If you follow my facebook page you’ll
already know this, but not everyone does *grin*. We arrived back at 12.15am the
Monday before Easter, having survived two long days of travelling combined with
funny tummies and stack-loads of hyper children on our night flight from
Singapore to Brisbane.
already know this, but not everyone does *grin*. We arrived back at 12.15am the
Monday before Easter, having survived two long days of travelling combined with
funny tummies and stack-loads of hyper children on our night flight from
Singapore to Brisbane.
The trip was f-a-n-t-a-s-t-i-c!
After been worried it might not even happen
it felt positively dreamlike to step out of the doors of Changi Airport into
the steamy, heavy heat of Singapore. We stared at each other in astonishment at
what felt like such a strange sensation, as if we’d just stepped into a
steam-room in a spa and shut the door tight. I didn’t find it oppressive, like
many people warned we might, and my hair didn’t go haywire. But as it’s
entirely white now it tends to buck the norm, the wiry texture handles
anything.
it felt positively dreamlike to step out of the doors of Changi Airport into
the steamy, heavy heat of Singapore. We stared at each other in astonishment at
what felt like such a strange sensation, as if we’d just stepped into a
steam-room in a spa and shut the door tight. I didn’t find it oppressive, like
many people warned we might, and my hair didn’t go haywire. But as it’s
entirely white now it tends to buck the norm, the wiry texture handles
anything.
We grabbed a cab and zoomed off to our hotel,
both of us staring out the windows.
both of us staring out the windows.
Singapore is a living city, like nothing I
could have imagined. There is the constant sound of building and the
skyscrapers are all SO high! But what made us both gape was the amount of
greenery. Everywhere possible, and in many places I wouldn’t have thought
possible, they had plants growing! Even full size palm trees twenty stories up
a building.
could have imagined. There is the constant sound of building and the
skyscrapers are all SO high! But what made us both gape was the amount of
greenery. Everywhere possible, and in many places I wouldn’t have thought
possible, they had plants growing! Even full size palm trees twenty stories up
a building.
(those are real palms!!)
We’d booked into the Holiday Inn Atrium, as
it was as close as we could get to where our friends (the bride and groom to
be) were staying. It was cheaper and only rated three stars so we weren’t
expecting anything too flash.
it was as close as we could get to where our friends (the bride and groom to
be) were staying. It was cheaper and only rated three stars so we weren’t
expecting anything too flash.
(looking up in our hotel lobby)
Holy wow were we wrong!
The hotel was gorgeous and the staff went
out of their way to be helpful. We loved staying there and I’d stay there
again. The only downside was the bizarrely enormous kingside bed that felt like
you were sleeping on a thin foam mattress over solid wood. Just a tad hard ;p
and so big we could both stretch out spread eagle and barely touch hands.
out of their way to be helpful. We loved staying there and I’d stay there
again. The only downside was the bizarrely enormous kingside bed that felt like
you were sleeping on a thin foam mattress over solid wood. Just a tad hard ;p
and so big we could both stretch out spread eagle and barely touch hands.
That said, we were so busy during our week
in Singapore we barely saw our room. Even though Singapore hours are fairly
late (everything opens between 10-11am and closes between 7-9pm) we were up by
7am each day and off. We discovered a Hawkers market just five minutes down the
road and that’s where we ate breakfast most days. Hawkers markets are
fantastically cheap and the food is just amazing. For Glenn and I to enjoy a
good hearty breakfast with some freshly made juices on the side it would cost
between $9 and $12 dollars for both of us! We quickly found our favourites, the
crispy edged pork, delicious fried rice and vegetables and of course, fried
carrot cake. Which curiously enough doesn’t actually contain carrot but instead
a white radish.
in Singapore we barely saw our room. Even though Singapore hours are fairly
late (everything opens between 10-11am and closes between 7-9pm) we were up by
7am each day and off. We discovered a Hawkers market just five minutes down the
road and that’s where we ate breakfast most days. Hawkers markets are
fantastically cheap and the food is just amazing. For Glenn and I to enjoy a
good hearty breakfast with some freshly made juices on the side it would cost
between $9 and $12 dollars for both of us! We quickly found our favourites, the
crispy edged pork, delicious fried rice and vegetables and of course, fried
carrot cake. Which curiously enough doesn’t actually contain carrot but instead
a white radish.
