Singapore

Hello all

Few days since the last post. Here is a post focusing on Singapore.

We stayed in an Airbnb on the far side of the city in the Bukit Batok region.
Most housing is apartment blocks and all very neatly numbered. We stayed in apartment 125 on floor 10.
To me, Singapore boasts the easiest to use rail system. We arrived out of the airport into the rail terminal and very quickly boarded a train to our new abode.
The following day I asked a station attendant to explain how it worked.
They have the city map. You choose your destination. Press the destination and pay your money. It was that simple. We have seen a few rail systems this year and this one is the easiest.
Everyone talks about how clean Singapore is. This is true in the public space but when you look around hidden recesses and alleyways the story is different.
The great thing is that there are plenty of rubbish bins to use.
This is in stark contrast to South America where rubbish bins are sparse. Hence the litter everywhere.

There are shopping malls everywhere. Air-conditioning and food, cloths and sports gear and off course cellular shopping.
Singapore is in the grip of the pokemon craze. Seriously, this was really incredible and annoying because I did not have a phone too join in with and no one is watching where they were walking. They also walk in lines at a slow pace. People over 50 weren't affected so heavily. The other thing here is the good old selfiestick.  Kids are born with surgical attachments these days to make phones accessible to babies.

Singapore has a very diverse cultural mix. We went into China Town for a look around. All nations represented. Even lots of aussie tourists.
Coming down into the China Town streets.

 Many tourist shop for momentos in these markets.
Most of these articles are mass produced and can be purchased anywhere.
I think Linda bought some silk dressing gowns and a fridge magnet.

There are many interesting buildings in Singapore.

The building above attempts to bring the jungle into the urban space.

Above is the Marina Bay Sands Hotel. Quite a sight as they have built a ship like structure on it's roof.

Part of the this hotel is connected to a massive shopping complex and the high walk ways to the Gardens by the Bay.

The shopping complex was multi level with water and row boats on the bottom ground level. It even had an ice rink inside beside the main food hall.

The shops in this complex are branded with exclusive items all at exclusive prices.

Linda and I sat there eating, when gradually the place filled with young people all converging on one place. Someone told me there was a Pokemon at that location. I really felt left out.
The Gardens By The Bay, were spectacular....as far as gardens go I guess.

Below is what you see from a distance.

 Below is what you see from a walkway around these structures.

These towers were all covered with living vegetation.  When you look in behind the greenery you see the irrigation system and the planter systems. Very elaborate.

Another part of Singapore is its history.

There is an old part of town which includes a museum of course.

There are many art works around which are very crafty but life like.

Not much explanation required above. Life like and life size.

After 4 nights we were happy to leave Singapore. Very hot and very busy.
Our early train to the airport was delayed due to track maintenance so we had a rushed entry into the air terminal.

We arrived into Perth to cool weather and a cold beer.

Bye for now.
Sam

England

Hello all

Bit of a lull with the blog as we have been in England visiting friends and having a quick trip around.
We flew into Gatwick where we were kindly picked up by Scotty. His son Harry and fellow kiwi Craig who came along for the ride. 

That evening we also saw Sharron who is Scotts other half.
Nice to catch up with people who we like and are like minded.

While at Scotts we walked around the coast/beach and visited nearby places.
We came upon an Oyster farm where they used adult oyster to spawn, and then grew the spat. They also did cockles.

Above example is an Algae brew tank which has is being purged with fresh air.
Another find along the coast was this old Roman site. The above ground structure is more contemporary and built on an old Roman placement.

The next day we explored London and arrived their by train. Much to see and do so we visited Westminster Abbey, London Eye and the Churchill war rooms.

Above is Westminster Abbey

Below is view from London Eye capsule

Above is the entry into the Churchill  museum.

No photos from inside.

Another place was Dover, which is the nearest British port to Europe.

White cliffs of Dover....does that ring any bells?

See the cliff photo zoomed in to see the layers.
The layer of dark material is flint. I fell back into my Neanderthal man mode and chipped off a few scards.  Very sharp and drew blood while handling it. Big plaster and a soft whimper and I was back into it.

Another attraction at Dover was Dover Castle.

Above is the view over Dover from the castle.

That day we hired a car and said goodbye to Scotts lot and headed for Stone Henge the following day.

We walked to the monument and hung around for an hour or so. Lots of people and many selfie sticks.

From there we drove into Wales for a day or 2.

The following morning we visited an old historic village just west of St Fagans. 

This was an open air museum chronicling the life and culture of early Wales.
Below is an old farm house scene.

