This final entry of my short blog is written looking back, because I am home now.
Yesterday we got up and had our last breakfast buffet. We then headed down to the pool for a final swim before going back up to our rooms to pack our bags for leaving. I didn't go in the pool but apparently the water was very cold - not my idea of pleasant and relaxing.
After our bags were packed, we called a cab (another dreaded London cab with no seatbelt) and headed for the airport. We said goodbye to Mum and Dad, who were jumping on another plane and having an extended holiday, and checked our bags in. We then went and had a look at the two butterfly gardens within the airport.
The outdoor rooms were huge and spacious, and there were hundreds of butterflies of different sizes and colours, fluttering high and low. There was also a glass cage with rows of chrysalis's inside, waiting to become butterflies, when they will be let out and free to fly around with the other butterflies.
At one stage a woman came over to me with a butterfly on her hand, and put it on my hand. It was so light in weight, and just stayed there without moving, even if I moved my arm. After a while I gently lowered it onto a log because it was time for us to get going.
This time we flew with Singapore Airlines. Much to my relief the aisle chair did fit down the aisle this time, and the staff were very helpful with transferring me across to my seat. Unlike the seat on the Scoot flight, my Singapore airlines seat was extremely comfortable, and I settled in and relaxed, ready for the 8 hour flight home.
Dinner came shortly after take off, which was delayed by an hour because of some sort of engine fault or something. I had braised chicken and rice (a different dish to the one on the way here though) with beans and carrots, and after dinner I closed my eyes and snoozed until we landed in Sydney.
It had been a great few days away, but there's no place like home!
Tuesday, 14 June 2016
Monday, 13 June 2016
Day 3 - HOHO bus tour and our last full day
We started the day with another buffet breakfast. This time I had an omelette with cheese, capsicum and spring onion, as well as a prawn on sugar cane, some super crispy bacon, followed by a sweet mini muffin and a cappucino.
After breakfast we got ready for our main activity of the day - the Hop On Hop Off tour bus, which was brilliantly wheelchair accessible with a fold out ramp. When we had boarded the bus we were given earplugs to listen to the audio commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed the bus tour, as it gave me more of a feeling of being in Singapore than anything else we had done so far.
We went through many interesting parts of Singapore including the Little India area, where there were centuries old temples and mosques. Every time the doors opened to let someone on or off at a stop I saw something different that added to the experience of being there.
For lunch we stopped off at a restaurant called Jumbo Seafood, which Mum had read excellent reviews of their Singapore Chilli Crab. We were in for a treat. We were seated at our table, and bibs were tied around our necks. First we ordered a few small dishes to try before the main event arrived. My favourite was the extremely tasty crispy dried and fried baby squid. It was delicious and I could have munched on it forever.
When the crab finally arrived after a long wait (when we enquired where it was they said that it had been alive, so they had to kill it before cooking it), I was very disappointed. It smelt like Campbell's tomato soup and tasted pretty similar to it too, and the heat of the chilli, which I was expecting to be as fiery as a flamethrower, was what I would call mild. It made me realise how spoilt we were with the Solomon brand Singapore Chilli Crab. The bread rolls we had to accompany the crab and mop up the juices were delicious though. Soft like clouds and slightly sweet, I could have easily eaten several.
After lunch we browsed the shops for a little while, a mall much like you would find in Australia, and I bought a pair of black shoes for work. Then we got back on the bus, back to our hotel in time for the evening cocktails - what a relaxing way to end our last full day.
After breakfast we got ready for our main activity of the day - the Hop On Hop Off tour bus, which was brilliantly wheelchair accessible with a fold out ramp. When we had boarded the bus we were given earplugs to listen to the audio commentary. I thoroughly enjoyed the bus tour, as it gave me more of a feeling of being in Singapore than anything else we had done so far.
We went through many interesting parts of Singapore including the Little India area, where there were centuries old temples and mosques. Every time the doors opened to let someone on or off at a stop I saw something different that added to the experience of being there.
For lunch we stopped off at a restaurant called Jumbo Seafood, which Mum had read excellent reviews of their Singapore Chilli Crab. We were in for a treat. We were seated at our table, and bibs were tied around our necks. First we ordered a few small dishes to try before the main event arrived. My favourite was the extremely tasty crispy dried and fried baby squid. It was delicious and I could have munched on it forever.
When the crab finally arrived after a long wait (when we enquired where it was they said that it had been alive, so they had to kill it before cooking it), I was very disappointed. It smelt like Campbell's tomato soup and tasted pretty similar to it too, and the heat of the chilli, which I was expecting to be as fiery as a flamethrower, was what I would call mild. It made me realise how spoilt we were with the Solomon brand Singapore Chilli Crab. The bread rolls we had to accompany the crab and mop up the juices were delicious though. Soft like clouds and slightly sweet, I could have easily eaten several.
