Suellen Milham
My first trip overseas was when I turned 50! I never thought I would go and didn’t think I was missing anything - I still believe I’ll see better things in heaven but have enjoyed the three occasions I have left the borders of Australia. Czytaj więcej🇦🇺Orange
  • We still call Australia home…

    27 września 2023, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Kay aged a year while we were in the air… just look at her photo with Steve! Happy Birthday 🥳 Kay!
    Three of us had little sleep on the flight from Singapore but Nick fared well.
    After arriving at 5am we spent the morning having breakfast and dozing until we were given access to a room at the Ridges hotel, for sleeping and showering, preparing for the final leg of our adventure.
    The Qantas Dash 8 we flew home in looked tiny after our international flight but it safely took us to greener pastures and a few welcome home!
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  • Farewell to the Quincy and Singapore

    26 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    A photo with 4 other travellers from Orange who were also staying at the Quincy - coincidence? We suspect not - they also booked with Flight Centre in Orange.
    We have been surprised by the number of Australian outlets here so thought we’d have a Boost Juice on our final day.
    Once again we saw some amazing men who’ve been scaling the walls to paint a building we have regularly walked past.
    We have enjoyed a young woman, named Amena, who was one of the many helpful staff at the Quincy. She hopes to come Australia to finish her hospitality studies.
    There was quite a bit of hanging out at Changi Airport before Qantas Flight 2 took us back home... almost!
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  • A Night Safari

    25 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Ryan joined us for Sip & Snack before we took a train to Khatib and then a shuttle bus to the Singapore Night Safari. Photos of real creatures are few because of the low light but we enjoyed a half hour tram ride and then walked 4 trails - the Fishing Cat Trail, the Leopard Trail, the East Lodge Trail and moving quickly through the Tasmanian Devil Trail which featured animals we’ve seen plenty of!
    The lighting used was designed by the lighting specialists who did Phantom of the Opera.
    The trip home was an adventure when we jumped on a train thinking we had left Ryan, Kay & Steve behind because they had missed it… actually, we had caught the wrong train…oops!
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  • No power & Raffles with Ryan

    25 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    No power in the hotel from 11am - 5:30pm pushed us out for our last full day in Singapore (We had no desire to be on the 10th floor with no air conditioning!). We were to spend the afternoon and evening with Ryan so after taking some ‘travel toys’ photos we had an early lunch and caught the train to City Hall.
    St Andrew’s Cathedral was closed for renovations but we had a hot and steamy look at the War Memorial and the ongoing pack up from the F1.

    At 2:15 we began our 90minute high tea at the Raffles Hotel. One of us drank Pink champagne (not realising that it was twice the price of ordinary champagne).
    See if you can pick which tower of food was the special selection (gluten and dairy free).
    The hotel is beautiful and we enjoyed a special time there accompanied by a woman playing the harp.
    Ryan’s day off meant he could join us so we caught up a bit on his recent travels and the world of theatre life.
    This was a once in a lifetime treat and we all agreed it was a great thing to do together.
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  • Reading/TV or shopping and 500

    24 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    A rainy day meant reading / sport on TV for one and shopping with Kay for the other.
    At the entrance to the shopping centre, and the Quincy, there are plastic bags to cover wet umbrellas.
    Some good shopping in M &S (Marks & Spencer), H & M’s (Hennes & Mauritz) and a small gift shop. When your credit transaction is declined because you didn’t bring your physical card but tried to use your Apple wallet you are very grateful for a good friend (who has access to money 💰). It is challenging to remember that Singapore dollars are only worth about 80cents AUD and there is GST and a sales tax added.
    We returned to the Indonesian restaurant, Tambuah Mas, in the Paragon and the tourist information centre for a chat with Monica about the Night Safari at the zoo.
    We saw the one and only person lying in the street that we have seen since leaving home and small groups of people sitting in the road edge gardens with umbrellas and plastic sheeting suspended in the trees protecting them from the rain while they picnicked.
    Sip & Snack was a hit again, sufficing as a dinner alternative between hands of cards.
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  • & Juliet

    23 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    A very rushed dinner for Ryan so he could get back for a company photo.
    & Juliet was action packed, fun, with some very clever lines. Some themes were more indicative of our cultures take on life to the full than what God says is best for us but we enjoyed the show and the opportunity to follow Ryan’s spot.
    We were given vouchers for a drink at the opening night after party but we left Ryan to it and headed for the MRT (railway). Steve and Kay took the wrong, long escalator down but found their way back to us!
    By the time we were back at the Quincy it was close to midnight… a slow start tomorrow.
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  • Changi Museum & DFO’s

