From Darling to the Rock & Back

Firstly-----

to everyone out there---lets strive for a little piece, and prosperity eh!

Well we got to the Parkroyal hotel yesterday at 7am we had a breakfast and then had to sit around for 3 hours in the lobby till they had a room available for us. So from there on in it was getting our head down and to be honest , I think t was till about 6pm---that felt sooo much better.

So after a little free drink in the bar it was heading of to find a firework display---

Now we did ask this nice copper what was the best route to get to see what was going to be going on at midnight and we got directed up Sussex Street and then turn onto George--- oh and walk about 4 kilometres, to a place called the Rock.

 

Now this was fairly early so we had no idea that there would later be a sea of humanity flowing down this same street-- more people than I have ever seen on the move, it paled into insignificance any crown leaving Wembley and at times it got a little claustrophobic and I have to say the organisation was pretty outstanding, -- plenty of security there but very low key for handling apparently 1.6 million people around the harbour.

Anyway Lynda and I stopped off at the Lowenbrau Keller bar and restaurant for a meal around 9pm --- which was really good quality and service.

  The best Schnitzel we have had in a long time -- really delicious. Having finished that we added some Aussies to the bench type table as you can see below, with one of the guys a really interesting chap called Robert Burn-- a skipper of sea bearing yachts and a full on sport fisherman---

 After a really interesting chat with these three, we headed of to the Rock where we would watch the fireworks but man was that a squash--

 So this was our view and the following is just a sprinkling of the shots we took of the display---

 

 

Spectacular hardly seams appropriate or enough to describe the midnight firework show but none the less it was a privilege to be here in Australia to witness and be part of this welcoming in of a new year.

 

So today brings a mixture of emotional reunion and meeting a whole army of children that we have yet to meet with our getting together with Lyndas cousin Janet and her family here in Sydney, but it will be amazing.

 

So as we saw out 2015, we can look back and say that it has been a monumental year especially in the family, with Jonathon & Lynseys perfect delivery of 2 perfect twin boys and we only hope that 2016 can be as good and as exciting.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE.

So that was Singapore

It seams very disrespectful to start to write this , thinking that we can write this off as another place that we have seen, another tick in a box, when I know that is what it feels like this morning.

I guess that is because we don't have time to do much else than stick to seeing areas within the centre and not getting out to the surrounding areas, after all its not that big-- but yet I guess that Singapore's reputation is that it is one of those countries over the years that is a stop off , a place that you briefly pass through on your way some where else and has been for centuries, so I suppose that I shouldn't feel so bad, but knowing it is home to many friends in our company , it feels a bit like that.

Hey ho, as they say-- onward and upward.

So yesterday was a great day with some traditional tourist stuff throughout the day and then some traditional Lynda stuff in the evening when it comes to having a mission and sticking to it until it is completed.

I am gonna have to be a little selective with the photos as we took so many, but they started with the River cruise and Raffles tour---

 The start of the riverboat cruise and what were the old harbour buildings that are now good restaurants.

 I couldn't resist this just looked very Architecturally Civil to me--

 Probably now the most photographed building in the world--well you have to don't you-- not sure what the designer was thinking of but I gues a boat on a stand is as good a guess as any---

 Very touristic with our little stickers on, but a nice photo anyway--

 And the obligatory one of the Boss with that building ( the Marina Bay Sands ) in the background--

 Don't know , so don't ask-- I am pretty sure that it is pretty meaningful but having a rain cloud shedding water was pretty apt for our visit anyway--

 This building is the Victoria Memorial Building and I took the shot just because I liked it so much-- a real mixture of colonial design with the most beautiful windows either side --really stunning--

and the Fullerton Hotel that was also one time the Island /City main post office-- bit grander than the one in Carshalton high street --

And finally for the river trip, the Bumboats, which is what we were travelling on -- something to do with the way that they were moored I believe-- ok well whatever---

 

So, that's the river and now for Raffles and when you are soaking up all the modern design and architecture -- and probably getting a sore neck in the process, this is most definitely stepping back through a time machine, to a time preserved, to help people feel that they were the Raj - that they were special and spoilt-- well you would wanna be spoilt at 1500 SD a night--

 The only thing missing from the guy above was a very large curved sword by his side-- but he was still a fearsome looking chap --

  We were told that the only reason the it was not destroyed in the second world war was that the Japanese soldiers liked to maintain this as their officers club-- well they would wouldn't they -- the |British had been doing the same fore decades before---

 Very nice high tea it was too--

 
 And very posh we were too, for an hour or two- including the obligatory Singapore Sling -- well it would have been rude not to---

 

 

Nice place and had to be done

 

And for the second day running we met some really nice folk from back home and yesterday it was Mark & Nicola from South Wales stopping off like us before pushing on to Sydney---

 

A very nice couple who are definitely making this a trip of a lifetime with a very posh stay in Sydney-- nice to meet you guys and share the moment and we hope you have a great time in Aus.

