How did this happen?

So it would seem that with everything I do, I’ll worry about it incessantly and then when it comes down to it, just get on with it. Once I started the race and found myself out in front keeping up with the guys I thought “oh fuck it, I may as well see if I can win it” …and I did! Yep, I was the first female finisher and came tenth overall. Eileen says she is going to slap me next time I start doubting myself, and indeed, I may well slap myself. I had imagined this to be a once off, but I’m already thinking of coming back next year for it was a fantastic experience and a timely reminder that I can do anything I set my mind to. Somehow I’d forgotten that…

But with the race over, I was finally able to relax and we returned to Singapore for the remainder of the holiday. Now I don’t know whether I have changed or Singapore has changed since I was last here (probably a bit of both), but there is so much going on here I’m already regretting not staying longer. Naturally a good portion of the time remaining has been devoted to shopping but the nights are a culinary adventure and a bacchanalian* delight. Everything has been good, but I must make special mention of one: Nox Dine in the Dark. Yep, as the name might suggest, it’s a restaurant where you are deprived of sight and basically eat whatever is put in front of you, without being enlightened as to its contents. As you might imagine, this was even more unsettling for me than the big race, but I decided to do it anyway. I don’t know whether the food was naturally good, or lacking one sense made the others sharper but, though I enjoyed it, I found it rather unsettling overall. The good thing about being in the dark is no one can see when you spit the food out (although I only did it once – lol).

The do again list:

• My Little Tapas Bar – eggplant toast was amazing and finally a decent glass of red wine!
• Oxwell & Co – make your way upstairs for the rooftop gin bar
• Senso Ristorante & Bar – street front dining or you can be a bit more civilized inside
• Nox Dine in the Dark – not exactly cheap, but not to be missed (and right near where we stayed)
• Pan Pacific Serviced Suites – don’t bother with a shoebox of a hotel room when this is on offer

*we’re not really indulging in orgies – just drinking lots