Singapore is great! Wet and expensive but great. I got off the bus in the usual manner: no knowing where I was. I then went into Japan Rail mode as it turned out I was in completely the wrong area and I needed to get the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - underground to you or me). Luckily I had saved a map of 35 Robin Rd on my iPod as the name had washed off my hand in the rain.

I took the orange circle line around to he botanic gardens (which looked nice from the outside) and practically swam to Rach's only stopping to ask for directions at the 7eleven.

This in itself was exciting because i didn't know what language was spoke in Singapore and the excited man who greeted me and was over the moon to hear I was going to Robin Road "near Stevens Road?!" spoke English! Hurrah!

So that evening (pancake day) we, including Rach's friend from Wales, went for a wander around a reservoir and saw more monkeys, before visiting Rachel's parents beautifully well decorated flat for our attempt at pancake cooking. We did quite well and covered all possible concoctions including flavouring the mix with rum (Rachel's sister's idea, not mine!), Vegemite and peanut butter, and of course the classic lemon and sugar! We had such a giggle and made such a mess and I think it was my best pancake day ever.

Yesterday we cycled through a mini monsoon along the eastern seafront and saw hundreds of tankers lining the horizon (until the rain came in and the were hidden briefly). We felt victorious when we returned the sodden bikes, mine with a broken bell since my gears skipped and I landed on it...

For valentines day (I got my months wrong, skipped my birthday, and thought it was Pi day momentarily) we showered together. Sorry, I meant we want out together and it showered all day. We went to the island with the theme parks on it and had a romantic coffee and cake break by the travellators on the footbridge over there.

FYI bulletin: Singapore had free cash withdrawals, however they don't work when you forget your cashcard or leave it in your other wallet.

Status
• In such a good mood from seeing a familiar face and being treated to a fantastic bed by an amazing host...
• Revelling in happiness still from last nights veg stew and frying pan antics...
• Stunned by the amount of money Singapore has to throw around on buildings, leisure and tourism because of the way money goes around...
• Excited to fly again but sad it's at night :( ...

Food It seems there will be no more cheap local food as I return to the western world. However. I am now very prosperous because for lunch yesterday we indulged in a prosperity pizza which was the best thin I have ever tasted out of a cardboard box! It was the shape of a famous coin (ie it had a hole in the middle) and covered in tantalising red processed chicken squares, tarrot and other junk. The crust was filled with cheese and pumpkin. It was truly the best thing to come out of lunar new year for me! (My horoscope incidentally states that I need to lower my expectations to get anywhere...)