Mikes Blog

Singapore and on to NZ
Wednesday 16th to Friday 18th May

Yesterday I was feeling irritated about being stuck in Singapore for 2 days that could be used more productively in NZ. I disliked the hotel, the hotel cafe, the tours that people were trying to sell us. I was tired and grumpy.

Today, Wednesday, I got my first good guitar practise done in 10 days (since we left for Greece). I feel better about that. We get a reasonable and not expensive breakfast. We decide to go to the Zoo. Although advised to go by Taxi "It's too complicated to go by bus and train. You will get lost", we decide to go by public transport. It's alot cheaper and more of an adventure.

We find our underground station, figure out the ticketing system, get off at the right place, get the right bus, and after another 20 minutes arrive at the Singapore Zoo.

Very much setup in a rainforest setting it is extensive, highly developed and well maintained. The conditions for the animals generally do well in replicating a natural environment. It is obviously well resourced and a place of pride for Singapore. Included in the Zoo presentations was an emphasis on the serious plight of so many species and the need for conservation. The biggest threat at the moment are the clearing of habitat (rain forest) for agriculture or logging and the hunting of animals for animal products.

Highlights of the zoo for us included:
The Siamang, and ape as comfortable in the trees tops as we humans are on the ground
The White Tiger, whose natural environment is snowny mountain country - it is so sad that the threat posed by humans means a zoo is a final chance of survival for the species

Hamadrayas Baboon (70 of them) the younger ones playing just like an active group of young kids, the older ones just resting up and taking it easy

There was the Probocis monkey which has a highly elongated nose. Even though there was feed in the cage, and most were eating, there was one male not interested in food and at one point he seemed to throw himself against the cage netting - in frustration at his captivity? I could appreciate how he might feel. He reminded me of the bus driver who took us to town from the airport in Barcelona.

There was a walk-in enclosure that included bats. Hanging around in the treetops. With bats I think rabies and Dracula so I kept an eye on them. One did an impressive flight around the enclosure well above our heads. The only flying mammal.

The giraffes walk so gracefully. Because of their long necks they need very strong hearts to get blood to the head. They therefore have a normal blood pressure 3 times ours (is that 360 over 240). Generally lions will leave them alone as they can kill with a single kick. However to drink they need to splay the front legs to get the neck to water level. In this position they are vulnerable to attack.

Our return trip to town goes easily. The Singaporean people seem to be gentle, kindly, courteous, eager to help. Europeans number about 1 percent on the public transport. I feel this would be an easy city to live in. There is no grafitti. There is no rubbish. There seems to be a high valuing of education. But people often look tired. I think there is a lot of hard work.

We fly out tomorrow at 9.55 and arrive in Auckland at 11.30am Friday - 2.30 in Wellington.
What a journey it has been. I look foward to being home. I need a rest.