6 Week Gap Year

27 October

Orchid in Singapore Botanical Gardens

Had to get charger for Walkman as battery almost dead. Did I mention I bought these new headphones that go right inside your ear? That is, right inside and down in to your ear canal. Strange feeling to begin with and cuts out ALL external noise. Apparently they are best sellers with teenagers living at home! And the sound is phenomenal. Went to Sony gallery at Isita tower Orchard Road, arrive 9.30. Don’t open til 11. Advised to try Concord shopping mall, Sony gallery there as well. Opens at 10. Bought supreme Mizuno trainers from Mizuno store and smelly lavender trainer ball inserts total sg$72. Cool
Got my charger and rushed back to MRT Orchard Road. MRT Ez-link card was used up and had to charge it with $10. Just made hotel checkout time 12.00. Left for airport and used MRT to use up fare card, but trip to Changi airport only S$1.90! If anyone going to Singapore soon you can buy my MRT card.
Got early check in but no upgrades available. The Premier Economy Qantas operate on their planes is not for the likes of BA Exec club members but for their frequent flyer members. Wandered about Changi airport which is huge but clean. So for the weary traveller we have massage, aromatherapy, swimming, sauna, hotel rooms by the 6 hours, the Cactus Garden, Harry’s Bar on the roof where you can watch the planes and sit near the smokers who are banished from the terminal. Very funny because the have to sit in a specific area surrounded by a sort of pergola which has spray misters which ( no not men with garden sprayers ) puff cool water in, around and on the smokers. Can’t workout if it’s to dampen cigarette smoke or some sort of inexpensive aversion therapy for those without the will power! The terminal has laptop work areas where you plug in, recharge and log on. There are quiet areas with lovely relaxer chairs and even ones that will gently massage you! More restaurants than you could possibly eat in over a week and food from every and anywhere. Really splashed out and had a cup of Chinese tea. Boarded Qantas 767 QF144 on time.
Turned out for the good not being upgraded because sat next to lovely young Indonesian woman called Erdina who was having short break from work in Singapore and visiting friends in Bali. She gave me loads of info and help re Bali and contact details of friend who runs travel co. So will try contact them and get a trip or two I would like.
Arrive Bali and pay for privilege of entering. Exchange rate is IndoRupiah17,000 to £1 (just so you know, I’m a millionaire) Collected by driver for the resort from airport and endured hair raising drive back to Royal Bali Beach Club, Jimbaran Bay. Windows steamed up as too cold in car and 30c outside with 85% humidity. He forgot to turn his lights on until we were on main dual carriageway and I gently asked if it was prudent to turn them on. Didn’t get much better as he made a scooter swerve off road into ditch as he overtook it and squeezed us between oncoming traffic and scooters where oncoming all had to stop. Then he informed me he was a travel and tour company driver. Make mental note to avoid them. Receptionist, Radek, extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Apartment……..WOW Simple Balinese style incorporating intricate carvings , Incense burners , mozzie repellent burners tea lights round bath and probably other stuff I’m too tired to see at moment. Drone on some more at you all tomorrow.
Thought I might finish each country visit with some thoughts that probably didn’t get included but help give a conclusion to the experience.
Singapore govt is bringing in gambling by way of super casinos in Las Vegas style. Where have I heard that before. They have just licensed the first topless dancing club which is right by the Novotel by Clarke Quay (Jock ‘ll be ok) but only found that out last night when too late to investigate (from a purely journalistic point of view of course) Govt also providing huge incentive to foreign investors and banks to encourage setting up of Asia Headquarters thus increasing Sg influence as good invest risk and serious world finance centre. Expect them to succeed.
Sometimes you hear about people going native in the their adoptive country. Not sure how that could be possible in Sgp
as too many cultures in the mix, any way you’d probably explode trying to eat your way to inclusion! Oh and by the way (BTW) Cadburys chocolate does NOT, no way and in any possible way taste like Cadburys chocolate in UK.
Helpful traveller’s tip #1: take Cadburys choc rations with you. (or stay at home, whichever is cheaper).
Helpful travellers tip #2: Mozzies are more prevalent than the guides and books and other visitors tell you. Use repellant and those electric tablet burner thingies in your room, apartment, suite, whatever.
Helpful travellers tip #3: if mobile phones stuck to ears or ringing incessantly with strange tones (ring ring pick up de telephone ding ding bing bing) in London or your town annoy you, stay away from Sg. You will cause harm to someone eventually.
Will most definitely visit again, even if as couple of days stopover. Would recommend it to everybody. I commend this destination to the Blog audience.
Singapore is everything anybody ever tells you about it and a whole lot more. The heat and the humidity can be truly oppressive, especially in the build up to thunderstorms. Air conditioning is essential. Smells are every where, food, cooking, spices, bad drains, sweaty bodies, exotic perfumes in the shopping malls, diesel fumes, smog from forest fires in Malaysia, dust from building works, incense in the markets, coffee, grass but most memorably ……………….. Orchids.