All recovered from Jet lag today, - albeit a bit of a sleep in.
But it was hot and sweltering from the word go in Singapore today (as I guess it is every day!)
Agreed with Joseph that he would stay and play with Matty, so Eleanor, Katherine, Liz and Jim set off for "Singapore in a day"
Had fun on the mega efficient and cheap (an air conditioned) underground (MRT). Walked around the harbour district then, marvelled at the impressive high rise office quarter that puts the City in London to shame, then off to the old colonial district and more historic building including walking past Raffles and other sights. Next off to Little India, and finally an MRT back to Mark and Pattys apartment at Leonie Hill Gardens. Stupidly we forgot the camera so there will be no photos of this one!
By the time we returned we were all a bag of sweat and could not get into the swimming pool quickly enough!
Jospeh had made a new friend called Eaton who lived in the condominium. Joseph spent the whole time in the swimming pool with - snorkeling and jumping in tricks.
Liz and Jim went with regret away from the pool and back to the flat to pack for Australia. We decided to go back to the airport by train (MRT) to save money - costing just $10 rather than $50 on the taxi - so a no brainer decision for backpackers on unpaid leave!
Thus we put one of our bags inside another and reduced from 5 sets of luggage to 4. Then it was a quick bite of pasta with Patty and the family, then a sweaty but downhill 10 minute walk to the MRT. A train arrived within 30 seconds. We changed trains 2 stops later - the train was waiting for us for a cross platform change. Then a further cross platform change (train waiting) and we were at the airport far quicker than we would have been by taxi - and as it was all air conditioned we were all nice and cool.
Jim being a panicky traveller made a complication out of finding the flight - until he realised he was looking at flights in and out of another terminal!
No hassles at check in, no queue at passport control, no queue at security and into the airport with 60 minutes before our flight.
Took advantage of the ability to purchase 4 litres of gin for our Australian road trip (just 6 pounds a litre - has to be worth it!). Especially as in Australia a litre of the same gin is 28 pounds!
Girls spent their loose Singapore change on a mirror, Joseph got cross because he wanted to buy a massive light sabre with his share of the leftover dollars - but his mean parents said it was too big to travel with - and he refused to consider anything smaller!
Flight to Australia took off at 10.30pm Singapore time with Jet Star - a subsidiary of Quatas. We were very excited to get neck pillows on the plane - less excited to get food at 1am when to be honest we were far from hungry.
Plane landed at 4.30am Australian time (3am Singapore time) so we were all dog tired. It took more than 1 hour to clear immigration - just 2 passport officials on for the whole plane - and we were by no means last in the queue.The immigration officer was lovely and chatty, even got Joseph to sign his own entry permit - could not help thinking that the process would have been a lot quicker had they been a bit less chatty and more business like!
Australia has mega strict rules about bringing in any foodstuffs, so we had to ditch all the food we had.
We did have coffee in the bag - so Jim admitted that to a customs officer who then said we would have to chuck it. However when I said I did not know which bag it was in, and when the sniffer dog could not tell, nor the scanner, they took pity on us and let us off. We brought coffee because we know its one third the price in the UK than Australia - so it would be very expensive to have had to chuck it and start again!
Got a taxi from airport to the backpackers (Banyan Lodge YWCA, 119 Mitchell St, Darwin)- cheap, but basic, and clean. Very mixed set of mature travellers and younger back packers.
Crashed out until 2pm Australian time, then had breakfast and went into Darwin for a walk. Tried to get a mobile phone SIM card but unable to as did not have passport on me which is needed before one can be bought.
Weather in Darwin fantastic - about 27 degrees , but a breeze and NO humidity!
Then it was off to the supermarket. Kids wanted Spaghetti Bolognaise, but we compromised on Kangaroo mince meat which we had as meatballs. Very nice too!
And that was the end of our first day in Darwin - just time to open that gin....
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