PS

All my boxes have arrived - the last one came yesterday -- one week after I posted it in Angers, France.  I've been waiting for them all, so I can unpack and sort through everything.  I wonder what things are in there that I've forgotten?

Final Leg (June 16)

Last day in Singapore, last day of the trip, last leg of the journey.
Luckily I had a feeling it was time to wake up - I forgot to set my alarm!  I was checked out and in the taxi shortly after 6am.  Before I rush off to the airport - let me show you the room I had in Singapore -

You have to move side on to get to the head of the bed, where the window is, and where my luggage is.

 The bathroom area is quite spacious though.

Could just squeeze in an ironing board!
Update on the henna -

Not so good the morning after, but it got darker during the day.
OK - back to the airport.  Busy check in gate!

You can have your picture taken as a millionaire.

 Third laksa in three days - awesome!  At SGD$4 great value for airport food!

While waiting I had a great seat watching these big birds being manoeuvred.

Giant vessels.

 

 Goodbye Singapore.

Landed at 7.15, arrived home around 8.30.

Singapore (15 June)

I decided to take it easy this morning - most things don't really open until 11.  I left the room at 12 and headed straight to lunch.  Another laksa - this time with heaps of oysters, one prawn and tofu.

I have always been a fan, but many of them in Australia now have an oversweet coconut milk base - they are more savoury here.  I drank an ice cold Milo - haven't had a Milo for more years than I can remember.  I could have had a "dinosaur" which means an large spoon of dry milo on the top.  There's even a "godzilla" with ice cream or whipped cream.

I caught the bus downtown again, but unlike yesterday it was not a double decker and was absolutely packed.  I was heading for the contemporary art museum.  It was taken over by kids' activities - including this fun circular table tennis table.

So I went to the main gallery - SAM.  I was in time for the guided tour, and we focused on the Panorama exhibit, subtitled "Contemporary Art from Recent Asia".  The volunteer guide was wonderful and we saw some amazing art.  One artist started her paintings with dark paint and then layer by layer masked the paint and painted light colours over the top.  The result is a shimmery, almost op art but visually softer, layered work.  Impressive. (This is part of a triptych - the artists is Om Mee Ai)

As part of my entry fee I was entitled to a free ceramic flower - but when I got there, I found that they were still wet clay - I didn't see my chances of getting it home OK, so I declined.  Around the walls were pieces of clay that had been textured using every day objects - the humble bull dog clip leaves great prints.

The installation was called "Everyday Wonders" and [I am quoting now from the information on the wall] was inspired by artist Loh Sau Kuen's experience from teaching individuals with special needs.  She hoped to develop awareness and cultivate meaningful appreciation of art through the use of familiar objects.
Well, it was a few hours since I had eaten, so I stopped off and had another ice dessert - gingko nuts and lotus seeds - the juice had an iced tea flavour.

I was looking for sunglasses, and generally window shopping.  I thought a real coffee would be a good idea, and had a tiramisu icecream and fruit thingy to go with it.

Sadly, these western style places in malls are three times as expensive as the hawker centres I've been eating and drinking at.  Nice pattern.

I had a lovely wander through shops in Sim Lim Square - full of electronic/computer/camera stores - and then started walking home.  I heard the call to prayer and saw lots of faithful washing their feet before heading into the mosque.

I stopped at an Indian Arcade - that's my hand being made beautiful.

and here is the finished design.

The henna is like chocolate icing when it goes on.  It takes a while to dry and then just crumbles off.  I picked off a fair bit on my walk to the hotel, but when I emptied my bag there were lots of bits in there as well.  The stain on my skin is not dark but is still visible - it will last about 2 weeks.

Singapore (14 June)

I got off the plane OK, but my naughty little camera hid itself in one of the seat pockets, and I had to go back and rescue it.  It was odd seeing everyone standing on the left of the travelator.  (Must. Remember. Drive. On. Left. Side. Of. Road.)  There was a huge bottle neck at the immigration checkpoint - I guess processing 485 or so people takes time.  Wall art kept me interested for a while,

and then I thought of our forlorn luggage, going round and round, wondering if we would ever be united again - we were.  By the way, when we landed at 6.35am, it was already 28 degrees - yes!  It was too early to check in, so I left my luggage and did some sight seeing.  I caught a double decker bus - I haven't been on one of these since school.  I got the top front seat too!  Look - I can see the top of the bus shelter!

I was headed to the Quay and Bay area.  Pod lifts.

 

 Public art.

 

The Marina Sands is some building.

 I have no idea what this is.

You cross via the Helix Bridge to get there

but I was heading the other way to see Mr Merlion, the brainchild of a tourist campaign from the 80s.

I was literally dragging my feet.  I was thirsty and hungry and jet-lagged and caffeine deprived.  I fixed one of those problems with an blended ice fruit drink -sorry - cuppy!

 

A red plum flavour first - nice and sour.  And then I went back for a lemon one.  And fixed the hunger thing with a laksa - not such a hot idea when you're wearing a white blouse, but the stains faded.

I went back to the hotel and crashed.  I then got up in time for dinner - a rose bandung to drink

carrot cake - the base made of flour, water and shredded daikon, and topped with soy sauce, spring onion, bits of meat - yummy!

and chicken claw.  I won't go on about it, but it was truly delicious.

There was still plenty of heat around, so a cooling dessert sounded good to me - red bean and peanut ice kachang was perfect.

Transit (13 June)

I got to the airport early as usual (only slightly delayed by having to rush back to my room after checking out, to retrieve my nook).  My last "meal" on French soil.

I do like airports - the anticipation and the excitement of seeing all those enticing destinations inside the terminal, and the physical experience, once you're on the plane, that this is it, you are going to be flying.  I have flown a fair number of times, and I'm always in awe.  I love the slow build up of taxi-ing

 and the dip and lift that tells you, yes, you have left the ground behind.

And this, boys and girls, is it - the magic.  It's simply streams of air keeping us up there above the clouds.

 

I can't complain about the food, but on the drinks front, I had to stick with white wine, as they didn't have a Singapore Sling for me this time.  They did however bring around a nightcap of Baileys - how civilised!!