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.