Saturday 6 January 2018, Three Kings Day, leaving Singapore

We were up at 8am again. I had a nice shower at Park Regis. We went to Ronin again for our usual breakfast - they know us there now. I had granola with pomegranate and a flat white. Then we went back to the hotel before taking the metro to Bay Front via Chinatown. It involved a tricky change.

The Marina Bay Sands hotel which we passed on our way

We went round the Gardens by the Bay anticlockwise this time and visited the Colonial Garden. We saw pepper, coffee, cocoa, rubber, clove, cinnamon, nutmeg and gambier plants or their products. We also enjoyed seeing the optical illusion baby sculpture by Mark Quinn.

A rubber tree in the gardens

Back at the hotel,  we completed our packing, checked out and went to Brewerkz for a nice cold beer and fish and chips. Then at the hotel we rested on a sofa on level 3, as we had forfeited our room. We got an early taxi to the airport, and waited ages in the Business Lounge for our 01.30 flight to Zurich. At least this time I didn't fail the thumbprint check at Changi airport.

The baby appears to be floating

Richard and I had seats on opposite sides of the plane for the seven hour flight back. I was sitting near some restless children.

On arrival in Zurich at 7am on Sunday 7 January, we couldn't land straight away and had to circle for an hour. Then there was quite a crowd at Zurich Airport taking the little train with the welcoming mooing of the cows.

We collected our bags and got a taxi home. All well, apart from the rather cold apartment. And we had a few more Christmas cards to open.

Friday 5 January 2018, in SIN

In the Singapore Museum

After another disturbed night, I woke at about 8am and had a nice shower. I only have a few skimpy vests left to wear. We got ready to go to breakfast at Ronin, 5 minutes away.

We got seats and ordered granola, orange juice and flat whites. On the way back we got caught in torrential rain and had to shelter. Back in our room, we did a few puzzles and crosswords. few puzzles and looked up kimono shops.

Then we took the metro from Clark Quay to Dhoby Ghaut, and walked from there to the National Museum of Singapore. We spent several hours looking at all the evidence and displays about Singapore's colourful history from the 1400s to the present. The colony has been involved in many different alliances and been occupied and ruled by different nations including the British.

Raffles Hotel is a famous landmark in Singapore

We had a small lunch at a nearby student cafe (just wine for me) and then took a taxi, as they are very cheap, to the shopping centre. We looked in Robinson's department store for a new kimono for me, but they didn't have any. On our way back to our hotel, we passed the famous Raffles Hotel, but weren't tempted by a Singapore Sling today.

The many lively bars and restaurants by the Riverside

Later in the evening we walked through Clarke Quay to eat at VLV at Riverside, after having a lovely margarita at Cafe Iguana. We enjoyed a sharing selection of Chinese dishes and Tiger beers.The two singers there tonight were very good. I slept badly again.

Thursday 4 January 2018, Melbourne to Singapore

By the Riverside in Singapore

We were up at 7am to finish packing. Why does there always seem much more stuff to bring home? We had to fit our winter coats in too.

We checked out of the hotel and met Matthew and Sarah in the lobby, and we called an Uber to the airport. There, we checked in our cases and then went for coffee at O'Brien's pub. Quite nice. We said goodbye to M and S and went through duty free but weren't tempted. Aussie wines are cheaper in Switzerland in most cases.

Cheers from Brewerkz

In the Singapore Airlines lounge we had coffee and snacks. We didn't hear a call for the flight and had to rush. But all was well and we got our seats, one behind the other, and a glass of champagne. The flight was slightly late taking off but landed early.


On the flight I watched the film Kingsman - The Golden Circle. For lunch I had snapper with noodles and rather undercooked veg, plus a glass of Chardonnay. In Singapore I again had problems at immigration with my thumbprints and was held back. Eventually they let me through and we collected our bags and got a taxi to the Park Regis hotel in Clarke Quay.

Our room is on the second floor next to the pool but it's too dull to swim. We don't have any plans for the evening yet. Singapore is three hours behind Melbourne.

The Riverside in Singapore is a great venue for bars

Richard looked at emails on his phone and saw two emails from my cousin Kay. She said that her brother John Mikeson, my first cousin, had died just before Christmas. It was sad as he'd been ill and suffered from depression. His funeral is on 12 January. I'm wondering if I can go.

Wednesday 3 January, in Melbourne

Inside the Melbourne State Library

We got up later than usual and went for breakfast in Soul Cafe. Then we spent quite a while sorting out our clothes for Singapore and the dirty washing from the past two weeks.


Using our Myki cards, Richard and I took a tram up to the Melbourne State Library and took the lift to the top to see the dome and the view of the reading room. Then we went downstairs to the exhibition of Melbourne people's history. Very interesting.

Barramundi at Jimmy Watson's - delicious

We took another tram to the University and walked from there to Lygon Street. While waiting for Matthew and Sarah, we looked in Readings bookshop.


