Arrived SIN about 45 mins late, and ensconced myself in the Private Room again. Would have liked to broach the a la carte, but just had late lunch and dinner on board coming up.
Not long after I arrived Cruiser Elite turned up (as expected) and we chin-wagged for a bit and then he took me down market to the F lounge and I introduced me to Mohammed, who was behind the bar. Lovely chap.
And so on board the flight SIN-MEL, a night flight, with dinner.
Here's the menu if you didn't book the cook for mains:
I had the lobster in aspic for entrée and soup of the tomato veloute with crab.
Mains was good 'ol rack of lamb and it was a generous serve, and tender, of course. It was an old config 777 again, with 2 others in the cabin.
I wasn't looking forward to trying to sleep, as the outward flight on this config showed me the bed to be relatively hard and I found feet tucked away in a 'well' to be uncomfortable. Well, I might have gotten some sleep except for the hot cabin! I asked twice about this, and the temp did eventually drop. I noticed both other pax were asleep, but with no sheet or blanket over them. I got no sleep at all; I don't take temazapan any more, and alcohol these days doesn't help.
Apologies to those not able to do a F journey at all but this was definitely the least comfortable F sector I've flown. If I'm lucky enough to be able to afford the points for another SQ trip, I would actively avoid this B777 config on a night sector.
Anyway, not wishing to end the TR on a negative note ... I managed to stay awake in the QF J lounge at MEL for about 5 hours, which was an achievement! Then the customarily delayed QF 717 to HBA.
SQ suites and TPR were undoubtedly a highlight. I was amazed at the history I saw in India and it was made better by the fact that so much was unexpected. I'd urge anyone who hasn't been to go - with the right company, its not as challenging as you might think!
I'm glad I saw the Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an, but like when I visited Beijing, I have no desire to go back. China has never attracted me, and I've gone twice just to see the 'headline' historical places. I guess I should get out of the cities if I do go again.
Thanks for reading.
Next up in February is the
JohnM and
RooFlyer double act to Chile ( a drive south from Santiago, then a fjord cruise in Patagonia), then a longer drive across to Argentina and north up the eastern side of the Andes, then back across the Andes to Santiago. Its possible that some wine will be drunk, some volcanos will be oo-ed and ahh-ed at, cushion plants will be sat upon and a rollicking good time will be had by all. You're invited