After lunch we browsed the shops for a little while, a mall much like you would find in Australia, and I bought a pair of black shoes for work. Then we got back on the bus, back to our hotel in time for the evening cocktails - what a relaxing way to end our last full day.
Sunday, 12 June 2016
Day 2- Gardens by the Bay
We started the day with breakfast at the buffet in our hotel. As well as the usual buffet items -fresh fruit, yoghurt, eggs, sausages, baked beans, hash browns, toast with jam and other bakery items, they had dumplings and other Chinese inspired yum cha type dishes. I decided to start with fruit with yoghurt and honey and a cappucino, and then finished with a hash brown.
After breakfast we went back up to our rooms to decide what the plan of attack was for the day. We agreed that the one thing we all wanted to do was go and see the Gardens by the Bay. Fortunately, it was walking distance from our hotel, and after getting a little lost we eventually got there. It was pretty spectacular and we walked over a steel bridge and walkway, high above the trees. The views and the scenery were spectacular. There were plants and flowers of many different varieties everywhere, as well as a huge man made waterfall. It was like being at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!
Back at the hotel we had a cup of tea before heading back to our rooms.
Dinner was at the hotel's restaurant, and it was a set menu with 5 small courses, and a clear jelly with fruit for dessert. It was difficult to pick a favourite, I enjoyed it all, but the steamed piece of fish was definitely one of the highlights.
After breakfast we went back up to our rooms to decide what the plan of attack was for the day. We agreed that the one thing we all wanted to do was go and see the Gardens by the Bay. Fortunately, it was walking distance from our hotel, and after getting a little lost we eventually got there. It was pretty spectacular and we walked over a steel bridge and walkway, high above the trees. The views and the scenery were spectacular. There were plants and flowers of many different varieties everywhere, as well as a huge man made waterfall. It was like being at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory!
Back at the hotel we had a cup of tea before heading back to our rooms.
Dinner was at the hotel's restaurant, and it was a set menu with 5 small courses, and a clear jelly with fruit for dessert. It was difficult to pick a favourite, I enjoyed it all, but the steamed piece of fish was definitely one of the highlights.
Day 1 - 3...2...1...Take off! Here we go!!
I woke up at 7.30am and finished packing. Its so difficult to know what to pack when I'm going to a completely different climate, but started by packing all the essential items, and then did my best with the rest, and hoped I hadn't forgotten anything.
After a quick cup of coffee I said my final goodbye to Hannah, and then Mum and Dad arrived to pick me up, and after a thorough check that I had everything, we hopped in a cab and headed for the airport.
Having not traveled overseas many tines in my life, I had completely forgotten what a process it all is, and it was confusing to find where to line up for the various checks and official things that have to be done. It was then that I first realised how much more difficult it would have been if I had done this holiday with a non family member, as I was originally planning and so much wanting to do. But that wasn't the end of the dramas. When it came time to board the plane was when the next lot of fun began. I got transferred into an aisle chair as usual, and we headed onto the plane. The aisle chair barely made it down the aisle, and when we got to the front of the plane where our seats were and the aisle narrowed even more, the chair decided it would fit no more. But there was no giving up by the staff. I was wheeled all the way back to the front of the plane, where they turned the seat around and decided to see if reversing down the aisle would work. It didn't. So back to the front of the plane we went, and Mum and Dad picked me up out of the seat and carried me to my seat. What an elegant way to start! But at least I was finally on board. Note to self and all my other friends with disabilities: Do NOT fly with Scoot!
After all the other passengers were on board and seated, the cabin crew went through the essential safety instructions (who doesn't know how to do up a seatbelt?! Duh!), and after taxing for what felt like forever, we were finally off.
Soon after take off we were brought our lunch. I had braised chicken with rice. The chicken was tender and very aromatic and full of flavour, and the rice was soft and had been cooked with stock to give it extra deliciousness.
My seat was pretty uncomfortable and I spent the whole 8 hour flight with sore shoulders. I had planned to sleep for some of the time, but that didn't happen, as when I tilted my seat back my shoulders just got more sore, so I was relieved when we finally landed.
At Changi airport we were greeted by our taxi driver, who was holding a board with my name on it. The wheelchair accessible taxi was an old London cab that had been converted to take wheelchairs, but the travelling style came as quite a shock to me, as their were no belts to tie the wheelchair down, and nor were their seatbelts for the passengers, including me. So I clung onto the seat in front of me, with Mum and Dad both holding my wheelchair, and I hoped that he was a good, smooth driver and wouldn't brake suddenly.
Eventually we got to our hotel and I could unclench my fists and breathe a sigh of relief.
Too exhausted to do anything else, we checked into our rooms - one for my parents and one for my sister and I and unpacked our stuff. We had take away from a local restaurant for dinner before falling into bed, exhausted and emotionally drained from a huge day. The beds were huge and comfortable, and as I fell asleep I thought about how excited I was that we were finally here, and I was looking forward to exploring in the morning.
