India, Africa and Asia.

[drron]

We are currently sitting in the SKL in BNE. At times I thought that it was never going to happen. Many reasons but mainly worrying about Mrsdrron. Ever since returning home in early October she has been unwell. No energy or appetite. Lost 3kg. Then began sweating and the last week severe night sweats. Bloods were normal but had problems organising a CT scan. They kept putting it off. Finally done 3pm yesterday.
A sigh of relief when it showed acute diverticulitis.

I was also having problems doing enough. When I return from this trip a gardener will be sought.

On top of this the accountant wanted to submit our tax returns this month. Nearly all done but has relented.

So to. the trip. All flights are J awards apart from Airlink into Kruger.
Will be staying at 4ICs all on points. Plus suite nights awards in Singapore and Mumbai.

Our first Crystal cruise from Mumbai to Mombasa. That followed by 4 nights in Londolosi in Kruger.

Ending with some time in Bangkok.

 

[Major]

How long will you be away for ?

 

[OZDUCK]

When my wife - to - be was studying for her final Nurse's exams I spent a lot of time helping her as a 'study partner'. One of the main subjects she was refreshing was stomach issues especially diverticulitis. By the time she passed I was completely up to date with all the latest info - for 1974 that is

 

[drron]

We will be away for 7 weeks
Our one checked luggage was only 17kg. I am wondering how much we have forgotten. Mrsdrron has a carry on bag of 5kg mine is only 3kg and we have an 18 day cruise. Fortunately with free laundry.

 

[Flyfrequently]

Happy travels @drron and @mrs.dr.ron
On board ️

 

[drron]

On our trip down we had a slight detour to pick up some antibiotics for Mrsdrron. I have been vindicated in my choice of GPs, Competent and excellent service,
After that a trouble free run down to BNE. Then to the SG kiosks. What an unpremium way to check in and now a free for all as no kiosk or bag drop labelled as business class as they were before. Then of course the one bag drop with no line came up with a sign this machine unavailable for automatic service - could not read a bag tag so got an agent to do it for us.

Next the shambles due to the renovations of the terminal. Mrsdrron as per usual loaded our carry ons onto a trolley and took off. I could not keep up. Now I tell her to not get too far in front of me but due to her post traumatic amnesia she instantly forgets. She waited at security an started to enter the line so as I passed her I was able to tell her to turn around and take the trolley back. She wasn't going to believe me but an agent came and told her to take the trolley back. When we got to the head of the queue the agent told us to go to the machine with the longest line. Even then we realised this was going to take time as in front of us was a disorganised couple with 5 even more disorganised children. Even with 2 agents telling them what to do they were still getting things wrong. I thought they must be on the Bali DPS flight but no we ran into them again at the baggage carousel at Changi,. it took them 11.5 minutes to clear security. I had my things ready to place in the bins as soon as they movd. They all lined up at the scanner and the agent held them back and let us through first.

But it wasn't over yet. 7 of their 8 bins went to secondary screening. The new system is automated and clearly inefficient. When 3 bins are in the secondary screening line it will not accept a new bin so the whole line stops. I was lucky as my bin was on the conveyor after the 4thh of their bins. Mrsdrron's bag was after the seventh. Naturally their 8th bin was the one that didn't need secondary screening. It had 3 large cameras in it. So this lot were even less match fit than an English Ashes cricket team.

Then a long walk for me to Immigration. With my balance problems their is no way I can scan my passport. hold my walking stick and glasses and quickly move my carry on when the first gate opens. The 2 young fellows behind me were making their displeasure known. Compare that with going through immigration on arrival in Changi. An agent sees me approaching with my walking stick and says can you give me your passport to scan and when the gate opens go through and I will give your passport to the agent on the other side. You don't realise how much such a litle thing like that can bring so much happiness.
After that a simple stroll to the SKL. That next.

 

[drron]

Lunch service had commenced when we arrived at the SKL. A reasonable but not outstanding selection.