    22 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    A bit of a journey on trains and a bus, through some more suburban?? Singapore, to read of the dark times for POW’s under the Japanese occupation in WWII.
    Many who served for the freedom of others.
    An extended lunch at the Bark Cafe while Steve and Optus discussed Kay’s phone 📱 and the rain came down. Then some wandering and shopping at the DFO. Kay had a tinkle on one of many pianos we have seen in public places.
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  • Boat & Clarke Quays and Ryan

    21 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Found the Salad Shop to eat at and wandered through Boat Quay seeing some lovelocks to rival those on the Thames and in Paris. We were approached by many food hawkers trying to lure us into Happy Hour which starts at 11:30am and goes all day.
    Walking to Clarke Quay gave us a lovely look at the river but it was hot… so we jumped on a train to Bayfront and entered Marina Bay Sands for the first time.
    We contemplated our potential purchases: Prada, Gucci, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Cartier… and settled on a food court table to wait for Ryan. We observed tables with shopping on them or other items, such as a packet of tissues, which we later learned is how people reserve their table before they go and get food. No one will try to take it. Can’t imagine that working where we live.
    We saw the Theatre but it will be Saturday before we see the show.
    It was great to see Ryan and hear a little of his adventures before heading back to Quincy.
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  • The Fullerton Hotel and the Merlion

    21 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    We had a tour of the Fullerton Hotel - a grand historic building with a multifaceted history. It was originally the GPO, has housed the Singapore Club (white men only), been the location for Singapores government offices, a hospital and the place where the decision was made that Singapore would surrender to the Japanese in WWII.
    We learnt other interesting things such as the present day compulsory 2 years of National Service for men once they turn 18 and that the Fullerton Hotel was not bombed because spies had previously reported its potential usefulness when Singapore would be taken.
    On the tour with us were Graham and Vicki. Vicki is a tour guide for Fullertons in Sydney (which was also originally the GPO). They kindly treated us to morning tea and together we went to see the Merlion - where Nick drank his fill.
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  • Gardens by the Bay #1

    20 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    After a ‘nanna nap’ and some cards while the rain passed, we trained to Gardens by the Bay.
    Starting with the Cloud Forest, which had an Avatar theme.

    Our first ‘street food’ was very yum at Satay by the Bay. We also enjoyed the walk there through the orange trees, the other coloured lanterns and lights in the area and a dusk view of Marina Bay Sands - the building Ryan is working in.

    The flower dome included gardens from around the world. Lots of things we recognised and some other interesting specimens. We picked up a sample of Chrysanthemum tea, which was very good 👍🏻
    We think it would have been better to see the Flower Dome during daylight but who doesn’t love an evening stroll through the garden?
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  • The Yellow Route

    20 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    A train and a short walk to board the Hop on bus for the yellow route, just outside a 7 Eleven - handy places to come across.
    We drove past some of the clean up from the Singapore F1 (Formula One), more government apartment blocks (all numbered and providing affordable housing for those on low incomes), more hotels (including the Fullerton Hotel, some of the wealthier homes, embassies (including the Australian embassy), the Botanic Gardens and a cafe with a great definition: Depresso: the feeling you get when you run out of coffee! Czytaj więcej

  • ‘Technology is my friend’ so Hop on!

    19 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After spending half a day trying to sort out phone issues we met Rosie at the Tourist Information Centre who told us exactly what we needed to do - forcefully but also helpfully! We bought our EZ-link cards so we could get around with public transport, shared a yummy, chain-restaurant, Chinese lunch and then hopped on the Hop on, Hop off bus for the red loop of the city. We saw and heard commentary on Little India, China town, and many other sites of Singapore.

    We also managed our first train ride - wow - so clean and easy to navigate. Then walked back to the hotel feeling very hot. We were gifted another ice cream and tried out the 12th floor pool as a storm rolled in.
    Canapés (Sip & Snack) and cards finished the evening!
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  • Here we come and we made it!

    18 września 2023, Singapur ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Bus, ferry, car transfer and we were transported from quiet Bintan to Singapore 🇸🇬
    Our hotel, the Quincy, welcomed us with specialty ice creams and, after unpacking, Sip and Snack which sufficed as dinner.
    We then took an evening stroll to get our bearings and remind ourselves it’s hot outside. In Orange we are quite accustomed to walking outside and bracing ourselves for it to be cool, chilly or just cold but in this part of the world we walk out of air conditioning and brace ourselves for the heat and humidity!
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  • Mayang Sari Resort… farewell!

