Hong Kong hotel quarantine - March 2022

Well here I am again - 5th hotel quarantine and 3rd in Hong Kong. I couldn't get into the Kerry this time so had booked Ovolo Southside. I arrived on a Monday night and my first impressions were not great. But after a sleep, I realised I just had to get through it.

I have a corner deluxe room looking over a busy road.

But at least there is some greenery looking the other way and the weather looks really nice. That's Ocean Park you can see to the right...

I got my Nespresso machine delivered from the office...

And my daughter's Christmas present arrived and I enjoyed doing that...

A work contact sent me some snacks which were hugely appreciated...

I enjoyed doing this crossword...

And my friend Ian dropped in this care package...

Sunday was day 14 and I checked out at 00:15 Monday morning and got an Uber home.

Hopefully this is my last quarantine!

Singapore - March 2022

Met an ex-colleague for a drink at Lantern at the Fullerton Bay Hotel. Great night and too many beers! 

Another night went to Satay Club at Robertson Quay for dinner...

My colleague who's apartment I am staying in, was due to come back to Singapore, so I checked into the Parkroyal Pickering where I have stayed once before. I picked it for the pool!

However my colleague tested positive for COVID and is therefore not able to travel back. So I checked out and moved back into the apartment to save some money. Hotels are not cheap here.

I finally made it to Atlas one Friday night. It's number 16 on a list of the world's top bars. I tried to get in on my last trip but was wearing shorts and they didn't let me. It's really gorgeous and the G&T was great.

Ordered the $16 pommes frites...

Saturday morning I headed to Telok Ayer and found a Western style cafe. It's a cool area and not far from where I am staying.

Then had a walk around. It's a beautiful day...

Then caught the MRT to Bugis and walked around Arab Street...

I have been in this area before but had missed Haji Lane...

Chinatown at night...

On Sunday I got up and did a hike around Henderson Waves. I caught the bus 124 from Dhoby Ghaut to Henderson Waves. About a 30 minute ride.

It's on the south side of the island and looks across to Sentosa...

This is known as the canopy walk...

The hike was fine but you don't feel like you are really away from the city.

That afternoon I had afternoon tea at the Sofitel...

On Monday 14th I headed to the airport and caught Singapore Airlines back to Hong Kong. Finally !

Did the usual rigmarole at the airport and after my test results, caught the bus to Ovolo Southside for my 5th quarantine.

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...