Day 22
That darn alarm, I thought to myself as I fumbled around in
the dark trying to find my phone to turn the bloody alarm off. 430am, up and
ready to go. We headed for reception and dumped our packs and made our way to
breakfast in the hotel restaurant.
530am quick run !!!!! We needed to be on the free airport
shuttle from Concorde Inn to KLIA. Upon arrival we quickly made our way to our
check-in counter. I had managed to get free tickets to Singapore from Jetstar
Asia as part of a promo as they have just opened up a new route from Singapore
and Kuala Lumpur. I just had to pay taxes, and with a $100 return for 3 people.
Why not!
We boarded our plane and sat down; I noticed there was a bit
less leg room on Jetstar. The plane took off and I peered out the window
looking down on Malaysia unit we disappeared into the clouds. The seat belt
sign went out, and the girls scrambled for the 2 vacant rows in front of us to
stretch out. I grabbed my IPod and settled in to listen to some music, 3 songs
later it was time to turn electronics off. I sat there thinking to myself why
even mention we can turn them on.
The plane banked to the left and the window flashed our
first view of Singapore with our faces pushed against the window our eyes
marvelled at the new sights. We could see boats lining up to use the harbour,
and beyond the harbour we could see Marina Bay Sands Hotel, the Singapore Flyer
and on to the city of Singapore.
Once past immigration we headed from terminal 1 to terminal
2 and onto the Changi airport MRT station Purchased out tickets from the ticket
machine which was pretty easy and cost about $3 each. It was a little daunting
at first but we soon got the hang of it. If you get the large plastic ticket
you can exchange it after the ride for a $1 refund once your journey is
completed.
We finally arrived at our Hostel, 5footway.inn ProjectBugis. We were too early to check-in so we left our gear there and headed out
to go adventuring and for lunch. Next block to the hostel is subway, both girls
wanted to have lunch there. They had a $5 promotion of a 6 inch sub with a
drink. Bargain lunch.
After lunch we took the overpass bridge to Nicoll Highway
MRT station and headed towards Promenade MRT (ticket $1.20) and once outside we
headed towards the Singapore Flyer.
I had picked up a discount pamphlet at the airport, saying
if we had bought tickets at the tourism counter we could get a discount of $3
per ticket. Well I didn’t buy the tickets at the airport but I did have the
pamphlet with me, so I asked the guy if he could price match the pamphlet. Well
he went one better and gave us $33 per person tickets for $26.40 per person.
Bargain.
We entered the maze of displays and eventually emerged so we
could finally ride the Singapore flyer.
I was amazed to see what a fantastic 360 view of Singapore city at a
calm and gently pace and as much as we enjoyed it we also thank god it was over.
I guess there only so much to see but it is well worth a look for the first
timer.
We walked back to Promenade MRT to catch the train to
Esplanade MRT. And walk up the road a little to see the world famous Raffles
Hotel.
We doubled back a bit to grab so cash from the ATM (Citibank
Fee Free). We then headed towards the Marina Bay waterfront to see Marina Bay
Sands from a different angle and the Merlion, which was packed. There was a
quick rain storm for 10 minutes we took refuge under the bridge until it
passed. Soon enough the sun had popped out from behind the disappearing clouds
and really turned the humidity knob up to ultrahigh.
We made our way back
to the Hostel via the MRT,to freshen up and get ready to go out.
We walked to the next block to the Nicoll Highway overbridge
and MRT and had a great feed of Chicken rice with a bowl of soup and a bean
sprout salad with water all for $6.
After dinner we flagged down a taxi, which was a bit tougher
than we thought it would be. Seems taxi drivers prefer to pick up in ERP zones
as they earn more money. We finally got a taxi to the Singapore night safari
which took about 30 minutes and cost me $25 dollars.
The night safari was packed which takes a lot of enjoyment
out of things. We had to line up for quite some time to ride the tram around
the park with is a great way to see the animals. Not really good for photos
though. But very enjoyable and a different way to view the animals the girls
enjoyed trying to spot the animals in the dark. After the tram we lined up for
the show which was enjoyable with a message. By this time we were worn out. It
had been a long day. We watched the fire show before grabbing a taxi back to
the hostel which cost us $20.
Back at the hostel we enjoyed a hot shower a hot chocolate a
bit of boasting on Facebook before bed.
5footway.inn Project Bugis is a hostel not far from Arab
Street and the Mosque. The hostel is great it has a lounge area with a TV and 2
Apple Mac computers. The rooms are up stairs, our room slept 3 with a double
loft style bed with a futon for a single bed. The room is basic and small, it
has a small desk a lamp a power point and a few hooks to hang stuff and air
conditioned. We also had a private bathroom with a toilet and hot shower, which
was great. We also got once free towels and coffee and Milo was free from the
coffee machine so was the Wi-Fi and breakfast of cornflakes or toast was
provided on the back terrace.
Website Here
Day 23
Next morning it was raining, well more like pouring down
really. So we decided to be a bit lazy and grab some breaky and had a nap, I
also washed our clothes.
We ventured out after lunch to the Marina shopping center.
Mc Donald’s was chosen followed by a game of bowling and a later afternoon
movie. Gangster squad was a good movie and we were very happy with our selection.
We caught the MRT back to Bugis and wondered around Arab st
area and the Mosque it was a great vide with a wide range of Halal restaurants
and the sweet smell of shisha pipe tobacco drifting through the air. The area
has a wide range of fabrics for sale as well as a few tourist shops and well
worth a look and a meal.
Day 24
4 am and time to get ready, we checked-out and ordered a
taxi to Changi airport. The trip took about 20 minutes and cost me $23.
We made our way through immigration and to grab something to
eat, subway was a good choice. We ate up and made our way to the gate to wait
and board the Jetstar plane to Kuala Lumpur.
Once we boarded it was a short 40 minute flight to KLIA. We
cleared immigration and customs and made our way to level 1 and door 3 to grab
our free shuttle bus to the Concord Inn.
I had booked day use of the room, and I’m glad I did it
rained all day and we were worn out. We checked-in and went off to our room.
But once we got there, we heard a drumming and megaphones blaring. I had to go
back to reception to complain about the noise again. How could we sleep with
that noise, the hotel manager gave us a room upgrade, but the room was closer
to the noise. So I went back to reception and asked for my money back, the
manager asked if I would take another room well away from the noise I agreed to
see the room. It was miles away from the noise and very quiet. We took the room
with an extra few hours to check-out from 6 pm to 8 pm and grabbed some much
needed rest.
7pm and we checked-out and grabbed the free shuttle bus to
KLAI then went to the 2nd level and got the green bus for 2.50 MR to
LCCT.
We arrived at LCCT and made our way to Mc Donald’s for a
feast, before making our way past immigration and to the gate. The wait for our
flight home seemed to take a life time to go by. I think we were all thinking
the same thing, home, hot shower, to be close to loved ones and our own beds. And
as much as we have done and seen over the last 24 days. Home is always at the
back of our minds.
We boarded the Air Asia plane and took our seats. Only to
find out we have been delayed! We had to wait for a flight from Phuket with 42
passengers having to go through immigration and board the flight which took an
extra 50 minutes. I guess time was made up in the sky as we landed pretty much
on time.
Day 25
I walked out of Sydney immigration and customs to see a guy
holding a sign with my name on it. I approached him and said I’m him, pointing
to the sign. Seems my parents had sprung a lift from the airport home with a
hire car company. A limo had just finished a job in Sydney. So lucky us scored
a limo ride home with plenty of room to stretch out and enjoy the ride home.
With me staring out the window left me wondering “what’s next!”
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