Dingo

 

Back home

The return flight wasn't at all pleasant - travelling with BA means being packed in like sardines at an unacceptable level with no room for anything. A very large person (twice my size, half my age) simply overflowed into my space - much to her discomfort and mine.
I later heard that Cousin M, flying by Singapore Airlines, had three seats to himself and under better conditions. (NB - next time be more selective with whom I fly!)

I got to Heathrow, then a few hours wait, then onto an Aer Lingus 'bus' to Cork - this short haul plane was clean, with efficient staff and plenty of leg room!!

The Cat Sitters (looking after the real Little Grey Cat and the Floozy) met me and we caught up with what we'd all been doing.

Ireland looked so very green and fresh with early summer foliage, after the autumn colours of Victoria and the all year round tropical green of Singapore.

Good to be back - but would like to do it all again - or similar!

End of Holiday!

23rd May
Bags now packed and I am taking advantage of my last half hour of using the computer in my room.
I would certainly like to return to all the places I have been on this holiday - the time has passed so quickly. I've met some interesting people and the rest away has been excellent. There is so much more to see and do both in the US, Australia and here in Singapore.

The plan for today is for Cousin M and I to meet up at lunch time, then later go onto Raffles for afternoon tea. The Hotel bus will take me to the airport about 19.45 and then I catch the 22.40 to Heathrow and onwards to Cork. That's the plan!!

Later
Here I am at Chani Airport and have 10mins free internet! Also got tax back on a wide angle lens I bought today for my camcorder - I've done well as items in shops are such a reasonable price here.
We went to Raffles and had a very pleasant afternoon tea - although Cousin M and I felt we knew as much about afternoon teas as any of the staff present as we remembered 'proper' English afternoon teas at Rectories in our childhoods!
I've clocked in but the BA flight isn't departing until 23.00 - another delay!!! Just had a delightful Japanese shusi snack.

East Coast and Changi

Monday 22nd May

After a healthy breakfast of fruit and rice balls, I booked up a tour from a seller of tours in the hotel foyer.

Cousin M and I meet up with no problems this morning - I took a walk from Hotel Pheonix to his hotel at Robertson Quay. We both then walk towards a Chinese bridge and happened to meet up with a charming German woman who had lived one time in Singapore. She takes us to a Chinese temple in Magazine Road. We were allowed to ring the temple bell, see where prayers were burned, admire the koi fish and were given a cup of tea each.

An early lunch at Liang Kee Teochew restaurant of delicious prawns next to the river by Robertson Quay. We sat outside; we were the only non Malay people there.

We are then picked up outside M's hotel for the tour. We are the only English amongst lots of Australian folk.
Visit the 'Arab' quarter with an attractive old mosque and many old shops. Go onto a Malay ethnic area and the Changi Chapel and Museum - an interesting (but harrowing) interpretation of World War II and the atrocities under Japanese occupation. Back via Tampines New Town with a lovely market. We had an excellent guide, a comfortable air conditioned bus and a safe driver. The guide told us all about the rules and many regulations for living in Singapore. Drug trafficking is virtually nil as there is a death penalty which is carried out. I noted this on a form I and everybody had to sign before entering the country. Better the death of a few drug sellers than the death of many is the attitude. It was good to see more to Singapore than just shopping Malls.

Back to Hotel Pheonix. Mike and I rest (I type some of this) whilst a thundery storm passes over. We then found a eating mall - a collection of different stalls selling all kinds of Asian food in a great big eating place. we settle for a Japanese box full of assorted vegetables and fish.
Today I have developed a liking for iced green tea, flavoured with jasmine and sold in tins!
Walk along Orchard Road - very much the place to be at night as it is crowded with pleasant young people and late night shoppers.

Singapore

During my last full day in Australia the Robs and I did various things. One thing which stood out in my mind was the wonderful walk through a park called the Briars; and my looking round and suddenly seeing the most enormous Koala in a tree above!

On Saturday on the way to the airport enjoyed views from the waterfront from Williamstown. Robyn and I found a place where we sat and enjoyed drinking hot chillie chocolate!

Sunday 21st May
Got here (Singapore) at last!! I say 'at last' as there was a dreadful delay in the flight. Instead of a pleasant afternoon trip over Australia starting at 3.30pm and arriving comfortably in the evening, we (the passengers) had to wait until 9.50pm before taking off. Got to my hotel room at 4.30am - bit of a waste of valuable time! Nevermind - it is lovely to be here in lush tropical steam. Had a late breakfast of something fishy with noodles (delicious) instead of the European usual.

I have just been outside into the steamy rain - no need for an umbrella or a mac as everyone rushes from shop to shop under cover. Even if you did get wet you'd soon dry out in the wonderful heat.

Well... it is midday and I am now waiting for cousin M. in the foyer of the the Hotel Pheonix as arranged.