I had a couple of satay chicken wings, 2 pieces of sushi and some bean salad. My beverage was 2 glasses of tomato juice. The reason was that morning I weighed 84.4 KG which is 3 Kg over my preferred weight. The curse of Christmas leftovers. As for the wine it was likely to be better on the plane.

Our view.
It turned out to be where our flight was going to be. Gate 82.
Not long after we arrived an old couple from one of the areas we will visit arrived in the lounge. She was in a heelchair. As soon as the attendant left she was up out of her chair and collecting her food. basically she spent her time walking around the lounge until just before the fellow arrived to wheel her to the gate, And she was walking a lot better than I.

We left the lounge about 15 minutes before boarding was to commence. A sort of line for J. Two ladies probably early 40s arrived about 2 minutes before boarding started and went straight to the front of the line. The agent then opened the gate but stopped the 2 women and called me and Mrsdrron over then 2 families with young children. We were second to board after the wheelchair woman.

 

[drron]

So to my seat and quickly had a glass of Charles Heidsieck in hand.




Then perused the menu and wine list.














It was a great crew and they took care of the 2 of us exceptionally well from the time I stumbled on to the plane until we got off.

 

[drron]

After we had taken off I had a nice Bloody Mary.


Then lunch with the French 2024 Cairanne from the Rhone. Quite full bodied for a french wine.
But lunch was heirloom tomatoes, Kerala biryani and fruit salad. All with very nice flavours.






Then I had the tuna as a snack.


And not long after that heading into Changi over Batam.

 

[drron]

Just before starting lunch I began watching the 2025 Last Nlght of the Proms. I really enjoyed it. It commenced with the shining of the head of Sir Henry Wood the original conductor and who the Proms are now named after,


The orchestra was conducted by Elim Chan whose performance I enjoyed,


The highlight of the first half for me was the trumpet performance by Alison Bolsom. It was her final performance.




The performance I enjoyed the most was at the start of the second half. It was 50 years since the release of Bohemian Rhapsody. The best performance of it I have heard,




The performer doing Freddies part was excellent.




Huge ovation for the members of Queen.






Very good singing from Louise Alder.


And Alison Bolsom joined the orchestra,


A surprisingly good performance on the typewriter by comedian Bill Bailey,


And I always love the last part with the old favorites. Probably because I first went to school in 1950. For the first 5 years we all sang English songs every morning such as Rule Britannia , Land of Hope and Glory and They'll Always be an England,

 

[RB]

If you haven't watched Bill Bailey & his trip through Vietnam I can recommend it. Hope you have a great trip

 

[drron]

During the flight the wheel chair lady was up every few minutes and walking around the cabin. she was sitting one row in front across the aisle in a window seat. Probably he number 1 cause of my inability to sleep. but a miracle didn't happen. She remained seated while we got off and went by wheelchair to the baggage carousel.

After landing we had a very long taxi. The moving map looked like we ended up at the furthest gate from where we turned off the runway.The gate was definitely the furthest from the F gates arrival hall. 2500 steps for me without stopping. My hamstrings took 24 hours to get over that. But a virtually empty arrival hall and with the help from an agent through in just over a minute. To the baggage carousel and a bit of a wait. Our air tag let us know our bag was coming about 10 seconds before it came into view.

Straight out to the taxi and no one waiting so the 3 staff took our bags and we just got into the waiting taxi. The driver took pity of us and deleted the baggage charge and sopped the meter a couple of hundred metres from the hotel. Have never had anything like that happen before. He got the full amount plus a little extra anyway. It is amazing that when you do have a disability you find the world is a better place than you thought, even in Australia.

We are staying at the IC Robertson Quay. A few mistakes on checkin. I had used a suite upgrade and had a confirmed junior suite river view. But got a corner room which is probably the normal upgrade for a Diamond ambassador upgrade. I was to tired to argue. beside i used the UC as it was about to expire and a corner room was big enough for us. We both jut wanted to go to bed which is what we did, I didn't have a great sleep as my legs wouldn't stop complaining.

