Surrey Hills Thursday

Had an uneventful flight from Singapore to Melbourne. We were upstairs (still in cattle class) in an Airbus, in the 2 seats beside the window. We were late leaving Singapore because the torrential rain meant that the airport staff couldn’t load the plane. Passport control was fast and efficient with the E passport, but the airport is trialling a new method of customs check and the single queue stretched for well over 100 metres. Took ages to get through. 

We were grateful that Laura was at the airport to pick us up and take us home. She didn’t get back home to Frankston South ‘til after midnight.

This holiday was fantastic, a holiday of beautiful, picturesque villages, mountains, canals, cable cars, funicular railways and all sorts of things. It was probably the best holiday we’ve had. It was great seeing Di, Barry and family in Dover, then spending time with Joan and John, both on the canal boat and at their house in France, then catching up briefly with Erich and Ursula in Germany, then Debbie for a meal in London. Such a pity we didn’t have time to spend longer with all of them.

'Til next holiday.

Singapore Tuesday

We had an unhurried breakfast by the window of the hotel, watching people go about their business. Then there was some very heavy rain, but fortunately it didn’t last long and we set off, found the HO HO bus stop just around the corner and went to visit the “Gardens by the Bay”. It is an amazing construction with plants from all over the world. A whole lot of “trees” have been built, with climbing plants growing up the outside. The “trees” have solar panels in the top and collect rain water. The gardens have many environmental innovations that greatly reduce the running costs of the site. There are also 2 conservatories that are managed in such a way that they harvest a lot of moisture from the humid air inside and expel it through the roof, creating a Mediterranean climate. It was beautifully un humid and pleasantly cool in both the Flower House and the Cloud Forest. We thought we’d walk around a bit and move on. We were there for about 2 ½ hours.

Back to the HO HO bus stop for a ride to Clarke Quay for a river cruise. We were told that the wind was too strong and to come back in ½ an hour. What a good excuse to stop in an outdoor bar right beside the river. On a hot, humid day like today, and probably most days, the cold Tiger beer was good.

Went back to the boat and it was all go. We had a very pleasant, peaceful cruise on a traditional looking, electric powered boat, along the Singapore River. The breeze on the moving boat was a little refreshing.

We haven’t been on a cable car for a few weeks, so we jumped on the MRT and went to Sentosa again. Nice high up ride across to the island. Rick wanted to try a Segway and there was an opportunity on Sentosa. Turned out the offer on the Singapore Stopover Holiday Pass was for a 2 minute trial ride. It probably took us close to an hour to get from the boat cruise to the cable car station, across to Sentosa, down escalators, on a monorail train, then a shuttle bus to try the Segway for 2 mins. Not sure that it was very good time value.

Back home via the Sentosa monorail, then the MRT, dropped our stuff and off to the hawker’s food market for a feed. We’re now back in the hotel, finishing the wine we opened last night and getting ready to pack for a 7:30 transfer pick up to the airport. The flight is scheduled to leave at 10:45am. Breakfast at the hotel will be too rushed, so we’ll get something at the airport, it’ll also fill in a bit of time. Thought we’d manage with the cash we had, but we’ve pretty much used it all so it’ll be a card tomorrow.

Laura is picking us from the airport tomorrow night, it’ll be hard going into an empty house and Laura being there will help.

Singapore Monday

Much closer to home than we’d like to be. The flight of around 14 hours is not ideal, but if we want to travel, we don’t have options. Once we’re there, all is fine. Can’t sleep a lot on the plane.

Singapore’s border control process was very efficient and didn’t take long, a complete opposite to what we experienced on the way over to the UK. Once through, we went to the Singapore Stopover Holiday desk and collected our attractions card HO HO Bus info, a couple of sim cards and mini bus transfer details. After a short wait, we were on the bus, out of the heat and humidity and into the same hotel we stayed in on the way over. Couldn’t fault the hotel last time and this time is also looking good. We have a big room on the 14^th floor, overlooking the street. The aircon is running well, we’re just back from a hawker market meal ($3.50 for meat & 2 vegies) and we’ve opened a bottle of Sauv Blanc we tucked in the suitcase before we left London. We’re planning tomorrow’s sightseeing. There are still things we didn’t have time to look at last time.

London Heathrow Sunday

We really didn’t feel like getting up and packing this morning. Last day in London. We left our luggage and checked out. On Jason’s canal boat cruise yesterday, we passed under a bridge with a café. Looked like a good place to have coffee and watch, so we took 2 trains and walked, just to have coffee. Great spot.

We then took another tube train to Oxford Circus to go shopping for a scarf for Laura, in Regent Street. Found the Burberry shop and did the job. Exorbitant but luxurious. Regent Street has some very good looking buildings.

Back on the tube to Leicester Square and a quick visit to The National Portrait Gallery, then a quick trip back to collect our luggage and head to Heathrow where we are now. Euston tube station has some long escalators.

The combination of very slow internet connection, a tedious log on with the lap top and a laptop running out of battery made the time at Heathrow very frustrating and is why this blog is being posted from Singapore on Monday night. 

Meant to add earlier that we saw the prom concert on TV on the night of the day we saw the part rehearsal at the Royal Albert Hall. Sorry Gary.

