Singapore Airport

Our Singapore stopover has been really fantastic.
We arrived really really exhausted & had a good sleep...followed by a walk around the city centre > ending up at the Singapore Flyer which we rode. The view was spectacular (will post pics when I have access to uploading)

It was Singapore's 45th birthday on Monday (day of arrival) so the city was beautifully buzzing.

Yesterday, we went to the Singapore Zoo and to the Orchid Garden. Both were really amazing, particularly the orangutans (sp??) which we watched for a long while.

We have been walking a lot & generally just enjoying the warmth (heat) and the being away!

As we left our hotel, it started pouring with rain...thank heavens we weren't at the zoo! :)

I've been struck by how much detail and attention has gone into doing up bathrooms in shopping centres! One bathroom had the choice between 3 different types of loos in the girl's bathroom: a hole in the ground, a regular 'western' loo and ...wait for it... a urinal (for kids to use!). There was another bathroom that had loos with different post use washing options - wash, dry etc - You could even set the pressure of the water jets (I didn't use it). Another loo had heated seats with instruction on how to clean the seat (not with dry toilet paper as it may scratch the surface).

Generally, the people have been really friendly & the balance of urban & green space is lovely. The only thing we really noted was that there is a lack of a recycling system - which is odd as the city has the appearance of a place that would have that sorted.

Bye for now! Its off to Bali we fly!

The day has finally arrived! We leave today for Singapore.
Robyn brought us dinner last night & took a farewell snap:

(how cool is our clock?!?!)

Travel Planning...ASIA

One of my most favorite things in the whole world is...the whole world! I am so excited: Geoff and I have booked our flights for our trip in August/September! Pouring over the atlas...a most fantastic book that Robyn gave to us as a wedding gift: "MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR TIME ON EARTH" > worth a look inside! ...Guide books "Southeast Asia on a Shoestring" by Lonely Planet..."Rough Guide to Hong Kong & Macau" and the Rough Guides and Lonely Planet guide for China.

We have spent a few hours with both the China guides & its not easy to decide which to buy - The Lonely Planet (LP) one has all the Chinese characters next to the English names of things....but the Rough Guides (RG) seems to have much more amazing info than LP.  Plus, one of the reviews I read said that once people start going to all the places in LP, they end up becoming really touristy & that RG has more 'off the beaten track' info. Oh what to do... at least we've got until we leave to return the one that we decide not to keep. They're so heavy and (not to mention expensive)...or I'd say lets keep both! :)

(If anybody knows anything about these books & which one is best, please comment & let me know!!)

Our route looks as though its going to be:

• 
  
  SINGAPORE:Cape Town to Singapore
  2 night in Singapore

• 
  
  INDONESIA:Singapore to Bali
  From Bali we will make our way over 3 weeks to Jakarta
  
  Jakarta to Hong Kong
  2 nights in Hong Kong
• 
  
  CHINA: Hong Kong to Donggong
  Donggong to Guangzhou
  Guangzhou to Shanghai
  Shanghai to Shijiazhuang
  Shijiazhuang to Beijing
• 
  
  Beijing back to Cape Town.