I have been neglectful in posting these last few days - its all gone so fast, and I have been so busy living the experience that I haven't really stopped to write about it all. I will try and cover Sydney and Singapore in this post.
Sydney is a really beautiful harbour city - Andre and I really had a fabulous time there. We were lucky enough to meet a friend of a friend, who showed us how the locals live. Very trendily, it seems; stopping for coffees, breakfasts, lunches and dinners at all the right places. The food is truly wonderful, and I completly overdid it!
We arranged to run to the Opera House at dusk, which was really the very best possible way to see it! The following afternoon we ran over the Harbour Bridge and took a multitude of photos - will post when I get home. In a suden fit of over enthusiasm, we both did several "stair repeats", up about a hundred stairs that we saw the locals running up and down - finished the run feeling fantastic, but my quads haven't been thanking me these past few days!
Andre and I flew to Singapore together on Saturday 19 Sep - having delivered Bruce and Sheila safely back to Avis. We played Slim Dusty on the way to the airport for old times sake, but it didn't really fit in with the city vibe of Sydney!
Arriving in Singapore after dark, we strained to see what it really looked like. Andre came with me to my hotel, for a shower and to grab something to eat, before his flight back to JHB. We dashed out to find Chinatown - and bought supper for less than the cost of a coffee at the airport!
Singapore is a total melting pot! It really is clean and tidy, and very hot! (Everyone did tell me!) Yes, I did end up dashing from one air conditioned building to another. With the exeption of the markets. I found those totally compelling - and wandered around for hours and hours, mostly just looking, and tasting all sorts of weird things. Luckily I am quite adventurous with food, as I had no idea what I was ordering, or eating, most of the time. I tried to sample just about everything! I tried Laksa, which is a curried noodle dish, with fresh cockles, bean sprouts and some other odd things in it. I think I am hooked on the North Indian food - the butter chicken and Naan was to die for!
I also found a yummy crispy pancake with peanut stuff on it (not quite peanut butter, but close!)
Singapore is also famous for Kaya Toast, which I had for breakfast one day - its a toast sandwhich with the crusts cut off, smeared with coconut jam and with a chunky slice of butter! NOT on the weigh less program!!
When you think about it, its quite incredible how Singapore works: I mean, the Indians generally wont eat beef; the Muslims dont do pork; the Chinease eat anything and everything; most times they are side by side, preparing food in the markets all day and night. I found my "favourite" place, and the Indian gave me a discount on my dall the second day because he recognised me from the day before. (probably because I was wearing the same clothes, as I have nothing clean left!) I felt so local!
I seem to have developed a bit of a reputation for shopping, and was really worried about having to abandon items at the airport, so I confined myself to things that would fit in my handbag! The Chinese people are currently celebrating the Moon festival, so they had fireworks and shows all over Singapore for the time I was there. The muslims were celebrating Eid, so it was a public holiday and the whole Arab quarter was closed. Little India is getting ready for the Festival of Lights, Deepavali.
All in all, a very festive time and the experience of a lifetime for me. I did a tour of the Botanic Gardens and the Orchid House, and spent a whole morning at the Singapore Zoo, which was absolutely amazing!
Now I'm on my way home - feeling excited to see my family again, but a bit sad that my huge adventure is coming to an end.
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