London Saturday

Last time we were in London, we went on a short narrowboat cruise along the Regent Canal, it was very relaxing and we decided to do it again this morning. Last time, the commentator was a rather strange lady, we think an ex school teacher because she insisted thet we lone up in pairs to board the boat, and made it obvious that she didn’t like anyone talking while she was, and actually stopped until everyone was silent. We had a laugh over that. This time we had a guy with personality and very good knowledge and he made the commentary interesting. The boat trip went from Little Venice to Camden Lock.

We found a pub with tables beside the canal and had a good coffee. We walked to the nearest tube station and were surprised at how touristy and kitschy the main street, away from the canal, was. Good deed for the day, we helped a couple with their suitcase down 80 or so spiral steps to the platform, saving them walking a fair way to a station that had a lift. The man used a crutch so wasn’t able to help with the case.

Took the train to Kings Cross and then walked to the London Canal Museum. This time we checked on opening times. Last time we went to the museum on the day it was closed. The museum was reasonably interesting, but, from our point of view, not worth visiting again.

We then caught a bus to Aldwych to visit the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden. We decided to have coffee first and found a café with outdoor seating. It was about 4 ish and we looked at the menu for a light nibble. Baked camembert with rosemary, figs, whole garlic, nuts, dips and toasted bread sticks was not a light nibble, but it tasted great. (We’ve bought a light salad to eat in our room tonight, along with a bottle of French Sav Blanc).

The museum was quite informative, but we (read Rick) were expecting to see more vehicles. There were some very well restored buses and interesting history of transport development. We walked around Covent Garden, which, not unsurprisingly, has changed in 30 years, then found a bus back to Euston, where we’re staying. Traffic today, Saturday, was comparatively light, and it was more efficient to use the bus rather than the tube with a change part way.

Sad to think that tomorrow morning we check out and have our last day in London. Our flight tomorrow is around 8pm, so we need to be at Heathrow around 5pm and pick up our luggage and leave Euston around 4pm.

London Friday

We planned a busy day again today. Our first stop was Wellington Arch, just near Hyde Park Corner. We found out that there was a bus that went from near Euston Station, near us, and stopped at Hyde Park Corner, so we thought that’s efficient. We hadn’t allowed for the traffic along Oxford Street. We could probably have got there just as fast by using the tube, changing trains and walking 500 metres, but we did sit upstairs at the front of the bus, all good fun. The Wellington Arch had a basic exhibition of Wellington and Napoleon’s battles.

Back on the same bus route for a few stops to the Royal Albert Hall. When we were planning today’s activities, we almost crossed this visit off the list. So glad we didn’t. The visit has been the best so far in London. We arrived there 5 minutes before the next tour and had a great guide with lots of personality. We got to sit in some of the most expensive seats in the Hall, right next to the Royal Box. When the hall was being built, seats and boxes were sold as a means of raising the funds to build the Hall. Queen Victoria bought 2 boxes, which were built as one large box and as the sales were for a 999 year lease, the box is now owned by the current Queen. There are many seats that are still privately owned. The owners get to use the seats for 60% of the performances at the Royal Albert Hall. When we were there, there was a rehearsal for one of the “Proms” concert tonight. Tom Jones, amongst many other great performers, had his solo spot as part of the finale. He still has an unmistakable, strong voice. Photos not allowed, but once the performers were off the stage, we were allowed to take a couple of quick photos.

We then walked back to the tube station to go to Westminster to visit Churchill’s War Rooms, the extensive underground rooms used during the 2^nd world war. It was a fantastic display with a very good audio guide. Some of the rooms were just as they were left and others have been carefully reconstructed.

When we left, it was around 5:15 and we were ready to go home. There are washing & drying machines where we’re staying, so we’re catching up at the moment and won’t need to wash again ‘til we get home. So soon!

London Thursday

After managing to use the narrowest bathroom we’ve seen, with a toilet set in a position that required anyone except a midget to sit at a 45 degree angle to allow room for legs, and using our kitchen cupboard to prepare our simple breakfast, we headed off to Euston tube station to begin our day of sight seeing. First stop with our London Pass was the London Tower Experience. So glad we didn’t pay the 28 Pounds per head that we would have paid if we didn’t have the London Pass. We thought there would be more detailed history of the bridges and life than there was. Most of it was set up to scare the visitors (kids), walking through tombs with things jumping out at you and strange noises, bangs, gunshots etc. After surviving the hour, we decided it was time for coffee before Rick climbed the 311 steps up the Monument to the Great Fire of London, built in 1677. It is supposed to be the largest free standing stone column in the world. Views were pretty good.

Next was a walk around to Tower Bridge and the exhibition. We both walked along the glass floors along the upper walkways. Interesting exhibition of famous/notable bridges from around the world and we saw the original steam engines that operated the bascules (the decks that pivot up to let tall boats through). The mechanisms have been designed to fully lift the bascules in 90 seconds.

From there it was a short walk along the river to the HMS Belfast. The ship was launched in 1938 and has been involved in many wars and battles. In 1967, the ship was planned to be scrapped but this was averted when the private HMS Belfast Trust was formed to campaign for her preservation. The efforts of the Trust were successful, and the government transferred the ship to the Trust in July 1971. She became a branch of the Imperial War Museum in 1978. We were lucky to see Tower Bridge open to let a tall masted boat come through.

After that, we made our way to the Royal Festival Hall to meet Debbie and have dinner with her. As usual it was fun and it was such a pity that we couldn’t spend much more time with her. She updated us with news of her 5 birds of prey, an owl, 2 falcons and 2 kites. 

Dinner was over too soon and we used the tube to get back to our lodgings in Euston.