by Alastair Harris

Created on: February 27, 2007   Last Updated: July 02, 2010

It was many years ago now but my recollections are still strong one of the first things you noticed in getting off the plane and into the huge Changi airport terminal is that its hot. Once you get through the hustle and bustle of a major connecting terminus you make it to the street and then you discover how air conditioned the terminal is, like opening an oven the tropical heat hits you. Singapore is situated almost on the equator so its HOT. Getting a taxi to Orchid Avenue the main tourist hotel drag was not hard and it takes a little while to reach your hotel bed in the busy traffic. Hey over 3 million people squeezed into a small Island your bound to have a problem or two. Like all Singaporeans the driver spoke English - what dialect I'm not entirely sure, but he asssured me it was grade A+ English - I'll have to take his word for it because I couldn't understand much of what he said.

You generally get in a hotel what you spend. In Singapore I think they are the master of the three day stopover or less as the Hotel's seem to be set up as a place to lay your head and not much else.

Singapore hardly sleeps at all and it seems you can go out at almost any time and find thousands of people around. There were a lot of police around but we were approached by some shady characters who promised a special good deal just around the corner late at night - we were pretty sure their special good deal consisted of robbing us blind - literally - so we stayed on the main drag where you are very safe. Singapore has some very strict laws so be on your best behavior unless being cane on your rear end has some sort of sick appeal to you - though be warned people have died from this punishment, or maybe it was the heart attack from the accompanying huge fine, either way don't be stupid, don't spit or do anything you think is a huge laugh in an intoxicated state. Before we think too harshly about their laws remember tight law and order is needed on such a small Island with few natural resources which survives on hard work and being a major transit center for Asia and the rest of the world. The city is kept relatively clean considering the size of the population.

There is plenty of shopping in Singapore and you can haggle the price down but compared to places like Thailand or Vietnam you are unlikely to find a bargain. If you are going on in your travels to another part of Asia, keep your wallet in your pocket for a cheaper country. To be honest most items I could buy cheaper

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