After a quick cup of coffee I said my final goodbye to Hannah, and then Mum and Dad arrived to pick me up, and after a thorough check that I had everything, we hopped in a cab and headed for the airport.
Having not traveled overseas many tines in my life, I had completely forgotten what a process it all is, and it was confusing to find where to line up for the various checks and official things that have to be done. It was then that I first realised how much more difficult it would have been if I had done this holiday with a non family member, as I was originally planning and so much wanting to do. But that wasn't the end of the dramas. When it came time to board the plane was when the next lot of fun began. I got transferred into an aisle chair as usual, and we headed onto the plane. The aisle chair barely made it down the aisle, and when we got to the front of the plane where our seats were and the aisle narrowed even more, the chair decided it would fit no more. But there was no giving up by the staff. I was wheeled all the way back to the front of the plane, where they turned the seat around and decided to see if reversing down the aisle would work. It didn't. So back to the front of the plane we went, and Mum and Dad picked me up out of the seat and carried me to my seat. What an elegant way to start! But at least I was finally on board. Note to self and all my other friends with disabilities: Do NOT fly with Scoot!
After all the other passengers were on board and seated, the cabin crew went through the essential safety instructions (who doesn't know how to do up a seatbelt?! Duh!), and after taxing for what felt like forever, we were finally off.
Soon after take off we were brought our lunch. I had braised chicken with rice. The chicken was tender and very aromatic and full of flavour, and the rice was soft and had been cooked with stock to give it extra deliciousness.
My seat was pretty uncomfortable and I spent the whole 8 hour flight with sore shoulders. I had planned to sleep for some of the time, but that didn't happen, as when I tilted my seat back my shoulders just got more sore, so I was relieved when we finally landed.
At Changi airport we were greeted by our taxi driver, who was holding a board with my name on it. The wheelchair accessible taxi was an old London cab that had been converted to take wheelchairs, but the travelling style came as quite a shock to me, as their were no belts to tie the wheelchair down, and nor were their seatbelts for the passengers, including me. So I clung onto the seat in front of me, with Mum and Dad both holding my wheelchair, and I hoped that he was a good, smooth driver and wouldn't brake suddenly.
Eventually we got to our hotel and I could unclench my fists and breathe a sigh of relief.
Too exhausted to do anything else, we checked into our rooms - one for my parents and one for my sister and I and unpacked our stuff. We had take away from a local restaurant for dinner before falling into bed, exhausted and emotionally drained from a huge day. The beds were huge and comfortable, and as I fell asleep I thought about how excited I was that we were finally here, and I was looking forward to exploring in the morning.
Thursday, 9 June 2016
The day before the flight
It's the day before we leave and I'm starting to feel a little anxious. I'm not sure what about exactly, but it could be a few things. It could be the fact that I'll be going from Sydney's winter to hot, humid Singapore, and I'm not entirely sure what to take, having not started packing yet, it could be the fact that I'm not looking forward to the long flight, when I won't be able to get out of my plane seat for the entire time, or it could be because the "fun" part of overseas travel starts today - Clexane injections, a blood thinner to stop me from getting blood clots in my legs from being inactive for a long length of time. These injections don't hurt, as they go into a layer of fat in my belly, but I hate them all the same. Fun stuff...
I never used to have to have them until I got a blood clot in my leg after a long stay in hospital. I was put on Clexane injections every day for 2 weeks until the clot disappeared, and from then on it was decided that it would be a good idea if I had it for plane trips longer than 5 hours. I have one the day before the flight, one just before the flight, and one the day after the flight, and then the same on the way back, meaning that I will have 6 "lovely" injections in the space of a week, I can't wait!...
I never used to have to have them until I got a blood clot in my leg after a long stay in hospital. I was put on Clexane injections every day for 2 weeks until the clot disappeared, and from then on it was decided that it would be a good idea if I had it for plane trips longer than 5 hours. I have one the day before the flight, one just before the flight, and one the day after the flight, and then the same on the way back, meaning that I will have 6 "lovely" injections in the space of a week, I can't wait!...
Wednesday, 8 June 2016
Why Singapore?
Why Singapore, you might ask. I've been wanting to go to Singapore for a few years now. I can't quite remember what put the idea in my head to begin with - whether it was a friend telling me it was a great place, very wheelchair accessible, and not outrageously far away, or if it was because we stopped there to change planes on the way to and from Vienna a few years ago, but the latter just confirmed my wanting to go, and made the desire even stronger. I'd also heard somewhere that it was "Asia's most wheelchair accessible country", and seeing as most places in the world that I want to go to are either a) too far away for my liking, or b) too inaccessible, Singapore was definitely on the 'to do' list.
So, what will I be doing during my 5 days away? Join me, all you 'armchair travellers', and we'll find out together!
Enjoy the ride. :)
So, what will I be doing during my 5 days away? Join me, all you 'armchair travellers', and we'll find out together!
Enjoy the ride. :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)