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traveled in 9 countries Read more
  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    1
    111
    Day 10

    Almost done

    May 9 in Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Arrived in BNE at 5.30am (on time) and a quick pass through immigration and transfer to domestic. A little too chilly outside and shock to the system. Quite a good flight and seemed quick. The spare seat was a bonus particularly as the seat in front immediately reclined. Not a fan of this function! I didn't trouble the galley on QF52 so had coffee and some home grown comfort food in the lounge. There is a fair wait for my Cairns flight. All going well it should land back in the warm at 12.05. Kerry is having an amazing experience and I am looking forward to the Penguins to come. Home now after an uneventful flight (12.25pm) Cairns is still quite wet - hasn't let up the cabbie said! All unpacked, washing on, quick shop, quick (all relative) run and now settled in. Thanks for the follow everyone - this visit was everything I wanted it to be!Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    12
    Day 9

    Still a day left for me!

    May 8 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    Woke up to a wet track this morning - running gear and shoes not too wet and have a bit of time to try them out for packing. Had Singapore Breakfast at my original place. Absolute old school and I have been coming here for years - the owners are heritage value! Not the best in the Berseh Centre but comfort food writ large! I have been given late late check-out so have time to enjoy another day! Walked to Little India and it was interesting seeing the changing environment from old Singapore to Little India. This is a much more pleasant place to visit earlier in the day before the manic crowds. I was able to enjoy the architecture and the developing vibe before it was swamped - like Santorini before the cruise ships arrive! A comprehensive stroll then back home taking a few different streets. Kerry will remember the Perak Hotel - one of our more interesting stays!! Back to the pool and a bahn mi lunch poolside with some of my leftover beers - nice! Packed and then a short stroll to Bendemeer MRT and onto Changi - so easy! Almost as easy as security and immigration - hardly noticed their presence. Unloaded my remaining SGD at a duty free - I now have a 2015 Moet to have with my Sunday breakfast - a fitting Grand Finale to an amazing week and some. Into the Qantas First Lounge and a welcoming glass of Taittinger Prestige Brut. Pacing my self while still enjoying. Had dinner an hour or so in - chose wontons in black vinegar and chilli then Chef Linda's stir fried beef. The wontons are my non negotiables and sensational as ever - the beef, while nice, I doubt would draw a queue at Maxwell or even Berseh!! The Maitre D was pleased with my choice of Leo Buring Riesling and said he had a special 'off the menu' Pewsey Vale if I would like **yes please**. This is an everyday wine we never drink but is OUTstanding! Drink now or in 15 years. #specialtreat. I love Singapore First and it is a wonderful finale to a great city. A long haul in economy (didn't win the upgrade) coming so will sign out on Singapore now & a quick wrap tomorrow. Boarded and a bonus - a seat on my own (aisle with window clear). This is good oh!!Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    1
    21323
    Day 8

    One day in a week long celebration

    May 7 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Into the Club for breakfast after a nice run around the Marina. Window seat overlooked Singapore River and the Bay. The congee was excellent (no bread!) then a perfectly cooked omelette from the station. I held back on brekkie as I didn't want to be full - so enjoyed the room and the view. Booked tix on line for a Singaporean art exhibition at the National Gallery close by. The Gallery comprises the magnificently renovated City Hall and the Judicial Building. The exhibition was great and was a great showcase of the development of modern Singapore. Checked out of the Stamford and headed for Raffles. Good job it is next door as the heavens opened at that moment. Borrowed an umbrella and forded the road safely. Greeted into the splendid Tiffin Room - colonial style! Last time Kerry and I were here it was a full on Indian buffet. Since the 'issues' and new owners it is now a la carte. I ordered the Tiffin selection and a bottle of Pol Roger. The somm tells me the Pol Chef de Cave is holding a master class in house in July (wonder I am doing in July? 🤔). Appetisers were fish and paneer (remember the fish K?) the main was lamb cubes, dahl and the featheriest long grain rice. The lamb fell apart and the taste..... My phone decided to have a little rest so I couldn't take any pics of the Tiffin bowls in their carry stack, the dessert of gulab jumon and a salty sweet curd thing. The Pol was a perfect match being a fuller and fruit rich style. I had spotted a Chateau Palmer by the glass on the list. It was their Alter Ego (second Wine) and was interested! (I had both Pol and Ch Palmer for my 21st with mum and dad.) The somm told me it was an excellent example of the house and the excellent vintage (2017) and he wasn't wrong. A superb example of a Margaux at its best. Finished up, had wander around the grounds and (of course) into the Long Bar for a Singapore Sling. Caught a Grab home and settled in for a quiet afternoon at the pool. The rain had stopped and it was overcast and pleasantly humid. My overnight stay and birthday went brilliantly and exactly went to plan. Thank you all for your best wishes!Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    11213
    Day 7

