Last day - I fly out to Vietnam tomorrow morning at 6.45 am (nooo).
This morning I dragged myself out of bed early (only 4 hours sleep, nooot good), had a large breakfast and caught the bus to Holland Rd so that I could pick up my visa from the embassy. The sky suddenly got very moody and grey and I realised that I hadn't brought my umbrella - fatal mistake. It didn't rain on the 20 minute walk to the embassy through posh residential estates. It didn't rain when I picked up my visa and left the building. It did start raining after I'd been walking back to the bus stop for 5 minutes. First it drizzled, I hid under a tree waiting for it to stop - then it showered, I started getting dripped on - then it absolutley bucketed it down and in seconds I was soaked to the skin. I looked around desperately for cover, then decided to run back to the embassy; I picked up my flip flops and sprinted back down the road at full pelt. I was back to the embassy in about a minute, and stood in the lobby, panting and creating a huge puddle on the tiled floor whilst a row of amused faces stared at me (the buggers all came in taxi's) . I had to go into the toilets and wring out my clothes, before putting the sodden things back on - sloppy, cold clothes; yuk. Then I had to hang around waiting for the rain to stop, which it finally did after half an hour. Anyway - when the rain stopped I headed back to the main road, and my sodden clothes where the perfect excuse for a shopping trip (not that I need an excuse).
When I got back I took great pleasure in consigning my cheap cotton vests and aladdin pants - the India uniform - to the rubbish bin, and replacing it with another pair of jeans (I'll make them into shorts), combats, vests and fake Abercrombie and Fitch T-shirts. Thank goodness for that!
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Day 92 - Singapore
Today I did the tourist thing - checked out the heritage area of Singapore, around the harbour where the founder of the city, Raffles, originally landed. I wondered around for a few hours, taking pictures and chatting away to random old people (they are all so nice here).
Singapore's answer to the Sydney Opera House - yes, it is a huge Durien
View across the bay of the Durien
You ahaven't seen Singapore properly if you haven't seen the Merlion...
THe merlion and me
Clock tower, stormy sky
The guy that started it all, Raffles
The boat jetty
In the evening I went on the 'food walk'- a tour of the local culture and cuisine organised by the hostel owner, Tony. We ate lots (and lots and lots), then drank some (ok, quite a lot), then went to a few bars and generally had lots of fun. I enjoyed trying some random new food (sadly no deepfried bugs though) and learned many interesting things about Singapore - for example you need a prescription to buy chewing gum (?) and the lift in the blocks of flats have 'urine sensors' and if someone pees in the lift, the lift locks down, all the alarms in the building go off, and a bunch of police rush in and arrest the offending party, who gets 200 hrs community service wearing a bright green jacket (just so everyone around knows they are a lift pee-er). Random.
Singapore after sunset
Ice Kacang (thanks uncle)
Mmm, beer
Steve, Lucia, Helen, me and Lee
Me, Lucia and Tony
Singapore's answer to the Sydney Opera House - yes, it is a huge Durien
View across the bay of the Durien
You ahaven't seen Singapore properly if you haven't seen the Merlion...
THe merlion and me
Clock tower, stormy sky
The guy that started it all, Raffles
The boat jetty
In the evening I went on the 'food walk'- a tour of the local culture and cuisine organised by the hostel owner, Tony. We ate lots (and lots and lots), then drank some (ok, quite a lot), then went to a few bars and generally had lots of fun. I enjoyed trying some random new food (sadly no deepfried bugs though) and learned many interesting things about Singapore - for example you need a prescription to buy chewing gum (?) and the lift in the blocks of flats have 'urine sensors' and if someone pees in the lift, the lift locks down, all the alarms in the building go off, and a bunch of police rush in and arrest the offending party, who gets 200 hrs community service wearing a bright green jacket (just so everyone around knows they are a lift pee-er). Random.
Singapore after sunset
Ice Kacang (thanks uncle)
Mmm, beer
Steve, Lucia, Helen, me and Lee
Me, Lucia and Tony
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Day 91 - Singapore
Well, another day of doing not a lot. It was a heavy, hot day, and most of us at the hostel spent the day spread on the sofas alternatively sweating and shivering (rotating fans). For lunch we went to uncle's, for Ice Kacang - a mountain of shaved ice covered in fresh fruits and syrup. Delicious 
and refreshing and great to counter the weather. Afterward we got to try Durien (see right - yes, it tastes about as appetising as it looks) - Singapore's favourite fruit - with the "consistancy of a cow-pat, the smell of a poorly maintained public convenience". This is no exaggeration. The carrying of durien fruits has actually been banned on public transport due to it's pervasive, unpleasant odour. As you can imagine - it doesn't taste too delicious. That said, it wasn't utterly disgusting either, simular to custard, but with a wierd, funky aftertaste. Uncle, the charming proprieter of the ice bar (one of those wonderful people who obviously enjoys and takes great pride in his work) tells us that the saying is that if you like the flavour, you will be back to Singapore; either for an extended visit or to live here. Lets just say there's no worries of that happening.
