More on Singapore

A few more tidbits about our trip to Singapore:

• The night safari was a slight disappointment. It ended up being more zoo than safari, and neither of us is a big fan of zoos. 
• The pool at our hotel (the Marina Bay Sands) was breathtaking. It's the highest infinity pool in the world, and we couldn't get enough of it. 

• We spent most of Saturday at what we called the Island O'Fun, also known as Sentosa Island. After riding a gondola over to the island, we took a luge (yes!) down to the beach where we snacked on crab cakes and drank our first beers of the day. We rented bikes and rode along the coast, taking a break to look out from the southernmost point of Continental Asia. We then ventured to the Wave House where Mike faux-surfed, after which he and I ziplined (my first time!). After a quick nature hike, we ended our day on the Island O'Fun atop Singapore's mascot, the Merlion (a lion's head with a mermaid's body).

So now that you can answer that Jeopardy question, here are some other interesting facts about the city-state:

• It's the world's fourth leading financial center, and its port is one of the five busiest in the world.
• It was settled by the British (what wasn't?) and occupied by the Japanese before uniting with other former British territories to form Malaysia, from whom it separated two years later (in 1965). (Yes, they drive on the left.)
• And yes, it's the place that canes people. You may remember the story of this guy.  

Zhoumo kuaile!

Reporting to you from Singapore! I flew in last night to meet Mike who's been here for work this week. I love this city so far (but it may be because I haven't seen lush greenery and breathed in clean air in a while). And I'm loving the tropical weather (yes, including the thunderstorms): 

We've already knocked off a few items from the to do list, having grubbed on staple Singapore dishes (stay tuned for Fatty Tuesday!) and ridden the Singapore Flyer (in an ode to my mom who has a fascination for ferris wheels; bottom, left photo). Tonight, we'll continue the local food fest with Singapore chili crab, and venture on a night safari (how cool does that sound?). 

See that three-pronged building in the photo on the right? That's our pad for the weekend. And see the top of it? That's our hangout on Saturday (complete with an infinity pool overlooking the city). More to come (including photos)!