A trip of firsts : EMD-BNE-SIN-HEL-TXL return

[craven morehead]

First time I've encountered this type of Unisex public loo. Better than the squats in China I guess. Might be a little cool in winter.

 

[craven morehead]

And now a nice casual 20 minute stroll back to the hotel.





I'm reasonably certain another poster had mentioned this place in a previous trip report.

 

[craven morehead]

Got back to the hotel in time for one last sauna (very important) then packed bags and went down for last few beers with Hugo. He talked me into watching the first half of Finland playing Iceland in the Euro basketball again. It was a relaxed and fun way to finish my stay at the Holiday Inn Helsinki City Centre (fastest wi-fi speed of any hotel I've ever stayed in). I only had to walk about 50 yards to my train as it was on the nearest platform to the hotel. Time to head back to Vantaa airport. Arrived about 10pm and was up the escalator through security, immigration and in the lounge by 10.15pm for a relaxing hour before boarding for midnight departure.



The food offering was very basic. I'm assuming due to the time of night.



Meatballs and mashed potato.

 

[craven morehead]

I was reasonably hungry so I had a bit of everything washed down with a few glasses of Red. The plan was to just have soup on the plane and then try and sleep. So although far from an epicurean feast the basic food did the job. The lamb & beetroot sandwich was a touch dry but the wine solved that problem

 

[craven morehead]

HEL-SIN leg, left turn Clyde !!



More of the same. Managed about 6 hours sleep which was good for me.


Making full use of slippers

 

[craven morehead]

Funny as the nature of global travel is, 4 hours after eating breakfast on the plane I was having Japanese for dinner with some friends in Singapore. Having trouble with the odd file uploading in full image. Landed in Singapore at about 16.30 and dinner was booked for 18.30. So just enough time to catch a taxi into Novotel Clarke Quay, check in, shower and change for dinner. Grabbed another taxi and off to Novena Square. I was only going to be in Singapore for approx 28 hours. Having been there 6 times in the past 12 months I really just wanted to catch up with my friends and chill on the way home. We ate at Tomi Sushi in Velocity Mall Novena Square.



First time for me eating Unagi (freshwater eel) they tell me. I was happy for my friends to order as they were regulars here. All the food was of a very decent standard. As my friends had a toddler we made it an early night and agreed that time permitting we would catch up for an hour or so the following afternoon as it was a Friday before I headed back to the airport. As I was still on Helsinki time I was far from ready for bed so I headed back to Clarke Quay and found a nice bar where I could wind down. McGettigan's as regulars would know is only a short walk from the Novotel. I thought this was a wise choice.

Berlin was never far from my mind as I enjoyed a few Erdingers and reflected on the past few weeks.

They had a good 3 piece band playing some great covers : Air Supply got a run at one stage

 

[craven morehead]

The next day I took full advantage of my late checkout 16.00 (one of the only decent Accor Gold perks) and pretty much slept till lunchtime. Got up and caught up on emails & FB etc and then packed at my leisure. Express check out and then caught a taxi to Suntec City Mall for a 17.00 rendezvous. Parked up at Baccarat Bar a classy place next to the Lamborghini dealer. Ordered some tapas and waited for my friends to arrive. Spent 2 hours chatting and reliving some funny times from our shared history in Central Queensland. Always a blessing to catch up with friends abroad.

 

[amaroo]

Just caught up .... sensational report!

 

[craven morehead]

Just caught up .... sensational report!

Many thanks amaroo it's my first crack at a trip report. I take my hat off to all the people that have provided me such good and informative reads over the years. I though I'd better contribute and have a go

 

[GarrettM]

Many thanks amaroo it's my first crack at a trip report. I take my hat off to all the people that have provided me such good and informative reads over the years. I though I'd better contribute and have a go

It has been an EXCELLENT report CM. And it makes me quite jealous of what can be possible when travelling alone, which is something I did not do enough when younger. Much harder with a wife and toddler.
Nevertheless...

Loved your Berlin pics. Such a great place. I guess I'll add Helsinki to my ever expanding list of destinations, although I can't abide the cold at any time.

Did you get in enough beer?

 

[RooFlyer]

Super TR; thanks

 

[craven morehead]

It has been an EXCELLENT report CM. And it makes me quite jealous of what can be possible when travelling alone, which is something I did not do enough when younger. Much harder with a wife and toddler.
Nevertheless...
Loved your Berlin pics. Such a great place. I guess I'll add Helsinki to my ever expanding list of destinations, although I can't abide the cold at any time.

