So I've arrived in Singapore and loving every minute of it. Actually, I'm trying to make every minute last as I'm only here for 2 days - leaving tomorrow for Bangkok. After spending a month in hostels and living off a bus in New Zealand, I treated myself to the Mandarin Oriental hotel for the duration of my stay here. Very plush, I know!! I had a really pleasant journey here, although a tad long in transit. I flew from Christchurch to Sydney, waited there for 4 hours, changed planes and then flew to Brisbane. I didn't get much of a chance to see Australia out of the window as I was sat in the isle next to two really naughty children who were driving both me and their parents potty!! Mum & Dad, I now know what Mike and I put you through for all of those years!! Waited an hour at Brisbane before leaving for Singapore. On the aircraft, you could choose your movies on the seat-back TV and play games and everything. It's really good to help pass the time on boring plane journeys. I was able to stretch out across the 3 seats that I had and had a realatively pleasant sleep too, so I wasn't too jet-lagged when I arrived. Upon arrival at the hotel, they ushured me up to the top floor, checked me in at the special check in desk and showed me to my room - always in the hands of a member of staff. They are treating me like royalty here - I don't even have to eat my complimentary breakfast with the rest of the peasants in the hotel as 'top-floor' guests have their own dining room. I even had my own waitress this morning!! Just after breakfast, a nice 'motherly' lady came to my room and asked if I would like my 'complimentary' laundry doing. I obliged her with my stinky travel outfit that I was wearing for 24 hours the previous day and it came back to me a few hours later in a basket, all bagged up and smelling fresh like I had just bought it!! This place is incredible!! Whilst here I have also been flexing the plastic in my pocket (which now needs cutting up by the way!!) in many of the fantastic shops they have. It was raining today, but you don't even need to go outside to get around all the different shopping centres as there is a labarynth of passageways connecting them all. Bought some electrical things I really don't need, but came away feeling like I had got a bargain because they are much cheaper than back home. I'm sure many other have the same story as me!! I haven't had a beer since I have been here, so I am forcing myself to go for one before I crawl into 'swimming pool sized' bed and get a good nights sleep ready for my flight tomorrow. Still missing you all loads. With love, Stephen xxx P.S. As I will be in more remote countries over the next couple of months, I'm not sure when my next update will be, but I'm sure I'll be having lots of fun anyway!!