Erk's 2014 Pacamerican Circle

[petercr]

Ah... looks like they give their judiciary positive architect-inspired buildings (not to be confused with Supreme Court in Brissie)

 

[erkpod]

Well that was fast. I flew out of NRT on Wednesday night 19/2 & today Friday 21/2, my points/SC have been credited from SQ11. I've retained SG (review date 30/8/14) & have 165 SC to go to hit WP. I'll drop down to 205 SC to go before my flight home on Wednesday.

I still have to chase up the ORC for DL travel SEA - SLC - PHX & I have SIN - SYD to go on this trip.

After this trip, I've got my DSC run SYD - OOL - MEL - PER & vice versa in mid March. Then I have SYD - AUH - SYD (also DSC) in June.

 

[erkpod]

That's the New Supreme Court of Singapore new supreme court of singapore - Google Search

The cranes you see are part of the construction works to convert the Old Supreme Court and City Hall into the National art Gallery of Singapore.

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

And that, folks, is a benefit of a near real time TR.

 

[bass_ke]

You going to go for WP erk? Do it!

 

[erkpod]

You going to go for WP erk? Do it!

I do know one thing - I never want to go below SG ever again. Seeing as though I'm so close, I might as well go for it!

 

[gwilli1]

Agree Erk , will always try and maintain SG while i can . I don't see great value in going for WP with VA at this stage.

I do know one thing - I never want to go below SG ever again. Seeing as though I'm so close, I might as well go for it!

 

[erkpod]

Agree Erk , will always try and maintain SG while i can . I don't see great value in going for WP with VA at this stage.

At least when I do hit WP, that effectively gives me 2 years at SG or above without having to do anything. But you're right - there's not a massive gap in the VA universe between SG & WP.

 

[erkpod]

Paging any defence avgeeks to the white courtesy phone...

Will look out for this guy again tomorrow.





My first lights/sirens spotted in Singapore.





5 Stars tourist mini bus. 5 stars.

 

[petercr]

Attachment 25243

Erk, that's a Lockheed C130 Hercules...

Could be either a C130H or KC130H tanker (probably the latter)

 

[markis10]

Attachment 25243

Erk, that's a Lockheed C130 Hercules...

Could be either a C130H or KC130H tanker (probably the latter)

It's a KC130B, RSAF has 4, the tanks would be inboard if its the C130H or KC130H.

 

[petercr]

It's a KC130B.

THAT old? no wonder one of the links I found mentioned an RFI for replacement tankers... (for them and the KC135)

 

[erkpod]

You guys are amazing, Markis & Peter. There is no way I would have been able to tell that from that photo.

When I was walking down Geylang Rd, it was basically following the road on one pass. It would have been a great head-on shot. So I thought I'd wait for the next circuit but it tracked different.

The sound was amazing...

 

[erkpod]

Day 53, Saturday 22 February
Singapore

With no Hercs or fighter jets to distract me, I headed downtown to catch the SQ downtown hop on/off tour ($8 SGD with SQ BP, $25 SGD without). That was the plan.

However, the big red bus tour bus rocked up first. While it is $33 SGD for 1 day or $43 SGD for 2 (more expensive than the SQ tour), there's 3 routes & 4 different buses. So I selected the 2 day pass. That also includes a free river cruise (not sure if the 1 day tour does also).

Starting in Chinatown, the red route (heritage) got me to the Suntec City which appears to be the hub for the services. I also found the Aqua Duck which the company also runs.

A change of bus & route on the yellow city route (duration for full loop is 60 minutes) & I swear this driver was trying to do the loop in 45 minutes. You'd be forgiven for thinking he was a route driver during the week, auditioning for a spot driving at the Singapore F1 GP or channeling Colin McRae.

It. Is. A. Tourist. Bus.

I had lunch at Raffles City & spotted a dining place with a certain airline's "celebrity" chef's name attached. Not a hot dog to be found.

Back on the bus with Colin McRae at the wheel again. I'm not sure if it's the same Colin I had before or they all drive like this. But the bus only had one stop to go before needing to change back to Colin McRae III & back on the heritage route.

With these tours, I always try to ride the route once in full before hopping on & off. So far, I've done the whole city route (yellow) & a little of the heritage (red) routes in around 4 hours)

 

[bass_ke]

There's a good loving hut (restaurant folks!)at Suntec Erk, right up your alley!

We spent a bit of time in and around Suntec when SWMBO and I were on our "babymoon"

Bless cheap EY/VA points redemptions between BNE and SIN.

How much longer do you have left?

 

[erkpod]

There's a good loving hut (restaurant folks!)at Suntec Erk, right up your alley!

We spent a bit of time in and around Suntec when SWMBO and I were on our "babymoon"

Bless cheap EY/VA points redemptions between BNE and SIN.

How much longer do you have left?

I fly out very early on Wednesday with a lunchtime arrival back into SYD.

I'm planning these tour bus rides today/tomorrow & walking to Malaysia on Monday.

 

[bass_ke]

Get some good pics if you manage to walk over the border!

We walked the causeway in 2008 but I've heard it's no longer possible since Malaysia opened their new CIQ facility

 

[erkpod]

On the Downtown line, there was a competition to choose a winner for new artwork for priority seating & signage.



Not many people on this Downtown train near the end of the line on a Saturday morning.

 

[erkpod]

Note the heavy penalties for eating, drinking, smoking & having flammable goods on the train. I had to look up what a durian was. Upon reading up on it online, no wonder it is banned.









Chinatown.

 

[petercr]

Whahhh... just looked up what the AUD - SGD exchange rate was for those fines... (close enough to 1:1 for the sake of the signage)

What WOULD they fine you for a durian I wonder... having seen one in the local duopoly supermarket, they must be stinky when they've been opened??

 

[erkpod]

The bus commentary comes in various languages including kid. It's a nice touch for someone under 10 but it is a little patronising.

"Be sure to tell mummy when you are thirsty. We sell bottles of water on the bus."

And

"Remind mummy that we can't go down the stairs while the bus is moving." Really?

There are some facts but you might want to skip the kid commentary, especially if mummy isn't on the tour but daddy is .

*switches to Japanese*











Aqua Duck!