Sing: "I'm Poor": Altogether now....

Singapore was a fleeting affair; I arrived on Wednesday and flew to Darwin on Friday. My first impression was "How incredibly clean and modern this place is". My second was "How incredibly expensive this place is".


Still, all good in the hood. I jumped straight on the (pristine) tube system to the (gleaming) Financial District to meet up with Welsh James - an old mate of a mate back home from about five years ago. My wondrous brother Tobin posted out my new credit cards to James' place of work (the ones lost in Vietnam four weeks previously), so I picked them up and we caught up over a beer. A 33ml can of beer. An £8 33ml can of beer. Still, was great to be in a new city and see an old face (actually, the Financial District reminded me of the City of London....I had some serious nostalgia going on). After our drink James went off to meet his city-type chums, and I went for a five hour yomp around the streets of Singapore with both my rucksacks. Fine exercise, I though, dressed in the most sturdy of walking shoes; flip-flops.


The next day I left from my hostel, hobbled as far as Fort Canning Park (about 500 metres from my hostel) and realised my feet really were in shit state from the cuts I sustained diving in Thailand, exacerbated by yesterday's march. Still, not a bad place to hole-up for the day...the park is on a hill that overlooks the city, and it was like walking into a jungle! The noise of the cicadas and birds were overwhelming (in a city!) and the towering trees and vines contrasted the monolithic skyscrapers in the distance. I spent much of the day writing music here, hobbled home, changed into some glad rags and went to meet James for dinner in the Financial District.

We ate down by the river, and I haven't seen so many essex wideboys in pinstripes for a good few months! It was outrageous! The fresh sea-food was great, and James very kindly footed the bill (which, incidentally, was about two weeks living budget for Thailand. Each.) So again, utmost props to Ed (Hooper), Brother Tobin and Welsh James for helping me out of a very tight situation and sorting delivery of the new cards. Also, props to Holly, Lizzie and Thomas for giving me cash in exchange for online bank transfers during our time in Vietnam. You, my merry band of travellers, are legends.




The next day I crawled to the pharmacist, proudly showed her my feet, and asked what was up with them. She replied "Well, you haven't got gangrene...yet", and promptly gave me some drugs and creams. (F.Y.I, it's now almost six weeks after I sustained the cuts from diving - the fins dug in - and they have ALMOST stopped bleeding). I slapped some gunk on, had some fish and chips (as it was a Friday), and headed off the the airport.

Then I flew to Darwin, Australia! Ripper!