Comfortable 13 hour flight included ‘Bridge of Spies’ and ‘Legend’ both ace movies and 3-4 hours kip on a BA A-380. On the approach to Singapore the view was dominated by the sight of hundreds of container ships waiting to get into the docks, a brilliant ariel seascape. 

Winter is well and truly left behind, humid yes ….. but it’s heat and no wooly hat! Tea Time taxi ride into the city from the Airport took us over the main straight of the GP circuit.  The grandstands are there permanently.

It doesn’t take long to find your way around, nor with the help of our local guides and friend’s Amelia & Clement does it take long for their affection of their home country to rub off on you.

The two main activities we are told are shopping for exercise & eating for relaxation. Lot’s of Mall’s for shopping ( tho not seen a record store yet) and it’s is a total ‘cafe society’ for eating. Around every corner there is something to temp the waistline from a whole host of bars and restaurants plus what we did last night, which was to go to where the locals eat.

Round the back of the Esplanade Theatre complex you find yourself in a courtyard on the bay, under the bright lights where there are lots of food stalls cooking amazing dishes all to be washed down with a jug or two of Tiger Beer. Spectacular and just like being back in Thailand. There is nothing like late night outdoor cooking, the heat, the smell, the freshness of the food and yes the cold beer!

Singapore by night is truly amazing and when the lights are up for the Grand Prix it must be even more spectacular ( already contemplating a trip back for the race one day).

Before we got to the food tho, our first stop was to The Long Bar at Raffles for a  ‘Singapore  Sling’, A must do when in  Singapore  and a lovely Christmas present  for us from Ellen & Robin. It was then off to the Swisotel, for a Lift ride up 70 floors to the Elixir suite for some truly breathtaking views of the city.

A jet-lagged City Tour at 08.30 this morning, was not particularly fascinating after the night before but the guide had some interesting information. There are the usual Red open-top bus tours (which is the usual way we introduce ourselves to new cities) which would have been as good and avoided the ritual tour visit the the ornament factory 🙂 

Off out tonight to meet some more ex UBS colleagues who I have not seen for a very longtime. May just need that part-time job I need to be in Singapore! 

Pete