2013 stoopidity: here, there, everywhere.. incl around the world (twice). .

[JessicaTam]

As always, very entertaining. And for the record, there is no such thing as overindulging in the F lounge.

 

[Major]

That looks like one of the Lions in front of C K Tangs

 

[Stoopidsteve]

That looks like one of the Lions in front of C K Tangs

Sure is

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Back onto MRT for trip to Gardens by the Bay South.

At that time of day, and on that route, the train is almost empty.



At least for one stop. Then at Marina Bay station, and then … CBD Singapore is so busy, with so many people, that to find oneself in a station, or walkway with so few others is…eerie.



Coming out of the MRT gets my firstup close view of Marina Bay Sands. It’s magnificent feat of building engineering, but I feel that having such a building overpowering the bay, well, it’s just a little dominating. In fact, it could be considered bad form, ie it’s just not Krikkit.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

The views of the artificial trees are interesting.


The gardens in a couple of years will be nice. I don’t usually get to places like Fort Canning when I'm here in Singapore, so a bit of greenery and a few birds other than sparrows is unusual.



The two big “conservatories” again are feats of engineering. And are airconditioned. Before you get too upset by the amount of electricity required, some of it is generated by solar on the artificial trees, and most by burning all the tree clippings from the island’s public works. And of course they say that all the plants can absorb some of the CO2 generated by burning, and they use the ash to fertilise.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

First conservatory I visit is the flower garden. Several "habitats", including Australian. Nice show of kangaroo paws.


and they’re just finishing off the transition to new theme, “flights of fancy”.



And in the succulent area I was just thinking how fun it would be to throw some gravel around, but dang it, those Singaporeans are such spoilsports.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Second dome is the mountain waterfall, 35m of water drop. At the top, don’t enter the islands if you don't want to be eaten (if you are an insect), as they’re colonised by pitcher plants.



I felt strangely vertiginous on the high walk.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Impressions are that it’s typically Singapore: superbly constructed, wonderfully designed, implemented and delivered, but regimented, controlled, even contrived, no animals allowed in the domes to sully the arrangements (piped birdsong). Still, worth a visit.A couple of hours, then back to hotel. Again in hindsight a mistake to be walking for 4-5 hours before the evening’s activities….

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Some carb loading including a delicious white chocolate crème brulee, and a small bite of the slated caramel brownie from "awfully Chocolate" in food hall of City Hall (save the rest for later). Have a rest for a couple of hours then...

 

[Stoopidsteve]

I get a taxi 1km or so down to the Formula 1 Pit building. Lots of excited people, lots of noise, I’m ready I think.

11.30 pm start. Feeling a little full…have I overdone the hydration thing and food still sitting heavy? Oh well, too late to worry about that. Have a target time, and first couple of km stick to it, but soon drop off, and target becomes “to finish”.

Thousands of runners, but little atmosphere out on the course: apart from the occasional ex-pat yelling encouragement, the loudest thing I hear pretty much all the way is the frogs in the golf course we go through. Really struggled with this one, but managed to finish.



Insufficient training? Running at Australian equivalent start of 1.30 am? Poor food/too much liquid? Not sure but a needed a toilet stop at about 8 km. Whatever the reason, glad to cross the finish line. A quick shower, and use the massage sevices. Only about 5 minutes, but 2 masseurs working in tandem. Dang it hurts, but feels good! “There, you can run tomorrow now”. (I didn’t, but managed a swim, see below). Walk back to Fairmont. To sleep about 4am.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

6 hours later, got up and went for a swim. Dived in and swam across a few times (20m perhaps?). A gentleman asked me not to dive in near him as it made his stuff wet. A little perplexed I reply “Sorry your stuff got wet, but, er, this….is…a…swimming…….pool”. Then notice he has a laptop. Still puzzled as there’s plenty recliners in areas away from the water. Rightio. There's also a shallower smaller pool for kids too.