    The lounge -pics

    May 6 in Singapore ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C
  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    2131
    Day 7

    Ch Ch Ch Changes

    May 6 in Singapore ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C

    After a hard fought season it came down to this - the 2 best faced off in the big one. Bersah Kopi stalls 2 & 3 were in the final and the winner
    - on the siren - was Kopi stall 2! No 2 had it all - grilled toast the right thickness, excellent jam with slabs of butter, both light and sweet soy, great Kopi in a mug AND (the goal on the siren) old school attitude and ambience! No 3 gave away the last free by trying too hard - had the goods but could have been anywhere - lacked the Bersah grunt! Walked to Kampong Glam - a place best seen early before the crowds I find. There is some love being given to the buildings which is excellent. Quite a hot walk back so into the pool and then a smoked duck bahn mi. Packed and caught a Grab to the (Swissotel) Stamford. Personalised check-in then up to my suite on the 59th floor (you only have birthdays once a year!) did a few laps of the room (it's huge) deciding which balcony I preferred. Down to level 8 for a couple of hours at the pool. Lots of people but very civilised. Changed then up to the club on level 65. This is continuing to be a b/day week to remember. The hotel, room and pool are spectacular - and now the lounge. I arrived (fashionably late) at 5.40 and was first there!!! Picture this Shangri La Sydney!! I was pounced on and offered a special chefs treat (salmon on Paris mash). The Maitre D offered red or white - I asked if there was sparkling and he had to check if I was special enough. Well - I got sparkling!! (Champagne Henriot to be precise) The room is huge and spreads the length of the 65th floor. Great views of the city. The food was great quality and variety. The Italian white and red were savoury and tasty without being outstanding. The head man presented me with a little Stamford gift for my loyalty - happy enough with the add ons I have received already! I then stayed en premise and had a glass of Cote du Rhone at the Brasserie - now looking forward to tomorrow.Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    111211
    Day 6

    Sunday in the garden

    May 5 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    No rain this morning - sunny start and already warm. My soaked running shoes will dry! Kopi stall no 4. This is where the posh people go for their toast and kopi fix at Bersah FC. Good in a Ya Kun Kaya sort of way - won't make the Big Dance! Booked an online ticket for the Gardens at the Bay and gained a 15% discount for using my debit visa - discount AND no international fees! Sandy's new SMRT line goes to the gardens. Still a fair walk in a hot sun but the gardens inside are so air-conditioned as to be almost too cold! Saw a couple of sections and they took a while. The direct way to those amazing 'trees' was diverted due to maintenance so 'having seen them before' I bought a lime juice and retreated. My plan had been to go to Little India for a look around but at 12.30 on a hot Sunday with the known mayhem LI is known for, I couldn't do it! #maddogs but no englishman this time. So I stayed on Sandy's line to the new Tiong Bahru station, Havelock. A much better idea!! Did the circuit, the kueh line was huge, I avoided the fried kway teow as Kerry would tell me noodles are wrong and settled on a rojak from a stall who said established 1965. Johnny come latelys I reckon- even I was in Singapore before then! Rojak, if you haven't had it is a dish of ripe and unripe fruit and veg with crushed nuts and chilli/soy sauces. This wasn't a fruit salad (think Penang) but very savoury and spicy. I loved it and it is quite light. I am glad I deviated to TB - a good tick! Some pool time but still couldn't escape some afternoon thunder. 3 Singapore Airforce F35A Fighters having some fun LIV I expect. I didn't get to Little India so a little place nearby I have been looking at was the go for dinner. A mutton set with dahl, spiced rice, yum potatos, pappdums and naan looked yum for $8 - and it was. I added onion pakoora for $4 and it was excellent but too much. Enjoyed the meal, left enough to be not horribly full and $5 beers finished me off! I love this place! A lesson though...if the place sells a dish then they think that is probably going to be enough. You add stuff and.....#yourperilRead more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    122
    Day 5

    Its tropical..