 

So after this it was back to the Hotel for an hour or so before deciding that rather than waiting till today for the shopping mission that we would grasp the bull by the horns and head of in the evening and "Go for it"----

 

Skechers

No so difficult you would think in what we saw was a shoppers paradise in Orchard Road -- an amazing array of Lights, people and cars -- a cacophony -- not bad for the kid my English teacher sad would never amount to much-- of noise and visual displays so here is a small selection of that.

 

 Apart from Trafalger Square this is the biggest xmas tree I have ever seen.

 

Well, after nearly 2 hours of looking around the Orchard Central shopping centre we finally found a Skechers in the second basement level of the Takashamyshi department store-- something like that any way, but the relief in my master was audible.

So, 3 pairs of trainers later -- ok 1 were mine-- and we were ready for dinner.

Found a great choice in a place named Gusto and had some of the best Squid and sauce-- a chilli mayonnaise and proper fish cakes before getting stuck in to the best chilli Prawns and noodles I have ever tasted. 

 

So that's it for Singapore, but I would like to just mention that this place has a very violent past and for those who were here in the 2 nd world war, suffered unimaginably , whether they were soldiers or civilians.

But what Singapore has managed to become is remarkable, when this has to be such a strong economy, a place with zero unemployment, where there is no litter and graffiti, and drug dealers face the death penalty and where there are some of the politest people I have met, -- maybe a few of us civilised western countries could do well to try to emulate---another one for the teachers of Philip Andrews--- So thanks Singapore , been a great experience and a Gaday to where we will be tomorrow.

 

Wet & Warm in Singapore

That s wet and warm in the tea, Lynda's bath , oh and in Singapore.

For a first day here , we had a great time finished with dinner in Chinatown, with a nice couple of teachers from Grimsby-- well someone's gotta come from there-- even 2 such folk who work in Abu Dhabi.

So we had booked before we left the UK , to go up the Marina Bay Sands roof garden which is a crazy design for a hotel infinity pool and viewing deck. The only problem was that we didn't ask for sunny weather and it seams you have to read the small print with that . But that doesn't deter the A team.

However as in all good things , there has to be a bit of retail therapy first so we went to the shopping mall first.

  Very good effort and the children seamed to enjoy it-- not sure how much they would ever see of something like this here.

 
Thankfully the clothes in here were a little large for the boys yet ( that is reference to the twin boys our Son & Daughter-in-law had this summer) -- sorry but this is the first day and Lynda is already looking to fill the gap between the 19 kilos we had on the way out and the 30 kilos we are allowed.

So this mall in Marina Bay has them all in-- Versace, Prada, Gucci etc etc, and dear old Hamleys--like home from home but no Sketchers -- must mean we have more shopping to do-- cant wait. The shoes above were Prada-didn't ask for the price.

Now understand this-- if you ever wanted to explain how bewildered men become when taken to a shopping centre, just show this picture.

Actually, I was watching this and wondering just why there happens to be a river running through this place.

So while the rain came down to stop our visit to the skydeck we swapped it for a bit or culture while getting a coffee-- loudest applause was from the lady in the bottom left corer who turns out to be the violinist's mother.

 

Well it stopped long enough for a few shot ----

It would be interesting to see where they put the away supporters at this stadium.

An infinity pool that us mere mortals were not allowed to get close to but some view.

Ok so we took a liberty with the photo that they took on our way up -- well with the rain and all that we were not waiting till the evening for the pretty shot with all the city lights on.

 

So to round off the day we decided to go eat in Chinatown which was a great decision.

 At least the market was undercover and that there were plenty of stalls to look round-- not sure about Lynda but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

So the stall above is from where we ate and sat at a table with a really nice couple from Grimsby with there small daughter, and who were teachers in Abu Dhabi. By the end of the meal , Lynda had persuaded them both that Juliet was the only name possible for the baby they were expecting.
#
Message to ME, don't forget to photograph the nice people from Grimsby next time !!#

 

Ah well, she might not have planned it but Lynda had inadvertently snapped them before we met them---this is then with daughter in buggy and very pregnant mum and Dad deciding what to have and all from Grimsby.

 

 

Very colonial and lots of Heritage.

 

So we finally got back to our hotel---

So that's it folks, end of a long day but very rewarding .
Nighty Night.