Three weeks away: 3 days in Singapore and 13 days in Sydney. Thanks to: Paul C for recommending the Trader's in Singapore (IIRC). While it's a bit like every other modern hotel, it was still a nice place to stay, with enough character to make me want to use it as a base if I'm ever out there again. Tiger tastes better there, somehow. BGN for persuading me to use a travel agent. Trailfinders were ace. Saved me shed loads of money and were helpful and efficient to a fault. Darsy (IIRC) for recomending Hurt Locker, which I saw on the way back last night, yesterday whenever it was. Everyone that got involved with DLSR threads so that I now realise that I *need* a better camera. Singapore was nothing like I imagined it, having been brought up on tales of the bungalows and so on. Highlights: The Nigh Zoo was superb, China town and Little India were very impressive. Ah Hoa's kitchen (in the hotel, but astonishingly good food). Snowflakes and a gingerbread cottage on Orchard Rd, in 30+ deg heat. The Singapore Flyer and the Botanical gardens. Lowlights: Orchard Rd. Never have I seen such brutally *agressive* consumerism. Sydney was (in the outskirts at least) much more like I imagined Singapore. Nice place OTW. Not sure I'd want to live there. Circular Quay / Darling Harbour were great. The Opera House is a total must see. Everyone made us feel so welcome and were all so friendly and helpful. OTOH they can't make beer, and, at least in the Hunter Valley, wine. What they *can* do is *cook*. I now need to lose some weight. Oh and Qantas is better than BA. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
for antipodean wine, I can massively recommend Craggy Range's single vineyard Merlot[1] (2007 vintage). It's not in the "cheap plonk" category exactly but it's a fucking sublime example of the variety[2] [1] note to Ogden: quote from "Sideways" not required. [2] http://www.bobswinereviews.com/craggy-range-hawke-s-bay-nz-merlot-2007-review.html
We've just used them to book us flights and a month's hire of a nice big RV in British Columbia next September. Very efficient service, and some handy cost savings to boot. Standard after-holiday problem for us. Anyway, sounds like you had fun.
We have, in general, found NZ wines to be better than Australian. I have a reasonably good understanding of wine, since I was fortunate to get an importer of independently produced French wines as a client. IMHO the Hunter valley wines were pretty much all identical. And primitive at that. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
Trying desparatley to stay awake. Being helped by finding out that SWMBO's car has completely flattened it's battery. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
All there is to do in Singapore is shop really. Did you notice how immaculately turned out everyone there is? I do. Agreed. Did you go out on the Sydney Tall Ship for a lunchtime cruise like I recommended? LOL, other areas do much better wine IMHO.
Can't recall ever flying Ryan Air, so I'll take your word on it. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
Apart from me, you mean? But yes, now you mention it, they were. Why? Just curious. Apart from anything else it is a ****** of a long way away. At least from England. No, we did do the tea cruise round the Harbour. We somehow ran short of time. Really not sure how that happened. The jet lag and stinking cold may have had a bearing on it though. Yes, I can understand that may be true. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
A travel agent friend has just come back from her annual company paid [1] 3 week holiday doing northwest America and West Canada in an RV. Do you need any info or tips etc? [1] The company insists that their employees go and visit the areas that they sell, in order that they can talk with confidence instead of lies.
I think we're ok, thanks, unless your friend has some unusual or off-the-wall ideas. Lonely Planet has just issued a BC guide, and there are loads of tourist sites as well - not to mention Marc Donovan! Rough plan is to pick up the RV in Calgary, a little under a fortnight in the Rockies, a few days in Vancouver, a week on Vancouver Island, Inside Passage up to Prince Rupert and a short week back to Calgary.
Saga do that. I'm sure BGN is looking forward to his trip to Swansea to check out the Saga Pearl II refit.
Hmm. There was Peter Grimes IIRC when we were there, also the Mikado, which might nearly count. -- Catman MIB#14 SKoGA#6 TEAR#4 BOTAFOF#38 Apostle#21 COSOC#3 Tyger, Tyger Burning Bright (Remove rust to reply) 116 Giulietta 3.0l Sprint 1.7 GTV TS 156 V6 2.5 S2 Triumph Sprint ST 1050: It's blue, see. www.cuore-sportivo.co.uk
"Their plan looks good to me. Wells Grey Provincial Park is very beautiful, you can also go rafting there. And Manning Park near by Vancouver is also beautiful. On Vanvoucer Island I should go to Victoria and Tofino, whale watching if it is possible. "