    May 4 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    As I started my run it was the lightest of drizzle. A kilometre in it begun to bucket - drenching with thunder and lightning thrown in. A classic tropical downpour. It was still raining when I went go to breakfast so grabbed an umbrella and took off. When it's not cold and windy you can carry on! Well - just when you thought I would stop with the Kaya pics my apologies - I have a new project. I have dealt with my dilemma by deciding to visit a different kopi stall each day and then going to my #1 on the last morning. There are 4 in the Bersah Food Centre and number 3 is going to trouble no 2 for the flag so far! Excellent toast/jam and the best kopi o so far. The boss is friendly as well (not a prerequisite at these places!) I waited a bit then set off in light drizzle to visit Maxwell Food Court. Used the new TE line that Sandy alerted me to - Maxwell station is virtually joined to the food centre - luckily, as the skies had opened. Undercover into the food centre and to the congee stall. No queue!!!!! By the time I was served there was one and it was the customary stretch around the corner. The fish congee was delicious and a HUGE serve for $4. I decided a whole bowl was way too much so went for some equally excellent chicken rice. Two excellent Maxwell 'brunch' experiences for less than $10. The rain had eased to just there so I wandered through the people's market and through Chinatown. Very quiet as you would imagine. Back to Lavender and my hotel. I read the Straits Times and stuff at the pool (spotting rain). Went to the hotel bar for my welcome drink - I knew from all last time it was a mocktail but it wasn't bad. I looked for a glass of fizz for a sundowner but was distracted by a familiar Provence Rose. I had a couple of glasses and took the rest to my room. Rain had stopped and a lovely fresh evening. Checked all the food options on the way towards Bersah and decided on none having eaten well today. There is a big soccer game at the stadium close by so a bit busy but not a noise issue. I think I knew what I wanted and yes - fried oysters (not omelette) at Bersah. I have had it several times before from this stall and it is peerless. Here, and a Bangkok place I go to, do this dish to perfection. (ps- the chillies I bought, although larger than I normally prefer, are serious chillies! I noticed in the market there were no other types on offer)Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    2
    12
    Day 4

    A little tour and then some

    May 3 in Singapore ⋅ 🌩️ 28 °C

    I promise I won't show my brekkie every day but when I turned up at my regulars - they were closed!! I looked around and there was a carbon copy almost next door. I have to say this place served Kaya toast perfection! The Kaya was outstanding, the bread flame toasted, kopi o excellent! What a dilemma - if I come here tomorrow I will be seen..... Oh well - my issue! I was doing some research in to how best to get to Sentosa Island and I noticed it said expect heavy usage sat/sun 4&5th May - so decision made and off I went. SMRT to Harbourfront then cable car to the island. The busy bit was obvious when I got here as the island golf club is hosting the Singapore LIV show this weekend! Uninspired by the Disney World type areas in the middle I went for a walk along Beach Road with the Tanjong Beach Club a destination. It was a reasonably long, pleasant and shady walk with some beach vistas - absolutely worth it. Pretty hot though so I stopped at the Beach Club, signed in, was shown a nice open air bar seat and waited, and waited. I was clearly invisible so left and caught the free shuttle back. Found the other beach club I was aware of (Ola's) and was welcomed in, given a nice table on the sand and a (not inexpensive) cold beer. I will leave here with kind thoughts. Opportune time to leave as the crowds were flowing in. Caught the SMRT Back to Lavender to the food centre next to my hotel for an eagerly anticipated bahn mi . When I visited yesterday and saw the stall, I remembered how good it was and found it was actually even better than I remembered! Crispy pork, not too full, the best pickles, pate etc
    I asked for extra chilli and you can see she responded - I didn't have to add extra! - could have been on the streets of Saigon or Hoi An #happyas. Pool time then off to the Marina. Jungle drums were sounding (thunder) but no rain yet. Into the Marina and found a waterfront bar that wasn't snooty! Had a lovely #fridayfizz couple of glasses and then wandered off to La Pau Sat Food Centre. I was hoping to catch the Friday night sate 'event' - but of course, being of the age I am, I was way too early! La Pau Sat was the first food centre we ever visited and it's certainly iconic. The food is not pretending to be Maxwell Road (the pinnacle) or Tiong Bahru, it was bustling and very enjoyable. I had oyster omelette that was really fine
    I know where I could get better, but I have had it now and my heart says thanks! So - 2 touristy things done and enjoyed. As I left I went via the sate street and was now shut to traffic and pumping! Home with an egg tart that looked (and was) amazing!    Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    121
    Day 3

