The elusive bong tree wins again :-(

Day the third - Another long day punctuated by the flight to Perth

It's our last day in Singapore and today is the day the Bong tree will be run to ground. Having failed to find it on land (so far) a different tack is needed. We're going to look for it on the river instead. There are alot of tourist boats and river taxi's pottering, or should that be puttering?, up and down the river and across the harbour. They are all the same and look as seaworthy as a plank of wood but alot more decorative. A trip on the singapore river is great fun apart from one thing; diesel fumes. These are not what you would call environmentally friendly boats. That aside, they give you some history of the area and you get to take photo's from a different perspective. One of my favourite bits is this bridge - colourful or what!?! So we went up the river and saw buildings and then went down the river and saw buildings - notably Boat Quay, home of muggers disguised as waiters and waitresses and then out into the harbour to see the Merlion (see earlier entry for a pic). Along the way is a piece of fantastic sculpture of boys leaping into the river (damn this entry is getting pic heavy, but who cares! Not I!) . There was also a fantastic tree hanging over the river but, after close interrogation (backed up with the threat of a chainsaw), it turned out not to be a bong tree and it also swore blind it didn't know where the bong tree could be found. Lacking the aforementioned chainsaw I had no choice but to let it off.

Back on shore and wobbling along thanks to sea legs we found ourselves in a brand new mall on the river in search of a cup of tea. Singapore is one big shopping centre (it's the national pastime) so it seems strange that they think there's room for yet another multi story temple to consumerism. But there is was, doors open and with about half the shops occupied. It's very strange wandering around a half open mall, especially when you're virtually the only customers!

Next stop was good old Pagoda street for some shopping. Inga was in need of yet another iPod and a lunch of burgers or western food that the rest of the family had planned really didn't appeal. A quick walk (with detaour to an outdoor shop in a local mall (this is for local people, there's nothing for you here!) to buy some rucksack elastic) and a long purchase later (with free coke), the hunt was on for some lunch. Now this was the find of the trip. The Singapore Heritage resturant in Pagoda street. I really cannot recommend it enough. Fantastic food, great prices, cute waitress. Did I mention the food?

I'm not saying it was good but we went back for an evening meal as well!

After food we bummed about and wended our way back to the hotel through lots of local malls - you know the thing, cheaper goods, whole animals still squawking and squealing as they wait for their turn under the knife, people eyeing you up and muttering in strange languages as the obvious tourists walk nervously through (if only that were true - the last bit - I've never known a nation so law abiding for everything except fleecing tourists of their money). Last scheduled stop was the traditional Singapore Sling in the Long bar of the Raffles Hotel. What else can I say other than go there and do it. End of story. It's one of those things you just have to do as Inga so ably demonstrates :-)

Drinks drunk (try saying that after half a dozen slings) it was 'new adventure' time - the MRT. This is Singapore's underground railway and something we'd never done before. yep, we were railway virgins (how sweet). Unfortunately the adventure turned out to be quite serene and easy to cope with. Clean, efficient and easy to use - are you listening London???. Oh well, the evening meal was an explosion of taste and we rolled back to the hotel to collect our bags and head for the airport.

I kept an eye out for the Bong tree on the way to the airport (the snores were merely aids to my eagle eyed concentration) but it remained unseen. I could have sworn I could hear tree-like sniggers floating in through the airport doors as we headed for check-in and the smirks on the faces of the porters told me that they knew that the Bong tree had evaded my diligent search once again. But don't feel too smug, Mr Bong tree. I will be back and, next time, there will be a reckoning between you and I. Oh yes!