Singapore

Hey everyone,

Just thought I'd fire off a quick entry from the plane. This won't be posted until I get internet access in Singapore, but I thought it nifty nonetheless. Sydney Airport was as bland as it always is - Angela, Flis, Mum & Dad came to see me off, and Michie came to visit (thanks again for the pressie too!). After many tears I left for customs etc. to be greeted by several of the most uninteresting people I've ever met at an airport. No problems, and for the first time ever I didn't beep when going through the security checkpoint! Tristan 1, Airport 0.

Singapore Airlines are great - the staff are really attentive, although there is a baby crying two seats to my left, and the person in front of me insists on having their seat all the way back, so I am writing this at quite an awkward angle. The dinner was quite OK - although I think it was exactly the same meal as I had last time I flew SQ! Strange, but as far as I can remember, true. I had beef with rice. Oh, and I got to watch I Not Stupid 2 - the best Singaporean film ever! (Not that I've seen many). I am going to buy it on DVD when I get into S'Pore as it's great example of their culture, language and education system. It's about two families whose parents are so focused on money, their jobs and success that they neglect their children - to everyone's peril. Fairly standard story, but done in a Singaporean way. It will teach you a thing or two about cultural differences too!

As per normal (for me at least), I've changed my itinerary slightly, and I've booked most of the inter-country flights/trains, including two 1st-class train tickets! Can't wait for those (woosh!!) I'm now not visiting Denmark at all (Sorry Johanne!), and I'm spending some extra time in the Czech Republic and then heading back to Scotland to visit the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Aberdeen and Newcastle at the end of August. That's the plan, anyway! When I've got internet access I'll confirm it all again.

PS: Did anyone learn this in primary school: FAMILY - Father And Mother I Love You? They mentioned it in I Not Stupid 2, and I'd never heard of it before. Nifty nonetheless.

See you in Singapore!

Tris.

Having just returned from Phuket without my family (they are on holiday and don't have to worry about final exams in less than 10 days), I'm a bit low. Thus I've decided to write about my time with them here (and in Phuket) so far to aid the recovery process. (Oh, and of course to procrastinate ... there is some serious study to be done ... later!)

Mum, Dad & Flis arrived in Singapore on the evening of Sat April 16 to a short-haired Tris. I decided to exploit them (I mean, spend as much time as possible with them by heading to the 24hr Swensen's on Orchard to catch up. I think I was a bit overexcited to see them because I remember talking at a million miles an hour, and trying to make myself seem as 'local' as possible. Mum said I looked like a backpacker, so I guess I failed at that one. (I would later lead them the wrong way a few times so I take that as Singapore 1 Tris 0)

I had decided a few days prior to their arrival that I would make this trip about the food, as that is what Singapore is best known for. We all visited Singapore in 2003 (see blog and photos on this site), so I didn't want to spend the few days they were here re-visiting tourist attractions. High on their agenda though was seeing PGP and NUS, so we did have to do some sight-seeing, but that's ok.

So, to the food. I'd decided the Ban Mian (homemade noodles) at Bugis were definitely worth a visit (God they are good!), as well as Fish Head Curry at Muthu's in Little India, Steamboat at Marina South, and satays at Smith St, Chinatown (an old favourite). So that was the plan! And guess what, we managed to fit it all in!

Argh!!! Today should have been fantastic - instead I spent most of it sulking about sleeping in and missing my one chance to visit Chek Jawa (the intertidal flats located on Pulau Ubin, the nature reserve/island off Singapore's North-East coast).

I was meant to wake at around 6am (those of you who know me realise how impossible that was going to be!) to be on public transport at 7 and on the island by 8am.

Why did you have to be up so early? The answer comes from the nature of the flats. Because they are below sea-level, viewing them requires you to be there at extreme low tides, which only occur at certain times (usually very early in the morning) and only on certain days of the month.

Instead of waking up, however, I heard my alarm (which comes from my mobile phone!) at 6, and chose not to do anything about it. It proceeded to fall on the floor (due to the vibrate function on my mobile shaking it off the table), at which point its battery fell out and the alarm ceased. I woke up naturally at 9am, and it took me a few seconds to realise what happened.

So...in conclusion. I have no decided to get a real alarm clock and make sure I stick to it. I can't believe, after all my forward planning etc..., that I missed out on this opportunity!!! Argh! NO MORE SLEEP-INS!!

On the plus side, I've just returned from coffee at Holland V with Mark. It was initially going to be movies in the city, but, try as we might, we couldn't get a taxi!!! I guess we just weren't looking in the right places. Happy 20th mate!

PS: If you're interested, I heard from Kristin (who did wake up in time) that it was very interesting. That is, aside from the kids who kept on stepping on starfish etc...! Damn kids!

I thought I'd defer from my usual ramblings today to discuss something that all long-term travellers will feel at some time. No, I'm not talking about homesickness per-se. I'm talking about missing important events back home.

For me, the most important (personal) events I've missed have been my parents' birthdays. Before I arrive home, I will also miss my younger sisters birthday. This year was a particularly important birthday for my Mum (I won't mention which one here!), and it felt strange not being able to celebrate with them at home.

Granted, we tend not to have large birthday celebrations (except for me!), so I didn't miss a huge party or anything, but the concept behind it is more important.

The more you miss, the further you feel from those you left behind. There is always the ability to phone, and MSN and Skype help a lot in keeping the links strong, however they don't compare to actually being there.

I dunno ... this is one of those "hmmm" posts that don't really lead anywhere, but I felt it important to include these sorts of ramblings (some might say musings!) here as well as the usual pragmatic stuff.