My friends are here! Part 2.

As I've been so busy with work I'd neglected to plan activities or outings with my friends when they came to visit. If we were in London I'm sure this would have proved to be a bit of a disaster, but in Singapore - no fear - there is always heaps to do.

If anyone reading this post is expecting visitors and needs a few ideas, please feel free to steal/replicate as we had an awesome few days.

Day 1

• Dinner at Din Tai Fung
• Marina Bay Sands light show 
• Gardens by the Bay, Garden Rhapsody 

Marina Bay Sands Light Show

Garden Rhapsody

Day 2

• Gardens by the Bay - Cloud Forest, Flower Dome, SuperTree Skyway
• 1 Altitude ($10 cocktails on Wednesday ladies night!)

Day 3

• Sentosa Island - MegaZip, beaches and lunch at Tanjong Beach Club
• Dinner at Club 55, all-you-can-eat cheese and chocolate buffet

Day 4

• ArtScience museum - Future World Exhibition
• Universal Studios
• The Library speak-easy, Potato Head Folk, Club Street

Day 5

• Xcape room (We did the 'Annabelle' room which was terrifying but incredible)
• Brunch at Super Loco
• Ce La Vi  for sunset drinks

There's so much more to do and they've already promised to come back next year. I'm thrilled they loved Singapore as much as I do.

Sleepless in Singapore

It's been a long, tiring week and for the first time since I've been over here, Singapore has suddenly felt BIG.

As soon as we docked back in Singapore from Bintan, Phil flew to Melbourne for work and I headed back to our empty flat. I then spent a miserable Sunday alone and was back at work on Monday morning. What a comedown.

I must have got quite used to filling my days with swimming, yoga and art as it's been a difficult transition getting back into working life this week. I've not only had to re-engage my brain, but this working lark also means I have to get up before the sun every day. Owh.

The hardest transition has been adjusting to the Singaporean work culture. 50% of my time I'll be working with Brits, Australians, Americans and other Westerners, and the other 50% I'll be working with Singaporeans. There's such a marked difference in the way Singaporeans work, which I'm just getting my head around.

I was out for a couple of dinners with new friends this week which was fun, but I think everything is that bit harder when you don't have close friends or family you can relax around and let off steam with. One thing that did really cheer me up this week was this lovely surprise through my letterbox from my best pal back home.  

With Phil away I've realised how much harder it must be to 'go it alone' somewhere - i.e. live and work in a completely new place without the comfort of a partner, friends or family around. 

Respect to all those expats who have taken the leap as I'm not sure I could do it!

Throwing ourselves into Singapore life

We've been back in Singapore for one week now so I thought it was as good a time as any for a new post. I have thrown myself into Singapore life and am loving it! 

Phil and I landed at 7am last week so had a full day together before he was back at work Wednesday morning. So, we did what most people in a new home do and head to IKEA to buy all the things we did (and didn't) really need.

Priority purchase

We also got the groceries in and have quickly learnt that we've been a bit spoilt in the UK. Back home, you can pop to Sainburys, Tesco etc and get anything and everything you need for a reasonable price. Over here, it is a bit trickier to find everything in one place so instead we are picking up odd bits here and there from different markets. There are a few Sainsburys-like supermarkets around such as Cold Storage, but it is so expensive so would quickly bankrupt us if we shopped there all the time. 

So far we've mostly been living off home-made Pad Thai (thanks to our Asia Scenic cookery class in Chiang Mai). We've been trying not to eat out too much this week but did give-in to the steak at L'Entrecote on Duxton Hill (same as the one in London's Marylebone), and a delicious Saturday morning breakfast at a place called Hatched in Holland V. Hatched is amazing - the whole menu is eggs served in a hundred different ways and it's great value for money.I think we will be back there next weekend.. and maybe the weekend after..

Sir Benedict
(AKA the best EB you will ever eat)

As I've not had that much to do during the days, I've kick-started my fitness by running through the Green Corridor (ok.. so I did only manage 4km but you try running in 31C and 70% humidity!), swimming, and trying out a local yoga class. I've also signed up to try another yoga class, kickboxing and touch rugby in the next week or two which I'm really looking forward to.

This week also involved getting the internet and gas up and running and our apartment is now starting to look a little more homely with plants and flowers around the place.

Had fun fitting this in an Uber

The best thing about this week has got to be Friday night. I made a pal online through InterNations a few weeks ago and he invited Phil and I out for drinks after work with some of his colleagues and friends. It was so much fun, we all got on really well and I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more of them! 

It's only been a week, but Singapore is such a bustling and beautiful place I cannot imagine wanting to leave anytime soon.