Singapore round-up and back to Blighty

Much to mother's amusement, I'm sure, the remainder of my time in Singapore was orientated around food and drink. I did go to the National Museum of Singapore, where I lost Oscar in the "History of Singapore" exhibit (it was a darkened maze of information). I also had a small bank-related incident (banks seem to thrive on making it difficult for me to get money out) which was threatening my ability to eat lunch, which is enough to drive any reasonable human being to distraction. After remedying this infuriating and reoccurring problem, I headed back to the hawker centre in China town to sample some more of Singapore's amazing food offerings.

That evening was spent in the company of Nina and Ant, as well as a whole bunch of other people in the game for some serious cocktail action. This motley crew headed out to an Indian restaurant to once again eat off banana leaves (though for a fraction of the price of the first one) and then we all adjourned to the famous Raffles for a Singapore Sling. Knowing only a little about Raffles itself, I was convinced that there was a dress code so I grabbed the fanciest thing I had in my compression sack and even put on a bit of slap. When we first arrived I was glad of it too: this place was fancy, though most of the fancy things I clapped eyes on were for "guests only"; it was a hotel too you see.

The bar appropriate for the riff-raff on the streets was quite a trek past all the posh bits, up the stairs, round the corner, down the corridor and then we were there. The Long Bar. And it was so vastly different the the rest of the establishment I had to laugh. It was like a proper pub, complete with monkey nut shells thrown all over the floor - which is the way to do it here I'm told. The cocktails were really expensive - £12 each! I wasn't staying here long, that's for sure. The Sling was rather nice, and a little potent (although not potent enough for £12 in my mind). After witnessing some very bizarre dancing from the locals and being treated to the sounds of the resident covers band (Baker's Street thank you very much), we were off to sample some more of Singapore's night life.

We headed down to Clark Quay, where the drinks prices did not dwindle (£7 for a pint of beer no less - seriously, no less anywhere). After drinking a so-called black Russian for an extortionate amount of money, Sonia (a German girl who lives in London who had joined for the evening) and I decided we simply couldn't afford this lavish drinking and that we needed to get swiftly to a 7/11 to buy cheap(er) beer. This we did and passed the rest of the evening sat on the bridge next to the expensive bars. Much more my bag. Before long it was 3am and time to head back to the hostel.

After a very last-minute decision to fly back to the UK the next day, instead of to Manila and then onto the UK, I had a whole 24 hours left in Singapore that I wasn't expecting. I was very chuffed to bump into Alison, the Aussie girl I'd met in Penang. We spent the day in China town, shopping and generally pottering around the city. That evening I shared a beer (courtesy of Alison) with the lady herself, Oscar and Christoph, and then headed off to the airport.

Approximately 17 hours later I found myself at Heathrow airport, slightly bemused and extremely cold. I was thankful to be met by HQ, who brought me a coat, scarf, socks and jeans to replace the t-shirt, linen trousers and flip flops that were not befitting to the bitter UK weather. So I am back in the UK now and I haven't left the house for two days because it's too blooming cold.

It would be a huge untruth to say the last two weeks have been easy; it has been very stressful and I can tell you for nothing that insurance companies, travel agencies and suchlike are not necessarily that sympathetic when you have to come home for a bereavement. I was told by the gent at STA travel that my nan had died too close to the start date of my volunteering so he couldn't help me get any money back, but if I wanted to spend any more money just to get in touch with him. I-to-i volunteering said I couldn't claim any of the £650 back either, and to get in touch with my insurance company, who have in turn proved to make things very difficult. Still, I am home with my family, where I want to be and I wouldn't have it any other way despite the financial consequences. I will be rejoining my trip on the 4th February and will be heading to Tokyo on the 7th to meet up with Simon (who I met at the Red Palm in Kuala Lumpur). I'm really looking forward to finishing my trip, no matter what other challenges it decides throw at me.