After just over 2 weeks in Koh Samui, Nick and I headed to the city-state of Singapore for 6 days. This place is amazing -- it's by far the cleanest city I've ever visited, the average quality of life here is very high, and overall it reminds me of a really nice city in America or Europe. The "primary official language" here is English (awesome), but there are actually 4 official languages in Singapore.

One of the things I love the most is that the tap water here is clean. Anyone who knows me knows I drink ridiculous amounts of water, so not having to stock up on bottles is a welcome reminder of home.

Singapore is notoriously tough on crime, and the result of this is a very clean, safe, friendly city. So for instance, if you decide to try and sneak some weed into the country and they catch you, you aren't sent to jail. You get executed. No joke. They don't mess around here -- I had to apply for a special permit to bring in one of my prescription allergy medications because it's classified as a narcotic!

We're going to Universal Studios Singapore today, which should be fun, then heading to the zoo in the evening for their famous night safari show.

But what I think you guys will gawk at the most is our hotel: we decided to splurge and booked ourselves at the brand new Marina Bay Sands in the harbor. It's a huge new hotel/casino/resort built by the Sands (same people who built the Venetian & Palazzo in Vegas). This place is sick baller! My only regret is not visiting one month later because the big SkyPark attraction on the roof doesn't open until June...FML.

The casino here is massive (see below) but doesn't have a poker room! WTF?! I've been told this may change in the future, but for now there's nowhere to play poker in Singapore. Huge oversight IMO.

One final note: citizens of Singapore aren't allowed into the casino without a "casino pass" which can be purchased for S$100/day or S$2k/year. Apparently the government really doesn't want its citizens to gamble. But it's obviously free for tourists to enter; however, they did check our passports for a valid visa at two checkpoints upon entry and again when we left. Obligatory pics:

View of our hotel from a boat tour in the harbor:

View of the hotel at night from the casino entrance:

The casino here is HUGE but doesn't have a poker room (sick beat):

Day view of the city from our room:

In front of the hotel at night (my camera spazzed out for some reason):

Nick and I enjoy some specialty beers at the local Belgian beer bar:

<3 Singapurrr, but hate our blog software. It's tilting me to no end and I don't feel like fixing all the pictures and all the other stuff it f'd up while trying to publish this entry. ASDLKFJAFRFIJGMLDGDJFAOPIWEFUASDFLKASPOFMEWRK:,ls