The Next Train to Singapore

A few days in Sydney visiting friends then hitting the rails on the India Pacific train to transit Australia from the east coast to west, crossing the great Nullarbor Desert. Then hopping on a cruise ship to noodle around Southeast Asia to Singapore Leggi altro

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Inizio del viaggio
4 settembre 2024
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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And so it begins . . .
4 settembre 2024, Canada ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
And we are off. A loooong 15hr 40 minute flight direct to Sydney, a few days to visit with friends then boarding the fabled Indian Pacific train to cross the Australian continent from coast to coast, from east to west, from Sydney to Perth.

We will overnight in Freemantle, Perth’s port city, then board the Coral Princess to travel around Southeast Asia, from Bali in Indonesia to Phuket in Thailand to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia then ending up in Singapore for a few days.

Planes, trains, ships . . . Should be an interesting VaCay!

The good news is we have an upgrade to Business Class so the lie flat seats will get a workout!Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreOhhh enjoy! Can't wait to follow along!
05/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreHave fun!!! We will travel vicariously with you!!
05/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreBon voyage! Have a great time.
05/09/24RispostaTradurre
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8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Jet Lag Recovery in South Sydney
7 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
After our very long but quite enjoyable flight to Sydney we arranged to get ourselves through immigration and customs and emerged into the bright sunshine of a beautiful Australian early morning to be greeted by old friends from our Mekong River cruise in 2019 . . . “Good Morning Vietnam” footprint

Bobby and Karen were real troopers, getting up at Oh Dark Thirty to pick us up & drive back through Friday morning rush hour traffic to their home in the south suburbs. Their home borders on a nation park and we spent a few hours having coffee, enjoying home baked goodies and watching the variety of multicoloured birds like Rainbow Parakeets that visit their back yard trees.

Also really cool is they have a beehive in their yard and that is quite amazing.

After getting cleaned up we decided to go for lunch in Wollongong (The Gong!) along the coastal highway and ended up at the Scarborough Hotel with a primo table on the bluff overlooking the ocean. Magnificent views.

Back home for a wonderful dinner and plan for a next day trip to the Blue Mountains west of Sydney.Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreSounds like you guys are having a wonderful introduction to life Down Under!
06/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreLooks like a great start to your vacation!
07/09/24RispostaTradurre
11 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
A Blue Mountains Day
7 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
After yesterday’s wonderful day at the coast, we turned our attention westward to the Blue Mountains. After about a hour+ drive we ended up at a place called Scenic World where we could ride on aerial trams and a really, really steep funicular. Nancy loved all the rides today because they were all so high!

Really she did.

The Blue Mountains are truly spectacular, right up there with the Grand Canyon for awe inspiring vistas. The flora and fauna are so different to what we see in Canada with a real Jurassic Park feeling when you walk along the trails in the canyon floor.

Karen, our hostess, grew up in this area. She provided a real “locals only” insiders description as we toured the area.

We wrapped up our day with a late lunch at the Covington Pub, an old bank building that has been repurposed, in the town of Katoomba. If you are ever in the area, highly recommended.

A really great day in the Blue Mountains.Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreAmazing….Looks like Nancy avoided the edges!!
07/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreVery brave Nancy ! Well worth it … just stunning.
08/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreWe just loved having you come and visit and show you a small part of our region.
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreGorgeous scenery
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
10 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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Rainbow Lorikeets. Just because
8 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
No words needed.
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Viaggiatore🤩
07/09/24Risposta
ViaggiatoreBeautiful birdies! Are they poisonous? Because, you know….Australia.
07/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelNo poison but a beautiful song
07/09/24RispostaTradurre
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13 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Sydney’s northern shore . . .
9 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Day 4 of our Great Aussie Adventure VaCay and we are now in the north part of Sydney. After a terrific visit with Karen and Bobby, Aussies we met on our Mekong River cruise, we are in the home of Anne and Peter who we met on our Panama Canal cruise. Seems to be a pattern of always friendly Aussie adopting us!

