Well, well, well -Sunday in Singapore!!

An early night to make some adjustment to the conditions prevailing in Singapore - very heavy smog, so it was with some surprise that sleep extended to 9.50am!!! Big rush for breakfast!

A good 15" taxi ride to the Singapore Flyer for just SGD$7.30, and no queue, saw us on top of Singapore in no time. Unfortunately the smog seriously limited the views, but you cannot miss seeing the massive development that goes on here. The Flyer sits atop the F1 street circuit's starting grid, so the immediate vicinity is a hive of activity - grandstands, safety fences, hospitality marquees, VIP enclosures etc and we saw a couple of arrving cars. It will be a busy place next weekend.

Shuttle service over to Gardens by the Bay, a massive wonderland of flora, including two spectacular cooled conservatories, Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, the latter, 7 stories high with a 35M waterfall. All of it surrounded by lush gardens  - and developed from nothing in just the last few years. An absolutely spectacular addition to Singapore, but quite ironic that it has such a strong focus on the environment and climate change when this country is currently so overwhelmed by the effects of Indonesian burn offs. To see the impacts of that burning off, you really have to wonder why we Australians spend so much time kicking ourselves over our minimal contribution to climate change.

Onward again to Sentosa Island. Once again, the developments of the last few years have seen the island become the playground of Singapore. So much has changed since we had a few days there 7 years back. Our Singapore Airlines stopover package has a full complement of inclusions, but I was not allowed to take up the Segway option on Sentosa. Took the shuttle around the Island and had a beer (SGD$26 for two stubbies made the taxi incredible value) before heading back. Intention was to use the Cable Car, but out of service for maintenance, so came back on the sky rail to Vivo City and Harbourfront. Another hawker stall (shopping centre based) dinner before heading home to the Grand Copthorne Waterfront via a 20" taxi ride (Sunday night) for SGD$12 - SGD$19.30 for 35" in two taxis and SGD$26 for two beers - comparative value??

Heard that Kangaroos had won - pleased they took the fighting spirit of the laundry wars into the game.