Singapore
/ Australia/ Norfolk Island/ Hawaii
October
21 – December 10, 2015
Week
1 (Oct. 21 – Oct. 27)
On
the Road Again ….
What a whirlwind it was to get ready for
this adventure. Jim and I were working almost fulltime as recruiters for the
federal election which occurred on October 19. That gave us only one full day
to prepare for our trip. Errands, laundry, packing, lists, communication etc
etc all had to fit into that day. But, at then end of the day, we both had our
suitcases packed and zipped, travel documents in hand and carry-on luggage
ready. We were both exhausted and looking forward to being able to sleep on the
plane.
As usual, Jim and I set off with different
flight itineraries. He flew from Toronto via New York and Paris to Doha, QATAR (collecting
maximum air miles is always his goal). I had a more gentle route (and I use the
airmiles to finance the travel), leaving from our local airport, now called
Waterloo International Airport, and flying to Chicago and then to Doha. Our
flights in Doha landed within one hour of one another and we successfully met
in a lovely waiting area in a brand new and impressive airport. Neither one of
us had had the preferred amount of sleep en route so we were both still very
tired.
Within a couple of hours we were aboard the
final flight of this leg of the journey, an overnight flight to Singapore. All
our flights were smooth and on time. QATAR airlines was our carrier. The plane
was brand new and very spacious and comfortable and the service was amazing! We
did get some sleep on this flight.
Singapore
Once in Singapore, we transferred from the
airport to our hotel with ease. We checked into the very familiar South East
Asia Hotel on Waterloo Street where we would remain for 4 days. We have stayed
at this hotel several times and really enjoy the setting. Waterloo Street is
home to four temples of different faiths with many, many stalls selling incense
and flowers as offerings to the various deities. The street is always active
and colourful … and best of all, closed to vehicular traffic. We can enjoy the
activity from the windows in our room or by joining the people on the street.
Because we began this trip in a state of
fatigue, we had decided that Singapore was something of a rest stop as well as
tourist venue. We built luxurious afternoon naps into our itinerary and were
better for it upon departure.
Friday, the day we arrived met our friend,
Chew Lee, for dinner. She took us to the Peranakan Restaurant which served
fusion food based on Malay/Chinese cooking. It is a particular cuisine found
mostly in Singapore and it was delicious. Specific spices are used to flavour the dishes
(lemongrass, galangal leaves, lime, tamarind and ginger). We enjoyed fish,
chicken, pork and vegetable dishes. Thanks, Chew Lee, for introducing us to a
new taste.
On Saturday, Jim had some specific shopping
to do and headed off to the stores. I preferred to find a well placed seat in a
local food court and read a book. Food courts are excellent places to observe
the passing crowds and the various foods that are on offer. This was also a
great location to indulge in a favourite beverage – lime juice. It only tastes
this good in Singapore! Later in the day, we went to our favourite Singapore
restaurant, the New Woodlands Restaurant for a feast of vegetarian Indian
cookery. Once again, we were not disappointed. The thali platter served on a
banana leaf was both attractive and delicious. Nine small portions of various
vegetarian dishes were placed around the tray and the incredible bread produced
in the restaurant was attractively displayed on top. A work of art and a
culinary feast!!
Sunday morning we were full of energy. We
headed off to the Garden by the Bay which we had visited three years ago, just
when it had opened. What a difference we
saw! New themed gardens had been added.
An amazing children’s play area with the largest and most elaborate splash pad
we have ever seen had been installed. Two large pavilions had been added, one
featuring cold weather plants and the other featuring desert plants. But the most striking difference in the
Garden by the Bay was visible in the forest of trees which are the focal point
for the entire Garden. These trees are actually large metal structures with
branches and leaves built into the design. The lacy design provides a perfect
framework for climbing plants to grow. When we visited three years ago, the
climbing plants had been placed at the bottom of each tree structure. Now the
plants are climbing the framework at a rapid rate and, in places, have begun to
form the future canopy for the gardens. These structures are not simply things
of beauty but they also are utilitarian because they extract the heat from the
various plant pavilions. This heat and humidity then provides a good growing culture
for the climbing plants.
From the Garden by the Bay, we travelled by
taxi to the famous Raffles Hotel. We were struck by its historic British
elegance. We were also a bit taken aback by the change in dress code. On our
first visit to Singapore (1995), we were denied access to the hotel because our
son was wearing shorts and I was wearing sandals. Now, apparently, anything
goes!! We made our way upstairs to the
Long Bar where we indulged in two Singapore Slings. Singapore Slings were first
developed here at Raffles and are currently celebrating 100 years on the menu.
It is still possible to order an original Sling although several variations now
appear on the menu as well.
Just a note about cost …. Each of our
Slings cost $31.00. If you book a room, they are included in the price. We did
not ask how much a room at Raffles would be!!
One thing about Singapore that we did not
enjoy this time is the amazing smog in the air, so thick that it impeded our
usual enjoyment of the physical beauty of this city. Indonesia is burning
peatlands in order to create more land for palm plantations to boost their
economy, a controversial undertaking. The immediate impact of these fires is
pollution. Particulate matter in the air has exceeded 200 times the safe limit
and has spread over an area that covers much of south east Asia. Our own
experience includes difficulty breathing and burning eyes. Fortunately we were
only in the area for 4 days but for people who are living in Singapore, many
health concerns (as well as global warming) are emerging.
