Day 2: Singapore Sling

A solid sleep ✅ feeling refreshed, who am I kidding when have I ever felt refreshed?!?! Breakfast, garlic noodles and some grilled chicken – the import and manufacture of chewing gum is illegal so people will just have to deal with garlic breath 😂😂.

First tour of the day – the yellow line open top bus, this headed out towards the botanical gardens a UNESCO world heritage site.

As much as I love a stroll around a garden, I hadn’t got my mosquito spray on, I was bitten last night and I didn’t fancy itching all the way to New Zealand in the morning 😂😂.

I decided to hop off the bus at stop 18 and walk up to Haji Lane past the famous Raffles Hotel. I decided to treat myself to an iced flat white. This was a cute little street, full of shops and rich in history. Until the 1960s Haji Lane was a place for Muslim pilgrims to stay before their journey to Mecca. Shophouses were used as lodging, and some pilgrims worked as hawkers to fund their travel. Today it’s full of artistic murals, tiny little shops and still home to the Sultan Mosque. Sultan Hussein Shah of Johor and Sir Stamford Raffles of the British East India Company signed a treaty in 1819 that permitted the British to officially establish a trade settlement in Singapore. The Sultan as part of this arrangement asked for a mosque to be built next to his royal home and in 1932 the works were completed.

Next stop a stroll down to Little India, a vibrant area of Singapore, again rich in history. Little India’s history in Singapore began in the 1820s with Indian immigrants working at brick kilns and in the cattle trade. Today it’s a vibrant cultural precinct fill of colourful streets, traditional crafts, bustling markets and delicious Indian cuisine.

Back on the bus I went – this time the red line to Boat quay for lunch. I had read that a must try was the Singapore chilli crab. Now when on your own a whole crab isn’t ideal, however, the kind chef did me a deal and gave me half a crab for a fraction of the price. It was worth it though.

As I had sweated out more water than consumed, it was time for a freshen up and change of clothes, good job I brought more shorts 😂. Next stop China Town.

In 1822, Sir Stamford Raffles allocated land southwest of the Singapore River for Chinese settlers, known as the “Chinese Campong”. Today it’s a vibrant cultural centre with temples, markets and plenty of eateries. I was going to go into the temple but alas I wasn’t dressed appropriately so got declined entry🙄.

Back on the bus I went, this was more to sit down whilst getting a tour of the city with a breeze and some late afternoon sun. Destination Boat Quay for a rooftop Singapore Sling…alas I got to the rooftop but they didn’t have a Singapore Sling, a wine had to do.

I did manage to get my Singapore sling, in a bar by the quay whilst watching the lions. Maybe my new go to cocktail, although rather spenny.

I did say to myself, go back to the hotel after your £14 cocktail. Instead, I ordered a Guinness, my tummy had been cramping on and off all day and I couldnt work out if it was still the effects of the plane or that I necked a gallon of Singapore water, it did say it’s ok to drink on google 🤷🏻‍♀️.