and refreshing and great to counter the weather. Afterward we got to try Durien (see right - yes, it tastes about as appetising as it looks) - Singapore's favourite fruit - with the "consistancy of a cow-pat, the smell of a poorly maintained public convenience". This is no exaggeration. The carrying of durien fruits has actually been banned on public transport due to it's pervasive, unpleasant odour. As you can imagine - it doesn't taste too delicious. That said, it wasn't utterly disgusting either, simular to custard, but with a wierd, funky aftertaste. Uncle, the charming proprieter of the ice bar (one of those wonderful people who obviously enjoys and takes great pride in his work) tells us that the saying is that if you like the flavour, you will be back to Singapore; either for an extended visit or to live here. Lets just say there's no worries of that happening.Dinner was stir-fry veg from the cafe on the corner (again), and yet another movie from the dvd cabinet. A whole bunch of people from the hostel left today to catch their various flights, which was sad, but I now have a whole bunch of email addresses of people to visit when I go to oz - yay.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Day 90 - Singapore
Mission accomplished - the visa has now been applied for (thank goodness). When I walked past 10 Leedon Road on the way back from the embassy I saw a young FedEx delivery guy standing on the other side of the gate, phone in hand, looking like he was ready to cry. "Are you stuck?" I ask, and he nods, rattles the gate and points to the FedEx van still running. "The gate's locked - can you tell the driver? He's listening to his music and not answering the phone". This is funny - looks like he's been locked in for some while and his collegue is bopping away in the front seat, completely oblivious. I take pity and point out the gate unlock button in the booth. The guy thanks me many times as I hold the gate open for him, and as I leave I see him marching over the van, presumably to shout at his buddy. Amooosing - glad to know I'm not the only daftie around!
I walked back to the bus stop and got a ride to Orchard Rd. When I got there I stood for a while, awed at the sheer scale of the place with it's huge malls. Took some lame photos with my camera... Orchard Rd in all its glory, and the bus (complete with TV to stave off boredom) - when I think back to the Indian local buses I have to laugh.
And the rest of the day? Well, not really much to tell; went back to hostel, made lunch, watched a DVD (Leon), read a magazine. Now I'm going to go to my favourite restaurant and get my dinner (stir fried veg, yum, and a papaya) then maybe watch another DVD. Aaah, this is the life.
I walked back to the bus stop and got a ride to Orchard Rd. When I got there I stood for a while, awed at the sheer scale of the place with it's huge malls. Took some lame photos with my camera... Orchard Rd in all its glory, and the bus (complete with TV to stave off boredom) - when I think back to the Indian local buses I have to laugh.
And the rest of the day? Well, not really much to tell; went back to hostel, made lunch, watched a DVD (Leon), read a magazine. Now I'm going to go to my favourite restaurant and get my dinner (stir fried veg, yum, and a papaya) then maybe watch another DVD. Aaah, this is the life.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Day 89 - Singapore
Well, after a grand total of about 18 hrs sleep over the course of yesterday and last night - I felt pretty good this morning. After breakfast (peanut butter on toast, fruit salad) I sorted out a plan of action for the day. Because I'm going to Vietnam in a week, and you have to apply for the visa in advance, I needed to a)find the address of the embassy, then b)get to the embassy. Easier said than done...
After some investigation on the internet I had an address for the agency, 10 Leedon rd, and discovered that Leedon road was next to Holland Rd, a stop on the no.7 bus that goes by the end of the road the hostel is in. By the time i'd got passport photos taken (if you've got a few hours spare some time I'll tell you the story of what a palarver this was) and visited the ATM (cash, pause, more cash) it was about 11. Ihopped onto the next no.7 bus that stopped by and half an hour later I hopped off at Holland road (bus driver was so helpful) and set off down Leedon Rd, not believing it had been so easy. Well - will never again speak too soon! 10 Leedon Rd was a big block obscured by a security gate - it didn't look much like an embassy, but I checked the address jotted down and it was right. The booth with the sign "All visitors must sign in - all trespassers will be prosecuted" was empty. The main gate was locked, but the side gate was slightly open, so I went in. I wondered past the sign (checking for security cameras in a paranoid manner) and ventured into the main area - no sign of the embassy. I peered up a few stairways before lost the bottle and made my way back to the gate. S*#%, locked, I must have closed it behind me. Look round, shake gate, still locked. Look round, try to climb over gate, crap, skirt preventing upward leg movement. Turn, look at empty booth, couple of switches on wall - one reads "side gate". Look round, reach in and press button, gate buzzes, pick up bag and run at gate (I thought it was timed - ok?), gate slides open too easily and I go careening out onto road. It's fine, quiet road, no-one saw... except that old guy with the rubbish bin, staring my as though i'm an escapee from a loony asylum (with justification, to be honest). Little old man blinks. "Urm, is this the Embassy of Vietnam?" I ask. Old man wrinkles into a smile, revealing single tooth, and points up the road - "Leedon Park, Embassy 10 Leedon Park". Fantastic, just fantasic. Gathering the remaining shreds of my dignity and the items that have flown out of my bag, I carry on up the road. 15 minutes and several wrong turns later I'm at yellow-stone building with Vietnamese flags outside. This is more like it. It's locked - after chatting to a waiting cab driver (see - i learn from my mistakes!) I discover that it's closed between 12 and 2, and visa applications need to be made between 9 and 11.30am. Poo. Back up the road, past old man (who waves), and straight across the main road and into a shopping mall. Retail therapy.