We returned to our hotel to await Chew
Lee’s arrival. Our plan was to have lunch with her and then head to the airport
to await our flight this evening to Sydney. Once again, Chew Lee took us to a
local restaurant that offered exceptional Asian food. We enjoyed our
conversation and were sad when it came time to say farewell.
Having access to the lounge system at the
airports makes a world of difference when waiting for flights. Comfortable
seats, free wifi, snacks and, in some cases, full meals are available and there
is always a well stocked supply of coffee, soft drinks, wine and spirits. The
time until our flight passed both comfortably and pleasurably. This is one of
the benefits of Jim’s propensity to fly frequently and take circuitous
routes. Thanks, Jim.
Sydney
We have totally lost track of the time
difference from home at this point. We boarded our flight in Singapore late in
the evening on Sunday and arrived in Sydney, Australia on Monday morning. We
both actually got a fair bit of sleep on the plane which was very helpful.
Have I mentioned jet lag yet? Normally, Jim
and I adapt very well to changing time zones and try to avoid daytime naps in
order to adjust to sleeping through the night. Not so on this trip. For some
reason (perhaps because we were so tired when we left home), we have not
adjusted as easily and have now built in an afternoon nap whenever
possible. So once settled into our hotel
in Sydney, we did just that.
Sadly, for Jim, it was not enough to stave
off the cold that was lurking in his chest.
As a result, he remained at our hotel while I went out for dinner with
friend, Sandy Boyd. Sandy and I met 15 years ago online in a bridge site. We
have stayed in touch ever since and get together each time we pass through
Sydney. It is one of those friendships where the conversation is easy and we
pick up right where we left off the last time (3 years ago). Sandy and I had a
wonderful time over dinner in a delightful Thai restaurant in Newtown (Sydney).
Once again, the food was amazing, especially the seafood volcano that came to
our table aflame. It was gorgeous in appearance and absolutely melted in our
mouths, as did the other dishes we ordered. The hours slipped by and, finally,
it was time to head back to our hotel. What a special way to spend our one
night in Sydney.
Canberra
Tuesday morning found us at the airport
once more, this time heading to Canberra, the capital of Australia. The flight
was less than an hour in length, a treat after all the long haul flights we
have been on this week. And, waiting at the airport to greet us was our good
friend Chris Small. We met Chris and Harold 20 years ago when we moved to
Canberra for Jim’s sabbatical. Little did we know that our move to Canberra
would lead to a delightful lifelong friendship with the Small Family in
addition to our many subsequent visits to Australia for both extended and short
periods of time.
Harold was not able to meet us with Chris
as he was at a doctor’s appointment. A quick phone call enabled Jim to get an
appointment as well and Chris and I ensured that our two sick husbands found
one another in the medical centre and that they both saw the doctor and were
prescribed a treatment and some medication. Harold is fighting and winning with
an ongoing chest ailment. Jim was diagnosed with both a virus and a bacterial
infection in his chest as well.
We arrived at Chris and Harold’s home in
time for lunch and to ensure that both our husbands planned to have lengthy
afternoon naps, part of the doctor’s treatment plan.
That did not keep Chris and I at home
though. It was a glorious sunny day and Chris and Harold’s daughter lives in
the town of Yass, about an hour’s drive from Canberra. So we headed off into the countryside. It is
spring in Australia and gardens are bursting with blooms and colour. Hay is
ready to harvest and other grasslands are beautifully green. It was a glorious
drive to Yass.
By the time we arrived, Nadya was just
picking up her 5 year old son from school. Her three year old twin girls were
in tow. We all headed to a delightful café for afternoon tea. Everyone enjoyed
their beverage and the children enjoyed their afternoon snack as well. It was
wonderful to catch up with Nadya, to see her children again after 3 years, and
to feel her excitement about their impending move to a new home. When we left
the café, we took a short drive just outside Yass to the property where Nadya
and Joel and their children will be living. We toured the house, talked about
their dreams for living there, and enjoyed a stroll through the garden.
Flowers, vegetable plants and fruit trees abound. We wish them well as they
move to this new location.
On our way back to Canberra, it became more
and more evident that Jim and I have arrived in Australia. First, there was the
echidna waddling along the side of the highway. In all the time we have spent
in Australia over the past 20 years, I have never seen an echidna in the wild.
I was quite excited. Then we encountered a mob of kangaroos, grazing in a field
of grass not far off the highway. And, we also saw several of our favourite
birds swooping across the highway – the large white sulphur-crested cockatoo,
the gentle grey and pink galah, the brilliant red and blue crimson rosella.
What amazing wildlife lives here!
Dinner soon followed our arrival home and
much delightful conversation, topics ranging from Canadian politics to global
warming to techniques for reducing the costs of running a household. Of course,
our children and grandchildren were also a topic of interest for all of us as
we caught up on family news. Once again, we are with friends where we can just
pick up where we left off. What wonderful friends these are.
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