Later
Always reconfirm arrangements made! My day somewhat wasted by the fact my mobile phone isn't operating here (in Cork I had been assured all would be OK) and that Cousin M decided on another venue. He said go down to Harbourfront. (I can receive messages but not reply to them.)
This meant I had to get to grips with the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) system - the underground railway. However it is clean and easy to use. The Harbourfront sounded rather nice but turns out to be yet another shopping mall - the whole of Singapore is full of shopping malls where ever you go. No sign of cousin M. No way can you get to the water's edge at the Harbourfront.
I decide to go on to Raffles Hotel (via MRT.) Raffles Hotel - under that lovely colonial architecture there lurks even more shopping mall culture (apparently it is now American owned. I wander around rather vacantly and observe a wedding party in one of the gardens.

Taxi then to Robertson Quay Hotel to prise out one hidden cousin who had come all the way to Singapore to coincide with my being here! We decided we'd both had an odd sort of day!

Tonight we dine together at the Hotel Phoenix - a rather tasty Malaysian buffet, lots of fruit and vegetable and fish. (I'd been given two vouchers towards the cost of this meal.)

Victorian Holiday ending

Thursday 18th May
A restful day but we still end up going to the vets (Percy's bandaged foot) and an enjoyable trip to the east of Mornington Peninsula. Flinders is a quiet retreat by the sea; populated by an older fishing community and by the very wealthy/the very famous, needing a getaway existance but in striking distance of Melbourne. From the beach and also a higher lookout we can see across the Western Port Bay to Phillip Island and the Nobbies! Cannon fire from a nearby naval base. A delicious lunch of fresh mussels and prawns
Onto Hastings which is another small fishing village - now more of a marina for pleasure craft. more mangrove swamp and pelicans swimming in the harbour. Pelicans have curious cartoon-like eyes. Great to see them in a normal habitat (although they knew how to hang around the fish shop on the quayside!) not in a zoo.

Friday 19th May
My last full day here before setting off to Singapore. My cousin M has decided to have a week's holiday in Singapore and we will meet up there.

Today (a fine autumn day with early mists) the Robins and I are off for a farewell meal at the Waves and sometime I must pack.

Having a holiday here in the State of Victoria has given a whole new meaning to the word Victorian - a place so similar in some ways to the UK (white culture and certainly its autumn weather) but so very different in so many other ways with all its natural wildlife.

Penguins

Tues. 16th May(continued)
Robyn and I drive down to Phillip Island over looking the Bass Straight. We have sunny bright weather and the countryside on the way is flat containing mangrove swamps as well as much reclaimed fertile farming country.
Phillip Island has many Isle of Wight names like Ventnor and Cowes. We stop at Cowes and walk along the beach there.
We drive to the furthest point - to the Nobbies - a series of small islands/rocks created from sea erosion of the land. Once the resting place of over 200,000 seals before settlers came (sealions, walrus and seals noted for their fur.) Seals where reduced to a few hundred but now with protection are increasing again and now number some 20,000. A very sensible wooden walkway (managed by Parks Victoria) now protects the cliffs from visitor erosion.
On to the Penguins' Visitor Centre. This is a magnificent place managed by a separate Trust (the Penguin Foundation) for school tours and coach loads of tourists. We are in the low season and enjoy comparative peace and space.
At 5pm we (a number of tourists) are escorted by a Ranger down to a platform and are told to be quiet and not to use photographic equipment etc. so as not to frighten the penguins. At about 5.55pm (late dusk) a 'raft' of about 10 miniscule penguins bounce out of a wave and start their waddling up the beach. They are the smallest penguin breed in the world (used to be called 'Fairy' penguins: but in the light of political correctness are refered to as 'Little' penguins.) Then another raft arrive - perhaps 80 plus and they too start their nightly tortuous waddle to their burrows - some of which are high up in the cliffs, up steep penguin pathways. We see about 800 in all. The nearly mature chicks who have stayed at home all day in the burrows, screech a loud welcome to their parents (full of fish to regurgitate) and there is much chattering and noise as they all settle down for the night. At dawn of course they all set off into the ocean for another days fishing. Some of the penguins look at the humans looking at them - it is a curious interaction.
Tonight the sky was clear of cloud and bright. For the first time I get a full sight of the Southern Sky at night. Orion is at an angle I had never personally witnessed before, as are all the other stars and the moon is now waning but again 'upside down' to what I am used to.

Wednesday 17th May

Today (after yet another necessary trip to the vets with Polly as her lumps are growing rather too quickly for our liking) we set off on a day trip (with Polly and Percy and Robin this time.)
Travel north to Olinda - an attractive country place in hills and forest and onto Hamer Arboreatum where we get a good view of the Great Dividing Range. Dogs enjoy a walk.
On to Yarra Valley and lunch (in a sumptuous setting: Chateau Yering!) at Yering Station. Yering Station is a well established winery - producing excellent wines of many different grape varieties. We enjoy the extensive gardens and buildings. Again we are in the low season - the grape harvest is in and there is not much happening.
On to Sylvan Reservoir - another walk for the dogs.
Today we see excellent autumn colours in the trees - but all these trees are 'imports' - the natural indigenous trees shed all the year round without autumn colours.