Return to room, with enough time for bath and checkout. Hang around in lobby til 1pm then spend the rest of the afternoon catching up with a friend.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Taxi to Terminal 1, arrived at about 6pm. Check in through empty Premium area (rest of concourse looks very busy). My first visit to the new QF lounge. Already seen some pics, so the industrial dining area is no surprise as I walk through to showers. Showers not been refurbished, but no wait tonight.




I must say the food choices are streets ahead of the old QF/BA lounge. The hot self-serve dishes look freshly cooked and enticing, the salads/ cold is also available, but I choose to sit at the counter.




Chicken in black vinegar, or salmon with cucumber salsa? Chicken, a nice little dish. An obviously more senior service person asks if I’m being looked after well.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Service is attentive and very good. Definite improvement over the last lounge. Several drinking spaces incl free pour wine...


and plenty of tables, most with power points.



I like it, and would happily spend more than the hour I had tonight.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

ooohhhhh, forgot the overindulgence pic.....

not a fan of the black sticky rice but concur creme brulee is good (not as good as the white choc one I had previous night), and the orange cake deliciously moist.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Aboard QF52, right up to leaving the lounge, I was happy to see that I had 43HJK to myself. But aboard, someone arrives in 43K. Then wanders away again, then comes back, then away, then back again: a late seat change who’d been offered the row, but hadn’t been aware the seat arms don’t raise so had wanted to go back to her original seat with her friend, to find it had been re-assigned. Finally she settles and decides the extra leg room in the cut-out bulkhead, window seat isn’t that bad after all. For this shorty, the legroom is fine. If with a shadow, I’m not at all convinced I prefer 43H. A fan of ongoing map/seatback which can’t be had with bulkhead row, and a fan of lifting seat arms, I will probably forgo the extra leg room. Unless it’s 32A or K on A380!





So, QF52 OJU is captained by James Ayre tonight, with Emma CSM. Rob N CSM in economy comes round with personal greeting and offer “anything you’d like, just ask”. Pax in H asks if I’m “a pilot or something”. No, I just fly a lot. About 40 mins after take-off Rob comes back and repeats the offer (prob would have asked for fizz at that point if I drank, toyed with wanting blanket from Y+ but not really sleepy), and he dropped off priority pass (not that I ever need it in BNE with the smart gates, but add it to the collection of inbound and outbound express cards for when necessary).

Pushback is 2002, and take-off to the north at 2022. Dinner missed but offered were beef with mash, or fish with noodles. Some snoozing, and smooth flying. Pass over Derby, Alice, Roma, and into BNE.

The very brief breakfast:



Touchdown at 0505, at Gate 0510, kerbside 0520.

A quick bus trip to domestic terminal to retrieve car, and on the motorway south to Gold Coast by 0550.

So the crew on the SIN trips appear to be the more mature crews than on A380, but unobtrusive, efficient service on both legs. DON'T like the 330, do like the 747, particularly with the updated seats. Definitely a good trip, where the hotel for 2 nights cost more than the airfare, and I got my first taste of SYD Flounge. Now I've done it, I know what's there. Nice, but not a luxury "must have several hours there to be pampered"...it's still an airport lounge. Having said that, anytime I'm going through MEL/SYD, I won't decline the opportunity to use the lounges, and will be most willing to guest any AFFers who want to. I think next SYD visit is August 8...

Next trip is domestic next week in Y...keep tuned for more rather dull adventures of a beanie to Canberra, where the intrinsic design features of the beanie might be useful (ie for keeping my head warm!).

 

[puppysparkes]

I'm guessing 43HHK are WP reserved status? Ty for the entertaining reports, I'm a new fan!

 

[Inver]

Thanks Steve really enjoying this TR.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Thanks to Inver and puppysparkes and all others, I'm enjoying sharing what I can.

This marks a slight change, Domestic now:

Next trip, on the way to chilly Canberra for a couple of days. Arrive in plenty of time, in case Sydney fog’s had flow on problems. Sydney? Of course, AFF wisdom mandates connection rather than direct!

