Mikes Blog

Allgau - Zurich - Singapore
Monday/Tuesday 14th/15th MAy
Away by 7.15. Down to Bregenz. Get off the Autobahn at the Austrian border so we can avoid being fined for not having the Vignette (fine = about E150). There is a traffic jam on the motorway anyway (an accident we think) so the slow road may be just as good a choice. At the Swiss border we buy the motorway pass for E30 which we will post to a friend at the end of today who will use it for the summer holidays in July and August.
We drive on and get to Zurich Airport without fuss (a piece of cake compared with Milan) and park the car beside the Avis office. Phew! We have got it back unscarred and have saved E45 in extra insurance charges.

We check in, onto the plane and away on time. The plane is only half full so both Zita and I get a set of three seats to lie down on. What a treat. I doze deeply for several hours - but I don't think I actually quite sleep. Maybe?

Breakfast, 2 hours before arrival in Singapore is spoilt by heavy turbulance. I know these planes can take alot - but I am still a little nervous. By the time the air smooths out my breakfast is cold and unappertising.
Coming in to land the plane somehow ends up pointing what seems 10 or 15 degress off from the runway as it touches down and requires a great wrench to bring it straight again. Not a good landing. The immigration entry card states that bringing drugs into the country has the penalty of death.

Singapore is hot. It is summer. We have two days free accomodation at the 'Hotel Royal' courtesy of Singapore Airlines. Our transfer is in a fairly rickety tight little van. At the hotel at reception they were going to have us wait three hours until our room was ready but after a little fuss they give us room 1201 - more an apartment than a room - huge including two large TV's one of which the porter turns on for us after he has put our cases in the room. We are very tired and hit the sack for three hours (we turn the TV off). We then head out to check the local surrounds. The local shopping centre, 5 minutes walk away, is almost completely European (people) free. We both have hair work done - prices the same as in New Zealand. We then head down to the famous Orchard Road the most serious shopping street in the city. Very posh. There is a big "Borders" book shop just like I used to visit in England when we lived in Oxford. Full of pretty much the same books as you would find in England. It really shows what an English influence there still is in this society.

Later we both get a much appreciated good nights sleep.