Singapore (Part 2)

One day back in Singapore and it was a day that really illustrates what travelling is all about in terms of meeting people.

My taxi pick-up was 4am in Kuta and I found myself sharing with a nice Canadian couple - Vanessa and Daryl, who were also catching the same flight to Singapore. We got on really well and arranged to meet up after the flight so I could show them into the city and to the place I was staying. Vanessa told me she "loved" turbulence, which I found quite strange. Lucky for her, the flight had lots but Air Asia were faultless yet again.

After taking the guys into the city and them checking into the same guesthouse, the 3 of us headed to Singapore Zoo for the day. Luckily, I had the whole day to kill because my flight to Aus wasn't until the day after. My travel book described the Zoo as world class so I was keen to go check it out, as were Vanessa and Dayrl.

It's an absolute trek to get to - 2 lines on the subway followed by a long bus journey, but it was well worth it. World class is definately correct and it's without doubt the best Zoo I've ever been to. Vanessa was on map duty and got us lost a few times (sorry Ness) but the place is so massive that it was easily done. Took us all day to see the whole place.

The amount of different animals there is unreal and it puts Saigon Zoo in it's place, along with most others I imagine. Lots I'd seen before but also loads I hadn't. After Borneo, I thought I had a good grasp of the many different species of Monkeys and Apes but this place made me realise how wrong I was. On show were; Crested Macaque's, Columbus Monkeys, Capuchins, Patas Monkeys, Douc Langurs and Spider Monkeys.

The zoo also had; Siamangs, False Ghavials, Tamarins, Tapirs, Babirusas, Hamadryas Baboons, Nubian Ibex's, Manatees, African Penguins, Mandrills, Flying Foxes, Ring-Tailed Lemurs, Nyalas and Meerkats, all of which, were a first for me. The whole place is amazing - so much to see. As zoos go, this one takes some beating I reckon.  

Once we had finished the Zoo, we had some dinner before the Night Safari, which takes place at the same site. Given the amount we had seen through the day, we couldn't imagine what else there could be and, more to the point, where they would keep it. We were surprised again because the Night Safari is like a whole other Zoo only in the dark and whilst riding on a Shuttle Bus (something our aching legs were grateful for). We saw many of the day animals in their night environment and also a Hyena, which I had also never seen before. A good end to an exhausting yet really enjoyable day out. Singapore Zoo is well worth a visit.

All in all, a fun day with a couple that I had met in a different country that very morning. By the end of the day, I felt like we had known each other much longer. That's what travelling is all about.

In stark contrast to Kuta, I love Singapore and would definately come back. My first 2 days there were great and it's only been enhanced by that extra day at the Zoo. The locals are really friendly and, unlike those in Kuta, they know tourism and how to treat visitors into their country. My whole time there I felt welcome and very much at home. A great place to visit.

That's me done with South-East Asia. I really enjoyed my time there but was also ready to move on. Next stop - Australia. Let's throw another shrimp on the Barbie!