BNE-SYD-CBR.

Looking forward to my first ever row 4 seats, from prior seat selections.
Check in at Kiosk, yes 4C on 525 to Sydney at 1225….WHAT????? Row 9 for 771 to Canberra????

I take 9F, and after 2 minutes through security, check my booking in the lounge. Still showing 4F in my booking. WTF??? The desk darling says something about aircraft change, and promises to block seat next to me. Grump grump grump.

Oh well. Plenty of time to do a bit of work.

Now look up. The business lounge is pretty busy. Tee shirts, thongs, suits, (no the suits aren’t wearing thongs) screaming babies, it’s all here. Life’s a circus.

Lots of hand luggage/laptop bags with WP and SG tags… I Don’t Know Who any of them Are!

A bit of work, and a small plate of the chicken with noodles (rather bland, pea soup was better).




QF525 on VH-VXA a bit late (presumably it IS flow on from Sydney fog), and not an empty seat on the plane. That looked-forward-to row 4 seat with shadow? Nope. NB in 4B. Big lad he was too.



Coincidentally, my boss’s boss in 3B (on his way to Europe for a conference), who, on seeing my seat says “you must fly a lot to get that one”. See, he KWIA (is that good if I’m applying for promotion later in the year?). I make sure he knows I’m on my way to Canberra at the request of HIS boss.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

We’re reminded by Debra (CSM) that the forward loo is for business pax. Gale in economy approaches from behind, offering greetings and water to the list on her piece of paper, but runs out of water at row 5, so I don’t get a welcome (my name was on list, I saw it J). Push back 1259 and take off at 1307, vs schedule 1225). Gale makes up for it when meal cart comes round, bantering with “hello Stoopid, you must fly almost as much as us”.

The “lunch” is a small pumpkin and feta quiche. What? Me? Eat quiche? Don't you know the saying about REAL men and quiche?



Yup, “real men don’t care what you think about what they eat”

Service efficient and cheerful, and I even manage to do a little work.



Arrived SYD1421, at gate 8 by 1430. A few minutes wait for an airbridge to arrive, and into terminal by 1445. Check the boards, and doncha know, same metal to take me to CBR. With a scheduled boarding time of 1500, I don’t bother going to lounge, watch planes and people. Including big Phyllis.



Of course I should have gone to the SYD dom J lounge. There’s a pax who isn’t off the plane (special needs) until about 1520, and then another (genuine) wheelchair pax needing boarding assistance. While waiting, several announcements of previous SYD-CBR cancellations, so there had been a plane change. So I assume my lowly WP 4C booking was trumped by CL and P1 when they did plane changes?

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Anyway, lots of middle seats empty when we do board VXA again. In 9F this time with E empty. I look out of the window to see VH-VXG 737 next door.Rob Poulter (Captin) welcomes us aboard, and we push back at 1540, and leave the ground 1557. Only a couple of cabin crew remain the same (I’m surprised, I thought they’d have had full crew change or none, but obviously not: see I’m not that experienced a flyer, still learning stuff). Snack served, orange and choc nibbly cookies.


Always surprised just how many dams there are in this part of the world (all those little white dots are dams), and good to see them full. Or at least with some water in them.

Touchdown at 1627, and doors open 1637, down the stairs onto tarmac and quick walk into the terminal. Hopefully priority luggage tags work, but with this mode of transport, I think I may have worked out why it's not always successful...Last time I was here was about 3 years ago, so terminal is new to me. Looks clean and smart, but not going to linger. Taxi to Rydges Lakeside. Why this hotel? why, double points of course, nearly 2000 points for a couple of nights.Room's not enormous, but big enough for my needs for a day or two. And they got my request for high floor: 9 (highest this standard of room is on) Except no bath tub. I do enjoy a nice soak after flying, but not to be on this trip.I’m used to Singapore hotels and am taken aback at the “2 for $6” label on the water by the bed…