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Sunday 10th May - Off to the airport at 8.30am ready for our flight out at 11.30. Great aircraft this was the Airbus A300 loads of space and leg room - a very comfortable flight - probably the best so far (5.30 hours). Flew in over Singapore Harbour where there were dozens of container ships waiting to get in to the harbour. Learnt later that this is one of the busiest ports in the world with 24H operation and up to 800 ships a day being turned round. Never seen so many cranes and containers in one city before. When we landed walked into searing heat and high humidity. Hadn’t realised that Singapore is in the middle of a flu scare (H1N1) so were surprised to be screened for high temperature/fever. No probs so it was on to the shuttle bus along beautiful avenues lined with lush greenery and flowers. The hotel (The Miramar) is centrally placed handy for China Town, Little India and expensive shopping malls - which was really useful!!! Every time we left the air conditioning of the hotel our glasses steamed up due to the high humidity! That evening walked along the bank of the river past
some really good and varied restaurants and bars - somewhere to try tomorrow.
Monday 11th May - 8.30am and we were on the tour bus (which had been booked in UK last August!) for our City Tour. This varied from Bhuddist Temples to modern architecture, from the hustle of Little India to the calm of the Botanic Gardens. We enjoyed the Botanic Gardens so much that we returned later in the day to try and see as much of the 52 hectares as possible. Hours later with weary legs and overwhelmed senses we returned to the hotel for a quick shower before going out for an evening meal. Thought we’d try something a bit different so had a Steam Boat in China Town - a Steam Boat for those who don’t know is a bit like a fondue with chopsticks- also for those who don’t know, Gill & Rod do a very good one in England!
Tuesday 12th May - Free morning so went and did a bit of shopping - would be easy to spend a small fortune in Singapore but managed to curtail our extravagance slightly. In the afternoon had another tour this one to Changi
to see a museum dedicated to the POWs and the people of Singapore during the occupation by Japan. Found this quite distressing and very moving. Both our tour guides gave us the “company line” particularly on political matters. There seems to be very little crime in Singapore maybe because the penalties are so severe if caught - these include huge fines (thousands of dollars), long prison sentences, lashings with a cane and death by hanging! Finished off the evening with a meal in the hotel and entertainment by an Asian girl band in skimpy outfits - Lyn thought they were providing “room service” when she first saw them! This will probably be our last Blog as we catch our flight tomorrow evening back to Heathrow. As we will have some time during the day we hope to get to see Raffles although we will probably not be allowed in as Tony is sure to have his shorts and sandals on!! We will probably end with a river trip around Singapore as we started the holiday with a harbour trip around Auckland so long ago. Huge amount has happened over the last 4 months as you will know from previous Blogs
Old Singapore
Traditional temple doorbut we have had the most fantastic time.
Should arrive back all chilled out with no worries and a ‘See ya mate’ attitude.
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Ian B
non-member comment
one for me.....
So how many usb sticks did you buy me? Have been following your travels with great interest - sounds/looks like you've had an amazing time - so envious ....... are you home monday pm - I could pop in and say Hi!! and pick up the sticks!!