Then at 1pm we all went for lunch at Jimmy Watson's famous restaurant. We had shared appetisers and I had barramundi with pak choi, plus we enjoyed some of the Jimmy Watson 2015 Chardonnay. The service was very attentive.

Inside the old Melbourne Jail it was gloomy

After lunch we visited Old Melbourne Jail and Magistrates's Court. Quite depressing conditions. Sarah waited outside. Afterwards we had a coffee or soft drink in Soul Cafe again before resting in our room.

In the evening we all strolled by the Yarra River before having a light Greek meal and Pinot Noir at Ena. The light over the skyline was very lovely.

Back in our hotel room we watched an old episode of Jonathan Creek - very good.

Tuesday 2 January 2018, in Melbourne

By the Yarra River waiting for our river cruise

Today after breakfast in Soul Cafe, which was almost empty, we took a tram to Fed Square and crossed the river to meet Matthew and Sarah at the ticket office for the Yarra Valley river cruises. We got tickets for the cruise upriver at 11.00.


The boat took us up past the MCG, the tennis arenas and the football ground, and under several historic bridges. Then we turned back and saw Herring Island and Eureka Tower. I got some photos of the city skyline.

The Yarra River cruise upriver past the iconic skyline

After we disembarked, we walked along the riverbank to Kings Domain and then into the Botanic Gardens. We walked through the South Chinese section of the gardens, had a drink and snack in the cafe, and then passed through the South African area. We stopped to look in the gift shop before leaving the gardens.

In the Melbourne Botanic Gardens near the river

Then we crossed over to the Shrine of Remembrance which commemorates the many conflicts in which Australian forces were engaged.



We took a tram back up Swanston Street to our hotel, and said goodbye to Matthew and Sarah. At our hotel, the room hadn't been cleaned. We sat in the lobby when the maid came 5 minutes later.



I read this morning on FB that my friend Catherine will be returning to Australia soon to live in Melbourne. Sad to hear that but I can give her some tips about the city.

In the evening we thought we would go to a Thai restaurant. But it was full so we ended up at a Japanese place instead, Saki. We enjoyed the set meal.

Monday 1 January 2018, New Year's Day

Richard enjoying his first breakfast of 2018

Another year ahead! I had numerous messages on Facebook. Most of them still celebrating the end of the old year. We got up for breakfast at Soul Cafe as usual. It was very busy today. I had my usual of flat white coffee, fresh orange juice and granola with apple and berries. Richard chose chickpea fritters.


At the hotel we waited for directions to Matthew's place. We set off at midday and took a tram 48 almost to the end of the line, and then walked along Burke Road to their apartment. It was very sunny. We went up to the 2nd floor apartment and were welcomed by Matthew and Sarah with some chilled water.

My breakfast was granola with berries

They cooked a lovely meal of lamb stew with rigatone and tender stemmed broccoli. We also had a bottle of Chapel Hill 2011 Shiraz from our visit to Maclaren Vale. Afterwards we had some fresh fruit.


Then we took a bus 302 back to the CBD. I felt rather faint in the heat. I decided to rest in our room at the hotel while the others walked to Flagstaff Gardens. On their return, we all had a drink in Cocoon bar before saying goodbye. Richard and I bought more water and a cookie and checked the TV programs.

The didgeridoo player is outside our window again.

Sunday 31 December 2017, New Year's Eve

The Royal Exhibition Centre building

We had a late breakfast at the Soul Cafe. Then we took a tram to the Melbourne Museum to meet Matthew and Sarah. We got off the tram at the last stop in the free zone, and walked through Carlton Gardens past the Royal Exhibition Centre.

Hoping to see lizards

The museum was interesting as usual. Highlights were the outdoor habitats for lizards, turtles and birds, the exhibition of minerals, and the dinosaur re-creation. It was very crowded there today.



We enjoyed a small lunch at a Japanese place, Ichi Ni Na Na in Brunswick Street. Then we split up until the evening. On our way back to the hotel, there was an incident on the tram so we continued on foot to Target to buy some more T-shirts for Richard. I also managed to post the last three postcards. We went back to the hotel for a rest.

In the Melbourne Museum gardens

In the evening we set out to meet the others for dinner, but the trams near us weren't running and the streets were blocked off to traffic. So we had to walk all the way to meet Matthew and Sarah at the restaurant. We just made it in time for our 20.15 dinner appointment at Entrecote.

Showing off my new jewellery

 We had a glass of champagne and a 5 course meal of canapes, choice of starter (I had duck), a choice of main (I had ocean trout with tapenade and ratatouille) and salad, some Brie, and a dessert (I had chocolate croquante. We also had a Viognier Marsanne 2016 from Barossa Valley. It was a very nice meal with attentive service.




But getting home was also difficult as we had to walk all the way and the streets were full of crowds going in the opposite direction. Some of them were very pushy. On the bridge there was pedestrian traffic control all the way.

We got back in time to see the fireworks going off over the city skyscrapers. Happy New Year 2018!

