Thailand Trip Part 4: Singapore

Singapore was great.

We went shopping… well window shopping… along Orchard Road, visited Sentosa Island via the cable car, visited Little India for dinner, caught up with an old friend (Dean Banks) and then had an ‘interesting’ experience at Changi Airport.

We stayed at the SDA Union Mission Transit apartments on Thompson Rd and that was really nice and handy to transport.

Thursday was Sentosa Island day. After catching the train we decided to get a package deal (wouldn’t do that again!) but the first thing was the cable car that left from the 15^th story. I was very proud of Mazz as she faced her fear of heights to help her family enjoy the trip. She did have to face the back of the lift as the other side was glass and she didn’t want to go on the glass bottom cable car!

We went to Underwater world-which the girls thought looked "like Salamaua reef".

Outside Underwater World there were some wild monkeys that had it all worked out... There was a tourist who saw a 'cute little baby monkey' and decided that the signs saying "DONT FEED the ANIMALS" didn't apply to this little guy... as soon as the food was handed over this troop of well organised monkeys charged out of the bush across the road, ripped the food from the young monkey and attacked the tourist who fled! Here is the 'Boss Monkey' eating his rewards.

We went down to the beach on the chairlift. (Mazz faced more fears!)

The girls and I swam over to the little island that was supposed to be the “Most Southerly Point of the Asian Mainland”. In reality it was a small island off the coast of a slightly larger one (Sentosa) off the coast of an even larger island (Singapore). I think the real ‘southerly point’ would be mixed up in the mangrove forests and mud flats between Malaysia and Singapore.

We watched the pink dolphin show but it doesn’t compare to the dolphin show at Sea World on the Gold Coast where Jenaya got to pat a Dolphin. Plus it was very hot and our legs were aching and we were at the back of the crowd… hahaha

We (well Mazz) waited for 45 minutes for the 3-D log ride spectacular-which was slightly amusing as the sign kept doing a countdown of “Ride starting in 15 minutes…every 15 minutes! I think it was worth it though.

Back via the Cable car where I saw the fastest printed “Photo memories” in all our travels. At nearly all the tourist spots that we visited there are photographers that take a photo in front of a green screen, add the various attractions (tigers, elephants, monkeys, river cruise, underwater creatures, dolphins, etc) then ask you to pay up… This lady took our photo where we all were showing how ‘stuffed’ we were after walking around Sentosa all day and as there were no people waiting for the Cable car we walked straight on the next one there-before the doors closed she was pushing this photo frame on us. We politely said “No thanks” but I wonder what would have happened if I had said yes and then fumbled with my change… stopped the whole system?

Little India (via a bus trip through town) for Dinner was a feast of northern Indian/ Nepalese food. Then finally back to Transit flats to sleep.

Friday we went into Orchard road and were amazed at all the Gucci, Tiffany, Rolex, Chloe, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Versace, Dolce & Gabbana, etc, etc.

It was just fun to walk along and check out the beautiful items for sale… at least I think they were for sale as I didn’t see a price tag… but like they say “If you have to ask the price you really shouldn’t be there!”

we decided to get this picture because of Tiffany (Marilyn's niece and Jenaya's 'favourite person in the world')

After all that walking we decided to all get a foot massage.

In the late afternoon we met Dean Banks and talked and had dinner at his place. Dean and I went to get it at a food court at the local shopping centre that I could have eaten for a month and not tried everything!

We headed off to the Airport at around 9 for a 11:30 pm flight.

Etihad had some ‘issues’. We sat on the tarmac in the plane for three hours! They then said we had to get off and we had to go through customs again… (place of arrival on the entry card was interesting) went to a Hotel and waited in lines again. Into our suite at the Traders Hotel at 4:30 am!

I was having some issues with my heart (some episodes of Tachycardia) I slept all morning while Mazz packed up and got the girls fed at the buffet downstairs. She rang to wake me up but I didn’t even hear the phone!

Back on the bus to the airport and after a wait at the fern garden we actually took off at 5:15 pm. Everyone cheered!

Arrived Brisbane at 2:30am, through customs etc. camped out at arrivals till around 5 am as we told Peta (sister) and Jaco not to pick us up till 5 (didn’t want to disturb their sleep too!)

Had a little sleep at their place then headed into Royal Brisbane Hospital to get my heart checked out.