Monday 10 December 2018 - Kota Kinabalu - Malaysia

Another good night although it did get a bit rough in the early morning.  We got into port around 11am, an hour early.  

Our tour left at 1pm.  The departure and onto the bus all ran very smoothly.  28 degrees 85% humidity.  Number 1 priority, air  conditioning, check.  We did a city drive stopping for photos only at the following - Tun Mustapha Tower, a 30 storey circular glass and steel tower, one of only 3 in the world built by the suspended manner.

Next the City Mosque and then the Blue Water Mosque.  We drove past the Atkinson Clock Tower, the oldest standing structure in town being one of only three buildings to have survived the air raids and blitz of World War II.   

We next stopped at the Handicraft Market for a stroll around.  It was raining at this stage.  

The stalls were packed in and there were at least 4 bus loads from the ship.   Not an enjoyable time so we returned to the bus to wait for the others.   Last stop was the Sabah Museum.  This is split into two sections the first being the Heritage Village, which had huts from the different tribes of the region, including one with human skulls.  This area was good to look through although it was muddy and slippery.  

We then when back over to the main museum which Ian looked through while I sat in the shade chatting to some fellow travellers.  Back on the bus to drive back to the wharf which took twice as long as the drive there due to the traffic.   

Safely back on board and our nights entertainment was David Koek an Aussie who has appeared in musicals in Sydney and also London.   

Sunday 9 December 2018 - At Sea

Good nights sleep.  Didn’t hear anything.  Today is a day at sea and apart from eating and Ian’s gym session we went exploring the ship.  Checked out the shops and tried to get our bearings on where everything was.  We did attend a basic photo seminar with Master Photographer Milos who then invited us to attend his studio for a portrait shoot!   In the evening we attended the show put on by the ship’s entertainers.  The room was packed with people sitting or standing in the aisles.  Enjoyable but not an every night show.  We then wandered to a little bar and listened to a couple singing watching couples trying to outdo each other dancing.  We named the couple we thought were the best Fred and Ginger and saw them many times through the cruise dancing the night away.  I would guess that they did competition ballroom dancing at some point in their life.

Saturday 8 Deceber 2018 - Cruise

What a noisy night.  A few different groups arriving from around 2.30 am to 4.00 am this morning with no idea of being quiet.  Being woken a few times meant we slept in until 7.40.  After getting ready we  went out for breakfast and to return our Singapore Myki Cards.   Back to our motel to pack the bags and kill some time before the taxi to the harbour for the next stage of our journey.  Arrived at the harbour.  All very organised and easy even though there was our ship and another one in Port.  While waiting for our group to board we sat and chatted to a Kiwi (although Norwegian born) lady Sisell.  Boarded and found our room and left our bags before heading up for lunch.  

Sat with June and Helen (mother and daughter) from NSW.  After lunch we had to attend a safety talk.   Ran into Sisell again and sat with her.  Back to the room and unpacked the suitcases before sitting on the balcony as we left port.  The room is a good size and everything is comfortable and user friendly.   

Elected to go to the Curtis Stone Restaurant in the evening and our company was two Aussies, two Kiwis and two Americans.  A lovely meal and pleasant company.  Stayed too long chatting so we were too late to attend the show so we just went back to the cabin.

Some photos of the ship.

These ones were taken later in the cruise but show the ship so I thought I would use them anyway.

And a great way to end the day

Friday 7 December 2018 - Singapore Zoo

Woke this morning just before 6 so got up and ready to tackle firstly two train trips and then a bus trip to get to the zoo.  We arrived safely to the zoo which has a Game of Thrones display with statues of the dragons.

We made our way to the cafe for breakfast.  They have a large assortment of food including eggs, bacon, cereal, toast, fruit, yoghurt to name some.  As we finished eating the orangutans swung their way to the side of the cafe about 3 feet away.  Their handlers feed them while the public got to line up and have their photo taken.  

