21 Feb we arrived in Singapore which is a very clean, modern city with lots of rules - no chewing gum, no spitting, no eating or drinking on the MRT (subway). We stayed in an amazing hotel for my birthday treat. Our room had a huge bed, mini bar, gorgeous bathroom, a plasma flat screen tv on the wall (which Ben watched footie on!) dressing gown and slippers!

On our first day we visited the zoo. It is one of the only open concept zoos in the world where they don't keep animals in cages. Saw lots of different animals and learnt lots about conservation as the zoo runs lots of animal rescue programmes. Ben wore jeans and it was so hot and humid, we learnt to only where jeans when we were going somewhere with air con! In the evening we went to Clarkes Quay where there were so many nice bars and restaurants. We were really gutted as we couldn't afford to eat in any of them as they were well over our budget! We found a nice Japanese restauarant which was a bit cheaper. Since trying it in Brunei we are now really into Japanese food.

The next day we got the cable car to Sentosa Island which was one of the most scary things I have ever done in my life! It floated along at 60 metres above sea level and at the highest point it decided to stop and sway about in the wind. We were looking down on eagles and birds of prey - well Ben was as I had to close my eyes most of the way! Needless to say we got the MRT back! The island was beautiful and had lots of lovely beaches. We went to underwaterworld where we touched sharks and rays, then we wondered round the island and sunbathed a bit. In the evening we watched the Chingay Parade for chinese new year. We saw some amazing, colourful floats with performers and dancers.

The next day we met Uncle Andrew's colleague Anthony, who was kind enough to drive us around and show us lots of buildings in Singapore as well explaining the history of them. He then took us for lunch at a japanese restaurant where we tried lots of different dishes and we loved them all! Anthony then took us to Bugis area which used to be a dodgy area where all the transvestites were! It's all been cleaned up now and is a huge market and shopping mall with a cinema and fountain. We then said goodbye to Anthony and headed off to chinatown. We wondered round lots of streets with markets and old shop houses where we saw two more Lion Dances being performed. We visited chinatown heritage centre which told the history of how the chinese came to Singapore and how hard life was when they arrived. It was a really interesting place and some of the interviews with people who lived there back in those times were really touching. They made you realise how lucky you are. We then went to a festival in Esplanade park for chinese new year. There were lots of stalls selling chinese crafts, a fun fair, displays explaining chinese new year and the zodiac signs.

The following day we visited the Botanical Gardens.  It was really hot and sunny but nice to walk under the shade of the trees.  We went for Dim Sum for lunch (trying to make the most of the lovely food before we leave Asia!).   We then visited Raffles the famous hotel where the Singapore Sling cocktail was invented, which was a really lovely complex of old colonial buildings and fountains.  After that we visited Chijmes which is an old gothic building which used to be a Convent, then a school and is now home to lots of craft shops and restaurants.