Finally the Drrons are off on a Real OS Trip

[drron]

Then my IFE choices which I enjoyed, First was a Japanese documentary on Hokkaido. The subtitles were enough.
Then a German film with subtitles and a rather unusual title in English.
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I really liked it with a bit of everything and really tugged at your heartstrings at the end, About a 16 year old girl diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
Then a US comedy with Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman. Again enjoyable.
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Then a really enjoyable French movie. A spoof of James Bond and Hilarious.
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Then about an hour out of SIN a snack. A chicken and mushroom pie, Was OK.
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[drron]

The last hour was uneventful. I listened to Queens Greatest Volume 2. Mostly songs that rarely get played. Laid down and closed my eyes but didn't sleep.
The service was excellent and proactive with refills and such. Serving me was an older fellow. We had a few interesting chats.

After reaching the gate we had to wait a short while for the airbridge. Our gate was very close to Immigration. As we arrived at the lane we picked the fellow left so we were served straight away. Asked for our vaccination papers and mrsdrron handed over our printed copies. He didn't even look at them and we were both through quickly.

A little wait for bags. Ours was the 5th out but the first picked up so we were the first from our flight out. It really wasn't busy.
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There were quite a few in the taxi queue but there were 7 there being loaded. However after those went there was a drought. Quite a few taxis went past with passengers so it was a while before we were in hours. Not quite as efficient as Singapore was. So it was 2 hours until we were in our hotel room

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Not quite as efficient as Singapore was.

Unfortunately it’s the way of the world across all countries - staff / services everything is impacted - post Covid world is a new phenomena we all have to endure

 

[kpc]

We recently flew Syd-Sin-Kul return in Sq J....it was our first OS flight in 2.5 years...whilst good, Sq was just not quite the same as prepandemic: No pretake off drink, no hot towel, no nibbles ala warm cashews, no printed menus and the Krisworld menu didn't work, Wifi never worked, only one crowded SKL open in Sin with significantly reduced food offerrings etc etc. As CE says above, i guess it is the way of the world now. We were just grateful we could travel OS!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

kpc whilst I sympathize with your experience I did clearly spell out ALL those points in a recent trip report I posted - YES we now live in a different world

 

[drron]

As for Pre take off beverage you have to ask for it. Our wifi was perfect. Got nuts but just a packet not warmed. But agreed that the lack of printed menus is unforgivable now.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

At the risk of appearing as an SQ Fan Boy pls just be patient. SQ can only comply with directions from SG Govt - things are slowly changing - again go back read my TR - no punches pulled - BUT - best advice I have is that by XMAS 2022 hopefully we will see pre-pandemic standards / operational practice

 

[drron]

I enjoyed my flight over and it was much better than expected, However at present I have nothing to compare it to. Another SQ flight to BKK tomorrow and get our first look at the SQ lounges in Changi. Was not disappointed with their lounge in BNE,

But back to the TR, I had booked the Intercontinental Robertson Quay for a classic king with River view at $S313. Two days before departure it had been changed to a King Executive suite. That stuck. No problems with check in and we were happy with our room. Not really a suite but a large corner room.
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Some cookies and a "covid"box,
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And the view.
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[drron]

We really didn't feel like dinner that night so down to the club for a few glasses of wine and some snacks.
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The club.
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Beer and wines.

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I had the French red and mrsdrron the Sav Blanc.
The second night's snacks.
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Some orchid decorations,
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[Anna]

I am in Singapore 11th to 14th May

@I love to travel @mrs.dr.ron @drron I have a booking for Raffles high tea (aka my lunch) on the 11th at 1.30pm, you are welcome to join me if you are free. Just let me know so I can tell the butler

 

[Pushka]

@I love to travel @mrs.dr.ron @drron I have a booking for Raffles high tea (aka my lunch) on the 11th at 1.30pm, you are welcome to join me if you are free. Just let me know so I can tell the butler

You snuck over to Singapore without telling?

 

[I love to travel]

@I love to travel @mrs.dr.ron @drron I have a booking for Raffles high tea (aka my lunch) on the 11th at 1.30pm, you are welcome to join me if you are free. Just let me know so I can tell the butler

I wish but don't arrive until 9pm. Happy to catch up on 12 13 or 14 though.

 

[drron]

We will be in Bangkok on the 11th,Fly back to Singapore on the 12th and fly home on the 17th. The 13th though is lunch at Whitegrass.

 

[I love to travel]

From the other thread are you staying at IC Robertson Quay? Thoughts on the hotel?
Whitehrass looks amazing.

