Singapore 2

So today, I totally slept in!!  Woke up at about 10 to 10 with a fright.  I was worried I might have missed breakfast, so I scrambled to dress and raced downstairs within 5 minutes.  It must've been obvious I just got out of bed, cos I had a few odd looks.  When I looked in a mirror I wasn't sure who was looking back at me!  Needless to say, I didn't miss breakfast.  I had had big plans for today.  I'd planned to go to the old botanic gardens and Sentosa Island.  By the time I went back to the room, showered and spoke to Ken and Mitch it was midday.  I decided to forego the gardens & caught a cab to Sentosa! 

It really did feel like a holiday destination/resort over there.  So much to do on Sentosa and I didn't think I would have enough time to see everything that I did.  First things first though, after having a quick look at the map, was the Aquarium.  OMG, that aquarium is amazing.  It goes on and on and on.  The displays are incredible and it really must be seen to be fully appreciated.  You could lose yourself in there for half a day I reckon, but I didn't have that long, so I moved through at a good pace, but made sure I saw everything. 

When I got out I seriously considered going to Universal Studios and probably would've gone if I had Emily with me, but as it turns out I got to see most of Sentosa instead.  I walked a long way this afternoon and my feet didn't let me forget it!  I saw the Merlion, but didn't go inside or up to the viewing platform and I went up to the lookout (where the cable car leaves), and I walked to the beaches.  First beach was Siloso.  Lots of beach bars, beach volleyball courts and a mega zip adventure park (giant flying fox).  Next stop was Palawan Beach.  Much of the same with a bridge walkway over to the southernmost point of Continental Asia.

By now, time was running short so I made my way back to Imbiah Lookout, where the cable car goes.  Whilst walking back I saw a man with a baboon.  He was making the baboon do things like, sit, lie down, stand up, etc using peanuts as treats.  Someone asked for a photo with the baboon so I jumped on the bandwagon and the baboon actually stood on my shoulders with his hands on my head.  Luckily there was a very nice lady near who I asked to take a photo for me.

It's a shame their butts are so gross!!

Finally I made it to the cable car and managed to get one to myself as there was no line up.  The ride back to the mainland took maybe 15 minutes and was nice and relaxing.  Then I had to line up for a taxi - not so relaxing!  I got back to the hotel at about 5.45 and had planned a quiet night in with an early morning for the zoo.  I rang home and talked with mum and dad who were at home with Ken & Mitch and they talked me into going to China Town at night or going to Clarke Quay and doing a river cruise.  So, back in the cab I got and the cabbie very kindly showed me how close Clarke Quay is to China Town so I could walk back there when I finished at the markets.  Well, I didn't end up spending much time at the markets at all, mainly because I couldn't move anywhere fast as there were sooooooooo many people there.  Took me about 15 minutes to walk back to Clarke Quay and I have to say I felt pretty safe walking by myself - just made sure I stayed on the main road.  The river cruise was nice, but would've been better if I could've had a window seat.  I couldn't even stand out the back of the boat as it was full of people and there just wasn't any room.  The cruise went for 40 minutes and had a running commentary all the way explaining landmarks and the history behind them.  It was very informative. 

Off to the Zoo tomorrow - looking forward to that.  Have heard many  great things about the zoo, so we'll see....

Singapore

Michael and Nathalie's apartment is small but nice.  Nathalie had woken this morning with laryngitis and was unable to talk.  Plans changed...first up, Singapore Flyer, then lunch and then to the China Town markets.  (Nathalie went home after lunch to rest)

The Flyer is amazing!  Just a giant ferris wheel really, but its 165m high and offers panoramic views of Singapore and beyond!

We had lunch at a traditional food court...

It was ok - I had hokkein noodles with prawns.  The picture looked like it would be beautiful, but it was actually quite tasteless.  After lunch, Nathalie went home and Michael and I caught a taxi to the China Town Markets.  Taxi's are really cheap in Singapore.  Like really cheap - $20 for a cab from say my house in North Lakes to the city.  (at one stage we caught a cab from the airport to north lakes and that cost us $50 a number of years ago - hate to think what it'd cost these days!)

The area around China Town was elaborately decorated in preparation for Chinese New Year later this month.  It is the Year of the Horse, so there are horse decorations EVERYWHERE!

The markets are very much like the markets in Hong Kong, though there are a lot more selling food stuff.  But not cooked, ready to eat food, stuff to cook with food.  Michael and I had a look in a Chinese Temple.  Didn't look like much from the outside, though very big, but inside was beautiful.  I wasn't sure whether you could take photos inside so I thought I'd better not and opted to take one discreetly with my phone. 

