Day 1: Napier to Singapore, Friday 7th/ Saturday 8th June 2024
17° Fine in Napier, 17° in Auckland, 27°, cloudy in Singapore
NZ$1 = S$0.8 ( Singapore Dollar )
S$1=NZ$1.20
PROLOGUE:
This trip was sparked by the realisation that there was a train line ( or multiple train lines ) that run from Singapore to Bangkok, and therefore it was possible to take a series of trains from Singapore, through Malaysia and up through southern Thailand. And anytime there is a train option available to travel and see the world then we are always keen for that.
As you will see as you read these travel diaries that grand plan didn’t work out quite as planned.
Before leaving New Zealand we had booked flights in and out of Singapore, accommodation in Singapore, trains in Malaysia as far as Kuala Lumpur and accommodation in Johor Bahru and KL. The rest of the trip was to be booked as we went, which allowed us some flexibility to stay longer or leave early as we felt necessary.
We caught taxi at 4:20pm ( $35 ) to the airport, checked in ( checked right through to Singapore ), waited and boarded at 6pm, and left at 6:15pm. An OK flight, landed in Auckland at 7:20pm. We walked to the International Terminal, then through customs etc ( there we no travellers here, not like our last time through here where it took hours to get through the queue ), we grabbed dinner at dumpling place at 8pm, walked around shops, and sat and waited. Headed down to Gate 2 at 11pm, and boarded at 11:40pm. Left at 12:10pm for Singapore ( NZ282 ). It was a bumpy flight most of the way, but not too bad. We both managed a bit of sleep.
We landed in Singapore @ 6:30am, through immigration then out into Terminal 3 at 7am. We drew some money ( S$200 = NZ$250 ) then stored our bags ( S$23 for up to 24 hours) and walked for 10 minutes through a covered walkway to The Jewel, only to find that nothing was open or working ( the waterfall etc ) until 10am, so we had a coffee at the 7Eleven, sat and charged phones etc for a bit then walked back to T3 @ 9am. Got our bags out of storage ( very expensive storage for an hour!) and caught the MRT into town.
Changed trains at Tanah Merah then onto the EW line, then into town ( feels very familiar ), changed at Outram Park then on the TEL line to Havelock ( the MRT uses tap on tap off using phones/Visa cards so no need to buy tickets which is very convenient ). We walked for what felt like a mile through tunnels to get to our exit ( No 4 ) then up to street level ( back into the heat from the air-conditioned comfort of the metro ) and walked along to our hotel at 10:20am ( Four Points by Sheraton, NZ$339 for 1 night, incl breakfast ). Got an early check in and up to room 624. Relaxed and cooled off.
It is hard to explain ( and while planning this trip, hard to remember ) how much the heat/humidity effects things; the best description I can come up with is that it feels like you are carrying 20kgs around with you; everything is harder to do and takes longer, and is more draining than you expect.
Out at 11am , walked along the river ( through a brief shower ) to Clarke Quay, grabbed some early lunch @ 11:30 ( fishcakes, and pork dish and 2 beers, S$62 ). Walked back along the other side of the river and back to hotel at 12:30pm. Liz went for a swim, and snoozes were had.
Out at 3:15pm, walked to Holiday Inn across the road for a photo of the atrium in the middle of the circular building.
Havelock MRT then to Marina Bay, then changed to Circle Line to Bayfront ( Marina Bay Sands ). Walked around the mall a bit, then to the casino ( very complex process to get in, including passport checks and entry card checks ), spent some money, then walked to the foodcourt for some dinner ( $30 for a couple of dishes ), then walked back to MRT, and back to hotel ( via the nearest 7 Eleven ) at 6:30pm. Both a bit tired after a long day
This is our forth visit to Singapore, and while we do like the place, it feels a little too ‘western’ for us, and it is expensive compared to the rest of Asia. But a good spot to spend the night, and get ready to go to Malaysia.