We flew over India's Andaman Islands...
I am not sure that India is that friendly for tourists all in all, the visa cost a fortune and then they seem unhelpful all the way through, it took many extra steps for a double entry visa. Added to the confusion was a curt exchange with Air India staff, one of whom I tried to take her picture as I said I was going to write in about why she should be out on the street begging so someone else could have a chance and do better than her, needless to say she ran away... Considering I held the baggage tags her airline gave me, I told her she offered shit service and if she were me, she would be saying the same thing. One of my bags took over an hour to appear on the carousel, and they denied it have ever been loaded...
So it was probably a good thing to leave for Singapore, all in all it would have been good to see New Delhi but a lot of people avoid Delhi and to be honest the poverty and chaos is heart breaking and annoying all at the same time. Singapore is the complete opposite of India. There's no lines at customs or immigration, there is a place to leave baggage stored. The staff smile when they help you....
I flew into Changi and got a room at the Crowne Plaza again, they upgraded me to a bigger room on the club floor, so free Internet, coffee and breakfast - always a good thing. I didn't have too long in Singapore, it was already after 6pm at the hotel, and the flight out to Kuching was 6pm the next day. I checked in my luggage through the hotel, so it was out the way, and went out that night for Singapore Chili Crab at the East Coast Seafood Village - I have to say it was very yummy. I made the mistake of trying to walk back along the expressway, it took 1.5 hours in 36 degree heat...
Adaptability is the secret to life, and on the 25th, it was another challenge and my stupidity. I was going to go to Pulau Ubin, a small island right off Singapore, the ferry leaves from near the airport. It is the carless old Singapore of yesteryear on that island. However, I did not think it through, perhaps it's all the travel pills working... I should have gone to the island after checking out, since my bags were already checked in at this airport. I cabbed it over to the ferry dock and waited and waited for the boat. They have to have to have 12 passengers before they sail the 10 minute ride. But I decided it was too risky for getting back and maybe missing the flight....
So more time wasted :(
After all the time spent cramming as much in as I could, it seems like I am derailed! But I was cranky from being tired, so it was probably mapped out in the stars...
View from hotel room window...
However, I am at the airport now about to board the plane for Kuching.
I have hired a driver for the next 2 days, hopefully having a pre fixed schedule and nothing going wrong I will meet my 3 objectives there.
Orang-utans, proboscis monkeys, and this weekend the rare flowering event of the Rafflesia flower blooming is due to occur... Hopefully I get it right!
Talk to you next from Borneo.
- BlogPressed from my iPad. Click on picture for larger image and gallery.
