Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Been looking after the temple of a body, or is that a body of a god. Cab Sauvignon is pretty good for that.
Talking of vino, we’ve been upgraded on IHG to their top rewards status so have quite a lot to spend on the mini bar per night included foc. Since this stay includes “club lounge“ access then it’s happy hours 6 - 8pm (we’ve paid for that but had we not it would have been foc with the new tier ) then we’ve had enough SingSlings and vino for the night, the free minibar allowance is accumulating in the rucksack for the last 2 nights in Singapore where we don’t have that. If that makes any sense whatsoever.
23rd Dec 2019 1:31 pm
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 208
Del,
I’m hoping to stay over in Singapore on return from New Zealand in Feb 2021.
I’m reading and taking notes. You’ve obviously visited before so hints, tips hotel recommendations and must sees would be appreciated.
Oh , and how many days/nights would you recommend bearing in mind it’s only a stop over.
It’s been great following your progress so far.
Glad to hear Mrs dsl is getting back to normal.
SteveCurrently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
23rd Dec 2019 6:14 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Sorry folks, been a bit of a flopping time in Singapore. Not done much and finding it’s a bit knackering going out in the humidity. Prob 3 months of travelling is catching up with us. We’ve sorted out the last bits and bobs for getting to Perth, plus all the accom booked up for the first 5 weeks, the time we’re in WA. Some of it is going to be interesting, especially the stays on the road north from Kalgoirlie, everything from truck stops to what look like containers in camp sites. We’re definitely going down a star or three in lodgings!
Mind you, one night is in this old Dakota, will be a night to remember.
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A few pics from Singapore. Christmas was a quiet affair, didn’t do much. Lovely bickies from the hotel, which were as tastie as they looked festive.
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I’ve never spent my birthday in a hotel before, it was nice to get a card and chocie sculpture from the hotel.
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And out and about today. We didn’t go too far as, whilst it wasn’t as hot as we’d quite happily enjoyed before, it was quite humid and sapping. We walked the couple of km from the hotel to the bay and back.
The bay. As spectacular as ever, and pretty busy with tourists. A good place to sit and watch the world go past and see if we can east a icecream before it melts in the 31c heat.
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And two war memorials, the first for military killed in WW2, second for civilians.
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And we got UC&P with one of the Duck Tours “boats”, deffo not DUKWs though, as splattered on the side of one. Meet Donald. Luckily the green man was on so no risk was taken getting this pic.
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And it’s nice to see Raffles Hotel up & running again. Last time we were here it was behind hoardings being renovated. Mind you we didn’t go in, just walked on past.
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No point in paying a fortune for SingSlings in Raffles when they are on tap in the InterCont Club Lounge between 6 & 8pm. Mind you standard slipped with this one, no slice of orange!!
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28th Dec 2019 12:18 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
@ dunton10: Singapore looks a pretty popular stop over for peeps going to & from Aus & NZ, most peeps we see seem to stop here for 2 or 3 days. When we flew out here last trip from London we were knackered & jet lagged for that length of time and wouldn’t have relished then getting back in an aircraft for 13 hours. If you can see the main sights when knackered & JLes then that should be enough, I’d add a couple of days to the bare minimum if poss. Lots to see, public transport is fab (get an EZ link card at the airport metro station) and there are lots of sights you can see from that rather than the tourist hop on/hop off bus.
Re hotels, we’ve only experienced two, the InterContinental and the Holiday Inn Express. Both fit their bill nicely, wherever you end up my sage advice is make sure there’s a metro station close, or a minimum on bus routes. Being out of the centre isn’t such a problem if you can get in easily.
Oh, and re food, hawker centres are pretty good and very cheap if you don’t want to sell a kidney to eat. We hadn’t had a proper meal since we got to this hotel so headed to the one near us and stuffed face with simple scrummy food. Sometimes we just crave simple food like this pork & rice, for all of £1.41. You just have to queue up with the locals, a queue is always a good sign.
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28th Dec 2019 12:44 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
PS Talking of orange slices, reminded me to sort out one of these bad boys, a Campari Orange. Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm,m!
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Sorry J@mes.
