We just got a rental request from a family in Singapore. It occurred to me that possibly a better option would be a house swap. So now we are exploring this.

I did a search function on slow-trav and read the few notes on Singapore. Thanks Doug for your excellent precis'.

Should this proceed any farther I need to know what I'm getting myself into. Is Singapore hilly? Are there lots of steps? Just how crowded is it? Has anyone ever seen people in wheelchairs on the streets? Am I going to be a wheelchair pioneer again? 7 years ago I was the oddity in Rome, is Singapore next?

Just how expensive is Singapore? Tokoyo expensive? or Bangkok expensive? One I can afford the other is out of the question. Even with a free place to stay.

Is there enough to do for a month in Singapore? or should we plan on spending some time in OZ? New Zealand? I'm looking at a huge flight time so the idea of a 2 day layover in Hawaii does have a certain charm.

How's the weather in June? Crazy hot and muggy? Or does ocean breezes help? Remember, this is a Phoenician talking - 120 is not unusual in June here.

If we decide to do this does anybody know any good forums? besides slow trav that have a fairly active message board? The most recent posts on Singapore on slow trav are 2 years old.

I'm not a Singapore expert but I have been there a few times.
Food in Singapore is incredible. I'd go there in a heart beat if I can afford to put on 5 pounds. As for the cost, it's somewhere between Tokyo and Bangkok though both cities can be as expensive or affordable as you make it.

Personally, I can't see myself spending more than a week there on holidays. As for going to NZ in June, it might not be the best month of the year. Even if you don't might the winter weather, the short duration of daylight makes it less than ideal for traveling. OZ probably is a better choice.

I've spent many weeks in S'pore over the 90's and it is not particularly hilly in the downtown area - the city of Singapore; so I don't think there'll be a problem with a wheelchair. It is as modern a city as any in the world, so I cannot imagine it will be a problem. The only "hill" I remember is slightly west of town, where the overhead tram leaves to take you over to Sentosa Island (train ride around the island - easy on, easy off, nature stuff, golf, beach, resort). Singapore is not like Hong Kong when it comes to hills, that's for sure!

It's a city of 4 million, but not terribly crowded by SE Asian standards. Good highway system, plenty mass transit, cabs are inexpensive, etc. Again, not like Hong Kong or Taipei, which are quite crowded by comparison. Obviously the popular places (Boat Quay, Clarke Quay, Raffles Bar, or certain shopping blocks on Orchard) are more crowded, but nothing compared to other cities its size.

There's plenty to do just in the city: if you like shopping - as good as anywhere along Orchard Road, the zoo (actually about 30 minutes north of the city and an excellent open concept zoo), dining at Boat Quay (75 restaurants packed into a one half mile stretch along the river, with al fresco dining from just about every country you could imagine), or Chinatown (not far from Boat Quay and the Financial District), or Little India (near Bugis Junction, with excellent veggie, if you're interested) or if you just want to relax by the river with a bottle of wine at Clarke Quay. Sentosa Island is just 15 minutes away (off the south coast a few hundred yards) - lots of touristy things and a golf resort; then there's Puala Ubin (an island off the NE coast) which is a hoot, although I'm not sure about the wheelchair, since it's pretty primitive out there.

The weather is constant in S'pore, since it is 2 degrees from the equator. No matter what time of year you'll find 85 to 90 and somewhat humid. Also, it rains for 1 or 2 hours in the afternoon/evening almost every day, due to the the cooling of the atmosphere by 3PM or so. Remember Kathryn Hepburn in the movie "Rain"? The title was decriptive of this area. So, bring an umbrella, they're a standard accessory.

You will not be bored and the whole place is so clean it sparkles! As you can tell, I like it...

Thanks for the excellent information. Unfortunately the swap fell thru ( but I definitely now have moved Singapore to my "someday" list.

Well, when you do go, another forum, although not nearly as wonderful as this one is the Asian forum under Fodors.com. Actually, the Asian forum does attract a nice group of regulars, seem to be older, well experienced travelers, many from Boston. I've gotten decent advise there for my recent trip to Cambodia.