Lion City

Friday morning we get stuck into the hotel breakfast (some things haven't changed since 2000 - was always good to overeat at breakfast to save on lunch).

I knock out 8 x 800m repeats (400m slow in between each) on the treadmill before breakfast, so I'm starving by the time I hit the buffet. I'm training for Sydney's City to Surf which is only a few weeks after I get home from the trip. The thought of dragging my arse for 14kms and up those C2S hills forces me into the hotel gym. If I don't keep up the training, C2S will be a living hell.

We've decided to unashamedly board the hop-on/hop-off tourist bus to get an overview of Singapore. Singapore Island (the Lion City) is pretty tiny really, 42km by 22km, but with about 5 million people crammed in. As we walk down to the bus we're struck by how quiet the traffic is, and how neat and tidy the streets are. Government policies encourage/force people to buy a new car at least every 10 years, so there are no bombs driving around. A couple of tuk tuks, but they seem to be more about tourism than practicallity as they are in Bangkok.

The Government clearly pours bazillions into the upkeep on the roads, streets, buildings and of course there is new construction everywhere you turn. It's a great city, but the parts we have seen seem kind of.. sanitised. And highly westernised. Must get out and see more of it properly.

The weather is humid but not completely oppressive, occasionally you get a slight sea breeze to take the edge off the 30+ temp. The sky is grey and the sun doesn't seem to poke through all that often, which is not a bad thing, cos when it does it is unbearable for 3 little Canberrans. We're just starting to thaw out from what seems like our worst winter in a few years.

Vin and Mel have opted to get off the bus to go to Sentosa to get a 'fish pedicure'. You stick your feet in water and a bunch of small fish come and eat the dead skin and filth from your feet. Sounds delightful. Although I have awesome blisters and black toenails from running that the fish would love, I give it a wide berth and head back to the hotel to collect my gear for the netball. Mel later informs me that the fish pedicure freaked them out, and Vin screamed like a little girl.

While I'm waiting for the bus to switch over I see ex aussie team netballers Elouise Southby-Halbish and Liz Boniello. Turns out we just missed the Aussie Diamonds brunch hosted by ex aussie captain Vicki Wilson. My original itinerary said it was Sunday, but when I read the fine print of the itinerary the netball travel agent sent shortly before we left it says Friday in tiny letters. SPEWING. Would have been good if they had drawn the date change to our attention. Another case of www.dumbtraveller.gov.au.

Get back to the hotel, get my netball kit on and head for the netball, finally!