28th Dec 2019 12:51 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
A few pics from MacRitchie reservoir park area. One bus ride there yesterday for one bit, then the tree top walk today. When in the breeze and it was pretty pleasant, 29c and not too humid. When we lost the breeze it was hot and really humid. Our clothes from today are liberally scattered around the room drying. Nothing worse than sweetie undies hanging from light fittings.
Some pics. We first came across the long tailed macaques yesterday, much to SWMBO’s trepidation. However all was well as one of them just away from the bus stop took one look at SWMBO & legged it away, half chewed mango in hand. He was quite safe, MrsDSL had breakfasted otherwise he might have had serious competition.
For what seemed like for half way round the reservoir we discussed whether this was a turtle, tortoise or terrapin. Prob the latter and prob having been released there.
And monkeys in their natural(ish) habitat. This chappie just pulled this fruit thing from the tree and just say there munching. Might have been a mango tree.
And they were pretty close, neither worrying/worried by the humanoid tourists below.
Up there, they were fine. We were 3/4 way round the walk when we came across this ambush party.
SWMBO had a choice, follow me through them or head back. She took a handful of brave pills and followed. There was a bit of squabbling going on, the one on the left of the pic was intercepted by the one at the top of the pic and unceremoniously dragged off by his tail. Maybe that’s how they become long tailed macaques.
And today’s fun and frolics, the walk to the tree top walk. Really good for spotting wildlife, and signs of wild boar.
Big lizard.
A monkey on the tree top walk that was known to grab bags. Luckily he had good taste in iPhones & saw mine wasn’t the latest.
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And another lizard. We were both getting tired by this stage, and soaked through, hence eager to get to the car park and then the bus stop. SWMBO’s wildlife spotting skills were not in evidence when she walked past this cheeky chappie. Top tip, when there’s 5 peeps stopped on the trail looking at something it might be a good idea to look where they’re looking.
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We’ll have to monitor this lizard malarkie.
And another critter that was not noticed was this on a tree that SWMBO’s shoulder almost brushed. Luckily he wasn’t hungry. Sorry no scale, no way was I putting my fingers anywhere near it and SWMBO declined my suggestion that she’d make a better scale.
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Then back to hotel, into lounge to down cans of cold fizz to rehydrate then up to find all my tech/charging stuff had been tidied.
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I seriously hope this doesn’t set a precedent and I’m expected to be neat!
PS SWMBO said not to mention we had McDonalds for scoff. Sometimes you need a good load of carbs, salt & fizz that only junk food can provide.
31st Dec 2019 11:32 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Morning you lot, hope all well in Blighty. We’ve decided you motley crew have been on a bit of a diet of late so need to be introduced to something new, well new to us.
Nothing re bus up to top right corner of the island, a great way to see Singapore, especially from the top deck.
Nothing re the ferry to Pulau Ubin island off the “mainisland”.
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Nothing re being out in the open on the rear deck with the humidity, sea breezes and diesel fumes. Dodging ships as we headed across to the island.
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Nothing about getting ashore like something out of the Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Nothing re being on the island being bombed by either coconuts (though couldn’t see a tree) or Durian type thing that would have seriously hurt if landed on head. Gratuitious pic of trees, no idea who the guilty culprit is and not brave enough to go and see what had fallen. Re seriously hurt, read made brown bread!
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And nothing re the two wild boar we startled, supposedly they would be more scared of us then we of them, though not in SWMBO’s case. No pics of porker sadly.
No, time to get y’all off the diet and introduce you to Zam Zam Restaurant in Little India, well the pavement in front of, and Murtabak.
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They even have uniformed staff sorting out parking for peeps. Very 5*.
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Great view from Little India area to the hexagon buildings, no idea what real name is or why it got that name.
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And finally, after much building up, Murtsbak. Think crepe with thin omelet and minced beef (SWMBO’s) or chicken (mine) with a couple of sauces. Deeeeeeeeeeeeelish, and shade over an hour later I’ve just about stopped sweating.
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These were “medium”!
Will deffo be back but changing hotels tomorrow so we’ll explore the food courts near next hotel.
