Straight out of a romance novel

Sentosa Resort & Spa

by Emmie Dark

Well it's a bright and refreshed "hello" from me today! I'm just back at my desk after four days of vacation. Four days isn't that long, I know, but when you spend it entirely in the tropical climes of Singapore, by a gorgeous pool, and drinking more cocktails than you mother would approve of, it's more than enough. :)

I'm really not kidding
about the lazing around
and drinking cocktails
by the pool.

Writers often talk about needing time to "refill the well". I think that's what I was doing. I was also making sure I had the kind of experience you usually only read about in romance books -- and I'm sure I can chalk it all up to "research"!

I certainly did feel like a romance novel heroine -- probably from a Presents rather than a SuperRomance, but you never know! Perhaps my next book will have a way to ensure my hero and heroine spend time on a super-exclusive, super-gorgeous resort.

So shall I turn you green with envy and give you a few more snaps from my holiday photo album?

Okay, then.

You'll be glad to know it wasn't ALL lazing around and doing nothing but reading books and drinking ever-more exotic cocktails. We did manage to get out and about and see a few things.

Our resort was on the island of Sentosa, which is just a short cab-ride over a bridge from the main city of Singapore. (You can also catch a bus, a monorail or a cable car -- but more on that later!)

One of the first "tourist" stops we did on Sentosa was visiting the butterfly park. I wasn't so keen on the idea (butterflies really are just bugs with pretty wings as far as I'm concerned) but I'm glad I went. There were some gorgeous specimens fluttering around and it was quite peaceful to be among them.

Unfortunately the butterfly park also included the "insect kingdom" which housed tarantulas and all sorts of creepy crawly stuff that I usually only see in my nightmares. After the pretty butterflies, I just did a quick jog through that section with my head down and I'm glad to report I didn't see anything nasty.

The next day was a spa day, and after massages, foot baths, scrubs and facials, we headed for a dip in the therapeutic waterfall pool. I'm not quite sure what made it therapeutic, except that it was very cold, which was actually a nice thing in the steamy hot weather.

We also took a trip back into Singapore to visit one of the icon's of the city: Raffles. It is a stunning building that totally makes you feel part of a bygone era. We even scored a cocktail in the Long Bar where you eat peanuts and throw the shells on the floor.

And we also enjoyed a glass of pink Moet & Chandon at the "pink brunch" on the 70th floor of one of Singapore's many posh hotels. (Actually it might have been more than one glass. Might have been more than two, too...!)

And, finally, we did the cable car trip between the island and the mainland.It was quite good fun, except for one section where it got very windy and the car swayed around a bit. It was also billed as "The World's First Angry Birds Cable Car Ride!".

I'm not entirely sure if that's a good thing, because the wind rocking was more than enough without someone piffing angry birds at us. But they seemed to think it was a selling point, and who am I to argue, especially when they give me a big Angry Birds cushion to rest on during the trip?

That's about it from me -- now that the well is filled I must get seriously stuck into finishing book number three! In the meantime, because I'm feeling so rested, I'm in the mood to giveaway another copy of In His Eyes. Just tell me a little about your dream vacation and I'll chose a random person to get a signed copy.