Hope you guys are still finding this interesting even though we are in NZ now and are a long way behind.
Once we left the paradise that was the Perintian Islands we were dreading the enormously long journey we had to get to Singapore but being true to our adventure so far we went all out extreme!
The journey started with a 'definately legit' taxi service from a random guy we met in the street. After we'd piled into his rather small car, crammed our bags in his tiny boot and bungied the boot closed, we picked up his wife?! and got cruising down the highway to the town in which we could catch the overnight train to Singapore. Despite the randomness of all this it was all going smoothly until the guy pulled over to the side of the road with a puncture - perfect! Clearly having no idea what he was doing Adrian ended up changing the wheel for him while I hysterically took photos of the predicament we'd gotten ourselves into! Soon we were back on the road and made it to Tanah Rata where we would catch the train.
This place was a hole! And we had 6 or so hours to wait for the train, which had no beds left!! It's becoming somewhat of a theme of the trip that we atract weirdos and this place was no exception! As we went for some lunch we met a strangely dressed man called Zach in pink shades and a fez after the usual ' where are you guys from?' he followed us to BK and scarily sat opposite eating the left overs from other peoples meals! We managed to get rid of him but only for a while as he turned up at the station shortly after with a different coat and hat and a rucksack!? Unfortunately he opted for ruining our afternoon and told us all about how he can't sleep and is beaten and that general he is a total loon! After declining his offer of a trip to his house we were thankfully rid of him! We boarded the train after a pair of kids had spent a number of hours thinking it was hilarious to try and get as close as possible to me before I noticed, it had been a long day, I was not amused.
Although we had no beds for the 13 hours train ride we did manage to get the seats with loads of leg room at the front of a carriage with the TV directly infront of us - score! And then Kung Fu Hustle, a great film, came on. No subtitles but awesome. When the film ended the pain began as guess what the next film was? ...Kung Fu Hustle!!! We watched it 4 times! Dear God!
Eventaully we got to the boarder and disembarked. The nightmare journey continued as the guy at passport control decided thyere was something dodge about my passport and it took me ages to get through before my bag got scanned about 10 times! We eventually made it into Singapore and got a taxi to where we might be able to get a room. Unfortunately the taxi driver was very friendly but totally useless and we were dropped at a shopping centre! Eventually we got some useful info and checked into a backpackers in China Town. The place was okay and had decent facilities for us to wash our clothes and use the internet. We spent the day at the Botanical Gardens which were beautiful and many a photograph was taken. That evening we went out to explore the city asking the barmaid at the hostel about where to go. We eventually found ourselves in a small collection of bars and restaurants called Chijmes, we had a pizza and a pint which pretty much cost the Earth before deciding we couldn't afford this place and returned to the hostel where Adrian made freinds with a completely mental woman who was obsessed with his rolled fags! Seriously she was scary and would not leave us alone - good times!
The next day we checked out Chinatown before the rain set in and my word when it rains here it really rains! Our plans to go to the beach covered island in the south via cable car were totally ruined so we returned to our shrunken tumble dried clothes and waited for the heavens to close! We went into Chinatown for a spring roll dinner that almost cost us $50 before making our way to the most banging area of Singapore, Riverside. Plenty of 'talented' people strolling around. Unfortunately the rain and the month of travelling had taken its toll on most things including our wallet and after the $48 Jug at Hooters we were done. We walked back in the pouring rain and went to bed.
We woke, excited about leaving for Australia that day used the internet and listened to some surprisingly good kareoke for mid morning before catching the tube to the airport. Where is Burger King!? After being teased by the elevator to the black void we ate and then boarded the plane. Unluckily for me it was my turn for some stranger danger and I got lumbered with 'Snuggles' the XL woman with a habit of cuddling up to young men in the seat next to her! Get me some more vodka and Orange! We watched a selection of films including the Wrestler and Ghost Town before arriving in Australia!!
Once we left the paradise that was the Perintian Islands we were dreading the enormously long journey we had to get to Singapore but being true to our adventure so far we went all out extreme!
The journey started with a 'definately legit' taxi service from a random guy we met in the street. After we'd piled into his rather small car, crammed our bags in his tiny boot and bungied the boot closed, we picked up his wife?! and got cruising down the highway to the town in which we could catch the overnight train to Singapore. Despite the randomness of all this it was all going smoothly until the guy pulled over to the side of the road with a puncture - perfect! Clearly having no idea what he was doing Adrian ended up changing the wheel for him while I hysterically took photos of the predicament we'd gotten ourselves into! Soon we were back on the road and made it to Tanah Rata where we would catch the train.
This place was a hole! And we had 6 or so hours to wait for the train, which had no beds left!! It's becoming somewhat of a theme of the trip that we atract weirdos and this place was no exception! As we went for some lunch we met a strangely dressed man called Zach in pink shades and a fez after the usual ' where are you guys from?' he followed us to BK and scarily sat opposite eating the left overs from other peoples meals! We managed to get rid of him but only for a while as he turned up at the station shortly after with a different coat and hat and a rucksack!? Unfortunately he opted for ruining our afternoon and told us all about how he can't sleep and is beaten and that general he is a total loon! After declining his offer of a trip to his house we were thankfully rid of him! We boarded the train after a pair of kids had spent a number of hours thinking it was hilarious to try and get as close as possible to me before I noticed, it had been a long day, I was not amused.
Although we had no beds for the 13 hours train ride we did manage to get the seats with loads of leg room at the front of a carriage with the TV directly infront of us - score! And then Kung Fu Hustle, a great film, came on. No subtitles but awesome. When the film ended the pain began as guess what the next film was? ...Kung Fu Hustle!!! We watched it 4 times! Dear God!
Eventaully we got to the boarder and disembarked. The nightmare journey continued as the guy at passport control decided thyere was something dodge about my passport and it took me ages to get through before my bag got scanned about 10 times! We eventually made it into Singapore and got a taxi to where we might be able to get a room. Unfortunately the taxi driver was very friendly but totally useless and we were dropped at a shopping centre! Eventually we got some useful info and checked into a backpackers in China Town. The place was okay and had decent facilities for us to wash our clothes and use the internet. We spent the day at the Botanical Gardens which were beautiful and many a photograph was taken. That evening we went out to explore the city asking the barmaid at the hostel about where to go. We eventually found ourselves in a small collection of bars and restaurants called Chijmes, we had a pizza and a pint which pretty much cost the Earth before deciding we couldn't afford this place and returned to the hostel where Adrian made freinds with a completely mental woman who was obsessed with his rolled fags! Seriously she was scary and would not leave us alone - good times!The next day we checked out Chinatown before the rain set in and my word when it rains here it really rains! Our plans to go to the beach covered island in the south via cable car were totally ruined so we returned to our shrunken tumble dried clothes and waited for the heavens to close! We went into Chinatown for a spring roll dinner that almost cost us $50 before making our way to the most banging area of Singapore, Riverside. Plenty of 'talented' people strolling around. Unfortunately the rain and the month of travelling had taken its toll on most things including our wallet and after the $48 Jug at Hooters we were done. We walked back in the pouring rain and went to bed.
We woke, excited about leaving for Australia that day used the internet and listened to some surprisingly good kareoke for mid morning before catching the tube to the airport. Where is Burger King!? After being teased by the elevator to the black void we ate and then boarded the plane. Unluckily for me it was my turn for some stranger danger and I got lumbered with 'Snuggles' the XL woman with a habit of cuddling up to young men in the seat next to her! Get me some more vodka and Orange! We watched a selection of films including the Wrestler and Ghost Town before arriving in Australia!!
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