He also showed me an Indian Temple that was in the same vicinity, but we didn't go inside.  You had to remove your shoes to go in and neither of us could be bothered.  We poked our noses in the door and it didn't look to be anything special and definitely not like the Chinese Temple.  But the outside was elaborately decorated and painted.

After having a quick wander around the markets I encouraged Michael to leave (he was tired).  I was then free to look at what I wanted in my own time.  After looking a little more I decided to move on and caught a cab to Marina Bay Sands Hotel.  This is the hotel that looks like it has a boat sitting on the roof.  I paid to go up the top to take in the views and when I got to the top, I wasn't disappointed.  The views were great!  Whilst up there it started spitting and I could see rain approaching over the water, so I quickly raced around taking as many photos as I could before the deluge started.  Seems someone was looking after me, because when I finished and got back to the lift, the heavens opened up!

Next stop I decided was Orchard Road.  Time for some shopping, especially since I didn't buy anything at the markets.  Quick stop off at the hotel to dump the camera bag and I got to Orchard Road around 5pm and since I was being picked up at 7pm by Michael & Nathalie, I didn't have much time.  The cab driver dropped me (I think) around the back side of Orchard Road, so I went into a large shopping centre.  The cabbie thought it would be better for me there because of the rain.  Well, I don't know if it was better....the shopping centre was full of big name shops like Louis Vuitton.  All the really expensive names.  I tried to get to another centre (supposedly connected by a walkway according to the cabbie), but was unsuccessful.  But I did manage to find Orchard Road!  Had a quick look up and down the street - had no time to go for a walk - and made my way back to the taxi rank.  There was quite a line up and I was beginning to worry that I wouldn't get back to the hotel in time. 

As it turned out, I had about 20min to spare before Michael & Nathalie arrived.  We headed to an Italian restaurant as Michael was craving pizza!  Lucky for me they also served pasta.  I ended up getting....lasagne!  No surprises there for those who know me well!!  And geez, it was good.  One of the best bought lasagnes I've had.  I followed that up with profiteroles - mmm, yum!  We talked and talked and planned my next 2 days before cabbing it back around 10.30pm.

Unfortunately my next 2 days will be by myself because Michael has to fly to Hong Kong tomorrow and Nathalie has to work...

Farewell Germany

Thursday morning had me finalizing my packing and having quick chat with Ken and Mitch and mum and dad.  Oh and I also paid the post office another visit!  Decided to post home my 2 jackets and 1 of Emily's to make room in our bags.

Only Beate and Emily took me to the airport as Hansi was working.  Once we dumped off my bag, we went to McDonald's for lunch and watched planes landing (they seemed to be taking off on another runway somewhere else). 

I was very sad to leave and Emily said to me:  "oh mum, it's only another 2 weeks!"  She didn't realize that I was sad to be leaving full stop.  She didn't seem upset at all, but she knows she doesn't have long and she is looking forward to seeing her friends again at school on Monday.  Beate shed some tears which me close to tears. Apart from people the only things I miss are my bed, pillow and electric toothbrush, everything else I can live without - I LOVE travelling!  Wish I could do it forever!  

My flight from Frankfurt to Dubai was good, I think I dozed a little, but it was not night time for me.  I watched the movie "despicable me 2". 

My flight was late leaving due to its late arrival in Frankfurt so instead of leaving at 2.25 we were only boarding at 2.25pm. We took off at 3pm and arrived in Dubai at 8.30pm (Frankfurt time).  Then I had to fill in time until my flight at 12.40pm (Frankfurt time).  This flight seemed much longer than the last leg. 

For some reason I didn't get any ear phones, so I decided that since it was technically the middle off the night I would forego them and try to sleep.  On the way over on the A380 I managed to get some great sleep, but this time I didn't.  I only managed little cat naps. I was uncomfortable because the man sitting next to me kept leaning over my side of his seat which meant I had to lean also - for the whole 7 hour flight!  Also, either him or the man next to him kept dropping their guts and it was putrid!  Omg I almost needed a gas mask.  I was waiting for the oxygen to drop from above it was that bad!  I've never smelt anything so bad.  I originally thought it was the man next to me but when we were leaving the plane I put my bag from the overhead locker on the aisle seat and got a waft of the stench, so maybe it was aisle man?!  It never occurred to me that they may think it was me, until the man who sat next to me looked at me disgusted while we were waiting for our baggage!!!

