Day 1 in Singapore

Arrived in S'pore about 6 am.  We enjoyed that first blast of sticky heat as we stepped out of the airport.  Singapore seems to be constant movement into and out of air conditioning.  Had a couple of hours sleep, booked a city tour then killed some time by figuring out how to use the MRT (underground & skyway rail system) to go and witness a bit of the Singaporean national sport - i.e. shopping at Orchard Road.   Some of the retail complexes seem to be as large as all of Wellington's shops rolled into one, and then some - and crowded.  4.8m people on a land area the smaller than greater Wellington, and we feel like we bumped into most of them.  The organised city tour might have better been called a tour of religious sites  - the Sultan mosque complex in Kampong Glam, Chinese Thian Hock Keng temple and a Gem factory where we were invited to lighten our wallets.  We saw some impressively kitsch art at the latter place - then a bit of a boat trip on the Singapore River. The hostess of the trip had a few interesting anecdotes, but the talking up of Lee Kuan Yew and the wonders of the Singaporean baby bonus system was bemusing.  The place looks a bit full already to me;  Singaporeans could certainly teach NZers about looking after their environment and the best use of space but maybe it is time to admit that the place is just a little bit full. We forced ourselves out despite tiredness to visit Little India in the evening for the veg thali at New Woodlands restaurant that I'd promised myself.  It was not disappointing - great food.  There were lots of similar establishments that would probably have been just as good, but that is the one I know.   Interesting the response of the hotel receptionist and the taxi driver when we said we wanted to go to Little India on a Sunday night.  They almost tried to put us off - what do you want to go there for? It is full of Indians!  It was worth the trip and we will head back there today - we'll have a look at the Sri Veeramakaliamman temple, and Aletta (aka Alta) might find some decent clothes for this heat when the place is a bit less manic.   We ambled back to the hotel (Alta with blistered feet by this stage - it was impossible to get a taxi in the mayhem)  and noticed a familiar smell (or stench) on the way.  We'd come across a Durian vendors cart.  The King of Fruit as the locals call it.  Or as an old guide book described it, 'looks like sh*t, smells like sh*t', best taste it to make up your own mind.  After some hard sell we gave it a try - it was not too bad to me, which is a sign that you may have spent too long in Asia.  Alta had to buy some jackfruit straight after to get rid of the taste. Finally crashed about midnight with NZ holding Italy at 1-1 in the football.  Pleased to discover today that was how it ended. Alta seems very impressed by Singapore so far.