So Much World, Not Enough Time!: Our first group holiday

After many years of friendship and discussions of travel dreams, we decided a group holiday to Singapore, a 5 hour flight north of Perth would be a good place to start!

We stayed in a small hotel in Robertson Quay on the river, and explored the Island from there. For all of it's diminutive size, Singapore packs a punch for travellers old and young. The climate can be a challenge; depending on the time of year it can be very hot and humid, and when it rains, it RAINS!

First morning and it POURED!

There is something for everyone. In Chinatown there are endless markets and shops, selling electrical goods, shoes, clothes, souvenirs and camera gear. Be prepared to haggle, and if the price is not what you want, be prepared to walk away (there is a good change you may be chased with the price you want).

Next to Chinatown is the astonishing Sri Mariamman Hindu Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu Temple on South Bridge Road and founded in 1827. It offers a colourful array of Hindu Gods on the temple walls and roof. On the day we visited we were able to observe a procession of local worshippers.

Singapore Zoo is an absolute MUST, whether you like the concept of zoos or not. It is an amazing testament to modern zoo-keeping, and has a wide variety of animals and jungle vegetation to see. As well as the usual pleasures, you can feed the elephants at certain times of the day

Animal Feeding times

We spent considerable time watching the Zoo's white tigers - their domestic cat-like behaviour was endlessly entertaining.

But for an animal thrill of a different nature, head on down to Little India, to meet Mani the parakeet, the astrologer assistant to M. Muniyappan, telling birdie fortunes since 2005. He and his human master can be found on Serangoon Road, where he offers a modified form of cartomancy in foreseeing your future, and strangely thrilling and amusing it is too! He correctly foresaw that Lesley's daughter would go on to success in business.

So far so good, shame about the gender issues!

Additional information about Mani can be found here.

No trip to Singapore is complete without a trip to the famous Raffles Hotel, established in 1887. We wandered the hotel, checked out the shops and other facilities, and had High Tea, complete with a signature Singapore Sling cocktail.