Bye for now Singapore.Hello Borneo.

It's hard to believe that the much discussed trip to Borneo is finally here !
After breakfast at the Marina Bay sands ,(when yet again they brought hot milk when I clearly asked for cold milk)and doing the washing up to pay for my stay!🤣 I set off for Singapore airport 4hrs ahead of my departure time
. I know there is DHL Service at Terminal 1 I just needed to find it, as on my return from Borneo to Singapore, I"ll be off loading some stuff ,in the hope it arrives home. I did find it and also saw the Waterfall and sky train in T1..Jewel shopping area.
The next challenge in this gigantic airport was to find the check in gate ...
With typical Singapore efficiency the gate details were available at 10.30am despite my departure not being till 2.30pm.
So I meandered the epic walk to the gate .
My back pack now weighs a ton,as there was no way I was leaving the Jo Loves toiletries at the Marina bay sands, as Jo does indeed, love them!🤣...especially with the jungle looming.
Whilst sitting at the gate ,the robotic cleaner glided by ...
I flew Economy ..and survived..
Although couldn't cross my legs..I still managed a snooze.
During take off we departed over the Bay and I could see the Marina Bay Sands hotel..
It was funny to think that only a few hours earlier I'd been there.
I'd turned my phone off so unable to get a picture Hopefully will get a photo when returning to Singapore.

Immigration in Borneo went smoothly, thank goodness , though I had to do a ETA electronic arrival form.
The border force guy was very nice about it and helped me.
I was the last person to go through immigration...I told them in UK we say we've saved the best till last...they did understand and laughed..when putting my bags through the scanner here in Balikpapan, I told them I'd nothing exciting inside ( apart from a Kit Kat )They also understood and did laugh 😃.

Whilst waiting for Immigration checks I got talking to 3 aussies, who, are also going to the orangutans, it turns out .

I had a lift arranged for the hotel and wasn't sure how long he'd been waiting so felt unable to watch and have more photos with an amazing group performing at the exit of the airport...did get one quick pic

Balikpapan seems OK, somewhat shabby chic but reasonably clean.
Hotel is premier inn -ish ...and right on the sea front .The sea appears much flatter than in Sri Lanka.
I decided on room service and have risked Balikpapan's version of Spaghetti bolognase....we shall see !🤣
It cost £8.00 equivalent which is 17 000 000 rupiah. Back to things being super cheap...phew after Singapore!

I have a sea view room ...ish with a blot on the landscape derelict building .
The hotel also appears to be on the flight path and I can hear the Mosque, which I quite like ,it reminds me of Munir.❤️
Photos today will include those from yesterday that I didn't upload due to Raffles photosRead more