My final day of holidays and my last day in Singapore. I am up early. I am grateful that I don’t have to check out today. My transfer is picking me up at 5.15 pm, so I have all day, I am determined to walk the feet off myself to enable me to maybe get some sleep on the plane. I am praying my legs behave on the flight and decide to wear linen trousers to travel in, hopefully, shower and change into something warmer at Doha. I am guessing it won’t be 30 degrees when I land in Dublin!

I have a lovely breakfast. The Robertson is a very central hotel and the breakfast’s have been really nice. I walk to Chinatown in the search for some tea on a recommendation from Barbara. I thought I might go to Orchard Rd where all the high end fashion shops are, however, thankfully, I got myself a bit lost and ended up walking for miles to get myself back on track, which probably did me and my bank balance a favour!

Some facts/info re: Singapore

There is a chewing gum and vaping ban here – $2,000 fines! They prefer you smoke…..now what does that tell you about vaping! Smoking is limited to strict areas.

Orchard Road is for the High End Shoppers!

Singapore’s Independence was in 1965 – the British arrived in 1892!

They are the fastest walkers in the world averaging 6.5k p/hr – no idea how they calculate that one!

National Service is still in place – 2 years is required within one of the services which includes the Police, honestly I am in favour of this, I feel it would sort out some of our society out in a very positive manner! A controversial view I know.

Tanglin is the most prestigious area – the Mayfair of Singapore

Tangs – is the equivalent of Harrods or Bloomingdale’s

The population is approx 6 million

ERP – Electronic Road Pricing – is Sing’s road congestion management system using gantries to charge vehicles on busy roads during peak hours. Fees are deducted in in-vehicle units, so comes straight out of your bank account!

The cars are heavily taxed and when I say heavily HUGE! Most people do not have one, hence why the city traffic moves and is light for such a huge population in such a small area, all cars are disposed of at 10 yrs old, so even if you bought a small average car at 80k+ it is worth zero at ten years old!

The public transport infrastructure is fabulous!

Hawker – Street food markets – definitely go to one!

I love that even the bus stops have plants grown on the top of them, the whole city has greenery/flowers on the buildings and literally everywhere.

I have done over 20,000 steps so I think a nice light lunch is in order. I dropped off my shopping and went back out along the Quay, I spotted a nice French restaurant, the menu was so nice, I would have loved the 1 metre charcuterie board it looked gorgeous, however just too much, so I settled on a beetroot hummus, pomegranate, maison granola, pitta bread (the nicest pitta I have ever eaten) and a nice glass of of freezing cold Chablis!

I met 2 lovely girls who were having “The Grand Platter”, the one I fancied! 1m long selection of French cheese & artisan charcuterie, fruits, nuts, beetroot hummus, herb tahini, Kalamata olives and breads! Where is Fio when I need her? I have a feeling Fio could manage this one on her own! We had a really nice chat and we all had a 2nd glass of wine and then I really needed to get going! It is time to get back to the hotel, shower, change and get to the airport.

On my way back to the hotel earlier ie before lunch, I deviated through Clarke’s Quay shopping centre and found a little shop which just had lovely clothes, I bought 4 tops and a pair of trousers! OMG I have lost the plot! How am I going to get this all home lol!

And, just like that my wonderful trip is over and I am homeward bound. Goodbye lovely Singapore.

My flights are on time and I get the chance to very quickly shower and change at Doha, which I really felt the better of, especially keeping the itch at bay, creams re-applied!

Doha is huge, there is a train in the middle of it to get you to your gates! Anyway, I walk straight to the gate and it opens just as I walk up, I am first on, I don’t think that has ever happened to me in my life!

I arrive into a very crisp Dublin around 5.45 am, it is dry and the cold air feels great weirdly. I get the air coach up to Belfast where Christina, Caleb and Hannah are waiting for me and what a fine sight indeed. Caleb literally melted my heart, he was so genuinely pleased to see me, ran to me, huge hugs, well as big as a 3 year old can muster and kisses bless him and he smiled the whole way home, as did I. So good to see them all, Hannah has grown so much in a month and has definitely found her voice at 8 months old! & Christina in such good form too – my wee loves!

Until the next adventure – thank you for joining me on this one!