Because we drove in and out of Singapore and Malaysia on Monday and Tuesday, my passport is very quickly beginning to overflow with stamps! Singapore on the whole gives the vibe of a dazzling, futuristic, safe and peaceful city that is far beyond its time. I was amazed by its beauty, even after hearing about how incredible it was. We managed to squeeze in a lot of activities during the two days, but here are a few quick highlights.

Monday

• St. Andrew’s cathedral was freakishly stark white with wide open windows to help it keep cool. It also had a nice coi fish pond out front.
• Visited the oldest church in Singapore. It was built by an Armenian man in the late 1800’s (1874??).
• Went to the the Long Bar to try a Singapore Sling (fruit juice, gin, other delicious stuff I’ve never heard of). The drink was invented here in the early 1900’s so the ladies could drink without looking like they were drinking!
• Rode the Singapore Flyer. Although it looked and felt identical to the London Eye, it is about 180 ft taller! Even from that vertigo-inducing height, we were looking up at the many skyscrapers surrounding us.
• Got our dead skin eaten off at a fish spa. Despite the initial hilarious tickling feeling, it actually felt like micro-massages all over our feet and calves. Now my calves are sleek and smooth…but they ate off my tan!
• Went to an all-you-can-eat buffet for afternoon tea. Absolutely stuffed ourselves with a wide selection of sandwiches, teas and cakes. All of this was done poolside, of course.

Tuesday

• Tour of Chinatown. Went to the oldest temple in Singapore. Full of ornate decorations and the smell of incense, this place convinced us all that we should probably become Taoists. Also went to the wet market and felt sick to my stomach when I saw the stacks of live fish, eels, frogs and turtles being sold as food. Learned the history of Singapore, which is preparing to celebrate its 50th birthday.
• Ate lunch at an outdoor gathering of little food stalls. Everything cooked in front of you, fresh, flavorful, and cheap!
• Returned to Johor Bahru for delicious French food.

Now tomorrow we’re finally headed up to the island at Sea Gypsy Resort so I can learn to scuba dive. However, wifi is patchy so I may go quiet for a while. Remember the golden rule that no news is good news!