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Singapore
Temple in Chinatown Yet again another mission border crossing !! They make it sound so simple in the guide books..... WRONG !!!
We flew from Borneo back into Johor Baru in Southern Malaysia, and made our way down to the border on a bus. Where we then had to wait an hour for another one, then get off at the check point with all our stuff, then go through immigration and customs, then get on another bus to take us over the causeway and into Singapore. Then get off the bus and go through immigration again, then get stopped and quizzed about how much we enjoyed our stay in Malaysia, then head down to wait for another bus which would then take us into the city where we were going to catch the tube to the airport !!!! Phew ! This whole escapade took us about 6 hours, for a 1 hour bus journey !! We will not miss Asia border crossings, that is for sure !
Mum and dad weren't actually due to arrive until early the following morning, but we'd read that Singapore airport is super dooper and with amazing facilities, so we decided that rather than paying for a nights
Mumma Norm and Nath !
This was taken in a bar/restaurant across from the hotel that soon became our local ! Was right by the river, and did yummy breakfasts !! accommodation, we'd tramp it up in the airport for the night until they arrived !! However once we'd arrived there, I soon realised I wasnt sure which terminal they were coming into....which was then followed by the realisation the only comfy areas and showers promised to us by the guide book were on the departure side of the airport. Where we were not. Bummer ! Due to our stressful day of hot and sticky border crossings and bus journeys, we justifed a meal of maccy d's and found ourselves a spot on the airport's cold, hard marble floor where we set up camp for the night ! It actually wasn't that bad, we spread out our beach mat, wrapped ourselves up in sleep sheets, padlocked our belongings to ourselves and got us some shut eye !
We woke up to sunlight blaring through the floor to ceiling windows and surrounded by hundreds of people milling about, with just enough time to have a wet wipe wash, brush our teeth and hot foot it over to the gate (we hoped) mum and dad would be arriving at. The only problem was they didn't know we were going to be there, as
I wanted to surprise them, and the arrivals area is sectioned off by a long clear glass.... So there was me eagerly waiting in anticipation for the familiar sight of my dad striding along with mum trotting away behind, safely out of sight behind a nearby pillar, whilst Nath sat clearly and plainly in view adament there was no way they would see him. So within a couple seconds of them coming into sight to pick up their bags, what happens ?! They saw him !! Shocking.
Anyway, this was all quickly forgotten amongst excited hugs and squeals whilst Nath and Dad gathered us and bags up and followed the little guy out towards the transfer to the hotel. Yep, a hotel !! and we were being taken there in a hotel taxi rather than on the smelly bus, and when we arrived at the hotel another little guy came out and took our bags for us !! Brilliant.
Poor mum and dad were pretty tired from their long haul flight, although did their best to keep up with my excited babble ! We had been given adjoining rooms too so there was no escape !
We did all
Out for dinner with the folks !
This was on Clarkes quay somewhere, really nice Indian restaurant. Suddenly we were eating proper food !! manage to collect ourselves and get out that afternoon to check out Singapore, however we'd obviously without realising gotten used to and become acclimatised to the SE Asian weather over these past few months, and weren't that bothered by the humidity, whereas mum and dad were hit by it straight away !
The next four days with them totally flew by, and were so lovely. We spent some time wandering around Singapore which really is as clinical and clean as everyone says it is ! I did like it though. Was actually quite refreshing to be somewhere so clean and litter free after the past few weeks in Malaysia. We wandered round various parts of the city, visited Chinatown and the quays, had some great food, we also became regulars in the restaurant just over the river from the hotel where we ended up going each morning for a delicious brekkie ! We rode the chairlift over to Sentosa island one afternoon which is an odd, purpose built resort type place complete with beaches and attractions and hotels, and scrubbed up and visited the famous Raffles where mum and I slurped down a Singapore sling each, yum !!
The
Outside The Raffles hotel daahling !
There is a strict dress code just to get in the door here, Nath & I dug deep into our backpacks and just about managed to scrub up alright !! best place though was the Night Safari, we got there after dark and went round the park on a shuttle type thing, and saw the most amazing animals, and so close up to them too !! You can get off the shuttle at various points and walk through some of the enclosures, which we did and managed to see some really cool stuff ! Was a really well done place, the animals had masses of space and was only open for those few hours in the evening so they were all left alone during the day.
I couldn't believe where the time had gone when it came to us leaving mum and dad at the hotel to catch our flight to Sydney. It had been so nice spending time with them both, I'd looked forward to those few days for weeks ! Turned out to be much harder saying good bye the second time round, I was in bits for hours ! Poor Nath.....!!
We arrived in Sydney early the next morning and took a train straight to Circular Quay where we could catch a ferry over to Manly and hopefully meet up with Lee (a school friend
The foyer in Raffles
This place was pretty darn impressive. A lot like the one we stayed in in Malaysia ! But more expensive.... of ours) later on that day. After the super expensive train journey which was only about 15 mins, we arrived at Circular Quay, right by the harbour bridge. Actually felt really nice to me to be back somewhere so familiar !
Although the next ferry was only in a few minutes, I insisted on dragging Nath round the corner to catch his first glimpse of the Opera house, backpack n all ! At least the temperature wasn't anything like Asia, it was much more comfortable, and we could breathe !
After arriving in Manly and finally settling on the cheapest hostel we could find (which actually wasn't cheap at all !) we met up with Lee ! Was really good to see him and catch up, soon enough we were in the trendy Wharf bar (which is a bit like the Imperial but with dress sense....!) having a good Aussie beer ! After 5 months of travelling through SE Asia not worrying about the clothes we had on further than doing our best to clean them as often as we could, we were now surrounded by beautiful people wearing beautiful clothes ! And suddenly I felt extremely self-conscious !
Singapore Sling anyone ?!
Mum and I with our posh cocktails in the Sarkies bar in Raffles where this famous tipple was first served. The bar itself was really cool too, wtih monkey nuts and their shells all over the place ! Was a great bar though, with a deck out over the water and a great view.
We met some of Lee's friends and his girlfriend Jennee came down too, who offered us a room in her place ! We were so thankful, as hadn't expected the hostels to be so expensive and with our dwindling pennies were beginning to think we'd have to cut our Sydney stay even shorter. Thanks to Jen though and her accommodating housemates, we were able to stay for a week, and during that time they took us out n about and showed us the sights ! Nath instantly fell in love with the place, Manly really is such a lovely place with a gorgeous beach and you're so close to both the city and tons of other beautiful beaches. Including Palm beach where Lee took us one day, otherwise known as Summer Bay from Home and Away !
We took the ferry over to the city a couple of times too and wandered around, was good remembering all the places I'd visited before and showing Nath my favourites !
Obviously our stay wouldn't have been complete without a night out ! So with Jennee's
Me and my dad
Taken in our local across the river ! help (and GHD's!) I managed to make myself look relatively presentable, Nath managed to get into a pair of Lee's jeans and shoes, and we hit Manly's hotspots ! Had a great night, dancing around to a live band, Nath pulling out his usual moves (!) and Lee showing us his new ones ! haha ! Was brilliant. Both of us were really sad to say goodbye to the two of them at the end of the week, we had such a great time ! The weather had been sunny and warm all week too, something else we knew we'd be leaving behind for New Zealand.....
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Hi ya,Good 2 c u both again via travelblog.Doesn't look like u wanna cum home!!! haha Love u lots louise xxxx