(fried carrot cake with prawns)
The coffee I only discovered the day before
we left for Langkawi (*sob*). It is YUM! They create it like filter coffee in
tall, tall metal jugs with long skinny spouts. Once it has dripped through they
pour it briskly from one jug to another, back and forth, till it becomes
frothy. Then a generous spoon of sweetened condensed milk is plopped into a
mug, the steaming frothy coffee poured over it and then boiling water to top it
up. Utterly delicious.
we left for Langkawi (*sob*). It is YUM! They create it like filter coffee in
tall, tall metal jugs with long skinny spouts. Once it has dripped through they
pour it briskly from one jug to another, back and forth, till it becomes
frothy. Then a generous spoon of sweetened condensed milk is plopped into a
mug, the steaming frothy coffee poured over it and then boiling water to top it
up. Utterly delicious.
(the two glasshouses)
During the days we explored the city and
visited some tourist spots. Garden by the Bays is awe inspiring with its two
enormous conservatories, one housing a mountain of orchards with a dramatic
waterfall and the other showcasing gardens from around the world. Then it was
outdoors to the stylised treetop walk.
visited some tourist spots. Garden by the Bays is awe inspiring with its two
enormous conservatories, one housing a mountain of orchards with a dramatic
waterfall and the other showcasing gardens from around the world. Then it was
outdoors to the stylised treetop walk.
(Glenn in front of the falls)
(the other side of the ‘mountain’)
We tried out the Singapore flyer (ferris
wheel) which goes so slowly that from a distance I was certain it wasn’t
running. It did provide fantastic views but made us regret not going up to the
top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Still, if we’d gone up it we wouldn’t have
such fantastic photos of it.
wheel) which goes so slowly that from a distance I was certain it wasn’t
running. It did provide fantastic views but made us regret not going up to the
top of the Marina Bay Sands hotel. Still, if we’d gone up it we wouldn’t have
such fantastic photos of it.
(Singapore Flyer)
(Marina Bay Sands hotel)
Beneath the hotel is a mall (there are
malls EVERYWHERE in Singapore!) with such expensive items that the shop doors
are kept shut. If you want to enter you indicate to the person standing on duty
(wearing gloves) on the inside. It was bizarre but fascinating! We saw watches
worth more than our house and watched a gondola glide along the shallow canal
on the bottom floor.
malls EVERYWHERE in Singapore!) with such expensive items that the shop doors
are kept shut. If you want to enter you indicate to the person standing on duty
(wearing gloves) on the inside. It was bizarre but fascinating! We saw watches
worth more than our house and watched a gondola glide along the shallow canal
on the bottom floor.
(Chinatown stall)
China Town was exciting to visit, full of
noise, colours, and fantastic smells. We bought a bunch of gifts for people
there then spent hours wandering about. It was fun to get past the really
touristy areas into the darker and gritty areas. I discovered bubble tea in
China town, a cold tea drink with pearls of tapioca in the bottom and floating
agar agar jelly. I loved it (Glenn found the texture off-putting so stuck to
the pearl free drinks) and bought it everywhere I could.
noise, colours, and fantastic smells. We bought a bunch of gifts for people
there then spent hours wandering about. It was fun to get past the really
touristy areas into the darker and gritty areas. I discovered bubble tea in
China town, a cold tea drink with pearls of tapioca in the bottom and floating
agar agar jelly. I loved it (Glenn found the texture off-putting so stuck to
the pearl free drinks) and bought it everywhere I could.