 

[drron]

The IC Robertson Quay was very good,However at the end of a narrow street. Seems a blt to walk to anywhere but we were able to walk to the National Gallery without too much trouble.About 1.6 Km.
When we come back we are staying at the Fullerton Bay hotel. It is a Luxury Escape which we were able to postpone for 2 years. Good price now.
After 3 days we are moving to the Voco for 2 nights.. Wanted to try out a couple of IHG hotels as Marriott hasn't been very good value for us here. At least it is in a good position we did enjoy the Hilton which this property was initially. And we do like Iggys which is still there but unfortunately closed on the 2 nights we are there. That weekend is a long weekend. Tried to book several restaurants for the Saturday, Sunday and Monday with no success.

 

[craven morehead]

We tried and did have a Norfolk Island trip in November 2020.
Then it really was like a trip to a foreign country in WA April 2021. The policeman at first wanted to turn me back at the border but his mate let me through. A few years ago an identical occurrence at LAX.

But now we are really dipping our toes in the water with 2 weeks in Singapore and Bangkok. When we first booked it was a mess with pre deparure testing required in both plus other hoops to jump through. I had a bit of a fright as we had booked to fly out on May 4th and I didn't realise Monday May 2nd was a public holiday and most everything would be closed. We needed a pretest no more than 48 hours before departure which is 9am on the 4th.

Flights are all SQ J paid with points. i had well over a million after the great Velocity transfer early in 2020 and then the Amex get gold transfer last year. We also had been able to delay a luxury escape package from early 2020 to now. At the start 2 days in the IC Singapore. Next 6 days in the SGS Bangkok. Coming back to Singapore our 3 nights in the Fairmont and 2 in the Voco to try it out.

Fortunately every thing fell into place on Friday last week. Both Singapore and Thailand announced the end to testing on the one day. No problems downloading the Singapore app but have to wait until we get there to activate it.

But today it was fun getting the Thai pass. I had all the documents and they were already downloaded to my computer. However when I went to upload the Vaccination certificate it wasn't in my downloads though going out and looking up downloads on my computer they were both there. On second try it came up they had to be jpg images. so took a photo of both. Mine uploaded straight away but with mrsdrron's they said the image was too large even though hers has less letters on it than mine. Also if you put your 3 doses in you have to upload your certificate 3 times even though the 3 doses are on the one certificate.

But on submitting got a green tick but have to await the registered email with the real approval.

Now really looking forward to the trip. Unfortunately it will also mean an increase in weight. C'est la vie.

Looking forward to this TR

 

[Anna]

Happy to catch up on 12 13 or 14 though

The 13th though is lunch at Whitegrass.

I am around on 13 May until about 3.30pm. Or on the 12th from about 6pm. If that suits anyone else.

Raffles is offering a 10 course degustation by a 3 star Michelin chef that week. A bargain at only SGD388++ per head

 

[TheRealTMA]

I am around on 13 May until about 3.30pm. Or on the 12th from about 6pm. If that suits anyone else.

Raffles is offering a 10 course degustation by a 3 star Michelin chef that week. A bargain at only SGD388++ per head

Go! Must be one of the cheapest things at Raffles. Tetsua is only two stars and is something like $450 a head for 10 course.

 

[I love to travel]

I am around on 13 May until about 3.30pm. Or on the 12th from about 6pm. If that suits anyone else.

Raffles is offering a 10 course degustation by a 3 star Michelin chef that week. A bargain at only SGD388++ per head

Will PM you and work something out for the 13th if that still works for you.. @drron let us know if you want to join us.

 

[drron]

Sorry we are doing another lunch on the 13th so wouldn't be available before 1530.

But now back to the TR. On the only full day in Singapore on this first part of the trip we had booked a lunch at Odette. We couldn't get in on any of the days on our return. But first breakfast. Ours was included but in the restaurant as the Club only opens at 1100. Not an impressive breakfast.The menu,
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Mrsdrron had the French Toast. She asked for just 1 piece.
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I ordered the eggS florentine but just got an egg Florentine.
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Wasn't really a problem as we didn't want to spoil lunch.

The IC at Robertson Quay is a bit further than the Fairmont where we will be on our return. 1.6 Km on Google maps. But then we are old folk slowing down and it was forecast to be 31C with a real feel of 37. So we set out to walk at around 1115 for our 1245 lunch.

It was a bit of a dawdle and stopped to take a few photos along the way. The first not too far from the IC.
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A couple of underpasses on the route with walls covered with murals.
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