DISCLAIMER: This entry is pretty lengthy. I an promise that most others will not be this meaty. I am writing this on my flight to the Philippines and have gone a little more in depth that I normally would!!

So my Asian journey began at Newcastle Airport. Got there 3 hours before becuase of my connecting flight to Singapore. My mam's famous last words as I was heading off up the escalator was that it would be ok as Newcastle is big. She backtracked slightly "well bigger than it usedto be." 3 hours later I was ready to pull all my hair out. It is tiny! And not much to do if you don't want to drink alone...

Anyway Heathrow was much more pleasant. I managed to kill about an hour and half mby going around the shops about 4 times! Window shopping only of course. Well a little treat from Harrods courtsey of Hazel and Claire (spent with British pounds, much more useful that South African Rand!!) I spent the rest of my 4 hour stop over eating my healthy packed lunch in Starbucks, nursing my one cup of tea!

My flight to Singapore was one of the most enjoyable flights I have had in a while. I couldn't get the emergency exit row, however I did manage to get a bank of 4 seats, with ony me and one person at the other end. So managed to actually get some sleep on the flight with The XX album playing on repeat, its very soothing!

I arrived into Singapore and through customs with no glitches, other than being 45 minutes late. There was going to be an hour wait for the shuttle bus, so I decided to brave the MRT system, which I had heard ws pretty s*** hot. Indeed it was, I also made friends with an aussie couple for the journey. They are also heading to the Philippines to the same island for a weding. sadly that wedding is a week before the one I'm going to, I think that would have been far too much of a coincidence!

Arrived at my hostel sweaty mess after a 5 minute walk from the train station. I did not realise how humid it would be in Singapore! My first mistake! I checked into my dorm room, very basic and a ROCK HARD bed. I like a firm mattress, but this was solid! There was not much of a common room and so I started to worry that I would not make any friends. I got my typical first day blues, I think its a mix of lonliness and jet lag, just makes me a little bit teary! Anyway i went for a little walk nearby and found a mall, not hard to do in Singapore. I decided to go to bed about 11pm as it made sense to try and force my body to the correct times even if it was mid afternoon UK time. I didn't get much sleep; combination of the mattress, the comings and goings of other and then at 6am the girl above me's persistent alarm for 50 minutes! I didn't realise where it was coming from. Eventually a hero in the room woke her up!!

I got up early, to try and pack in as much sightseeing into my 2 days in Singapore. I went down for the free breakfast, and as it was just white bread for toasting, and you know me, I just had a tea. I really hoped that I might meet some people to do the tourist stuff together. Unfortunatly it became pretty apparant that there would be no chance of that. So I grabbed my essentails supplies (2 cameras, suncream, packamac, map) and hit the road.

First stop was a free walking tour of lttle India, walkable from my hostel through Little India to the start point! I wondered if it was reduntant to do the tour as theroute on the map was where I had just walked. However the guide did not go along that route and I got an infomative session of the beginnings of Little India and the Indian community in Singapore. I think the guide may have managed to upset the 2 german guests when she was talking about the origins of the swastika!

After the tour I decided to get the hop on hop off bus and river cruise pass. Best decision ever. Got loads of info and those of you who know me well know my apalling sense of direction and therefore there was not as much negoiating of the city and its transport.

Next stop for the day was the famous Raffles hotel. Promised my dad that I'd go in, and I myself was more that a little curious to see what all the fuss is about. It was pretty grand, however I was greeted by alot of 'Residents Only' signs! And so I cannot impart much enlightenment! I did however make one pruchase from the hotel shope. A postcard, that at $4 was the cheapest thing in there!! I did not partake in a Singapore Sling, as I have never been one for drinking along. And I don't intend to start now for a $30 drink!! I think the whole thing is about the experience and I just don't think there would have been a one. Therefore I will just have to go back with someone!

After a lesuirely stroll around the hotel, and making friends with a woman from Burton-on-Trent who was spending the kids inheritance on staying there for 3 nights! I hit the bus again, this time to Chinatown. I was aiming for the scond free walking tour of the day. Disaster then struck and the heavens opened. And they just didn't stop!! I thought I would treat my tired legs (and swollen ankle!) to a rest and my hungry tummy to some food and hide out from the rain. After an hour in a hostel cafe I realised that the rain was not stopping anytime soon.

I had to re-evaluate my plans for the day. I had wanted to do the riverside a cruise in both the day and night. However there is no fun to be had walking around or on a boat in torrential rain! So I decided to jump back on the bus towards the hostel. On the bus I heard a distinct accent on a middle aged couple. Yup I can find them anywhere, from Chester-le-Street!

The rain just wasn't stopping! So I got some supper and some fruit supplies and headed back to the hostel. Yet again there was no one around in the 'common room' and my room was full of sleeping asian men. So I decided to join them (in sleeping, in my own bed i'll add!!) as all the ays walking andthe jet lagglack of sleep had caught up on me!

Yesterday my alarm went off early, and due to another disturbed sleep I just kept hitting the snooze (which is not that unusual for me!) But I had to use my bus/river pass by 11.51am as I had only bought a 24 hour pass.