You were so close you could have patted them (except you weren’t allowed to).  Next arrival at breakfast was a python.  Sorry I can’t remember what sort of python.  I was holding it when he said what type and I was too busy making sure it didn’t decide to bite me than listen to the handler.  

I won’t bore you with listing the exhibits we went to as they had the same animals laying around not doing much as all other zoos.  

We did go to the sea lion show and that was what you would expect with the sea lion spinning in the water, balancing a ball etc.  The typical show that is performed.  One of the best displays was the butterfly enclosure which had over 300 butterflies as well as some birds and bats flying around you.  

We arrived back to the motel and had a nanna nap before heading out to the Chinese market and cafes where we had dinner.  A very long day.  We have found Singapore to be fairly easy to get around with public transport.  The people have been friendly and helpful and the street is very clean.  The traffic was chaotic at times, so glad we didn't have to navigate a car through it.

Thursday 6 December 2018 - Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

Up and away by 7.30.  Overcast again but I’m not complaining, hope it keeps the temperature down.  We stopped at reception to complain about the lack of hot water.  Their response.  Did you turn the switch on?  We now find out there is a switch next to the light switches at the door you have to turn on.  Thanks for telling us.  (*edited later * plenty of hot water for the remaining nights after turning it on!)

We walk down to the station and jump on a train to Outram Park.  We then needed to catch a bus.  After a slight detour of walking in the wrong direction we find the bus stop and jump aboard.  The man sitting beside me must have heard where we were going and told me when we reached the stop.  After pulling up the bus driver then yelled down the bus that it was our stop.   Off and into the Jurong bird park.   There was a little cafe here where we had breakfast.  They had jam or peanut butter toast.  Something nice and plain and went down easily.   Into the Bird Park which had a tram service that drove you around.  I thought it stopped at every exhibit but they had 4 stopping areas and you still had to walk back over the area you had covered on the tram anyway.  Before heading off on the tram we checked out the African penguins.  

Jumped on the tram and up to Hornbills and Toucans.   Here we spotted what looked like a squirrel.  Does Singapore have squirrels?  The beauty of google yes they do it was a plantain squirrel.  While waiting for the tram we  decided we would go to the King of the Skies show so we jumped on the next tram and did a complete lap around the park to go to the show.     

At the show they had owls, falcons and vultures.   They all flew around the area and landed on trainer’s arms to be fed.  It was quite good to watch but time to move on.  

We headed to Waterfall Avery.  

This is the worlds largest walk in aviary with over 600 free flying birds and a 30 metre waterfall to enjoy.  We also spotted rats in here.  Not quite as pretty.    Next stop Parrot Paradise the largest collection of parrots in Asia.  

The standout being the Blue Macaws.    We had now had our fill of birds so decided to call it quits so back on the bus to the shopping centre at Outram Park for lunch, then back on the train.  We had intended to go to Chinese Gardens but the weather put a stop to that.  It was pouring down and we had no way of knowing how long it would last so stayed on the train and headed back towards our motel.  We got off the train and had a well deserved ice-cream.  The rain has now stopped so we had a wander around the Chinese markets near our motel.  

Back at the motel we went up to check the pool out and met two girls who arrived today from New Zealand.  We got chatting and learnt that they are going on the same cruise as us.  Ian went for a swim and I returned to the air-conditioned room for a rest before tonight’s adventure.  Currently 29 degrees 83% humidity but feels like 40 to me.

We walked down to the wharf area.

Grabbed some fish and chips and a can of the most expensive coke ever at $6 a can.  If they had a price up we would never have bought it.  After finishing every last drop we walked down to the water’s edge to get a prime position for the Marina Bay outdoor light and water show displayed over the water along the promenade.   Laser lights cut across the water and sky, with water jets and lights coming out the water.  Images were also projected onto a building and it all kept time to music.    The show lasted 15 minutes and well worth seeing.  