Below is a paleolithic dwelling rebuilt from archeological diggings.

Supposedly very authentic.

Walls of mud/straw and stone. Roof of thatch over branches. 

That afternoon we travelled through the Brecon Beacons and stayed in Shropshire which sits east of the Welsh border. We had a very comfortable stay with Sal and her son Rauri.  Sal was a story teller for the local districts and knew lots of folks lore.

 The following morning we visited an old lead mine site and the Stiperstone range. Nice view of Wales and England.

The Beacons are known as a military training ground for the SAS soldiers of England.

The next day we arrived in Southport on the coast above Liverpool on the Irish Sea. 

A very tidy old  Victorian town of 90000 people and home to the Rimmer family of old who moved to NZ some 4 generations earlier. 

Unfortunately Bill had died 5 years earlier.

Above is a view of Southport from the main pier.
The pier is quite long and the sea at low tide is another 500 metres further out.

We stayed with a lovely lady who's house was immaculate.  Thanks Lynn for the great stay.

The 2nd day in Southport we visited Liverpool which is famous for the Beatles and the Liver Birds.

Liverpool had lots happening as the day was warm with big crowds out and about.

Above is a view from the old town hall which is being restored. 

We left Southport and headed for Stansted airport from which we flew back to Holland.

Itchy feet starting to happen as Singapore and Perth just over the horizon. 

Next post from Singapore 

Holland

Linda and I travelled from Luxembourg to Maastricht in the southern Dutch region of Limburg.

Maastricht has been inhabited since Roman times and has been invaded by Spanish, French and  Belgium forces in more recent times.
Located on the banks of the Meuse, Maastricht was strategically placed as an early garrison town and continued later as trading centre.
Today it is a vibrant cultural centre and boasts many industries.
An old industry was the limestone mining and this is able to be visited.

Above is an example of the artwork found on it's walls.

The caves were quarried by local's since Paleolithic times for limestone blocks and for flint rock.

On top of the cave is a local hill known as Mt Saint Peter.

Here the Dutch built a fortress.
This stronghold was built in 1702 to defend against the Spanish forces.
We did a tour the same day.

Entry door

Above is an old canon 

Maastricht itself was very nice to visit and was showing its age.

Gated entry into city centre from many centuries ago.

Below is an old flour mill grinder 

Above example is the old water wheel that runs the grinder 

Typical street scene

On our way northward we stayed in another small campground in the countryside near the small village of Boekel.
Very peaceful stay.
The following day we visited 2 sets of people who we met earlier in our travels.
Very nice to catch up with people and see where they live.
Appreciated the coffee and lunch provided.

On the way north again we boarded a ferry to cross a river.

Crossing over the Nederrijn river which is connected to the Rhine river system.

Many boats use this for pleasure and for commercial transport.

We came here to visit relations but they were not home.
We then came to Alkmaar where our European journey had begun in May.

Great to be back and able to rest up a little.

During our European trip I put on 8kg in weight from the scrawny wt of 80 kg leaving South America. It will be interesting to see what Aussie does to my waste line.
Great food and great beer. Also the lack of exercise from having a vehicle to travel in.

Germany and Luxembourg

After Säntis we drove in through the bottom of Germany and stopped in a small town on the banks of the Nectar river.
The town was called Nectarzimmern.
The whole region is full of castles and old history.

We visited this old castle and purchased some wine as it is also a Chateau. Wine wasn't that great to be honest. One wine lesson and I'm an expert.😊

Above is the view of the Nectar river and one of its locks.

Another view of the lock system

Here is a view from the top of the castle in the first photo.

Very interesting to watch river traffic going through the lock system.

We stayed here for 2 nights the headed north west to Luxembourg. 

Quite an interesting history in Luxembourg. 

Old grand buildings are all over the place.

Pretty normal scene close to the National museum.

The museum was huge with 9 levels.

Very good archeological displays of Roman and Paleolithic times.

Also lots about Neanderthals. 

Felt quite at home there..

Below is a funeral urn holder made of a large sandstone rock.

I can imagine Hinuera stone like this and use it for a firing oven for pottery. 

Linda is already shaking her head.

Spectacular mosaic made with coloured tile and rock from the Romans 

Below is a bronze statue with many faces.

Here is a very busy art piece from the museum.

Below is a new scate park and the old viaduct in the background.

During our stay in Luxembourg we had a massive thunderstorm with torrential rain.

We slept like logs in the van.

We packed up the next morning and drove through the countryside to south Holland.