February 9 - 10

Singapore to Paraparaumu

I completed my packing, all bar the last odds and ends for the airport, and set off into the Funan Mall for breakfast at one of the Toast Box chain of restaurants.

Nasi Goreng (noodles) and a cup of the lethally strong local black coffee were a more than adequate start to the day. There was quite a lot of spice in the noodles to wake me up. The deep fried hard boiled egg was an interesting variant! The food was OK and cheap enough. At least the place was open. The only other place in full swing was Macdonalds. Right: Nasi Goreng

Feeling the need for something healthy, don't mention my blood sugar, I went round the corner to The Sidewalk for a lump of pineapple.

I returned to the hotel, checked out, the process being complicated by my electronic key suddenly refusing to work, and abandoned my bags at the porters' desk. I now had five hours in which to entertain myself.

The most immediate problem - some fools would call it an opportunity - was that the rain forecast for the last couple of days really did look likely. There were dark clouds and a gentle breeze. Whilst I did have my umbrella, I didn't want it to get too wet before departing for the airport. I walked the short distance to the Padang and watched the cricket for a few minutes. This definitely wasn't cricket with a village green backdrop. On the opposite side of the road, on the steps of the National Gallery, a wedding photographer was plying his trade.
Wedding photographer at large	A dull and menacing day

I walked the short distance to the Padang and watched the cricket for a few minutes. This definitely wasn't cricket with a village green backdrop. On the opposite side of the road, on the steps of the National Gallery, a wedding photographer was plying his trade.

On the river bank is the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. I have to wonder if he really was that handsome. I sat on a bench outside the Asian Civilizations Museum, watching the world and the river go by and enjoying the huge silver balls. The photo of the day/week/year eluded me when a bloke shot past on a bike with a dachshund wearing dark glasses perched on the crossbar in front of him. If only my camera hadn't been zipped into its bag!
	Was he really this handsome?
Clouds over The Singapore River	Singapore has great street art

Outside the Fullerton Hotel, is a fine statue of boys leaping into the river. I don't think I had noticed this before. There is also a stone to Josef Konrad, who had strong links to Singapore before returning to England - and death!

The hotel, itself, is very grand as befits the former General Post Office, but difficult to photograph. Too many roads and too many trees.

I always enjoy these	Another wedding photographer

Outside, on the Cavenagh Bridge, another wedding photographer was at work.

The Merlion was as busy as you would expect on a Sunday morning. I joined the crowds and took a few photos, then sat on a bench and wrote. The air was beginning to generate a few drops of rain - unless it was spray from the fountain.

	The Fullerton Hotel from a good angle
	I sat and watched the boats and the people for a while, then crossed over to "The Durian", otherwise known as the Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. While doing this, I found a small inscription on a bench. Needless to say, it made me cry. The roof of The Durian is spectacular and forms part of the building's cooling system.
Always busy with tourists

The Durian - amazing construction	This made me cry
Whilst the rain hadn't materialised, it was hot so I soon took refuge in the City Link Mall, an amazing linear mall which runs for about a kilometre between two train stations. I immediately found another branch of Tim Ho Wan. He seems to be spreading round the world, even Australia. Unfortunately, I hadn't planned any further food until the airport in mid afternoon. Almost opposite, I had an iced lemon tea in a café.
Citylink Mall goes on for miles	Raffles City fountain

The basement of Raffles City has a wonderful fountain. The waves spread outward from the base, heralding the jets of water rising to quite a height. Great fun. I watched for a while.

I returned to the train station, collected some information on tourist tickets for Gary & Judi - they never made it here - and rode three stops to the end of the line to visit the Maritime Museum. The station was huge for a relatively quiet sort of place.  By the time I emerged above ground, the rain had arrived - and it had arrived in buckets.

Marina South Pier Station	It came down in buckets
I walked 50 metres undercover to the museum, which was very good. Lots of information, lots of models and a good video on the development of the huge new harbour at Jurong. The little man at reception chased me round as I hadn't completed the form which required lots of personal data. He was, however, very helpful when I asked to see a map of it all.
Models of boats and lighthouses

I emerged after 40 minutes and the rain had gone. I climbed up to the roof level, which gave an uninterrupted view of the ships sitting offshore - dozens of them. I remembered on my last visit here that the area around was rough grass. It still was. I wonder how it will be developed.

There was a good view across the harbour	Still awaiting development

I returned to the train, caught one back to the hotel and sat in the foyer writing my diary. With half an hour  before I needed to make tracks to the airport, the temptation to have a beer at The Sidewalk was strong. I must be good.

I collected my bags downstairs, shuffled some things between them and, at 15.00 found a taxi. The driver was very friendly, they mostly are here, and we rushed along the very quiet roads, reaching the airport in 20 minutes. There was a little drizzle on the windscreen but signs of much heavier rain on some of the roads.

I arrived too soon and had to wait nearly fifteen minutes before the check-in desk opened. After that, it was full speed ahead and I was checked-in and airside in about eight minutes.

	I found the lounge and instantly poured myself, expertly may I say,  a small cold Tiger. It was worth waiting for. I helped myself to some excellent food, the best being a bowl of laksa, and wrestled with the sim cards in my phones. Switching them between phones is a  major operation. The old one is a nightmare. I really should pension it off.
Beer ...	... and laksa

I left the lounge with over an hour to spare and needed it. It was a long walk to the gate and then security took the best part of fifteen minutes. I passed into the gate lounge just after they had started boarding.

We pushed back a whole three minutes late. It was distinctly damp outside. I have been very fortunate with the weather on this visit. It then took another 20 minutes taxiing and the flight monitor went from forecasting us arriving 30 minutes early to arriving ten minutes late. Within a very short time, this had stretched to being 20 minutes late.

The flight continued with nothing other than a few bumps to disturb us. The food and wine were quite good and I managed an hour or so of sleep.

We finally arrived in Christchurch on a glorious sunny morning about ten minutes late. We piled off the plane and were then held up in a corridor by a security guard who explained that an outgoing plane had been cancelled and that they needed to clear the passengers and their baggage. He said that it would take five minutes but it was nearer fifteen. Once the backlog was cleared, we went through without any problems.

The delays meant that I decided to cancel my planned coffee with John and headed to the lounge, instead.

The flight to Wellington was quick and easy and we landed there in sunshine and breeze. A shuttle took me to the station, where I only had to wait a few minutes for a train. This was a rush hour express, meaning that I had to stand as far as Porirua but was then able to have a seat on a very crowded train for the remaining 40 minutes of the journey. All of this meant that I was at Paraparaumu Station in little more than a couple of hours after touchdown.

Valerie collected me and drove me to her new house, where we entertained her grandson for the remainder of the afternoon. In the evening, we went to see the grandson again, who put on an impromptu performance for us.