Dick & Jo have a Travel Blog

We fluked an empty seat between us on the Singapore to Milan leg – what joy! But Italian Border Control took some of the buzz away with only 2 booths open to process multiple big jets. It was a long wait in the queue and unwanted after 12 hours in a plane. But the Train system made up for it with plenty of people on hand to get us efficiently on our way. So within 90 minutes of getting our luggage we were standing blinking in the morning sunlight on the shores of Lake Como. A quick breakfast and we bought a ticket on one of the ferries, unfortunately we grabbed the tourist special, stopping all stations on a slow tour of the southern half of the lake. Can’t complain too much because it was beautiful and managed to kill some hours before we could check in. Here is Jo in full Audrey Hepburn mode:

After about 3 hours chugging along in the warm sun, here is our first view of Bellagio. We are staying in the place with the red roof.

After a valiant effort to stay awake until after dinner, 2 beers on an empty stomach an 40 hours since she last slept in a bed have knocked Jo out cold and she is snoozing beside me now….. Don’t tell her I told you.

After getting thoroughly soaked touring the Gardens by the Bay, it was time to start the tour of Dick’s regular hangouts. With an estimated 100 trips to Singapore over the last 20 years, there are obviously going to be a few favourites that have a bit of local colour. So we started in Tanjong Pagar, a well preserved district just outside the CBD. This is where Dick almost always stays when in Singapore because of the choice of restaurants and it’s on the same train line as the office.

But alas, we had to move Hotels over to some cheaper digs in the Muslim Quarter. A Hotel called the Sultan, just off Arab St on the second last night of Ramadan. We chose to eat early because we knew there would be a rush as soon as the evening prayers were finished. The mosque was beautifully lit with neon colours.

So for the last day in Singapore we really only had 2 duties:

1) Lunch with Dick’s workmates and 2) Get on the plane tired so we could sleep on the 12 hour leg to Milan.

As one objective was to prove that Dick hasn’t been telling fibs when he has been saying the best eating in Singapore usually is about $4/meal, we all went to a Hawker Market near the office in Jurong East. In this case the Hawker Stall is Michelin Rated, so it wasn’t your average Fish Head Curry.

Going round the table it is Jesse holding the camera, then Eileen, Qianqiao, Jack, Kovin, Xiaomin, Jo and Dick. Only about half the team in Singapore this week.

So the there was quick pass through Little India to see Mustafa’s – surely the greatest emporium in the world. It covers blocks of shops all engulfed in the need for floor space, it has everything you could need (50 brands of toothpaste at least, gold jewellery, cheap suits, electronics etc) and it operates 24 hours a day. Truly bizarre.

Then out to the Airport for a few hours. We had to check out the new Airport shopping centre because every Singaporean we met insisted we do. Well it does have the worlds tallest indoor waterfall, which was very restful. So we topped it off with a swim in the pool in Terminal 1 before getting on the plane.

More to come

About as action packed as you can be, mainly because after nearly 20 years of near monthly visits at times, Dick and a lot of things to show Jo.

The first highlight was being able to say to the Taxi driver – take me to the Fullerton please. Here are our ‘digs’ for the night (and very pleasant they were). The Fullerton is a grand old hotel, full of charm and with the best location in Singapore. We wandered up the river past Boat Quay and the tourist trap of Clarke Quay to Robertson Quay for dinner.

So the first full day in Singapore was spent down at Gardens by the Bay. Dick went when it was first put in and it was OK, but with a few years in these growing conditions, it is now spectacular.

Highlights include some very clever driftwood sculptures (example shown) and an orchid display.

But strangely, a combined cloud forest garden of carnivorous plants both live and Lego was a big hit. Who would have thought the Singaporean’s had discovered whimsy – it’s not something they are known for.