SLING-A-POOR EFFORT IN SINGAPORE POOR-DOWN

DAY 43: Christchurch, New Zealand to Singapore

An early start and a quick check-in at Christchurch airport which meant we had loads of time to look around the few shops. We even found a massive book on Shrek the Sheep.

We flew with Singapore Airlines for the first time on this trip and they had some pretty big shoes to fill, which they did. So much so we left the flight feeling pretty stuffed. The tireless staff worked so hard for the ten hour flight, making sure we were well fed and watered (well, more with wine, beer and Singapore Slings than water). Jen was sat next to a French girl who was a national rowing team member whom we might see at the Olympics. Thought it was strange she had a set of weighing scales in her bag. I just thought she was a bit weird.

Our arrival at Singapore's Changi airport was the easiest we'll ever experience. It was so stress free we weren't sure if we were going the right way - or even if we were supposed to get off the plane. There wasn't one person going through passport control from our flight.

Outside it was absolutely chucking it down with rain. Our minibus picked us up and we checked in to The Inn Crowd hostel in Little India (as recommended by Josh and Lisa) and we decided to have a little snooze before heading out as it was 7pm local time - nearly 12 midnight for us. Our intentions on our short overnight stay in Singapore were to arrive at our hostel, get all dressed up and go out for a legendary Singapore Sling at Raffles' Long Bar, then to catch up on some much needed sleep. That was the plan anyway. Well, unfortunately the powernap lasted about 3 hours and by that time we were so shattered and disorientated we just fell back to sleep and never got to go out, let alone to Raffles. Never mind.