22 Jan 2003 Singapore

[Emma's Journal]  OK, so I completely failed with keeping my diary up to date for Nepal.  Luckily we shall be back there in April so I can write then.  We left Nepal early on Monday morning (20 Jan)-a cab (well what they call a cab) picked us up at 6:00 am.  He kept intermittently switching his lights on and off.  I think he thought he was saving petrol!  Our next big shock of the morning was that Nepal charges 1100 Rupees ($13) to leave the country!  That's after you pay $30 for an entry visa.  That doesn't seem like much, but when a whole meal for two costs around $7 and our room was $6- it seemed pretty steep.

The flight was fine- we lucked out with the first row of seats.  There were only a few westerners on the plane and I think we were the tallest by far!

We arrived at our hotel in Singapore early in the evening.  The first thing that hit you was the typical Singaporean "order"; even in Little India where we were staying.  This was exacerbated by the fact that we had just spent six days in chaos!  We both had to laugh when we got in the minibus from the airport and the driver instructed us to wear our seat-belts.

Singapore did not seem to have changed too much since the last time I was there with mom and dad 11 years ago ( maybe it was 12).  Although they have built two new buildings which look like the eyes of a fly.  Apparently they are the new "arts venue".

We met up with Jona's (our brother-in-law) friend Peter.  We sat outside Harry's Barwhich is famous as it was the place that Nick Leeson used to drink at before he brought down Barings.  I am not surprised he had to fiddle the accounts, the prices were obscene!  Peter also brought a couple of friends along- both Ians.  One was an Aussie who played basketball for Australia and who's brother was CEO of the ICC (International Cricket Council) (apparently he was a solicitor for 15 years- there may be hope yet!)  The other Ian was a Singaporean- a very interesting guy.  Harry's reminded me of all the yuppie pubs in London with all the "suits" there- just 30 degrees warmer.  The next night we went out to Peter and Leonie's apartment.  What a great place with a fantastic view of the bay.  We had a great evening.