 

[drron]

Some more of the room. It turns out I was wrong. There are 2 types of corner rooms. One is 4sqm larger and is a junior suite. Identical layout so if you are paying probably not worth a big premium..
In the morning we just mooched around the hotel. I only went 3000 steps but my muscles thanked me.. The view from the room.




Down to the club for breakfast. The buffet isn’t much but you can get eggs so I had eggs Benedict.


Plus a little bit more from the buffet.


The lobby still has Christmas decorations.




They are there still up today.
Our next venture out of the room was to have afternoon tea.




Not the best IC afternoon tea but OK.

 

[drron]

Back to the room for a snooze waking in time for evening drinks. Mrsdrron had her usual sav blanc whilst I had G&Ts. Found out on the last night I was getting double shots. No wonder I slept well.
The hot canapés are served on a plate with the 4 of the night. I am not a fan of this but it works well here as after the first plate you can get each individually. So the first night spread.










Satay chicken wings were yummy.






The other problem here is that all children are allowed in during the evening hours. So several very young kids running amok and screaming. But the worst was a fellow probably about 10. He went up to a staff member and said I want 10 of them ( potato gems ) now. No thanks when he got them. But later in the night he just reached into the large jar of crisps and filled his bowl by hand. I learned it was inevitable a little later when his mother did the same thing.

Back to the room and the night time views.

 

[drron]

The next morning we went down to the restaurant for breakfast. A wider selection but a strange assortment and really not impressed by the breakfast offerings here. pictures of the buffet.


















The fruit was nice and I started with the fruit.

 

[drron]

For our second day in Singapore my main mission was to get some INR. I was rather disorganised in the last month and in the week of travel simple ways of getting INR were basically non existent. Then again so was withdrawing large denomination US notes from my CBA foreign currency account. Obviously not the best time of year to get foreign cash.
Asked at the front desk and they said their cash machine. Yes sure. the concierge though recommended a shop in a mall just over a Km away. After I did compare and it came out the best within 3KM of the IC. Fortunately I only had to follow the path up the Singapore River. An easy pathway with ample places to take a breather and very pleasant environment.
Lots of places to eat or drink along the pathway.


Plus pleasant scenery.




I noted all the ferry stops were blocked off and then found this sign.


I looked up and there they were on the other side of the river.


















And a bed of orchids.

 

[drron]

The mall was the Great World. had plenty of eating options but I only swapped left over euros for SGD the $S300 to INR.
Walking back you often notice different things such as a bit of history described.





More wildlife. This fellow wasn't scared at all.




There were a couple of things TCMO. Such as the disregard for signs such as this.


Or this one for bicyclists. I only saw one do so of over 100 that passed me in each direction.


Bu some more views.


Liked the look of this hotel. It is a Design hotel part of the Marriott group. Will consider it for the future.


Back to the club. Some of the wines.


The hot dishes weren't great though the chicken wings were nice.


And the views from the club's balcony.

 

[drron]

Back to the restaurant for breakfast on the third day as I wanted to try their Laksa. Ok but not great.






I was eating Asian style and getting all my dishes at once. It was because we got their at 10.25 and breakfast finished at 10.30. We didn't get to breakfast on all 4 days until after 10. Caught up on the sleep deficit.
Now our room.






There was hardly any light over the bath. the shower was great.



An interesting sign.

 

[drron]

On the third day I walked thee other way on the Riverside walk o Clarke Quay and beyond. I crossed to the other side on this bridge.

 

[drron]

This was as far as I got but shows that being on the Singapore river isn't bad place to stay.


I was pleased with myself as it was ~ 9000 steps each day and although I had a few stops I never had to stop.
So now walking back to the hotel. I was looking fo supermarket or convenience store to buy some snacks for Mrsdrron. I had to ask and could only visit a local minimart with limited stock but got some muesli bars and a packet of honey roasted macadamias and cashews. Also a bottl of Kyoho grape juice which was a favourite of ours in Japan. This one was very sweet so looked at ingredients. Nearly 10% was sugar.







At this point there was construction going on. A sign for bicyclists to dismount nd walk their bike. Again just one of 14 did.






The oldest surviving building in Clarke Quay from 1870.