Circle Asia and Flounging.

[drron]

Starting to get more tech savvy.Some photos from Shanghai
Picasa Web Albums - ron - Shanghai-apri...

 

[drron]

And here's my seatbelt on VN Hue-Hanoi.
Picasa Web Albums - ron - Vietnam Airli...

 

[drron]

And now for Saigon and Hoi An.
Picasa Web Albums - ron - Vietnam-may 08

 

[drron]

Finally Hue,Hanoi and Halong Bay.
Picasa Web Albums - ron - vietnam may 0...

 

[drron]

Time for the last instalment.It is good to have the last stay of a trip in singapore.It can be as frenetic or as laid back as you want.Then there is the singapore efficiency.Checked out right on 1600,at checkin at 1630,F of course.Despite our flight being at 2140 we can check in unlike Sydney where trying to checkin 3 hours and 10 minutes before the first flight meant being told to sit in the corner for 10 minutes-dont they know i really want to get to the lounge?
No one else in the Flounge when we arrive but it quickly fills up.No champagne out but i quickly have this little oversight rectified.Mrsdrron goes out to the shops so not there to count the number of glasses I have-she was not impressed with my consumption at our last lunch in KL.Get to realise how unspecial I really am.Before 1900 the lounge is packed with virtually not a spare seat and people eying mrsdrron's seat.This will be defended at any cost and they instinctively know this.
The time passes quickly and of to board QF52 back to Brissy and yet another glass of champers.Dinner served very soon after takeoff and we both settle on the Chicken pot pie.Tasty but a little hard to eat with turbulence.Decide to wash it down with a couple of glasses of a Clare valley reisling.Then a fairly dry cake for desert but the Seppelts muscat makes up for that.Finish watching the Bucket list then Charlie Wilsons war.Both good for a bit of a chuckle.Then settle back for a short sleep.
Wake to a breakfast of toasted muesli and hard dried toast-signs of things to come.Land in BNE on time which is just after the JAL flight from NRT and QF from LAX.Emerge from the aircraft to a packed walkway about 100 metres short of the duty free.Struggle through the crowd to the Express lanes and still at the baggage carousel well before our bags arrive-at least 30 minutes.Now in SIN we would be checking in at our hotel by this time.There are no tagged business class bags appearing in roughly the first 180 to appear and ours are bags 200 and 230.Again in SIN numbers 1 and 2.
I know this is not QF's fault but our system of running airports and the unions egalitarian outlook on life.Shortsighted though as I would imagine those that decide conditions etc for the workers usually travel at the pointy end and would not be impressed.For me just an extra 20 or 30 minutes before i make it back to my own bed and a couple of hours shuteye before catching up on a months mail.
Impressions-Shanghai-loved it.Will be back probably for Expo2010.
Vietnam-glad i went.Loved Hue,halong worth seeing,but hated the noise and ripoffs.Wont be back for many a long day.
Bangkok-enjoyed it as usual.Will remain a regular stop on our trips.
KL-love the Hilton and a great place for rest and indulgence.For those looking for a cheap Asian holiday then Malaysia should be considered and IMHO before Vietnam.
Singapore-Visit number 20 was just as enjoyable as visit 1.
Next TR will be global explore starting in August.
BNE-SYD-AKL-PPT-IPC-SCL-LIM-UIO-MIA-LGA-YYZ-JFK-LHR-MAD-BCN-LHR-NRT-HKG-SIN-BNE.Ticketed yesterday.

 

[Keith009]

Thanks for the excellent write up, drron - loved every word of it.

 

[JohnK]

Well done drron! Always interested in reading your trip reports.

When it comes to taxis in Bangkok they always try to get away with not using the meter. I am like serfty and I always ask them to turn on the meter before departing. I want them to know that I am aware of what is happening and I am not just any tourist....