Big Blog Exchange - Singapore

Happy days!
Happy days!

Singapore!  The Big Blog Exchange had started and myself along with 15 other bloggers have swapped places, lives and cultures around the globe for 10 days.

I'm currently on day 4. It took me 2 days to travel to Singapore and so far I've enjoyed two brilliant and very different days exploring what Singapore has to offer Challenge Sophie.

Arriving In Singapore

Upon arrival, it was raining but also 30 degrees. I was welcomed at the airport by the lovely Josephine from Hostelling International who had a beautiful bunch of purple orchids for me, an HI t-shirt, a welcome banner and a Singapore flag. Love it. I checked into the hostel and headed up to the roof terrace where I made a few friends and had a beer before bed.

Raining in Singapore
Raining in Singapore
Excited to being the Big Blog Exchange
Excited to being the Big Blog Exchange
What a lovely welcome from Josephine!
What a lovely welcome from Josephine!
Welcome goodies from Hostelling International - Singapore
Welcome goodies from Hostelling International - Singapore
First meal - Chicken and rice of course
First meal - Chicken and rice of course
Aloe Vera drink to cool my mouth after the chilli sauce - perfect
Aloe Vera drink to cool my mouth after the chilli sauce - perfect
Rootop beers, very cool hostel
Rootop beers, very cool hostel

Sunday 9th June

Getting Muddy

Before coming to Singapore, I tried to find the most adventurous people I could. I found a group on facebook called WanGoDo Edge who train and compete in adventure races all over the world. They agreed to take me under their wing for a day and show me a side to Singapore I wouldn't otherwise experience.

It was a full blown storm when I woke up on Sunday morning and I felt tired after little sleep the night before.  I arranged to meet Luke and Bren Dan for a kayaking trip around a nearby island - Palau Ubin so was suprised and excited to see 3 mountain bikes in the back of the truck when they picked me up. "We're going mountain biking first, how much biking have you done" Luke asked. "Err... I'm a road cyclist, but up for anything".  We took the ferry over to Ubin and spent a few hours exploring on more leisurely trails and a few areas where we had to climb a fence and find a way to transport the bikes over water. Just the usual... Then we hit a more tricky trail, I was in for a ride!  I just had to let go and pray for the best and in the end I made it off the trail in one piece.

Mountain bikes and Kayaks - what could go wrong!
Mountain bikes and Kayaks - what could go wrong!
Honorary member of team WanGoDo for a day
Honorary member of team WanGoDo for a day
Palau Ubin
Palau Ubin
First obstacle
First obstacle
Second obstacle - I'm sure there was a bridge here last time, says Luke...
Second obstacle - I'm sure there was a bridge here last time, says Luke...
Transporting the bikes across
Transporting the bikes across
Great day on the trails
Great day on the trails
Oops... Had I known we were going cycling, I would have dressed appropriately!
Oops... Had I known we were going cycling, I would have dressed appropriately!

Lesson of the day: Don't wear white shorts when mountain biking

Ferry crossing - the island is only 10 mins from mainland Singapore and a stone's throw from Malaysia
Ferry crossing - the island is only 10 mins from mainland Singapore and a stone's throw from Malaysia
Lunch - Malaysia style deep fried chicken and banana
Lunch - Malaysia style deep fried chicken and banana

Getting Wet

Next up was kayaking. Not a gentle paddle around the island as i thought it might be. We drove to the centre of Singapore, launched the kayaks and spent 4 hours paddling along the river and reservoir that pass through the city centre. An afternoon I will never forget, it was the equivalent of kayaking down the River  Thames from The Houses of Parliament, through Canary Wharf. I'm not entirely sure we were supposed to be in all the areas we were, but it was the best sightseeing tour I could imagine. The afternoon was cloudy so relatively cool on the water. We took in all the sights from right underneath them - just amazing. Thank you to my new adventure buddies in Singapore!

Luke "So you know how to kayak right?" Sophie " Haven't really done much but I'm sure I'll be fine". I spun many circles!
Luke "So you know how to kayak right?" Sophie " Haven't really done much but I'm sure I'll be fine". I spun many circles!
My ideal sightseeing tour of Singapore
My ideal sightseeing tour of Singapore
Underneath Marina Bay Sands, what an impressive hotel
Underneath Marina Bay Sands, what an impressive hotel
The boys enjoying the exploration
The boys enjoying the exploration
Time to get wet under the Merlion
Time to get wet under the Merlion
Fun times!
Fun times!

Eating

By 7pm we were off the water and went to refuel at a nearby food court.  There were tons of families and groups there eating all kinds of weird and wonderful things. I settled on a chicken dish with lime juice to drink.  You could have anything from crocodile dishes to birds nest  juice, maybe next time...

Crocodile delicacies
Crocodile delicacies

Highlight of the Day:

Getting in to bed!  I had the most wonderful day full of memories I will cherish forever.  I made new friends who have the same thirst for adventure and new things as me, I saw the sights of Singapore from a kayak, got wet and muddy (always one of my favourite past times!), filled my stomach with hot, spicy food and then settled into my bed in a perfectly air conditioned room for 8 reviving hours of sleep.

Good night Singapore
Good night Singapore

Thank you Singapore!