First on the agenda, head to the river side to see all of the iconic sights. The merlion statue, The Flyer (taller than the London Eye by 5m- but expensive so I didn't have a go) The Esplanade. I walked way too far passed the jetty forthe cruise and by the time I walked back I was a very hot, sticky, sweaty, hungry mess. I ran to try and catch the boat that was pulling in but just missed it. Thinking that my little accidental detour had cost me my river cruise as I was now out of time. I thought I would try my luck. I was informed that my next boat was in an hours time. No comments about my ticket running out. Score! In that hour I knew I desparately needed aircon and to rest my ankle. I took refuge in the Esplanade mall. There was about 10 places to eat and I think about 8 of them were chocolatiers. This was doing nothing to help my diet! However I found a public bench and resisted tempation and ate some fruit that I had bought.

When I headed back down to wait for the bus I saw a girl doing the typical self portrait shot. Took her photo for er and found out that although she lgrew up down south, she was born in durham. It seems that i can find people from the north east in Singapore. I think that if I had not been going on the boat, we could have kept exploring together. But alas as usual timing as not on my side.

So I took the boat to Clarke Quay, the food and drinky part. A Hooters bar is one of the many places that you can visit!! I did not however.

After my luck with the boat I decided that I would try getting on a bus with my out of time ticket. I was in luck, the driver didn't even look! So I stayed on the bus and had a view of the botantic gardens, the embassies and the expensive house in Singapore. I also learned alot bout Singapore. Mainly that you must be rich if you live there. Especially if you drive a car. Singapore is the second largest exporter of used cars in the world (Japan is first) there is a fun fact for you!

I got off the bus at Bugis Centre. This is a collection of 2 malls and a street shopping section of 600 shops. By this stage I was absolutely starving. I had basically survived on fruit for alot of walking and through the heat! So I started stressing again. I really want to keep this weight off that i have lost, however allof the paces to eat seemed to be pretty fattening, with alot being deep fried. I lucked out at the point of passing out and found a Nandos! I felt bad aout not trying local food/stores but I would rather spend more money and get something a little healthier. However I am going to have to be realyl careful that one of 2 things doesn't happen. That I give up and jut eat s***. Or the other extreme that I obsess to the point that I can't enjoy myself..

Anyway it was recommended to the street stalls on Bugis for individual and cheap trinkets etc. To be honest I was really underwhelmed. It was really really crowded and the shops were pretty s***. I guess if I was asian sized I might at least have been able to look at the clothes. However as we know I am far from pint sized!!

After a little shopping (more out of wanting to have something from Singapore that wanting to have what I bought!) I walked back to the hostel. I had been walking around for about 8 hours and was absolutley knackered. My aim was to go back. Rest up and see if there was anyone around that might want to go out and see Singapore all lit up. I was to yet again be disappointed. There was no one around.

I decided that I couldn't be bother to navigate down to the riverside on public transit so I thought I would head back to Little India. I had seen some lights during the day that I assumed would be lit up on the ngiht and then I could at least hd some photos of the night time. As I left the hostel I realised that it was raining and had been for a little while. But as it was warm and I had my packamac I decided to brave it. Arrived in Little India to none of the signs lit up! I thought that becuase of the rain I would get my obligatory postcards from the first seller I saw and then just head back to the hostel. Well that was a meaner feat that I had thught! I had to walk the whole of Little India to get some postcards!

By the time I walk back up I was kackered and my back was killing. Oh I have forgotten to mention. By this time I had realised that I had managed to get sunburnt. With some lovely variety of patterns with my dress straps, bra straps, camera straps and bag straps! So I was realyl struggling carrying all my stuff too!!

I popped into the mall as it was on the way back to the hostel. And I has resistedso far, but I could not resist any longer and I treated myself to a pastry item from 'Bread Talk' as it was my tea and supper in one I thought I would hopefully have walked enough to warrant it! And I must admit it was pretty tasty. But I just wished there was more healthy options!

So that brings me to now. I have had 3 hours sleep (well 3 hours in bed, I deffo did not sleep that whole time) My wake up call came an hour early as the last shuttle bus was at 2.30am not 3.30am as thought. Now everyone has built up Singapore airport. The best in the world they said. Well I can honestly say that that must have been if you are in transit and during the day. As it was for me I arrived atthe aiport at 2.45am and was told that checkin for my flight only opens 2 hours before my flight. So I had to kill time til 4.20am. Then after eventually checking in, had the weirdest aiport security ever. Just a bag scan, no body scan or liquid check. In the departure lounge nearly all of the shops were shut. But I had $40 burning a hole in my pocket. I bought a MAC eyeshadow and a subway with $5 to spare. I headed to the gate in a hurry and then had to wold down my sarnie as there was the normal secuirty check there, so I needd to get rid of my liquids. So weird that you can't take your water through. So now I debate spending my last $5 on a $4 bottle of water. I have the money to use up, ut out of principle I am resisting so far! Now don't worry, I will not become dehydrated, I am trying to find a 'cabin crew member' now to hail down (remember you can't call them air stewards anymore!)

So if you have made it to the end I really applaude you. I will try to make further entries more entertaining!