Sorry this has taken so long. My to-do list is getting longer by the day and PC is gone for work so…Im holding down the fort on my own.

Mustafa Center in Little India-- open 24hrs, this place has everything. Including an awesome grocery store and dress up bracelets for a little Kiki.

Hindu temple

Orchard Road= high end stores I can't afford

Taxi rides looked like this

...and this. My little sightseers.

Chess at the pool

I think she was the queen....maybe the pawn?

by the river

Merlion Park- the iconic symbol of Singapore

the rare couple shot

Boat Quay

Parliament bldg

Chinatown

Chinatown at dusk

The last few remaining shophouses in Singapore

lacking a tripod and a wide-enough angle lens, not a great picture but the best we got.

Our last night in Singapore also happened to be the date PC and I met- 14 years ago. For whatever reason this seems more significant to us than our wedding anniversary. My wonderful husband surprised me with a haircut/highlight/consult at a swanky salon on Orchard road, a spa treatment at the Bliss Spa inside Sephora as well as a babysitter so that we could go back to the Long Bar for one last Sling. Leslie- the guy who cut my hair gave me an ixnay on the highlights. I also got my makeup done at Sephora and Im not sure the smokey eye look is a good look for me. Alas. Let me tell you– this may have been the best gift/date night ever. Too bad we had to get up at the ass crack of dawn the next morning so the night ended at 10.

Overall- I’d highly recommend Singapore- especially to someone who isn’t too sure about delving into Asia. Everyone speaks English. It is hands down the cleanest place I’ve ever been. Cleaner than the US, cleaner than Japan. We’re talking I think I could have eaten lunch off the floor in the airport bathroom clean. I was surprised to learn/see that Singapore is really like 4 cultures smashed into one little state. The Malays being the indigenous people, followed by Chinese, Indians and an assload of ex-pat European/Australians. (I’d really love to know what companies these people work for that send them to live in SINGAPORE). I’m not sure what the draw is for Chinese there…. The food is a mix of Malasian/Indonesian, and a lot of Western restaurants and food. So, food-wise, I’d say I like other countries better.

Singapore is maybe best known for its shopping and while it was fun I can’t say it was spectacular. Orchard Road is mall after mall of high end shops I can’t afford. Chinatown was fun but everything there was oddly a conglomerate of stuff from China, the Philippines and Thailand…all stuff I can get at the gift shops too. So- I came home with a pretty teapot and matching teacups but that was really it for me.

We stayed at the Orchard Hotel on Orchard Road which was a really really good decision. When Mackenzie woke up early PC and I traded off strolling with her down the road. There were plenty of coffee shops open and pretty Christmas decorations so there was lots to see. If you go with kids you definitely want to stay on Orchard Road. Take my word for it. It was also nice in the evenings after Mackenzie went down I could go shop or I could take Nathan to look at the Christmas lights. I felt completely safe there. I normally never venture out on my own in a big city, especially at night. I didn’t think twice about doing it here. There were plenty of people around and I think its fairly well known that Singapore has strict laws and fine and subsequently crime is almost non-existant. So, I think that about sums up the trip.

Filed under: Travel