travelling allrite

Emerging out of the MRT station at Changi Airport is like entering a giant Star Wars set, all ultra-modern architecture with Imperial greys and white fluorescent lighting. The station is at Terminal 2 and it was necessary to catch an automated airport shuttle, which also appeared out of Star Wars, to Terminal 1, where both B and I were departing from. Though I was flying Qantas and B British Airways back to Sydney the same check in desk serviced both. We quickly passed through security and immigration. Terminal 1's refurbishment had progressed since our last visit, with the addition of an attractive area of vegetation, a rest area and views across the tarmac. However, toilet facilities were lacking in numbers, location and quality. The overall impression of this terminal at one of the world's most popular airports was one of disappointment. I was further disappointed to discover that there were no longer any Bengawan Solo outlets anywhere other than in Terminal 2. W...

The next morning Alex obviously was not well. We gave him fluids and rest but eventually it came time to check out of the hotel. Wanting to keep him out of Singapore's heat we decided to take him to a airconditioned shopping centre. But B was determined to visit Chinatown, an area that had seemed very tacky and boring back in 2005. From the Singapore Post shopping centre by Paya Lebar station we purchased some electrolyte solution for Alex. He seemed fairly okay at that point, as we boarded the MRT. We emerged into a lantern covered street of stalls in the Chinatown area. Most sold tacky souvenirs, so we crossed back over to the nearby multilevel shopping centre, old and run down, full of electronics and jewelery stores. A local OG department store was newer and cleaner. We went in to buy Alex some replacement clothes in case of further messy ablutions and vomiting. The Singaporean taste wasn't ours and we both missed the shopping in Japan. Alex did throw up and we ha...

It's funny, but all of my best meals of laksa have been in Sydney. I've had some okay ones in Malaysia and Singapore, but until recently my favourite laksa was at the well known Malaysian Chinese Restaurant in Hunter Street. It was exceeded a few weeks ago by an amazingly good chicken laksa at Sinma in Kingsford. It now has a rival in the day's breakfast at Geylang, one that leaves the "famous Katong laksas" for dead. Rather than dine under the hotel again we walked up Changi road a couple of blocks to another food court with most Muslim and Chinese areas. I was very disappointed to see that the Bengawan Solo kuih shop had disappeared (to be replaced coincidentally by a different Sinma selling jewellery). The laksa we ordered from one stall was simply superb. The stall is on the left B wanted to visit the long line of department stores that is Orchard Road in order to buy clothes for Alex. So we hopped back on the MRT, getting off at the Somerset Road sto...

Just to clear up a little confusion over dates, we visited Singapore from Wednesday 13 October and arrived back in Sydney on Sunday 17 October. Due to exhaustion and illness I am only updating the blog retrospectively. This week on Tuesday and Wednesday Alex and I visited Rockhampton, which I will write up once I clear the backlog.

Downstairs again for a breakfast of curry puffs, fried banana and roti prata. Not as nice as the roti canai of Malaysia, but really, could you ask for a better start to the day? Overhead flew Singaporean military aircraft, including transport aircraft and F-15 jet fighters. The Paya Lebar MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) station is about ten minutes walk from the hotel. The railway line runs overhead for part of the way, giving a glimpse of normal life in Singapore. Condominiums, some with resort-like swimming pools, little shops and eating places. Before the line descended underground we even saw the new casino and world's tallest ferris wheel. Once we completed our business the official part of our trip to Singapore was over and we were free to enjoy ourselves. We wandered around the area nearby Bugis station. It had changed substantially since last year, with large scale construction everywhere. Other areas had now been completed. It was too hot and stuffy to want to do an...

It's time for Alex to get his own seat. That was the inescapable conclusion from the flight to Singapore. In less than a month's time it will be out of my hands anyway. He'll have to travel in his own seat because that's all they will allow for children over two years old. Until that time there are still six flights to go; back to Sydney via a transit in Melbourne and a quick trip up to Rockhampton to see my new nephew. It wasn't that bad, really. The only problem was when Alex wanted to sleep. There just isn't the width in a standard economy class seat for Alex to lie down on my lap. Nor is there enough space to lower the tray table for meals. But for most of the flight he was happy to sit up and play. The journey began with a drive to the Sydney Airport Long Term Carpark. We've never used the facility before, but the price was competitive against catching a taxi. The train was ruled out as there is the usual weekend trackwork on the airport line. As ...