sure we'll met again.