We were joined later in the afternoon by Celine and Vanne, their good friends who they travel with a lot . . . Peter introduces the group as “Hi, my name is Peter, this is my wife Anne and my two ex wives”. Absolutely deadpans the delivery and they carry off this schtick for as long as they can before busting out laughing.

We hoped on a local bus for a short 5 minute ride to Sydney’s famous Manly Beach for a round of sunset drinks on the deck before having dinner inside. If you like fish and haven’t eaten grilled Barramundi, you don’t know what you are missing.

Off to explore the beaches of North Sydney today . . .Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreSounds absolutely wonderful--great people, great beaches, great meals....
10/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreGreat catching up with you in Sydney! Look out Canada!! A trip in the planning to catch up with you both.
02/10/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelExcellent!
02/10/24Risposta
15 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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T Day. Transition to Train Mode
10 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 13 °C
Our last day in Sydney visiting friends and we will overnight in downtown Sydney in a nice hotel in The Rocks area near Sydney’s famous Opera House. We have scored a Primo View Suite👍👍

But that is for later in the afternoon. This morning is for lawn bowling! We had a lot of fun and ended up at a nearby pub, The Kirribilli, which was my “office” when I worked here in 1999 doing a Y2K banking project. A real trip down memory lane.

We board the train tomorrow morning where our big suitcases get stored away in a baggage carriage and space restrictions for our cabin limit us to a Carry On sized bag. So some repacking needs to be done, checking the weather along the entire route and packing appropriate gear for our planned stops as we transit Australia

We have had the greatest time in Sydney. You meet the nicest people when you travel and we can’t wait to see them when they come to Vancouver for their next VaCayLeggi altro
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ViaggiatoreGreat photos ! Loved sharing your Aussie journey. See you in Vancouver
10/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Great form Nancy!!!
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Looking like a pro!!
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelInteresting . . . The balls are not spherical and one side is heavier than the other side so they can curve like curling stones
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
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10 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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Departure sunrise in Sydney
11 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We will always have terrific memories of Sydney.

Our train awaits . . .
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ViaggiatoreWhat a view 🤩
10/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Just love the view. 🩷
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreAnd we have terrific memories of your visit to Sydney.
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
11 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Rid’n the Rails . . .
11 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Climbing up into the Blue Mountains west of Sydney
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ViaggiatoreLooks comfy!!
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreLooks like Nancy’s not having any fun at all!
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreNancy , only way to travel. Cocktail in hand
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
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13 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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The long train running . . .
12 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 11 °C
683 meters of Indian Pacific train pitched up in Broken Hills on a chilly~willy windy early morning

Wifi is intermittent and typing in a rocking & rolling train has some chellgdneides
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ViaggiatoreI type like that all the time!!
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore This is a far cry from the sandy northern beaches of Sydney!
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
10 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Train life. . . . In motion
12 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
We have bounced off a few walls when we hit some track sections that need some maintenance
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ViaggiatoreNot much room to navigate if you meet up with someone in the hall 😜
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreI feel claustrophobic just watching the video!
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Relentlessly westward . . .
12 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Proceeding westward we entered the state of South Australia, home to the famous Barossa Valley wineries. Our train stopped briefly in a small town called Two Wells to drop us off for our Winery excursion and then proceeded to Adelaide where we will meet it later.

We had a really nice afternoon and early evening visit to a magnificent 150 year old family property that was beyond spectacular. We enjoyed a wine and amuse bouche food pairing experience presented by a very funny chef and a lovely dinner before hopping back on our coach to drive to Adelaide to rejoin the train.

We are getting used to the train rocking motions and sleeping in bunk style beds. There is a very good traveller’s vibe onboard and we have have shared many travel stories and might have a few more place to add to the Bucket ListLeggi altro
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9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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Train life . . .
13 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
The train is organized into sections of three cabin cars, a bar/lounge car and a dining car. Cabins are a tad tight but very comfortable and the shower works remarkably well!

