Singapore was fun, we find the place more than a little sterile at the best of times though, and without the hustle and bustle of hundreds of tourists and locals it was a bit weird and almost more sterile than usual. Raffles haven't developed a BOGOF mentality and we duly paid $64 (Singapore Dollars) for 4 Slings. We spent the afternoon buying Pat a new camera (well he bought it not us but you know what I mean) and then returned to the centre for a few beers and a meal at a Teppenyaki place - they cook all the food at your table and it was great! Couple of piccies below, Raffles then Teppenyaki.
After a few hours sleep we wearily met up again at the airport and managed somehow to blag Helen and Rich into the Club Class lounge. We were informed that our upgrade request (we were top of the queue) was looking unlikely as Business Class was full....bugger! It duly was, no one dropped out or died or anything and we took our places in Economy albeit in the additional legroom seats. The flight was smooth and we arrived in Sydney at around 6.30 local time - that's 9 hours (we think) ahead of the UK.
Our hostel is in King's Cross and it is less than salubrious, but at least it's reasonably affordable - $75 (AUS) for a night for a triple room and we've got our own cooking facilities and sofa so it can't be all bad. Hell they even carried the FA Cup final live last night and I managed to turn the contrast down just enough as not to keep anyone awake...good game I thought...shame about the result. The football was only interrupted by police sirens, screaming prostitutes, and drunk Aussies. This all occured on the streets outside, not at the Millenium Stadium; well, to my knowledge anyway.
This morning was a kind of sorting out/washing clothes morning which we duly did. We've booked a 6-berth campervan and are off up the coast via the Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley (major wine-producing region) from Saturday. We have also sorted a kind of itinery (that's the royal we - it was Helen really) which will mean we're going to take in a whole lot of stuff over the next few days. The harbour bridge, opera house, Manly ferry (ferry to Manly not just a ferry for 'Manly' blokes), a couple of museums, The Rocks - they're all on the agenda. As I am 28 on Wednesday obviously we're taking things a little easy on Thursday but we have yet to sort any kind of itinery for the 21st...ideas on a postcard. We wanted to have a BBQ on Bondi beach but unfortunately the weather is cold and rainy at the mo although we're promised a heatwave by the weekend...
In readiness for the big trip north and as an aside we decided to come up with our 'on-the-road' names - the rules were that they had to be a pun on a musical artist/band and involve driving and our names. We came up with the following:
Van HELEN
Steeleye-SDAN
RICHARD ClayderVan
JEN Van Jovi
PATsy Transit (Kensit)
At the time very funny, not as funny now they're written - any better ones on a postcard to the usual address...
This afternoon we went to see Sydney City Roosters Vs the Newcastle Knights (Rugby League not some kind of Chicken Vs Medievil Man combat game). All great fun and a win for the home team (defending NRL Champions) by 34-14. The man of the match was one of only 2 'poms' playing over here - Adrian Morley. Depite him being ex-(dirty)Leeds we cheered him throughout.
Tonight we're cooking pasta and a tomato sauce and will undoubtedly polish some off the ridiculously cheap wine - less than 3 quid for a bottle of Rosemount Estate - marvellous. Jen's happy as she's got the wine option in addition to the alcopop option. I'm happy 'cos I've found salt and vinegar crisps - even if they taste like Sainsbury's own broand not Walkers...beggers and all that...
You will all be extremely pleased to know that tea last night consisted of a massive donner kebab and chilli sauce - my first in about 6 months - WONDERFUL!!!
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