After a few hours serious browsing I decide the day wasn't a complete write off - I managed to buy a cheap (well, cheapish) digital camera so that I can now take my own photos rather than stealing them from friends/other internet sights. I also bought some v. cheap trews to repace my aladdin pants (they look plane stoopid here) and resisted buying many things including a pair of crocs (latest shoe craze - and so dang comfy) and an excessively pricey cappuccino from starbucks.
I'm going to set my alarm for 8am tomorrow to make sure I get this ruddy visa sorted. Then I will visit Orchard Rd - otherwise known as shoppers paradise. Most notable shopping mall that has a ridiculous number of floors packed full of shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Ngaire - you would totally love this place. There is at least 32 other big malls in this area. I'm going to have to leave the credit card in the locker methinks.
After some investigation on the internet I had an address for the agency, 10 Leedon rd, and discovered that Leedon road was next to Holland Rd, a stop on the no.7 bus that goes by the end of the road the hostel is in. By the time i'd got passport photos taken (if you've got a few hours spare some time I'll tell you the story of what a palarver this was) and visited the ATM (cash, pause, more cash) it was about 11. Ihopped onto the next no.7 bus that stopped by and half an hour later I hopped off at Holland road (bus driver was so helpful) and set off down Leedon Rd, not believing it had been so easy. Well - will never again speak too soon! 10 Leedon Rd was a big block obscured by a security gate - it didn't look much like an embassy, but I checked the address jotted down and it was right. The booth with the sign "All visitors must sign in - all trespassers will be prosecuted" was empty. The main gate was locked, but the side gate was slightly open, so I went in. I wondered past the sign (checking for security cameras in a paranoid manner) and ventured into the main area - no sign of the embassy. I peered up a few stairways before lost the bottle and made my way back to the gate. S*#%, locked, I must have closed it behind me. Look round, shake gate, still locked. Look round, try to climb over gate, crap, skirt preventing upward leg movement. Turn, look at empty booth, couple of switches on wall - one reads "side gate". Look round, reach in and press button, gate buzzes, pick up bag and run at gate (I thought it was timed - ok?), gate slides open too easily and I go careening out onto road. It's fine, quiet road, no-one saw... except that old guy with the rubbish bin, staring my as though i'm an escapee from a loony asylum (with justification, to be honest). Little old man blinks. "Urm, is this the Embassy of Vietnam?" I ask. Old man wrinkles into a smile, revealing single tooth, and points up the road - "Leedon Park, Embassy 10 Leedon Park". Fantastic, just fantasic. Gathering the remaining shreds of my dignity and the items that have flown out of my bag, I carry on up the road. 15 minutes and several wrong turns later I'm at yellow-stone building with Vietnamese flags outside. This is more like it. It's locked - after chatting to a waiting cab driver (see - i learn from my mistakes!) I discover that it's closed between 12 and 2, and visa applications need to be made between 9 and 11.30am. Poo. Back up the road, past old man (who waves), and straight across the main road and into a shopping mall. Retail therapy.
After a few hours serious browsing I decide the day wasn't a complete write off - I managed to buy a cheap (well, cheapish) digital camera so that I can now take my own photos rather than stealing them from friends/other internet sights. I also bought some v. cheap trews to repace my aladdin pants (they look plane stoopid here) and resisted buying many things including a pair of crocs (latest shoe craze - and so dang comfy) and an excessively pricey cappuccino from starbucks.
I'm going to set my alarm for 8am tomorrow to make sure I get this ruddy visa sorted. Then I will visit Orchard Rd - otherwise known as shoppers paradise. Most notable shopping mall that has a ridiculous number of floors packed full of shops, boutiques, cafes and restaurants. Ngaire - you would totally love this place. There is at least 32 other big malls in this area. I'm going to have to leave the credit card in the locker methinks.
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