We are finding our train legs nowLeggi altro
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Viaggiatore Doesn’t look too crowded??
11/09/24RispostaTradurre
8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Sailing Australia’s Nullarbor Ocean
13 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Just a thought.

Crossing Australia is like sailing across an ocean . . . You see the horizon but you never reach it.

Hour after hour, new horizon after the previous ones.

Hypnotically relaxing, visually stunning at a pace that allows images to resonate and impress.

The immensity is majestic and humbling. We have just entered the Nullarbor Desert and the tracks now run for the next 475km in a dead straight line.Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreReminds me of the story of the old Saskatchewan farmer visiting the mountains of BC for the first time. Asked what he thought of the mountains he said they were okay but they sure do block the view.
12/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travel👍👍👍
12/09/24Risposta
ViaggiatoreHey Paul tell me how is the rail trip?
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelReal Bucket List Trip, wish it was longer, the Nullarbor has to be seen to be comprehended
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
10 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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Cook Interntional Airport
13 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Not much demand at Cook International these days.

The population of Cook is 4 and you can’t get here from there but you can officially stand in Middle of Nowhere, as Nancy is doing in the last photo
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Viaggiatore Is it hot ….as looks dry??
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelBone dry but a pleasant 25ish. It will soon be 45+ in summer
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Mmmm this is your typically outback town!
13/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travel😂😂😂😂
13/09/24Risposta
8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Rolling into Rawlinna
13 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Population: Variable, up to 35 during shearing season
Area: 1,000,000+ hectares
Economy: 65,000 sheep

But a lovely place to stop for an Under the Stars event with some fine wines, some good entertainment and chatting around the fire pits on the last night of our shared rail journey across Australia

There is nothing quite like the Nullarbor

Put this trip on your Bucket ListLeggi altro
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ViaggiatoreLove it Paul and Nancy! 😀😃
14/09/24RispostaTradurre
9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Train life: Moments in the Lounge Car
14 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
The song is about a pub with no beer.

In Australia!

A pub.
With no beer!

I think someone is having me on.
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8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Pitched Up in Perth
14 settembre 2024, Australia ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Planes
Trains
Automobiles

We made it!

A little pooped out . . . Sleeping on moving trains takes a bit of getting used to but the trip was sensational in every respect.

Wish we had more time here - we are actually in Fremantle (“Freo” Aussies love abbreviating place names!), Perth’s port suburb and it would be a fun place to spend a few days. Kind of a New Orleans meets Vancouver vibe.

Cruise ship boarding tomorrow morning

Thank you++++ Australia. You have been kind and generous and intriguing and dazzling and more wonderful to us than we could have ever hoped for.

Onwards . . .Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreWhat an adventure so far! And if you think sleeping on the train is tricky...try going to the bathroom in a moving Vietnamese train which is just a hole in the floor 😂
14/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreWe wondered about the rattle & roll as opposite opinions in reviews for sure!!
14/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreYou will just have to come back and spend months exploring our great country. We'll be your tour guidez anytime 😊
15/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travel👍👍👍👍👍
15/09/24Risposta
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10 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Freo In The Rear View Mirror
16 settembre 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
Fremantle was an excellent little surprise. If you ever get to the
Perth area, plan for some time in the “Freo”.

A sunset departure and now sailing on a three day run to Bali.
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8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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15 Seconds of Indian Ocean . . .
16 settembre 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
A most excellent sea day
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Viaggiatore Good looks like no rogue waves
16/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travel👍👍👍
16/09/24Risposta
ViaggiatoreLove that view and that sound 😍
16/09/24RispostaTradurre
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9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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Sea Days are Slow Days
17 settembre 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
3 sea days sailing to our first Port Call in Bali.

Yesterday was a time to relax and chill out, explore the ship, get our cabin “magnet organized”, attend a terrific “30,000 years of Art History in 30 minutes” presentation, for Nancy to sign up with the Ship’s Choral Singing Ensemble, to relax in the lounge at the Captain’s Champagne Tower event and take in our first show in the theatre . . . and it was a terrific show with fabulous singers.