New Year's Eve in Melbourne 2017 - photo by Richard

Saturday 30 December, Adelaide and then back to Melbourne

Indigenous art in Adelaide

In the morning, we visited the South Australia Museum. Excellent. I took photos of more aboriginal art for inspiration. We also saw minerals and fossils, some prehistoric finds, all nicely displayed. Afterwards we had a drink in the Cafe.

A fossil in the South Australia Museum

We also had another drink at Neon, near our hotel and riverside. I had a delicious Sauvignon Blanc. Then we went back to the hotel, and took a taxi to the airport.



In the afternoon, we had a short return flight to Melbourne. We put our watches forward half an hour. Matthew and Sarah went home, and we took a taxi to the Mercure.

Having a drink in the cafe

Later Richard and I had a Greek meal at Kri Kri in Little Bourke Street. We had a Rosemount Shiraz 2016 and some mixed dips, goat and deep fried zucchini.

Friday 29 December, Barossa Valley wineries tour

Taste the Barossa!

At the Whispering Wall reservoir

We all took a minibus tour to the Barossa Valley via the Adelaide Hills and the Whispering Wall. This was a dam which could transmit the sound of our guide from the opposite side. We could hear him speak very clearly.




Then we headed to Lyndoch Village 1847 winery. It was actually founded in 1947 by a German family, and the top grapes grown here were Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre, often used in blends, as well as Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery was also free of any vine diseases. The wine label was known as Chateau Yaldara. We tasted the following wines:

Lyndoch Village 1847 winery - founded by Germans

Semillon/Chardonnay/ Sauvignon blend - very dry and fruity.
Rose from Grenache/Sangiovese - good taste, still quite dry,
Muscato - A sweet white, not my taste,
Petit Verdot - a sparkling red. Not keen.
Cabernet Franc - a bit tanniny, dry 2016
A classic tawny - Good aroma.

The wine estate also featured an extensive rose garden of 30,000 roses.

We drove on through Rowland Flat to Tanunda, crossing the Jacob's Creek. We walked through the small town, seeing the blue-stone houses, and arrived at the Peter Lehmann estate. He was the saviour of the Barossa Valley wineries in 1979.   Peter Lehmann was a legendary winemaker who died in 2013 aged 83. We tasted the following wines at this winery:

Peter Lehmann cellars

2016 Hill and Valley Eden Valley Riesling - a delicate wine, light and drinkable, a credit to the experience of the growers.
2011 Margaret Barossa Semillon - aged 5 years, oaky, named for the wife, an unusual wine.
2014 Moppa Shiraz - a good flavour, quite light, dry, good with lunch. Some tannins.
2013 VSV Hearndon Eden Valley Shiraz - Very Special Vineyards produce this very nice wine, soft with full flavour.
2012 Stonewall Shiraz - the flagship wine, good depth of flavour, dark and leggy from premium grapes. Keeps well.
2012 Black Queen sparkling Shiraz - a unique Australian wine style, quite sweet, not to my taste.

Then on to Langmeil winery for tasting and lunch:
2017 Wattle Brae Dry Riesling - very light and pleasant taste
2015 Malbec - dry, still quite young

We strolled past the Langmeil old vines

2015 Valley Floor Shiraz - fruity
2015 The Fifth Wave Grenache - very light.

Next stop - Lindsay wines. I was too tired to taste them. Richard tried:
Moscato sparkling - a dessert wine
SB/Semillon - very dry
Rose
Riesling - v dry
Merlot - dry
Tempranillo - very nice, light
Cabernet Sauvignon - cheaper.

We headed back to the hotel and had a sleep! We had dinner at La Rambla Tapas bar. A very nice meal and a Rusden 2016 Driftsand
Barossa Valley red.

Thursday 28 December, Kangaroo Island

Dave and me at a viewpoint overlooking the bay

Richard and I were up early for the 6.20 pickup at the Mercure Hotel opposite. A bus took us to Fort Jervis in time to catch the 9am ferry to Kangaroo Island. Our driver told us a few facts about the sights on our route. We passed vineyards, olive trees and saw kangaroos hopping along. Our bus also brought the mail for the island, Australia's third largest.



We boarded the ferry and had a smooth crossing. It took under an hour. A surprising number of people made the day trip. Dave Cowans was there at the island ferry port to meet us, and we picked up Jill nearby. They gave us an island tour, starting with the Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Oil distillery and gift shop. I bought some eucalyptus oil for my feet.

Dave beside Admirals Arch

Then we headed to Flinders Chase National Park where we had lunch of BLTs and beer (water for Dave).

A koala in the eucalyptus

After lunch, we drove west and south to see rock formations known as Admirals Arch and Remarkable Rocks. We saw seals playing and a koala in a tree.

The agapanthus was in bloom everywhere on the island

We also called in to the Bay of Shoals winery and tasted some nice whites. Then back to the Cowans' home for tea of salads and cold meats provided by Jill. It was very pleasant.


Dave dropped us back at the ferry port in time for our return boat trip. Dave and Jill gave us a great day on their island.


The drive back to Adelaide was rather tedious in busy traffic. We arrived at the hotel at 22.45.