    Meeting day

    May 2 in Singapore ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    A happy meeting today- not a work type thing! K arrives at approx 3.10 this arvo. I get there early as it appears it could be early. A lazy morning at the rooftop pool. It is a nice pool but not a lot shade. Need to be mindful. I was going to have a quiet time in the hotel lobby but there were about three tour groups all talking to each other at once - very loudly so repaired to a little food centre next door and got a Tiger. I got to Changi in plenty of time - which was good because the original itinerary said T1. I started at T3 but needed to get to T2 and K was getting in early. The SkyTrain didn't seem to be where I needed it so had to walk between terminals. I was looking for another beer at this time but the sparse offerings in arrivals were ALL halal 😞 We finally met up, found the bag storage area and caught a Grab down to see Mr Merlion. The visit to pay our respects is an early must do! K hasn't seen him for a while now. We then went to Boat Quay and battled the 'hawkers'. We found one that looked good and familiar so grabbed a river front table
    Being extremely touristy expectations should be high but we were quite surprised at how good it was. Satay, Sichuan tofu and crispy roast chicken. I requested fresh chillies and he brought a veritable buffet of them!! Fresh, soy and sauce. While Kerry enjoyed the Merlion and the lunch she was going down hill quickly. Losing colour and getting quite sweaty. Managed to get a Grab and sent her back to Changi. A real shame the visit only lasted an hour or so and to be so crook - travelling like this is awful. Caught the train from Raffles Place direct to my station at Lavender. K reported in from the Silver Kris Lounge and is likely medicating with Piper Heidsieck. Day one and I am in no doubt where I am!    Read more

  • Traveler60 years - its a diamond!
    12
    Day 2

    Lion City - 60 years on

    May 1 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    I feel privileged to be flying to Singapore on May Day 2024. I have planned this for a while and am excited! I extended the trip a day or so so I could share some time with Kerry as she transits through to Milan. Looking forward to catching up with her! Upstairs on QF1 - A full flight but Premium Economy has a lot to like for a day time trip. Very spacious and great service. Lots of charging ports, footrests and places to store stuff. I had forgotten how smooth and quiet an A380 is. Bottled wine served throughout - all in all a similar experience to what domestic business used to be - back in the day! A welcome glass of my fave Lois Lane and then a classy WA syrah. The meal was very much (again) like BC used to be. They had run out of my Singapore option so I had slow cooked lamb with polenta - ok but needed a lot of seasoning. There was also (not shown) - cheese and crackers plus icecream. I didn't take the icecream but a very generous selection. Arrived 30 mins late but the getting through Changi to the cab was done in record time. I think I was in the cab while people were still getting off QF1! So long as the online ICA card is done there are no forms anymore and there are (I kid you not) 100s of passport kiosks in immigration. It was stormy and very wet overnight but a fine Singapore morning. Had a wonderful Singapore brekkie with my old friends at the Bersah Food Centre. A bit to do this morning (supplies/pool) then off to Changi to meet Kerry and spend a few hours with her in the Lion City. I think my daily post will now be in the morning so - here it is!Read more

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