Welcome to Singapore

What hits you when you land in Singapore in the middle of the European winter? Well, probably 30°C!
You quickly spot the difference between you and the "others": you are pale and you sweat a lot. But no worries, you will get some tan and you will get used to the heat.
Your Asian adventure is just about to start! Exciting? It surely is! :-)

Asia is my favourite destination. It's hot, it's cheap, it's safe, the people are adorable and the food is amazing. What else would you wish for a nice get-away?

Below some snapshots from Singapore...

January 2012 - It is my third time in this part of the world. I'm discovering though that Singapore is not the cheapest place to be. Anyway, I am amazed by the modern architecture of this city-state. It's true that it looks a bit artificial but it is clean and has a lot of green space.

Some curiosities about Singapore, the Lion City, as it is also called... 

• Dollar is the currency. Singaporean dollar :-) S$

• The weather is more or less the same all year round... Awesome, right?

• You may get a fine for chewing a gum in a subway (btw, you will not be able to buy chewing gums here! unless it is for medical reasons - then go to a pharmacy and show your ID). 

• Have you ever heard about durians? - well, this "stinky" fruit is banned in the subway, too. I brought some candies made of durian - my Dad loves them! :-)

• Similar story with food and beverages. If you really need to carry them while commuting, you must put them in the plastic bag. And obviously, forget about consuming them on the trains ;-)

• There is an AC in the trains, so imagine a nice asylum in MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) from the heat outside! MRT is super young btw - it was built in the 90's.

• Changi airport is one of the most exciting airports in the world. Did you know you can go to the cinema there or just take your swimming suit and dive in the swimming pool?

• SG is located on the island. But there is also another island, a tiny one, called Sentosa. Incredible at night. For real party animals :-) Party in a swimming pool? Why not? Sentosa gives you that opportunity. Just bear in mind you will pay a fortune for your drinks over there ;-)

• Another curiosity is the fact that for possessing drugs there is nothing else but capital punishment waiting for you. So be vigilant and keep an eye on your belongings. If you do take drugs, don't even try to enter the country. If the boarder police find drugs in your system, you may pay a fine (or go to jail in the worst case scenario), even if you prove the drugs were consumed in another country.

• It is hard to get tissues. I've been told that one the reasons were to stop polluting the city. Humm, so how do you explain the overload of plastic bags? take-away coffee, please...

Places to go...

You must definitely go to the skyscrapers district. Singapore is known for its high buildings, especially Marina Bay Sands (or Ku-De-Ta). This is a new construction miracle which was built in 3 years. The project team had a lot of challenges to accomplish the chef-d'oeuvre but they finally made it. I was speechless when I saw this building for the first time. It looks like a boat. You want to get on the top straight away.
There is an amazing swimming pool on the roof top but you must be a hotel guest first to be allowed to dip your tanned body there ;-) Such a pleasure would cost you around $500, from what I've heard. Probably worth it. Unfortunately I didn't have this amount of money... Maybe next time ;-)
On Wednesday (Ladies Night) ladies can enter the roof top for free and there is one drink offered! We took advantage and went for a party, there is a nice disco up there ;-) Be careful with the drinks though! My beer cost S$25 :/ Probably the most expensive one I have ever drank...

Some snapshots from Ku-De-Ta:

Little India is the district where you can feel like in India. Also, surprise surprise - there you will find tasty Indian food! I am definitely a fan, so was really happy when local Couchsurfers suggested we hang out for drinks and dinner in this area. There is a nice backpacker hostel + bar in the heart of Little India, called Prince of Wales. Happy hours ;-)

Chinatowns never disappoint me! The one in Singapore has a little pearl inside: the amazing temple where I got crazy and took million of pictures... I was lucky because I had a chance to see the monks there and hear their prayers. Great experience.