When we arrived in Singapore it was 10.00pm and still 28 degrees. The airport was the shiniest, cleanest most pristine, modern and efficient I have ever known. We were off the plane, through customs and security, with luggage back in hand within 1/2 hour! Then we got on the most spanking underground, on time and easy.

On the first day we walked through the chinatown area. The streets were bustling with colourful market stalls, food vendors, lantern and temples. Then on from here we found the commercial centre, which was glitzy, modern and westernised with everything from Gicci and Louis Vutton to Topshop and would you believe it Marks and Spencers! I was a bit disappointed, but couldn't resist a bag of percy pigs - they were soooo good!

So that was how we found Singapore - a fusion of modern and tradition. We were broken into Asia very gently as there were still a lot of western comforts and everything written in English and everyone speaking English. I'm looking forward to it becoming a bit more challenging as we head further afield.