Sunday 27 February 2022

Singapore - February 2022

Arrived in Singapore on Monday night, Valentine's Day ! I had all my paperwork so immigration was easy. Had a PCR test and then took a taxi to the hotel - Capri by Fraser, Changi City. Checked in within one hour of landing!

I had to stay in the hotel until I received my test results, which came overnight. So I was able to leave the hotel the next day. I went shopping at the adjoining mall and went for a walk. Area is very industrial as it's near the airport, so there wasn't much to see.

On the Wednesday, I checked out, and moved to my colleague's apartment at 8 Mount Sophia. He is in HK and offered me his place. It's a nice area adjoining a mall which adjoins Dhoby Ghaut MRT station which is only two stops to Raffles Place where my office is, or two stops on another line to Chinatown, where the good bars and food are.

It's a lovely complex and pretty large. I was in Tower 10. I did laps most days in the pool...

Wednesday night I went for a walk down Orchard Road. Was going to have a drink at Emerald Hill but couldn't fine a seat outside.

On Thursday, I worked from a cafe in the city and then headed to the office. That night I had some Cantonese food and did some calls.

Friday I headed back to the city and worked at Dimbulah which is across the road from my office. 

Then I headed to the office.

On Saturday I hired a bike and rode to East Coast Park. Overcast so it wasn't too hot and it was a really nice ride. 

Looking back to the city from Gardens by the Bay...

You can tell Singapore is a big port due to all the container ships...

Sunday I went to Sentosa as I wanted to go the the Tanjong Beach Club. However, it was fully booked so I went to another one, five minutes down the road.

This is Sentosa from Harbourfront. I then walked over the pedestrian bridge...


Sat outside and had some drinks and food...


The drinks menu was three times the food menu :-)



When you've had too much coffee, it's matcha green tea time!


Singapore scenes...




My favourite meal at Lau Pa Sat. Chicken rice...


Japanese bento box one day...


One night I headed to Newton Food Centre. I was last there on my very first trip to Singapore in 1987!

Had one of my favourite Singaporean dishes - oyster pancake...



The next day I met my ex-colleague, Gracie at Emerald Hill. She gave me a tour of her workplace, which is a wellness studio. This is the outlook from their balcony of Tanjong Pagar Road...


That night I went for a drink at Boat Quay...



Sunday was raining so I went to a cafe in Duxton Hill with my book.


Then walked around Duxton Hill again...







Friday 25 February 2022

Pulau Ubin, Singapore - February 2022

On Saturday I wanted to go for a cycle somewhere different, so I headed to Pulau Ubin, an island on the north coast, between Singapore and Malaysia.

I took the MRT from Bencoolen to Upper Changi, and then bus #2 to Changi Village. I had a quick lunch at the hawker centre there.

I took what is known as a bumboat from there to the island. Cost was $4 and it was only a short ride.

I hired a bike for $20 and started by riding West to Chek Jawa wetlands. 



Left the bike and walked for a while. Saw a few monkeys...


Looking back to Singapore...


Wildlife...



This is the visitor centre at Chek Jawa...


There's a nice walk around the wetlands...



After a while I came to a tower that I climbed. It was 120 steps and gave a nice view over the trees.



Then I headed the other way and stopped at Puaka Hill which I ascended. It wasn't a big hill. Nice view looking over to Malaysia in the distance...


Kept riding and found this, known as the German Girl Shrine. It marks the site of the burial of an 18 year-old girl who fell off a cliff and died while fleeing British forces in 1914.


I then rode to the mountain bike park and rode on a couple of blue runs. Quite difficult as there were lots of tree roots and puddles on the tack. I prefer a paved road!

Back at the little village I dropped off my bike and headed back to the pier. This is a bumboat...


Leaving Pulau Ubin for now...





Thursday 17 February 2022

Sydney - February 2022

One afternoon I went for a swim at Toowoon Bay Beach. So nice!



Went for a walk at Lavender Bay one day...


Met some old school friends for dinner at The Toxteth at Glebe...


 Had some friends up to the lake house for a weekend...


Another day I visited Sandy and John at their waterfront house at Patonga...


Another day I went out on a friend's boat. We started at Apple Tree Bay. Beautiful day...


This rock is a popular jump off spot...


Anton is driving...


Old shipwreck...


I went tubing. So much fun...






Taking a well deserved rest afterwards...


Richard now driving...


Such a nice day...



Went to the city one day to meet Alex and see an exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW.  Trams in George Street are new...


Finally, after two and a half months, it's time to head back to Hong Kong via Singapore for a three week washout. 

Cutting it fine at check-in...


Overpriced lunch at Sydney airport (as usual). And it's very quiet...


Boarded SQ222 on time and had a whole row of four to myself on an A380. Watched a movie and slept.



Melbourne - June 2024

 Had to go to Melbourne for work. Flew on the Monday morning and straight to the office. After work I checked in to Voco and crossed Lonsdal...