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Long Calgary Layover
Bob catching up on some zzz's.Greetings from Asia!
Bob and I arrived here safely on the 7th of May after a very long journey (28 hours all told). Didn't get much sleep before leaving as we were so excited and doing last minute packing. The layover in Calary was 6 hours. We walked laps and napped to pass the time. Our flight from Calgary to Tokyo was ~ 11 hours; great staff and food and entertainment. Not much sleep to be had. Just too excited. The Narita airport in Japan was ever so cool. Shopping like you wouldn't believe and so many modern concepts; like toilets with a variety of buttons for options like a bum shower (like a bidet but different). So cool. And the most accessible bathrooms imaginable (the OT in me) with beds to even assist an adult on. Shower areas and sleeping areas. Very clean and new. Our last leg (Tokyo to Singapore) of 6.5 hours was trying. I was beyond overtired and had a meltdown. The plane was not even close to full and vitually all of first class was empty. I asked if we could sit there and was turned down. Our seats were the first row behind first
Hi-Tech Japanese Toilet
Has a seat warmer, bidet, Ipod dock, etc...OK just kidding about the Ipod dock. class so it was quite the tease. Lots of legroom though on the bulkhead. Didn't realize we had our own little individual tv's under our seats until we were descending. What a rip!! I hardly slept at all so it was a long flight. Arrived into the sultry heat of Singapore at 11:30 pm and taxied to our hotel at Mt Emily in the Little India district of the city. Got a bit but not a full night's sleep. It took me a few days to get my head into a regular day-night cycle. Bob seemed to get into it right away.
Breakfast was included with our room and after that we dove right in to figuring out the rapid transit and bus system. Went for an amazing 12 km hike at MacRitchie Reservoir, a beautifully treed natural path system circling a huge reservoir teeming with bird and wildlife. Many active enthusiasts running, hiking and kayaking in the area. There's also a tree-top canopy suspension bridge that we walked across. The sounds you hear as walking through and the lushness of your surroundings make you forget how bloody hot you are. I think I sweated more that day than
I do in a year back home. Lots of water consumed to prevent dehydration. Met a few people on the way through including a family of ~ 10 monkeys. You could totally tell the hierarchy of the family based on their size and the way they carried on. I could've watched them all day!!!! As we were nearing the end of our hike, the sky became dark and just after we jumped on the bus, it started to POUR!! We stayed at the bus/train interchange for a bite to eat to wait out the storm. I have never before heard thunder crack louder than that! We ate at a Hawker stall. Its like a foodcourt in a mall but it is outside but canopied. You can choose anything at all to eat and they bring you beverages. I tried a local specialty called 'Laksa'. Kind of a fishy soup with tofu and noodles. It was different. After our train ride back, the rain stopped. Back to our room for a nap that was supposed to be only an hour but turned into 4 (!!) and went walking down 'Orchard Road' a shopping district; very chic and hip - all lit
Monkey Family
Two babies playing on the hiking path. up and many others out walking.
Singapore is a very lush, clean, and beautiful city vibrant and alive with young people. It's a little more expensive than other cities in SouthEast Asia; still affordable by Western standards. We enjoyed a very interesting walk around Little India in the morning before going to the airport for our flight out to Thailand. We will be back to this wonderful city at the end of the trip to enjoy a few days before our return to Canada.
Loving the heat and humidity! My hair is taking on a whole new look (lots of body and wave) and my skin is looking terrific even if I am going through clothes (sweating) like crazy!!!
Bob and Pam
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A/ Hilda
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How good to hear from you!
What a treat to read your Blog this Saturday a.m. Things are quiet so far today. But I am just getting started with my tea and a banana! Had lunch with Ron and James yesterday at Red Lobster. It was quite good. But nothing compared to what you have been having on your trip. Your descriptions are so vivid. I am delighted to read them and have passed them on to the family, who have also enjoyed them. Take good care both of you. Love you and miss you. xxxxxx oooooo!!!!!