We did some shopping in Athens, which included buying yet another suitcase to replace the one we had just bought in Chania (it had lasted just one flight, and a short one at that, before scoring a large crack - lesson, always buy quality - cheap is cheap). I also got a haircut from one of the local hairdressers. Firstly, a great sort in a singlet top sat me down and washed my hair (how good is that by the way!), the. The hairdresser, who looked like one of the Village People did my hair. He even had a tool belt that he strapped on and everything....no really, it was a hairdressers that I was at, wasn't it?? We had a bit of lunch and caught up on our wonderful memories in our blog. After some rooftop drinks, we went to dinner in Plaka, then home. The following morning, we were whisked off to the airport for the flights from Athens to London, London to Helsinki, Helsinki to Singapore.....arghhhhhhh!
Being on three different aircraft certainly provides you with sufficient food. Could have fed an army with what I ate. By the way, the quality of the British Airways Business Class Lounge at Athens was disgraceful. Every bit of furniture had been worn out five years ago and the carpet looked like a recent crime scene! By the way, this was on the back of a vey shabby and old business class flight on Brithish Airways from London to Athens and a very overcrowded British Airways Business Class lounge in London. They are kidding!! We actually booked our business class flights with 'Finn Air', whose planes and lounges we very good. However, at the time you book your flight, you are never absolutely sure which airline is going to the the 'code share'. We were not impressed with British Airways two years ago, and we will certainly be doing our homework in the future.
Anyway, when we finally arrived in Singapore, we were met with the news that our three suitcases (yes, the new ones...) were still at Heathrow, apparently not British Airways fault! Well, at least one of the suitcases. They weren't sure about the other two, but they were definitely not in Singapore! Whilst problematic, the man we made the lost property report to informed Cath that Finn Air would pay 'reasonable' costs for emergency clothing, toiletries etc. As we later poured through the endless shopping centres in Orchard Road in Singapore, I kept reminding Cath, "reasonable costs Cath, they said reasonable"...(don't let the truth get in the way of a good story, eh Greg)
Anyway, our accomodation was at the Pan Pacific Orchard, absolutely shmick! No dinner tonight, as we had been fed 22 times on the various planes we had been on. So it was just a couple of drinks at the hotel bar and some light snacks, as we worked out the things we wanted to see. The next morning, it was to the old faithful Big Red Bus tour. It was raining quite heavily, but with another umbrella for the hotel, we made it onto a bus and away we went. Singapore is an amazing place. A mixture of old fashioned elegance with unbelievable modern skyscrapers and architectural designs. The place is spotless, but abuzz, with so many people and so much traffic, yet no cars over ten years old! One of the other amazing things about the place is that they have actually reclaimed a further 25 percent of their total land space from the swamps and wetlands around the island. After allowing to settle, they have been able to build massive buildings on the reclaimed land. They even have a floating soccer pitch, with a floating grandstand that holds 15,000!
We did a couple of different routes on the bus, then it was to the famous Raffles for some Singapore Slings, a few beers and some peanuts in their shell. For such an old traditional place, to shell peanuts and drop the shells on the floor just seems naughty? Anyway, after we paid the thousand dollar bill (this place ain't cheap!) we left to get ourselves ready for dinner.
We had been given a tip about a place where we cou.d get the best Singapore Chilli Crab. It was called 'No Signboard' and was one of the many famous 'hawker' dining places they have here. When we were picked up by the cab, we tried to give him the address etc of the place. He laughed and said, "oh, you want No Signboard? BEST chilli crab"...seems everybody knows the place! We were then concerned as we had not made a booking, it was a Friday night, and were we dressed appropriately?
Well, when we got there, there were no less than fifty people waiting to be seated! The place was packed , but looked like an old service station! No walls, just a giant awning with a very busy kitchen in the centre. Tables were everywhere and waiters and waitresses were literally running everywhere! All the staff were wired up with remote radios and were flare chat. But, within 20 minutes, we had a seat out the back car park, I mean restaurant! It turns out they are very proud of their big caprport, as once upon a time the place was basically out in the open and just had tarps covering it. However, it has always been popular, yet had no name or any signs. So hence, they called the place No Signboard.
Cath and I ordered a crab each, each of around 1kg to share, which was $80 per kilo. The complementary peanuts on the table were $3, whilst the complementary hand towels were 50 cents each and the crab bibs (which are essential), were $1.60. We ordered one Chilli and one Pepper crab. We then wathched the theatre of the staff running from table to table, to kitchen and back, yelling into their microphones. We had a great time. The food arrived, and it was amazing!!!!! I have never had anything this good. Unbelievable. Fantastic. You got to try this place!!!!
We then caught a cab to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. This was where our friend, Rodney Cox, was staying as he had a business conference for Telstra. The place is a three tower space age looking thing with a huge infinity pool on the very top. Incredible looking structure. However, Rodney had lost his phone and was very difficult to contact. A Telstra executive without a phone?? Anyway, we went to the fifty seventh floor for a drink and some photos before getting hold of him. Of course, he was elsewhere, so another cab to a little bar and we found him. A couple of drinks later, we found ourselves at a nightclub till 2.00am. How do these things happen????
The next morning, late, it was back to the Marina Bay Sands hotel to try to find Rodney to spend some quality time with him...you guessed it, still no phone, we couldn't find him. Never mind, we moved on and went to visit the 'Gardens by the Bay'. These are huge botanical gardens, with two huge space age looking glass houses. The first contains an actual rainforest, complete with a mountain and waterfall!! It has an artificial environment created that simulates a clouded rainforest mountain, and you are able to walk around and inside the mountain, at different heights, to see the different types of plants that grow below and above the cloud. Amazing! The second, contains various types of flora from all parts of the world, such as Australian natives, to old age olive groves to African Savannah and all types of cacti.
Finally, we had to leave and onto the airport for our flight home. After seven weeks and two days, our trip was over, but the memories will live on forever. Now, let's talk about Canada......
What a fitting end to a beautiful trip.
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