3rd Jan 2020 11:45 am
ianm27
Member Since: 02 Jun 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 2154
Naturalist, travel tips, health & safety advisor, architecture views and gastronomy..................is there no end to your expertise!! Uncle Ray's spare wheel protector
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3rd Jan 2020 2:12 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
No limit to food anyway. First lot (below) scoffed, 2nd lot cooking. All washed down with sugar cane juice.
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PS 2nd course, now stuffed.
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5th Jan 2020 6:19 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Well it’s almost bye bye to Singapore, off to Perth. We’ll be back here at the end of March for a couple of nights before heading to the Hanoi GP.
Gratuitous last pic from Sentosa cable car.
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Just watching ABC on the fires in SE corner of Aus, it looks really bad. Our plans for NSW/VIC/SA are scrubbed. Once we fly into Sydney we’ll prob head up to Queensland instead. In the part of WA where we were planning to go in a couple of weeks, major roads are closed so we’re looking to not head up through the middle, will stick to the coast. On top of that, a tropical cyclone is due to hit NW WA. Plus a fatal shark attack of Esperance. And this is a holiday.
5th Jan 2020 12:26 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Morning all from a booooooootiful day at Singapore airport. Home for the next 5 hours or so, good to see they’ve got the scoff sorted out.
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The two upfront aircrew have just been escorted to the gate, just hope they can find Perth on their own!
Forecast in Perth is 32c & full sun. Perfect.
6th Jan 2020 1:42 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
Morning all and greetings from a scorcher of a day in sunny Perth. Good flight here, lovely room in hotel with view over the Swan River. Said view as I type. Note no sweaty running gear on the seat, the housekeeping lady wasn’t as lucky.
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Our first sighting of Australia, strange to think we’ll be driving up there in two or three weeks. Can’t remember what the National Park area is but it’s the series of peninsulas where Monkey Mia is and Hamlin Pool Stromatolites, somewhere I’ve wanted to go to since first studying palaeontology.
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Just like flying over the tundra with all the lakes & rivers frozen. But about 50c hotter.
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And a great subset from the room last night before retiring in front of the TV to watch Bargain Hunt!
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Today was a wander out & about day, jump on & off the free buses and top up travel cards for public transport adventures we have to pay for. Also getting used to being in a new country where things are very familiar yet a lot is very different. Our first sighting of indigenous wildlife.
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SWMBO’s just been looking at food for tonight and come across one place that did kangaroo. Not sure I could eat Skippy.
And shopping, serious t-shirt shopping for me. At last a country that has proper sized t-shirts. Quick, buy shares in Target!!
Oh, and can’t miss out breakie. Prob one of the best breakies on the trip, at last decent bacon. Scoffed on the hotel terrace looking over the parkland and Swan River. Great start to the day.
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When I say parkland, that’s also the running track/torture course (SWMBO’s view) that we enjoyed/endured this morning. And it was SWMBO’s idea to go running.
7th Jan 2020 7:16 am
ianm27
Member Since: 02 Jun 2016
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 2154
Good to see a proper "full English" breakfast
As for eating Skippy - thoroughly recommend it, kangaroo meat is veryyyyyyy tasty Uncle Ray's spare wheel protector
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7th Jan 2020 1:32 pm
Down&Dirty
Member Since: 17 Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere out back
Posts: 1287
A proper brekkie
Now feeling hungry MY24 Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE
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7th Jan 2020 1:35 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 72798
If you thing that looked scrummy feast your eyes on tonight’s dinner, good old fish & chips. Really good at the same table as breakie but with sun glasses & ball cap on as sun was fierce. Even better, A$10/£5.26 each. Sadly only on offer on Tuesdays.
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Luckily we got the scoff before the fire alarm went off but as we were outside we considered, like Elvis, we’d left the building. SWMBO did suggest that it might have been the iPad in our room safe connected to a battery. She got me worried on the walk all the way to the BWS booze shop & back but she did not deflect me from my mission.
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And a boooooootiful sunset tonight, washed down with a cheeky Borossa Valley Shiraz.
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And only 10 hours til next breakfast. SWMBO’s planning another run before breakie, it’s gonna be sweaty. The run that is, not breakie.
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Meet Donald. Luckily the green man was on so no risk was taken getting this pic. 
