Singapore Evaluation 173

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Singapore

Likes: The botanical gardens, air conditioning everywhere, so many shops and restaurants we know from home, Masala Dosa (we stayed in little India), Raffles hotel (the epitome of colonial architecture, you can easily picture the ladies of leisure fanning themselves here), A diverse community (Indian, Malay and Chinese) living side by side happily, cleanliness, East Coast Park (families swimming, BBQ'ing and being together in the shady beach areas), Sentosa Island,

Dislikes: Shops, shops shops and no money to spend, burning hot sunshine, Cinema's selling out before we got tickets to The Kings Speech.

Days used exploring the city: 5

Number of times i wanted to come home: 0.

Favourite hotel: Only stayed in one, Hotel 81 Dickinson, in Little India. Nice and had accompanying indian men hanging around on the streets outside.

Favourite memory: Sitting on the arched streets of Little Indian, on a tiled square of pavement shaded by the little shops overhangs eating a bargin masala dosa.

Worst day: None, we liked it all. Possibly a day when we didn't have Starbucks.

Favourite new food or drink: Vegtable Masala Dosa, created specially for me when they didn't have what i ordered

Best/worst smell: All the temples smell of nice incense, adding to the atmosphere

Best/worst noise: The noise of airconditioning clicking in, good during the day, but bad when it wakes you at night :(

Best Norwich City Victory: None. They didn't play.

Weirdest country fact: People in Singapore laugh at totally inappropriate times in movies. Sometimes during funny bits but also through the saddest bits, and the serious bits?? Odd, but made for a really entertaining and different movie experience.

New thing learnt: We have a huge history not revolving around European relationships. It was great to go somewhere my grandfather has previously been as it reminded me of the depth and complicated history of Britain. We visited the 'Battle Box' an underground bunker where the British and Australian's tried to fight off the Japanese in WW2, but failed and had to surrender. The British were looked down on as it was un-British to surrender and not fight to the death, but they had no water, food and widespread public slaughter was threatened. The officers spent 3 years in Prisoner of War camps, but mostly survived.

Country Score: 173