Singapore.... cleanest city in Asia

Oct 10 Singapore

We can't get out fast enough. Everyone has had a bad sleep and everything smells terrible. We booked a Taxi to the airport and off we go. The ladies were so tremendously friendly but the room was so tremendously bad, it's good we're off. The ride to the airport takes way longer than expected even though there is barely traffic. Once again I can see how big Phuket really is. A nice but overpriced ride later we are at the tiny airport grabbing some breakfast and leaving Thailand for Singapore. Uneventful flight, nice arrival in Singapore, an ATM stop and there we are in another Taxi (this time metered and fairly cheap, seemingly the only cheap thing in Singapore) to our Hostel. This Taxi is only 18 SGD and the Hostel is expensive . 16 € a night per bed in an 8 bed dorm. But still one of the cheapest options in Singapore. Singapore is soooooo clean it's almost shocking. I wouldn't believe we were still in Asia if it weren't so obvious through people watching. The city is made up of mostly Chinese, Indians and ethnic Malays and some people from other corners of the world. Whose really Singaporean and who isn't is practically impossible to say. A nice mix of cultures and religions and here they coexist peacefully.

After a quick check in to our City Backpackers Hostel in Hong Kong Street I do discover that all my clothes have taken on the terrible stink of the guesthouse in Phuket. Since I had unpacked everything to get my backpack repaired. I am so happy to find a washer and dryer downstairs and the friendly receptionist agrees to move it from the washer to the dryer once it's done so we are ready to head out straight away.

There is a Taiwanese girl staying in our room as well that's here waiting for her friend to arrive in a few days. Or so we think. She only speaks a few words of English but asks if she can come with us. Of course, and the first task is to find something to eat. So we head to nearby Chinatown and after crisscrossing through many corners because of the omnipresent construction we find one of the famous Singapore Hawker centers. All the street food has been moved indoors but these centers are all over the city offering fast, delicious and cheap food. One of the few affordable treats in this city.

Next we are walking past Clarke's Quay to the Old Center of Singapore where all the old Colonial buildings are. The Parliament, Courthouse, Victoria Theatre and so on. It's a nice walk and plenty of beautiful buildings to be seen but something is missing here... That's right. People. There are barely any people in Singapore. A few that are dressed in their business outfits with a serious look on their face.

After we stop in the Fullerton Hotel to cool down in the A/C we make our way to the Merlion – half Lion, half Mermaid, the symbol of Singapore. The water spying statue looks really cool and makes for good pictures with the Skyline behind it, the Marina Bay opposite as well as the Formula 1 ring.

Over a Starbucks we decide to head to Little India next. It's not a Little India I have expected. Way too clean and organized. Everything is neat and even the decorations for the upcoming Deepavali Hindu Festival of lights are neatly arranged. We pass by a famous Hindu temple with plenty of colors and ornaments. Shopping and dining is kind of expensive here so after walking and walking some more and discovering that Little India also lacks some atmosphere in clean Singapore we take the subway back to our Hostel. Stop by a mall on the way to look around and get ready for dinner.

Dinner today is near Clarke's Quay by the waterfront and they lure us in with the promise of a free cocktail. Sold! Everything is kind of expensive but it's Singapore. I splurge and go for the Softshell crab and after lousy service and what seems like forever a tiny plate of deep fried horrible tasting balls arrived. There's supposed to be crab in there somewhere? Wasn't it supposed to be steamed? It is one of the most expensive and the most horrible meals I've eaten since in Asia and I am both upset and disappointed.

Taking a stroll around the riverside calms me a bit before we take a few wrong turns and head back to the Hostel.

Since Internet here cannot handle the upload more pictures are to follow....