Blog 29 Last delights in Singapore

On Saturday we spent the day on Sentosa Island, taking the MRT (mass rapid transport) in the direction of the Harbour Front (and my can they show the world how undergrounds can be run - clean, fast, cheap). The Sentosa Express takes you across the causeway to this island totally devoted to pleasure and tourism. I reeled back at the thought of spending the day at an Alton Towers, but then decided that it was probably closer to Centre Parks and infinitely cheaper.
We decided to limit our options and chose to go to Underwater World - absolutely brilliant with its tunnel beneath and beside a huge variety of creatures, Butterfly World - fantastic to see these exotic varieties floating happily out of doors in a huge enclosed area rather than indoors as they do in Britain, the Nature Trail with interesting signs pointing out the flora and finally our last chance to sit on a hot palm fringed sandy beach. The water was wonderfully refreshing in what must be mid 90s heat though it is very odd to bathe on a beach where you can see some of the vast numbers of tankers and other large ships passing not far offshore as they use the huge dockyards nearer town.
Back on the mainland our evening meal was taken from the excellent street vendors in Chinatown.

Finally on Sunday we headed to the Jurong Bird Park. It is beautifully kept and we could get astonishingly close to a great variety of really impressive birds of every size and colour. Signage was full of really interesting facts that kept you wanting to know more and go round just one more corner. The flamingo and pelican lakes are beautiful and we spent time just sitting and taking it all in as well as moving from area to area in case we missed anything.
We then took the MRT right round the north of the island to give ourselves time to rest in the cool and watched as the heavens finally opened. The rainy season returned just as we were leaving having given us a few days space to savour so many of Singapore's jewels in comfort and sun.

The 14 hour flight back home was a smooth one, though I have discovered a new form of torture. Just as you are dropping off the sleep and move in the seat your right hip trips the movie channel on again and the lights of it bring you straight back to wakefulness. It took countless repeats of this before I dozily realised I could remove the controller from the seat and get some peace. Richard managed some decent sleep though so one of us remained sane at least.

It has been the most amazing time to get to appreciate some more of the world's diverse wonders and as jetlag sets in leaves us only too glad to have had this chance.