(bubble tea)
Universal studios was a fun day out and our
last ride was the Jurassic Park river ride. We rode it with our friends and somehow
they stayed dry while both Glenn and I got soaked through *lol*.
last ride was the Jurassic Park river ride. We rode it with our friends and somehow
they stayed dry while both Glenn and I got soaked through *lol*.
(both soaked through to the skin… oops)
The week in Singapore felt long, we
managed to cram heaps in. Then it was off to Langkawi, a little island that’s
part of Malaysia, for a week of relaxing and of course, the wedding! And before
anyone asks, no we didn’t elope ;p
managed to cram heaps in. Then it was off to Langkawi, a little island that’s
part of Malaysia, for a week of relaxing and of course, the wedding! And before
anyone asks, no we didn’t elope ;p
(hello pool bar!)
The resort in Langkawi was four stars and
fabulous. With the best buffet breakfast ever (and included in the special
price we got – WOO!) and, finally, a gorgeously soft bed! I actually had to
succumb to a nana nap on the first day. We saw monkeys on the first day, a
large family moving about and then not again for three days which left everyone
teasing us, saying we’d made it up (note to self, the best camera is the one
you HAVE…). But we showed them later on *grin*
fabulous. With the best buffet breakfast ever (and included in the special
price we got – WOO!) and, finally, a gorgeously soft bed! I actually had to
succumb to a nana nap on the first day. We saw monkeys on the first day, a
large family moving about and then not again for three days which left everyone
teasing us, saying we’d made it up (note to self, the best camera is the one
you HAVE…). But we showed them later on *grin*
(hello monkey!)
The resort was perfect for relaxing at,
with four swimming pools and a poolside bar in the infinity pool. We did a
couple of day trips into town for some more shopping and then it was the
wedding! It was funny when it finally arrived, realising this was reason we’d
actually come. The weather was perfect and the rain very politely held off till
the beach side reception was done. Then in true island style it hosed down
accompanied by thunder and lightning. The wedding itself was held at the end of
the pier and was just beautiful. Not surprisingly it was a very late night that
day!
with four swimming pools and a poolside bar in the infinity pool. We did a
couple of day trips into town for some more shopping and then it was the
wedding! It was funny when it finally arrived, realising this was reason we’d
actually come. The weather was perfect and the rain very politely held off till
the beach side reception was done. Then in true island style it hosed down
accompanied by thunder and lightning. The wedding itself was held at the end of
the pier and was just beautiful. Not surprisingly it was a very late night that
day!
After that it was some more resting time at
the resort then off to the cable car. Which just happens to be the steepest
cable car in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m not the best with heights but was
fairly confident I’d be fine. Then there was a whole heap of deep breathing as
this thing just went higher and higher! It was amazing to do but I don’t know
if I’d be brave enough to do it again. Especially as coming down felt even freakier.
the resort then off to the cable car. Which just happens to be the steepest
cable car in the Southern Hemisphere. I’m not the best with heights but was
fairly confident I’d be fine. Then there was a whole heap of deep breathing as
this thing just went higher and higher! It was amazing to do but I don’t know
if I’d be brave enough to do it again. Especially as coming down felt even freakier.
(totally not freaking out.. hence Glenn’s amused expression ;p)
Getting home to Wellington and its 15-20°c
temperatures after the steamy hot 30-40°c days we’d quickly adjusted to was a
wee bit of a shock *lol* and possibly why I’m still shaking off a cold I woke
up with last week.
temperatures after the steamy hot 30-40°c days we’d quickly adjusted to was a
wee bit of a shock *lol* and possibly why I’m still shaking off a cold I woke
up with last week.
It is fabulous to be home and though it may
take us a while to pay back everything, I’m so so glad we did it. Getting to
see our friends married and getting to experience such different ways of life
has been so inspiring. Now I have no reason not to get stuck into the draft.
take us a while to pay back everything, I’m so so glad we did it. Getting to
see our friends married and getting to experience such different ways of life
has been so inspiring. Now I have no reason not to get stuck into the draft.
Hoping you are all well!
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