There was a pleasant breeze coming off the water and for a short time you could forget about the humidity.  Then strolled back to the hotel to end another day.

Wednesday 5 December 2018 - Sentosa Island

We both woke at 6 am, tried to go back to sleep to no avail so got up to start the day.   We headed to McDonalds for breakfast.  I could only eat a couple of mouthfuls then felt sick.  Presume it is the heat and humidity, which I hate.  We are lucky because it is overcast which is keeping the heat down but the downside of that is the humidity goes up.  After breakfast we go to two different shopping centres trying to organise sim cards.  Ian had seen a particular plan on the web but the 2 shops we found knew nothing about it.  We gave up on these and proceeded to organise our Singapore version of a myki card.  Two places later and we had them organised.  Next we organised our gondola  and aquarium tickets as we were off to Sentosa Island for the day.  Sentosa is an island resort off Singapore’s southern coast, connected to the city by road, cable car, pedestrian boardwalk and monorail.   We choose the gondola for the magnificent views over the harbour and surrounding city views.  Ian was moving jumping up and down taking photos while I was gripping the seat tightly and yelling at him to sit down.  Our normal procedure on gondolas.

After getting off the gondola at the first stop we had a bit of a look around until it was time for our bus tour around the island.  This was a bit of a waste of time as you couldn’t see anything because the trees and plants were growing so profusely and blocked your view.  The bus stopped at Palawan Beach where we took a short walk out across a suspension bridge to the southern most point of Continental Asia.  Back on the bus and completed the loop

On Sentosa Island is Universal Studio, Butterfly Park, the second largest aquarium in the world (China having the largest) spa resorts, Tiger Sky Tower which goes up 50 stories while rotating 360 degrees giving you panoramic views that can stretch as far as Indonesia.  As well as the gondola from the mainland there is another one going across the Island and the mono rail.  There is, of course, many eating areas.  

After lunch we went to the aquarium which I enjoyed.

We rode the gondola across the Island to Fort Siloso, built in the 1880s on Mount Siloso to aid in protecting Singapore’s coast.  There were originally 3 forts but this is the only one left and has been restored.

Next stop was Sentosa Merlion which is a 37 metre-tall mythical creature.  The legendary Merlion is a half lion half fish guardian of prosperity.  We didn’t pay the $25 to climb up to the lookout in his mouth.  I’m sure the view would have been good but I wasn’t tackling it.  By this stage we had walked miles and decided to call it a day.  We got back on the gondola to head to Mainland Singapore.  The clouds around us were black, the wind was picking up and our crossing was highlighted with thunder and lightning.  (Can say that now we are safely back on ground - wasn’t as happy when we were swinging around 120 metres up).   

Back to the motel for a 30 minute kip before heading to a food court for our evening meal.  Back to the hotel for the night.  Air conditioning got to love it.  Ian had a shower comes out - no hot water.  Great anyway we both have cold showers and off to bed.

Tuesday 4 December 2018 - Singapore

Boarded the flight on time but a woman obviously wasn’t feeling well and ended up getting off the plane so we had to wait for that to happen.  Then there was some dispute over the seats which ended up needing 3 staff members to sort out.   Finally got them sorted and we were able to take off 30 minutes late.  The flight was not too bad with only about 4 places of slight turbulence.  The lady next to me kept elbowing me which was slightly annoying and she lost her blanket and asked if I had taken it.  No idea what she did with it but it was never found.  There was a crying baby for about an hour.  We had noise cancelling headphones so didn’t annoy us although I’m sure some of the other passengers were glad when she fell asleep.  The poor mother looked quite flustered by the end.  A women also needed oxygen during the flight.  Was glad when we touched down.  Smooth run through customs, all of 5 minutes and into a taxi to the motel.  Room is small and the bed feels really hard but ended up being very comfortable.  Just walked in and went to bed as our brain was telling us it was 3.30 am while the clock said 12.30 am.