So I'm in Singapore. It's so humid, more so that I was expecting, but the I didn't really know what to expect.

I'd decided to go the the zoo when I got in, so that I could have my photo taken with a snake (I hate snakes!). So I got through immigration ok (cept the officer thought that I'd jumped the queue, luckily the lady behind me assured him that I'd been there the whole time!), headed to the hostel to dump my bag and head off.

I ended up going way past the hostel street, so I decided to find it through the back streets of Little India, which was awesome. People waking up, having breakfast in the streets, children waiting to go to school, heaps of cyclists. I found it, dumped my bag and headed off. Got on the train ok, went to find a bus and went to the wrong side of the station. Once I found where I was meant to be, a bus arrived within 5 minutes and off I went.

The route the bus was taking has so many trees along it, like rainforest (well, modified rainforest at least!) and a canal running along the other side. I started seeing signs about resevoirs and got all excited (I knew the zoo backed onto a resevoir). So at the first sign saying zoo I got off. (I'm sure by now you can see where this story is leading!)

I started walking, and taking photos. Crossed a bridge with "Danger: Keep Out Signs" (but didn't take a photo of THAT!!). Kept walking, walking. By this stage it was 10, so I'd missed the snake photo opportunity.

At one stage I spotted a black thing moving in front of me, which turned out to be a huge lizard, which of course scared the shit out of me when it ran towards me (anyone watching would have had a good laugh!).

So, I got past the lizard obstacle. Then came the monkeys. Yes, the monkeys. Walking past a bus stop (I'd walked past so many of the damn things, why didn't I stop and catch a bus??!?!), a monkey (about the size of a medium cat) jumped out of the tree and landed about 2 metres in front of me, and staring at me started to walk towards me. I subsequently jumped onto a traffic island and walked past it. It kept staring at me the whole way, then jumped into the rubbish bin. The about 1km down the road, I found another one in a tree! Kinda cool though seeing monkey's like that (but of course I had visions by this stage of the zoo animals escaping and there being snakes chasing me down this highway!)

I chucked the shits (sorry Toby!!), and stopped and waited at a bus stop. Caught a bus, the bus travelled 100 metres, turned left and there was the damn zoo!

After that debacle, I did enjoy the zoo, but didn't get my photo taken with a snake, they weren't doing them that day. But I did have my photo taken with an orangutan which was cool.

Headed back into the city for a shower and a sleep, and was procrastinating on my bunk as I do so well when I was asked if I was going on the pub run the hostel had organised, which left at 5.30. At this stage it was 5.15, so I panicked and ran around getting ready and put my name down for the "Pub Run" which was actually a trip to the highest bar in Singapore, New Asia for half price happy hour (cocktails were $9SD, they had a super martini for $83SD, but we didn't get a glimpse of the glass). I had a green space which had all the different kinds of alcohol you could think off, and a frappe berry which had nothing to do with berries! Was a great view though, and good fun talking with the people from the hostel.

Spent today just wandering with Lisa, an Aussie girl I'd met last night and who is going home today after 5 months away. We checked out Clarke Quay, parts of Orchard Road and then back to Bugis/Little India to check out a temple and to have a look at some markets/arcades we'd rushed through the night before.

Surprise, surprise I found some gorgeous bags, but didn't buy anything! That has got to be a first. I did find a gorgeous hot pink fake alligator skin like clutch, but I never really have occasion to use a clutch. Am thinking of getting it anyway and making an occasion to use it!

Tonight I'm heading to the Night Safari which should be good. Tomorrow I'm going to take advantage of the SIA stopover bus, $3 for on-and-off all day! It's route runs around all the touristy and interesting spots in the city so it will give me a good overview of the place. Also tomorrow I move into my funky hotel that I have booked, there will be lots of photo's taken!!

Language is not much of a problem, virtually everyone speaks English of some level. Have taken heaps of photo's, but haven't cleared a card yet, so when I get some photo's burnt, I'll put some up in here.

Am missing you guys, but having a blast. Hope you are well, let me know how you're doing.

Mabs