Did you get in enough beer?

Thanks for reading GarrettM. I have a wife and 5 kids so rarely travel solo but I have to admit I found it liberating. Being in countries where English is not the first language (but widely understood) changes the parameters of normal interaction I think. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to just wander.

That was my second trip to Berlin and I really do like the place but as you know there are so many other places to go so not sure I'll get back.

Would loved to have more time in Helsinki and will most likely route through there next time I go to the UK (hopefully 2019 Ashes)

Enough Beer, was it that obvious ? yes it got a look in most days, rarely to excess but was a staple in the evenings. Some of those German wheat beers are damn good!

Cheers CM

 

[craven morehead]

Super TR; thanks

Thanks for your comment RooFlyer. I have read many of your TR's over the years and you would be one of the people that have finally inspired me to have a go and contribute meaningfully to the forum. Cheers CM

 

[OZDUCK]

Thanks for all your efforts Craven, brought back memories of our recent time in Helsinki and of previous trips to Berlin. We will be attending my wife's, very distant -about 230 years, German family re-union in Berlin in 2020 so something to look forward to.

(The Finnair lounge had a very poor food selection for our trip home as well)

 

[craven morehead]

My good mate ordered a Grab taxi on his phone app for me and soon it was time to say goodbye and head back to Changi.


I do like my Samsonite luggage.






Only had about 45 minutes to kill in the lounge so decided to just have a shower and freshen up. Soon enough it was time to head to the gate for boarding on QF52 SIN-BNE. I'm not sure if I stuffed up or couldn't move my seat when I tried after ticketing but ended up in 6F. No big deal of course with the privacy screens. Had supper watched a movie and had 3 hours sleep if I was lucky. Overall a good flight with good crew.

Tonight's bird ....

 

[craven morehead]

Thanks for all your efforts Craven, brought back memories of our recent time in Helsinki and of previous trips to Berlin. We will be attending my wife's, very distant -about 230 years, German family re-union in Berlin in 2020 so something to look forward to.

(The Finnair lounge had a very poor food selection for our trip home as well)

Many thanks OZDUCK. I must admit it takes a bit of keeping on top of and I can now truly appreciate the effort everyone else has put in previously with trip reports. I tend to travel OS once or twice a year so I will now feel a little more comfortable doing a TR. What month in 2020 will you be in Berlin ? Surely not the middle of winter and will you fly AY again ?

 

[OZDUCK]

Many thanks OZDUCK. I must admit it takes a bit of keeping on top of and I can now truly appreciate the effort everyone else has put in previously with trip reports. I tend to travel OS once or twice a year so I will now feel a little more comfortable doing a TR. What month in 2020 will you be in Berlin ? Surely not the middle of winter and will you fly AY again ?

The date is not settled yet but it will be during the summer. The 2011 reunion, held just outside Ulm, which was where the family originated, was in mid-September. Last years one in Canada was in early August.

If AY have another 50% off special like last time I will be more than happy to fly with them again - and this time the Singapore - Helsinki flight might even take off!

 

[craven morehead]

Landed in BNE about 5.55 which was 20 minutes early. Cleared immigration and customs, re-checked bags in and walked outside. The T bus pulled up virtually straight away and it was off to the domestic terminal. Through security and safely tucked in the QP by 6.45. Had me some breakfast and feeling a little lethargic I decided another shower might help me spark up. Next flight was QF2404 BNE-EMD and somehow seat 2C just didn't have the same ring to it lol. The great leveler, after flying to the other side of the world and back in J one always gets the Dash-8 400 for the last leg home . However I will always feel privileged to have done what I have just managed to do and if the final flight has to be in a Dash 8 then so be it for the foreseeable future. Landed in EMD on time and now for the 100km drive home.



And so ends a trip of many Firsts for me. Thanks to anyone who has taken the time to read and for the positive responses. I hope that someone will glean a tip or two from my TR as I have from so many others. Now where to next ?? Cheers & kind regards to all CM

 

[craven morehead]

The date is not settled yet but it will be during the summer. The 2011 reunion, held just outside Ulm, which was where the family originated, was in mid-September. Last years one in Canada was in early August.

If AY have another 50% off special like last time I will be more than happy to fly with them again - and this time the Singapore - Helsinki flight might even take off!

Ahh yes that would be nice !!

 

[drron]

A great first TR.I think we all learn from the experiences of others.
But then a Queenslander with a gorilla avatar.Naturally it had to be excellent.
Thanks again.