Singapore

There are heaps of things to see in Singapore other than the shops, and two places we've enjoyed visiting are the Jurong Bird Park, and the Botanical Gardens.

The entrance gates to the Botanical Gardens are just a short walk beyond the Tanglin Road end of Orchard Road. You could spend several hours wandering around in here. We only saw a small part of it in our two-hour walk through, mainly the part in and around the National Orchid Garden. There are hundreds of Orchids and hybrids displayed in this section, developed since the breeding program started in 1928.

Jurong Bird Park is located over on the west side of the island. We caught a train and then a bus (it took about an hour and a half, waiting time included, from Raffles station). It was interesting going through the suburbs, which seem to be clumps of high-rise appartment blocks, gathered around some central services - shops, schools, parks. You can see how they fit such a big population (over 3 million) into such a small space.

The bird park has a monorail which is definitely worth taking so you can get your bearings before walking around. One of the best features is the huge walk-through aviary that includes a high waterfall - get off the monorail at Waterfall station and walk up the track nearby. You can get back on and complete the loop.

Tip: You might find the humidity a bit draining if you've been spoiling yourself with airconditioned shopping - loose clothing, a hat and a water bottle can help, but yes, you can get refreshments in the Gardens and at the Birdpark.

Tip: Their train system (MRT) is great, you can use it to get to many of the hotels from the airport - just buy a stored-value card and top it up as you go. It can be used on buses and you even get a refund if you hand it in at the end of your trip!

Tip: If you like listening to a decent choir, try 10am Mass at the Catholic Cathedral in Queen street. The Church has two organs and the Choirmaster there has a Doctorate in Sacred Music (and is also a Knight of the Order of St Gregory). You don't have to be Catholic to attend. The experience is wonderful. Be warned, the church fills up quickly, it's a good idea to get there about 15 minutes early.

Hong Kong

Trev and I visited here as a 'stop over' on our way to Europe in 2000. I had not seen it since 1976, when I went there with my parents for about a week, on my very first overseas trip (by the way, thanks mum and dad, you sure gave me a taste for travel). I was interested to see how much it had changed (well as much as you can judge these things in about 24 hours!).

First thing I noticed was that the airport had moved! In 1976 we floated down between all the tall city buildings, onto a runway that was located right in the harbour. Wonderful - especially at night - they do great neon there! This time we descended into a flat expanse of reclaimed land and caught a train to the city. I guess the pilots probably appreciate the change, but it isn't as much fun for the passengers!

We walked around the Nathan Rd area for a few hours. Unfortunately, it was on a Sunday and many of the shops were not open even by 11.30, so it was eerily quiet. I remembered hustle and bustle, lots of street vendors, shop owners out on the pavement trying to tempt me with watches and elecrical goods, bird cages in the back lanes, department stores full of all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff, great food smells everywhere. Has that all gone somewhere else, or just gone?

Later on, we wandered around the Ocean Terminal area - by then, more people were out and about, and one of those huge cruise ships was waiting to leave, but the shops were just not as exciting as I remembered. Then we caught the Star Ferry across the harbour - THAT is still a great little trip, catch it if you go there, although there were not as many fishing boats this time.

That was all we managed to get done in the short time we had. Maybe next time we can go up the Peak and check out the New Territories and see what else has changed.