South East Asian Persuasions

The following is a general list of the things we wish we had known while travelling through South East Asia…  T.A.T. (Tourism Authority of Thailand) Lots of tuk-tuk drivers around Bangkok may well start boasting to you about this oh-so grand organisation called the TAT. They will excitedly explain how the TAT is there to support you, the poor lost tourist. They may even claim it was put into operation by the King himself!… to... Read More

Singapore Flashpacking

CaptionFlashpacking!CaptionClarke QuayCaptionClarke QuayCaptionChinese Lanterns lining the streetsCaptionChinatownCaptionYello JelloCaptionThe ClinicCaptionTV?! Complimentary dressing gowns?! Coffee pot?!PreviousNext After 96 days of backpacking on a tight budget we decided to let the purse strings go a little for our final 24 hours in Singapore. The freedom of backpacking was nearing its end before leaving for our more settled existence in Korea. We booked... Read More

Fort Canning: The Battle Box

Our first stop-off in Singapore was Fort Canning, a smallish park in the centre of Singapore.  Fort Canning is a brief walk north of Clarke’s Quay, right in the heart of Singapore’s bustling business centre. It’s a welcome break from the city streets with a Spice Garden, Fort Gate & Wall, & the impressive Fort Canning Centre that use to be British Army barracks. The park’s name is owed to the British fort that... Read More

Hostel vs. 4 Stars!

Singapore brings along a swell of emotions. Our tour through South East Asia finishes here. I am packing up in 2 days and moving to some strange land of chopsticks and will be the most ‘settled’ I have ever been, & having a job longer then I’ve ever been in one before. This whole ‘teaching’ thing is actually happening, not something so far in future that it’s pointless to think about anymore. Oh, yea I’ve... Read More

Singapore: An atrocious arrival to civilization

We arrived at the Singapore border control by bus from Melaka with high hopes. We were finally to enter an advanced civilisation, an economic powerhouse, a multicultural metropolitan ranked with the best in the world… & most importantly, TOILET SEATS!! Singapore was by far the most developed & westernised port of call on our journey, a far cry from the majority of the places we had been before. We had left the poverty-stricken north... Read More

CIVILIZIED Singapore

After 3 months of breaking down buses, hole stricken mosquito nets, searching for a bottle of water so I can brush my teeth, and the constant bargaining and haggling of prices from shirts and jewelry to cab rides and tours and food- we have found civilization! I am a little bit surprised. 1. We can drink water out of the TAP! A restaurant today actually served me a glass of water upon being seated?! 2. Customer Service exists. We got our meal in... Read More