    18 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Some of the bits and pieces from our time here that we haven’t mentioned….
    There is a man at the top of the palm tree! They climb up using notches that have been cut into the trunk and trim the branches and the coconuts so they don’t drop on unsuspecting tourists.
    The tree that provided us with great shade outside our rooms on the edge of the beach produces pods that flower overnight, then drop the flowers in the morning. It’s a Sea Poison tree… spectacular flowers that are mostly viewed on the ground.
    Finally, we had lovely staff at our ‘private’ resort. We particularly enjoyed Yanti, photographed between Kay and I. We were the first Australians they have had at the resort since the pandemic.
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  • When it rains it pours & date night!

    17 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    We have had fine weather but the rain hit today for an hour! We were driven to our rooms, about 100 metres from reception.

    After a late afternoon walk/swim we parted ways with Kay & Steve for date night. We returned to Nirwana Gardens (this time by bus) for a calamari salad and Peking duck 🦆 (not to mention a repeat of the blueberry frozen yoghurt). We walked a different route back to our cabin, enjoying the distant lights of Singapore and a couple of other interesting sights.
    It is our last night at Mayang Sari but we are ready for the adventure Part 2!
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  • We left the compound…

    17 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Mr Marodu kindly picked us up and took us to his church at Teluk Sebong. We sang in Balak, followed along with Bible readings (looking at the English), listened to the Bible being taught from 1 Corinthians 4:1-5 by a woman, enjoyed a visiting female choir, a youth choir from Batam, another local choir and Nick and Steve were interviewed by Mr Marodu.
    At the end we were swamped by people wanting photos with us… some had already taken some sneaky ones during the service.
    Mr Marodu has a deep concern for the men of the families in his church who choose to drink coffee at the cafe or play games rather than come to church. We pray God will change their hearts.
    What a privilege to church with these brothers and (mostly) sisters in Christ!
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  • There’s a beach?

    16 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    It’s our 4th day at the Mayan Sari resort and at 6:45am we ventured onto the beach. Scary signs and a lack of other people swimming had put us off but it is oh so clear and beautiful! One of us ran and one had a swim… thanking God for this place!

    Every morning the sand is raked and sprayed…we assume for bugs! We enjoyed a beachside morning with plenty of reading and some fancy towel folding let us know our room had been serviced.
    Lunch and dinner at Nirwana Gardens and the girls victorious at 500.

    Our theme word for Wordle yesterday was ‘relax’ - two guesses later we had it - exert - that is not what we are doing here!
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  • A slow day with a sparkly finish…

    15 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Beautiful sunrise, very fast squirrels, tiny bananas…
    We decided to have a pool day so once again did the 10 minute stroll to the Nirwana Gardens infinity pool. Lunch was authentic Chinese food at the Kelong restaurant then back to the pool - one of us may be a little burnt.
    The evening adventure was a swamp tour to see the fireflies and, thankfully, no crocodiles or snakes. This was so peaceful and the tiny fireflies were beautiful and fun to catch in our hands. 21 yr old Ali was a great tour guide. There may have been some pre-sleep 500 played as well…

    This part of Bintan (1/3 of the island) is financed by Singapore so has good water, electricity and is safer than other parts of Indonesia. It was hit hard by the lack of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic and many shops closed and building stopped but there is hope development will continue.
    The woman who served us last night works 6 days, mostly until 11pm and then has a bus ride for an hour to get home - sometimes she needs to be back at 7am! She is a single mum with three children - 6, 12 and 16. The eldest is away at school in Jakarta so the two younger children look after themselves while she works.
    Our wealth is confronting as the wages are low. It is quiet here at the moment so the place is very over staffed but we are grateful the workers have continuous employment.
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  • Safari, Ecofarming & a quiet afternoon

    14 września 2023, Indonezja ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today we had a driver take us to Safari Lagoi, an Ecofarm that farms maggots and keeps wild bees, a lunch for 4 that could have fed many more and a return drive that explored more of Bintan and the infrastructure for future development.

    Our driver, Mr Marodu, grew up in inland North Sumatra - a very remote area, with thick vegetation and dangerous animals. When Turkish Muslims and the Dutch East India company came to Sumatra none of them ventured into these parts so their influences didn’t get to his people. A Lutheran missionary did go to his people group in 1862. Ludwig Nommersen reported in 1865 that 2000 people had become Christians. Our driver is a Christian man, who is living out the vision of reaching South East Asia with the gospel. The Batak Christian Protestant Church is one of the largest Christian Church denominations in Asia.
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