leyton.org

Greetings from Singapore! We’ve been here for three days now, and it’s safe to say it’s HOT. Very hot. 30C most days, and nights don’t feel much cooler.

We’re staying with my friend Huw from University, who’s been here for a few years, and has been happily suggesting places to visit around this compact city. So, we’ve sampled ginger tea in the Arab quarter, supped Singapore Slings at Raffles, walked through China town taking in some impressive temples (particularly Sri Mariamman), shopped till we dropped on Orchard Road and ambled around the beautiful setting of CHIJMES.

Food is certainly a big part of Singapore, and we’ve sampled a little bit of everything, courtesy of Huw’s well researched eating habits. Cheap too. Very cheap. No surprise there for the people who know Huw’s ability to hunt out a cheap eatery. Munching a chinese dish of chicken with dried chillies was certainly hot, but the cold beer helped cool things down. Maybe it was the ice IN THE BEER that helped. Wouldn’t have thought I’d ever say it, but watered down icy beer is very nice in this sort of climate!

We’re paying a visit to another friend (Dennis) later today, and hope to be relaxing and enjoying a BBQ later today. Dennis and his wife have lots of cats, so we’re sure to be kept entertained if Huw’s new cat (Baron) is anything to go by. Baron’s got quite a set of claws and teeth, and is young enough to still like playing all the time. However, a trip to the vet for the, er, snip, seems to be on the agenda. Little boy kittens seem to be rather more aggressive than they are sans bits, so to speak.

We’re here for a few more days, paying a visit tomorrow to a HUGE techy shopping complex (I’ve already spent more than enough time in the Apple store here drooling over toys, but even Frances has enjoyed it), and maybe a few more of the sights. Early next week however, we’re hoping to go out to Indonesia to visit Bintan. We’ve a bit of research to do on visas, costs and such like, but both Huw and Dennis recommend it highly, and it’s just what we’re after before flying up to Bangkok at the end of next week.