Singapore day 2

Hi

The first photos are from the previous night, about a mile from our hotel is the worlds largest fountain and it has a light, music and laser show each night. The pictures don't really do it justice. Some of the other photos are the view from our hotel both inside and out, we are on the 11th floor.

We were really brave and adventurous today, after breakfast we decided to explore on our own! We walked from the hotel in the 36 degrees heat and the 75% humidity (not bad when its snowing in the UK!).

Firstly we walked to the Raffles hotel and booked in for afternoon tiffin. We then walked to the Arab area of town, we walked through all the tiny side streets and felt so safe. We bought lots of bargains and I haggled!!!!

We caught a taxi back and that cost us about £2. We went down by the pool for an hour but had to come back inside it was much too hot, could feel it burning the skin.

We went to the gym for the hour and then dressed up to go to Raffles, when we had gone to register the doorman had laughed at my shorts and sandles (must be my boney kness) and said we would not get in dressed like that!

We walked in and it was fabulous, so oppulent. We had a tray of sandwiches (yes cucumber) and cakes, plus a hot buffet. We drank tea from china cups and had a wonderful time.

We left the Tiffin room and went to find the long bar, this is where the Singapore Sling started so we had to have one, it would be rude not too! They serve nuts in the bar and you are expected to throw your shells on the floor! The ceiling has fans as the cooling system, it was great.

When we came out we decided to take a rickshaw back to the hotel. Lesson 1 - always ask the price before you travel!

The man only spoke a few words of english his favourite line being "air conditioned" and laughing. His real laugh was when he got us back to the hotel, about a mile and charged us nearly £30 and then asked for a tip, it was a funny experience though.

Must be getting time for home we thn sat in the hotel and watched the Grand Prix and british football on the TV.

Tomorrow we travel home, we are very excited about it, we have had a fanastic journey and now looking forward to coming home and sharing our new knowledge with the world.

Singapore day 1

We arrived at Singapore airport at 11 pm and got to the hotel about midnight. We sat in the bar and had a Singapore Sling before going to bed.

We had two tripped booked for the 3 days, they were meant to be one on Sat and one on Sunday but they put them both onto Saturday so up early for breakfast.

The first trip was a city tour, we went to see the Merlion the symbol of Singapore, also took some photos of the british town hall and the cricket being played on the green in front of it.

We went to various places around the city before going to a temple which was very colourful. We left this and went to an orchid garden again very colourful and sry lots of pictures of flowers.

We eventually got back to the hotel and after a great buffet lunch back out for a trip of the coast and a small town. We were taken to a temple (the city has such a mix of nationalities, cultures and religious). We then went on to a WWII church and museum, very moving and sad to see the suffering that went on in Singapore.

From there we were taken to a local town and went round the food markets. We have now been to 3 far east cities and this is our favourite by far, really friendly people and not so in your face as Hong Kong or Bangkok. The shopping is great as well!

fiji photos

just a quick post whilst waiting at Sydney airport. We have managed to download some pictures from the oneness course from other peoples albums so they are the latest photos and been promised lots more by other participants.

See you in Singapore!

Sydney day 4

Hi todays the day we climbed the Sydney harbour bridge.

We walked around the town in the morning and then finally it was time. The trip was due to take 3 1/2 hours but the first hour is safety and kitting out. You are not allowed to take anything lose up the bridge including camera's watches etc.

Everything you could take including sun glasses had to be strapped to you. We then started the walk and it was fantastic, the wind dropped the sky was almost totally clear and we had booked the twilight walk. When we finally reached the top the sun was just going down it was wonderful, amazing colours and sights.

The pictures of sunsets you can see are from the CD we purchased and not the sunset we saw although that one was spectacular. The pictures we are on is really the sunset and city lights we saw, we had 4 picture stops on the trip.

When we got back down we went back to the harbour for a fabulous sea food platter to finish our trip to Sydney. Tomorrow we travel to Singapore and really start our journey home. We are in Singapore for 3 days and start the long flight home on Monday night.

Sydney 3

Today we were up early for a trip to the Blue mountains and also the day we were to come face to face with Koala's and Roos!

We travelled for about 2 hours up into the mountains and then stopped at various viewing points. The three points you can see are called the three sisters. Most of the trips are Eucalyptus trees the staple diet of the Koala.

We ended up at a park with the steepest train journey in the world, straight down the mountain, following a couple of mile walk we went back up the mountain on the steepest cable car. At the very top we took a trip across the cavern on an a glass bottomed cable car.

Following this we drove back into Sydney where we went to a wildlife park and came face to face with Koala,s (they were all asleep). I was popular the one we were allowed to touch was constantly facing backwards, I started stroking him and he turned forward! I must have a way with Koala's.

We saw Kangaroos, wallaby's, tasmanian devils, emu's, Crocadiles and wombats. Plus did you know Australia as the top ten of poisonous snakes and we saw them.

We travelled back into sydney on a ferry.

At night we went to a wonderful italian restaurant opposite the opera house.

Sydney 2

Really back into posting now, done this one before the day has ended.

Today we had tickets for loads of attractions in Sidney. We started the day doing yoga in our room as the sun rose, really beautiful. After breakfast we made our way to the Sidney tower, a really high building with amazing views of the city as you can see from the pictures.

We caught the monorail (yes we sang the Simpson's song!) to Darling harbour and visited the Aquarium, we saw penguins and sea lions and sharks and things.

We had lunch on our knees with lots of the workers by the harbour and then caught the ferry. The ferry took us all around the harbour, from close up the Opera house still looks smaller than we thought but the bridge now looks bigger, I can now see while our walk up it is going to take3 1/2 hours.

We went all around the harbour we saw beaches with shark nets, prime ministers and millionaires properties. We also saw our hotel (the shangri-la) from the harbour and can see why we have such a good view from our room on the 27th floor. After the trip we actually came back for a rest (wimps!).

Tonight we are back down the harbour where we are booked in for a meal at the famous Jordans sea food restaurant (no I haven't heard of it either).

G'day from Sydney

Hi

We arrived in Sydney yesterday, the people are much more forward in their approach than New Zealanders. We nearly got ripped off by touts at the airport and then the taxi driver tried to persuade us to sell up everything in the UK, move in with him and set up businesses over here. That was in a 20 minute journey!

Our hotel overlooks both the harbour bridge and the opera house and the view is amazing.

The temp is about 75 degrees so really pleasant. We took a stroll down to one of the harbours and just wandered around the bars, restaurants etc. we can see why young british people travel out here and stay.

We eventually walked back to the hotel and used the hotel restaurant on the 36th floor overlooking the opera house. At 10pm their was a wonderful firework display that no one seemed to be expecting. No pictures I forgot my camera! We will be able to view it from our room tonight so will try some pictures then.

today we have a boat trip round the harbour and trips up a large tower etc.etc.

The photos in Sydney 1 are a few from our hotel on the last day in Fiji including a dance show at night and then the rest are all Sydney