But today is a day to Haiku! Just because 😂😂😂

Indian Ocean
Bali our next horizon
Australia dream

After Japan. You know this had to happenLeggi altro
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Viaggiatore Lots more room(s)….
17/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Wow that's amazing cabin
17/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreLooks like you’re kinda roughing it…ha ha!
17/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreLove the haiku!
17/09/24RispostaTradurre
9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Crossing the Line
18 settembre 2024, Indian Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
We will cross the equator into the northern hemisphere this cruise

As seasoned, trusted Shellbacks from previous trips, we will enjoy the ship’s Pollywogs being initiated .

https://worldwidewaftage.com/pollywogs-and-shel…Leggi altro
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ViaggiatoreEnjoy your trip, fantastic cabin you have. Bali i very nice, especially to go inland to the lake at Ulun Danu Beratan. Beautiful place and so much more chilly than down by the sea.
18/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelThanks . . . Ulan Danu noted. We have only 8hrs ashore so might not be possible
18/09/24RispostaTradurre
ViaggiatoreLooks like a nice comfy cabin. Didn't know about the Pollywog and Shellback lore--interesting, thanks.
18/09/24RispostaTradurre
9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
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There Be a Full Moon Rising . . .
19 settembre 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Indian Ocean Sunset
Bali morning moonrise
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Viaggiatore Now that’s worth staying up for!
18/09/24RispostaTradurre
Viaggiatore Great shot!!! Lovely!!
19/09/24RispostaTradurre
8 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Bali Hai 😀😀 The Land of “T’s”
19 settembre 2024, Indonesia ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
With apologies to Ray Walston.

After 8 solid hours in Bali I can safely conclude it is a land of two “T” things: Temples and Traffic.

Bali is a world class tourist destination and a consequence of this success is a strong economy and epic traffic congestion. There is an incredible maze of cultural rules that make new road construction very difficult but do not slow down vehicle purchases. Scooter traffic is approaching Saigon levels.

Bali is also a land of temples. A small Hindu island of 4.2 million people embedded within the 275 million strong Muslim nation of Indonesia, religion has historically been their rock of survival.

Temples are everywhere, on every corner, in every family home, there are temples within temples and temples of every size and level of grandeur. A visual smorgasbord of Hindu temple design and color palette imaginable embrace visitor’s senses.

Bali would be a great place to spend some but we have to stick to schedule and depart to our next Port Call in Phuket ThailandLeggi altro
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ViaggiatoreBali looks incredible.
20/09/24RispostaTradurre
Paul and Nancy. We travelIt is spectacular . . . We saw a very small slice. If only it was closer to home. . .
20/09/24RispostaTradurre
9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Sea Day, Thailand Beckons at 17 knots
21 settembre 2024, Natuna Sea ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Coral Princess current location is at Indonesia (coordinates -0.34422 S / 106.91324 E) cruising at speed of 17 kn (31 km/h | 20 mph) en route to Phuket.

About to enter the Malacca Straight, the world’s busiest shipping channel . . . 94,000 ship transits every year + countless small fishing boatsLeggi altro
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ViaggiatoreYou guys are truly becoming "cruise ship experts".
23/09/24RispostaTradurre
9 mi piace
The Next Train to Singapore Paul and Nancy. We travel
Ship scenes . . .
22 settembre 2024, Strait of Malacca ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C
Enroute Phuket Thailand.

As Cruise ships go, the Coral Princess is a midsized, middle aged girl, built 22 years ago in a period when ships were designed with large comfortable open space and lounges meant to pay homage to classic older sailing ships.

Lots of dark wood paneling and sailing ship motifs. The Deck 7 Promenade allows a complete circumnavigation of the ship and 2.8 laps is a mile.

The ship goes into dry dock in Singapore for 3 weeks when we finish our cruise for some TLC and system upgrades. The port is incredibly busy with an average of 1,500 dockings per month and it is equipped with extensive repair and maintenance facilities.

A very very busy placeLeggi altro
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7 mi piace