We landed in Singapore on time but my bag seemed to be one of the last to come onto the carousel.  I started to worry because when we were leaving Dubai, the pilot announced that we were waiting for some connecting flight baggage, so I imagined that my suitcase was left behind or on some other flight.  What would I do?  Oh well, I guess I could shop for new stuff!!  But it wasn't to be - my bag turned up and there was a little Asian man waiting in the arrivals hall for me with my name on a card. 

My hotel, the 'park royal' is very nice, the room is huge and the bed is massive!  I reckon it's bigger than our king size bed by almost half again.  I think it is 2 king singles pushed together.  I was so tired when I arrived that I decided to have a nanny nap before meeting up with Michael and Nathalie.  I made sure though that I set an alarm otherwise I'm quite sure I would've slept through until the early hours!  

Michael suggested I catch the MRT (train) to meet them for dinner...no way!  I just got a cab.  Only problem was the cab driver wasn't sure about where the restaurant was so he dropped me near where he thought it was.  Then I asked a kindly looking western man who looked local and he directed me exactly to where I needed to be.  Michael and Nathalie were there waiting for me!  I believe they may have taken you to the same place last year mum and dad. After dinner we went up to the roof top bar of the same building to have a drink and take in the views, but unfortunately, being a Friday night, there were no outside tables, so we moved on. We went down to where the merlion is and sat at a bar/restaurant there and had a drink and watched the laser light show. By then it was 10.15pm and we were all tired so we caught a cab together dropping me off first at my hotel.  Michael and Nathalie were worried that because I had a nap in the afternoon that I wouldn't be able to sleepy or that I'd wake up in the early hours, but I managed to sleep until almost 8am!  

Now for breakfast and a walk around Arab Street before I meet Michael and Nathalie at there apartment at 11.30am (Michael has to go to work for a little this morning to prepare for his trip to Hong Kong tomorrow). I think we are going to china town then to Sentosa today, or it might be the other way around?!  They suggested that tomorrow and Monday, I go to the zoo, to marina bay and go up the top, to the botanic gardens and of course Orchard Road for shopping.  There are lots of new year sales apparently.  Ken, lucky for you I don't have much luggage space plus I really have no idea of the bank balance so I probs won't buy much!  :(

Till next time, bye,

Yvette xoxoxo

That's where we were when I took the above sunset photo! 

Thought you might find this interesting Mitch!

The lens was foggy from the heat - must check before use next time!

Vikki and holiday on ice

On Tuesday Emily and I managed to snare a sleep in. We were so tired after our wonderful trip and had another long day ahead of us. 

Today we had lunch at aunty Vicki's place. First we picked up tante Hannelore from her apartment, then onto Vicki's. Monika also came. Vicki went to a lot of trouble for lunch with 3 courses!  First, chicken soup, then goulash with fresh home made spätzle, followed by chocolate pudding (custard) with vanilla cream.  It was all very good! 

She has really enjoyed getting to know Emily and spending time with her and Emily and monika get on like a house on fire!  It surprised me actually.  

Aunty vikki was showing me her photos all through the years and I saw so many that we don't have.  Dad, could you possibly have some on slides?  Vikki said she would put them on a stick and give them to me, so we'll see if she does. 

We didn't have a lot of time to spend at Vicki's as we were going to Holiday on Ice that evening. It is an ice skating show from America that features skaters from around the world. It was an incredibly interesting night watching the amazing talent of some of the worlds best ice skaters. We went with Beate, Hansi, Renate, Kerstin and Thomas - it was our Christmas present from Beate and Hansi. 

On Wednesday morning Katja dropped by at 9am to take us to her place for breakfast.  It was lovely to see her again after so many years (the last time was 1997!).  Katja, her husband Jurgen, Emily and I talked and talked, but unfortunately their son was tired and cranky and would not come out of his room.  Katja and Jurgen were soooo embarrassed.  

Emily and Katja share a love of Disney so we may rendezvous one day at Disney Orlando!  Unfortunately Katja had to work in the afternoon so she dropped us home by lunch. 

I am extremely worried about getting everything that Emily has accumulated over the last 5 months home. This afternoon I posted 3 packages home.

1.2kg of letters, tickets, brochures, etc that she has kept.

5.5kg of clothing - both hers and mine.

400g of stuffed animals. 

Total cost of €80, but hopefully I have freed up some room in her suitcase. Space is probably not a big problem, it's going to be the weight!  Books, gifts, etc!  

Tonight, I took Beate, Hansi, Kerstin, Thomas and Emily out to dinner.  Well, they took me, but I paid for us all as a small thank you for their hospitality. It was a lovely evening in a quaint little pub in Hofheim. 

And now it's almost over. :(