Singapore can be summed up in one word - efficient. Arriving at the budget terminal (just in case anyone forgets their place in society) was a breeze, stepping through customs and picking up our bags all before the plane was scheduled to land. We are two extremely lucky travellers as the lovely Guy and Alex have offered us a room in their condo for a few days. Rocking up at midnight we took the lift to the 13th floor and collapsed onto a wonderfully comfy bed complete with duvet! Bliss.

The Indonesian embassy beckoned on the morning after our arrival. Driving through the spick and span streets filled with glitzy shops is a world away from recent experience. As helpful as the embassy was we were sent away with our tail between our legs and no hope of a visa due to an annoying lack of paperwork. This could prove rather problematic as we leave on Friday.

Six years have passed since we were last in Singapore and it has changed dramatically, the skyline seems rather more impressive, filled with skyscrapers that would dwarf Canary Warf. There are bits and pieces that seem familiar but very little! Before meeting guy for lunch we briefly wandered 'Orchard' which was quite simply torturous, the shops are magnificent and my only strategy was to aim to avoid them entirely, no easy task I assure you. After a lovely lunch we left Guy to the rigours of the office and set off on a little expedition around town walking for as long as our legs could manage before retreating to some home comforts courtesy of our hosts.

Day two and we return to the Indonesian embassy, this time with our paperwork fully in order and evidence of our departure, surely they can't send us away again. No shorts, vest tops or flip flops are allowed at the embassy so James looked a picture sweating away with his tracksuit bottoms pulled over his shorts and a pair of tattered Merrels. Perhaps this is why they sent us away the first time? Application successfully lodged with an extremely smiley lady and China Town was calling. Our first bit of souvenir shopping was rather a success and hopefully our little gems are winging their way across the sea on a slow boat as we speak. I can only hope our shopping needs have been satiated for a month or so as there isn't an ounce of space in either of our bags.

Dinner in Little India with Guy et al was a delight, a range of curry fit for royalty served up, or plonked on a large banana leaf plate/table mat.

Thanks to the visa gods and the efficiency of all things Singaporean we were able to collect our Indonesian visas without further ado on our last morning before heading direct to the airport. Having quickly grown accustomed to a few creature comforts and random things like drinking a glass of water out of a tap it feels a little hard to be leaving, the thought of re-packing our bags for a millionth time is slightly depressing. Exciting times await us, so one mustn't get disheartened. Thank you to our wonderful hosts Guy and Alex for making us feel so at home and ensuring we had a fabulous few days.