DANUBE & RHINE BLOG 02
Sunday May 9, 2010
We’ve arrived! After two long stints in the air, several airline meals, a decent zzzz in a Singapore hotel, and several hot-but-happy hours in that amazing city-state, we’re now on the other side of the world – all present, all correct, and all in pretty good shape.
Our 10-hour Auckland-to-Singapore flight got us to the Swissotel Merchant Court by early Friday evening – with time enough for a wander along the picturesque Singapore River and Clarke Quay before bed.
Turns out most of our mad midlifers woke around 3am (bodies not yet got adjusted to the time-change). But, after downing a serious breakfast, we ventured forth to sample this ever-growing Asian wonderland on our own – including (for many) a ride on the world’s biggest wheel, the Singapore Flyer, for some sensational views from the top
Then, come the afternoon, we boarded a colourfully-decorated replica of a Royal Chinese Junk, and enjoyed a High Tea Cruise on Singapore’s busy, crammed-with-ships harbour – with savouries, cakes, and (for several of our Kiwis) a world-famous cocktail, the ‘Singapore Sling’.
There was a bit of drama last night at Changi Airport, prior to our second long-haul flight – when we Cooneys discovered we weren’t booked on the same flight as the rest of the group (thanks to an airline glitch)! For a few hours there it looked like we two might be spending another night in Singapore while everyone else went on without us. But, 40 minutes before the flight, a couple of stand-by seats came available. Phew!
Some 14 sleepy hours later (around 7am) we landed in Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport and transferred to the Convent Hotel (in the heart of the city) where we promptly sat down to breakfast – the usual hot-and-cold fare, plus a range of Dutch breads and pastries that had everybody oohing and aahing.
It’s a grey day today in Holland’s capital – and a chilly 8° (compared to the sticky 34° we encountered in Singapore). But our bold Kiwis are undeterred. They’re busy making plans to explore Amsterdam and the nearby Dam Square at leisure … with a canal cruise and our Mad Midlife Welcome Dinner happening tonight.
So, sorry, but I’ve got to go …
PEOPLE NEWS: The first of our much-sought-after Midlife Madness Awards will be announced at dinner tonight:
* The ‘I’ve Always Wanted To Live In Singapore Award goes to Olwin – who failed to notice that she’d dropped her wallet and passport when disembarking from a taxi outside our hotel (but was rescued, thankfully, by a sharp-eyed bell-boy).
* The ‘Sight For Sore Eyes Award goes to Elaine & Bill – who took a funny turn yesterday and thought they were coming down with something when they both experienced blurred vision. It turned out, later, that they’d each somehow been wearing the other person’s glasses.
Watch this space! We’ll be announcing a few more goodies over the next few days …
TOMORROW: We’ll be up bright and early for a visit to the Aalsmeer flower auction and the Keukenhof Gardens. But more about that later – along with our impressions of Anne Frank’s House. So don’t change channels …
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on ‘COMMENTS’ (or ‘NO COMMENTS’) beside the title for the day’s blog, and type away! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief. And don’t worry: we’ll make sure they get these messages. Also, if you want a better look at our route map and some of the photos here, just click on them and they’ll enlarge – magic!
Hi Ruth Bucknell…. glad to hear everything is going well if not a little cold.. beautiful Autumn weather here. Following your cruise with interest! Love Natalie..
Hi Ruth Bucknell, Joseph just won the interschool competition with his project on Godwits. Not sure what he has won but we are off to Pukeariki to find out. Love Rachel
hi Ruth Bucknell, mim here, so the top you gave grace has not left her body except for when it absolutely HAS too. all are well, have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
love Mim xox
Hi Jenny & Martin, Callum & family here…love the blog! great site; we waved to you when we saw your group photo @ Changi Airpost & wondered how Jenny enjoyed her ‘singapore slings’? Happy mothers day!! We are working on Amsterdam time so hopefully we will phone connect to you. love you bothxxx Callum & family
Hey you two Looney Coons,
How fun to be following your adventures. Mari’s bookmarked your Blog page, so we can get our daily dose of the bold cruisin’ Kiwis as they careen their way from pillar to post hitting all the ports of call.
Love yas heaps,
Barry & Mari
Hi Lynley Woods, See you managed to get in the first photo, was that you drinking all the singapore slings?????? Lots of love Sue Southxxxxxx
Hey there Mum (Hilary Hay),
Hope you are keeping warm (it’s in the 90’s F here in AZ). I squinted at the photos of y’all in Changi airport, couldn’t find you. Nursing a Singapore Sling hangover, thus hiding from the camera?
Luv,
Kj
Hi Coon’s & Mags .. Here we are again .. working while you all galavant around the world 🙂 Don’t mind us. Tee hee. Glad all is going well and that you managed to get the flight finally Coon’s. Phew. That’s travel for you though .. going with the flow. Continue to enjoy. Big hugz Kerks xx
Jan Williams
Hi Jan we didnt see you in the photo at the airport…Stop hidding from the camera
Tania and I have just had a cuppa together while reading the news of your adventures Sending lots of Love Sue and Tarn xx
HI Lynley, Looks and sounds fabulous so far. Great photo. We are sure you a really missing the directors meetings -NOT. We are all working hard!! From Janet, and all the rest of the medical centre!
HI to ma & pa Scott from amanda & reuben & the Goodies.we just read up on the blog alls well back h0me.hope n0t missing us 2 much. Love 2 u both. Xoxo Wil keep an eye on blog.
hi just seeing if i can get it 2 work
Hey ma & pa scott from amanda & reuben & the Goodies.have been watching the blog sounds lyk ur having a good time.al is go0d back here. Love 2 u both xoxo
Hi Ruth Bucknell, glad to get you emails and have forwarded them all on. Went to see your Dad yesterday and took them and read them to him and he said to tell you ‘he is still alive and kicking!’ Love Nat..
Hi Ruth Bucknell, looking forward to seeing you on Monday. Car picked up and delivered… visited your Dad again today.
Love Nat..