A Postscript
I actually wrote this entry three weeks ago, when we were almost home, but was distracted by domestic matters and didn't get around to posting it. However I was prevailed upon by family members, over Christmas dinner today, to complete my account of our wonderful trip. So here I go....
Our Singapore stopover has refreshed us, and as I type this we are on the last leg of our homeward journey, just 5 hours from Sydney. I’ve packed and repacked my suitcase and worried about excess baggage for the very last time – whoopee!
We did spend a good deal of yesterday lazing by the pool at the Shangri La Hotel, but there was very little sun. Indeed, we had to wait for a passing shower to clear before we went down to the pool to swim – we might have got wet….
A garden wedding, just a few metres away from the pool area, provided us with some musical entertainment as we lay reading, and helped us to stay awake for a little while. Heaven knows what the elegant guests thought of the two Aussie “white whales” popping their heads up over the backs of their sun lounges from time to time to watch the spectacle.
Eventually, though, we gave into the overwhelming urge to drift off, and came up to our room where Boak curled up on the bed and I revived with a shower and set off on foot for a couple of last minute items I’d been planning to buy from the lovely little boutique at Raffles Hotel.
Our hotel was slightly out of the hurly burly that is Singapore’s Orchard Road, so it was quite delightful walking past gardens and trees, notably those wonderful travellers’ palms. I always associate lush plant life with Singapore. You can almost hear the vines and glossy leaves breathing – and they give off a distinctive fragrance too. One can imagine that if the numerous men employed to trim and prune the public areas of Singapore went on strike for a year, then the entire city could easily succumb to the steady creep of these sinuous eager-beaver plants and become like Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
We ended our day drinking Singapore Slings on the 24th floor of our hotel, taking in the view across Singapore as fairy lights winked from shopping towers and hotels.
We had spent our last day in the city where we had spent our first on this Grand Tour. Little did we know then, on Day 1, as we excitedly contemplated this wonderful trip, that only 10 days later we would both be so ill.
We’ve avoided crises like the riots in Paris (the only sign of any unrest being an increased police presence), and a suicide bomber who blew himself up in our Amman hotel, just a few weeks after we’d stayed there and felt so safe.
We’ve recovered from potentially life-threatening illnesses, dysentery requiring me to spend 3 days in Intensive Care in a Cairo Hospital.
Still, it’s been a trip full of very special experiences for both of us.
Afternoon tea at Raffles.
Striding out on the walking track of the ancient stadium at Olympia in Greece.
Visiting the monasteries at Meteora in Greece, perched high on top of impossibly rocky pinnacles.
A romantic felucca ride at sunset on the Nile.
Our first sight of the Treasury building, and riding camels along the route traveled by caravanserai when they passed through the rose red city of Petra on the trade route of old.
Sitting on the hilltop at Angela’s villa in Tuscany and hearing nothing but the birds, as I stitched Lachy’s and Merry’s wedding quilt.
Venice veiled in mist,and drinking Bellinis in Harry’s Bar.
Our view of the Eiffel Tower bathed in twinkling Christmas lights as we emerged from the Metro on our way to dinner at Maxim’s – and the dinner at Maxim’s itself.
Visiting the battle field in the Somme where Ian’s uncle was killed.
Christmas shopping in London’s Regent Street.
Meeting fabric designer Kaffe Fassett at the Liberty store.
Taking long walks on frosty days in Oxford – and warming up with hot chocolate in the café in Blackwell’s bookshop!
Really, it’s just been wonderful – but just as delightful will be our homecoming!
Our Singapore stopover has refreshed us, and as I type this we are on the last leg of our homeward journey, just 5 hours from Sydney. I’ve packed and repacked my suitcase and worried about excess baggage for the very last time – whoopee!
We did spend a good deal of yesterday lazing by the pool at the Shangri La Hotel, but there was very little sun. Indeed, we had to wait for a passing shower to clear before we went down to the pool to swim – we might have got wet….
A garden wedding, just a few metres away from the pool area, provided us with some musical entertainment as we lay reading, and helped us to stay awake for a little while. Heaven knows what the elegant guests thought of the two Aussie “white whales” popping their heads up over the backs of their sun lounges from time to time to watch the spectacle.
Eventually, though, we gave into the overwhelming urge to drift off, and came up to our room where Boak curled up on the bed and I revived with a shower and set off on foot for a couple of last minute items I’d been planning to buy from the lovely little boutique at Raffles Hotel.
Our hotel was slightly out of the hurly burly that is Singapore’s Orchard Road, so it was quite delightful walking past gardens and trees, notably those wonderful travellers’ palms. I always associate lush plant life with Singapore. You can almost hear the vines and glossy leaves breathing – and they give off a distinctive fragrance too. One can imagine that if the numerous men employed to trim and prune the public areas of Singapore went on strike for a year, then the entire city could easily succumb to the steady creep of these sinuous eager-beaver plants and become like Sleeping Beauty’s castle.
We ended our day drinking Singapore Slings on the 24th floor of our hotel, taking in the view across Singapore as fairy lights winked from shopping towers and hotels.
We had spent our last day in the city where we had spent our first on this Grand Tour. Little did we know then, on Day 1, as we excitedly contemplated this wonderful trip, that only 10 days later we would both be so ill.
We’ve avoided crises like the riots in Paris (the only sign of any unrest being an increased police presence), and a suicide bomber who blew himself up in our Amman hotel, just a few weeks after we’d stayed there and felt so safe.
We’ve recovered from potentially life-threatening illnesses, dysentery requiring me to spend 3 days in Intensive Care in a Cairo Hospital.
Still, it’s been a trip full of very special experiences for both of us.
Afternoon tea at Raffles.
Striding out on the walking track of the ancient stadium at Olympia in Greece.
Visiting the monasteries at Meteora in Greece, perched high on top of impossibly rocky pinnacles.
A romantic felucca ride at sunset on the Nile.
Our first sight of the Treasury building, and riding camels along the route traveled by caravanserai when they passed through the rose red city of Petra on the trade route of old.
Sitting on the hilltop at Angela’s villa in Tuscany and hearing nothing but the birds, as I stitched Lachy’s and Merry’s wedding quilt.
Venice veiled in mist,and drinking Bellinis in Harry’s Bar.
Our view of the Eiffel Tower bathed in twinkling Christmas lights as we emerged from the Metro on our way to dinner at Maxim’s – and the dinner at Maxim’s itself.
Visiting the battle field in the Somme where Ian’s uncle was killed.
Christmas shopping in London’s Regent Street.
Meeting fabric designer Kaffe Fassett at the Liberty store.
Taking long walks on frosty days in Oxford – and warming up with hot chocolate in the café in Blackwell’s bookshop!
Really, it’s just been wonderful – but just as delightful will be our homecoming!
posted by Di at 5:07 AM
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