All aboard....the Eastern Orient Express, with bookends in Bangkok and Singapore

[love_the_life]

Mr L_t_L and I thought we'd like a little getaway over Christmas so we thought a short train trip might fit the bill. So.... we leave tomorrow, Canberra - Sydney - Singapore (overnight), then on to Bangkok for a few nights. A bit of a mooch there at the Chatrium Riverside (haven't stayed there before so interested to see how it stacks up). We join the E&OE on Tuesday for 3 nights arriving in Singapore on Boxing Day for four nights at the IC which we know quite well. Home again, arriving on NYE in time to watch the fireworks over Lake Burley Griffin. That's it in a nutshell.
So in view of the downgrade debacle, it was OLCI as soon as it opened - Seq Nbr 1 so that should be safe :mrgreen:
Packing calls.... so away for now.

 

[Pushka]

Oooh. Trip report.

 

[TomVexille]

Sounds like fun. Love the idea of a train trip

 

[amaroo]

Looking forward to this one. We nearly did this for our recent 20th bash but couldn't get the dates to align.

Christmas on a train - sounds like Fun.

 

[love_the_life]

Well packing was a little delayed. The fire alarm in our building went off at about 10pm so MrLtL dutifully went down the 7 flights of the fire escape. I thought I'd wait a bit to see if we really were on fire! Of course we weren't but that wasted half an hour. Anyway here we are in the CBR lounge, just sittin' around!

 

[Pushka]

Must be a "thing" for fire alarms. Ours went off during the day at work yesterday. Then this morning received a text saying "not our building on fire" - it wasn't, it was the one next to us! Road closed, Fire Brigade and ambulance, it was for real!

Enjoy the Trip Dame

 

[love_the_life]

Ok, J lounge Syd International. A zoo! I seem to have overlooked school holidays. Feels like wall to wall ankle biters!

 

[Pushka]

Ok, J lounge Syd International. A zoo! I seem to have overlooked school holidays. Feels like wall to wall ankle biters!

Groan. Shame F disappeared a few months ago.

 

[love_the_life]

And I think the food in the lounge has gone off (not literally). Salads but no cold meats, no cheese though MrLtL did manage to score a cheese plate from out the back. No nuts or nibblies really. The plate of the day was smoked salmon and fennel which was quite nice but can't say the same for the casserole of whatever description as it was very salty. I don't ever recall it the offerings being so poor here.
Crowds has thinned a little but a few squawked still!
'Twill be good to board!

 

[love_the_life]

Yes Pushka I'm hurting now!!!!

 

[gazzman]

I found the Chatrium to be very good overall. Good location, had a great view of the river, rooms very comfortable and clean, brekky food quality and variety was good. All other meals eaten out as you do in BK.

 

[drron]

Sorry we will miss you in Bangkok.We fly out as you fly in.
But we are on an Orient Express riverboat instead.

 

[Pushka]

WP ran out for our trip in a week. Four hours wait in Sydney in that over run lounge doesn't sound nice. Wonder if it's worth going into Emirates lounge.

BKK must be THE place for AFF'ers in late Dec.

 

[KitKat]

WP ran out for our trip in a week. Four hours wait in Sydney in that over run lounge doesn't sound nice. Wonder if it's worth going into Emirates lounge.

BKK must be THE place for AFF'ers in late Dec.

I am in SYD on the 24th going on to SIN QF 5, happy to guest

 

[Pushka]

I am in SYD on the 24th going on to SIN QF 5, happy to guest

Thank you that's really nice. But it's 27th. I was being liberal with my "week".

 

[Major]

The food is supposed to top notch. Should be a great trip

Eastern & Oriental Express: Insider's guide to the Singapore-Bangkok luxury train

 

[love_the_life]

QF5 was a few minutes late in push back but we had settled into 2A & B so not an issue. The usual bubbles and pre-dinner G & T then a very good dinner. Flight staff were excellent. CSM came to visit very early on and we saw him frequently as he would stop by to check everything was fine.
Wagu beef salad then fish for me and blue cheese salad and rack of lamb for MrLtL

 

[love_the_life]

Arrived on time at Changi Int, basically first off and no waiting at immigration. Luggage not so quick but still in the first batch. Painless through customs then a quick trip on sky train to check into Crowne Plaza. It would be one of the best airport hotels in the world. Very efficient check in and into room within minutes. As it was the equivalent of 2am in Cbr it was a cup of tea and the land of nod.

 

[Pushka]

Nice to see you've got the picture posting sorted out!

 

[love_the_life]

Yep - two important things 1. iPhone 6 is a breeze and 2. Helps to have a paid membership of AFF.