The day started nice and early and a relatively easy check in and security. Then a quite average Breakfast. For anyone going through Heathrow, I recommend trying to get breakfast not at Bridges.
I had applied for an upgrade to Business Class but unfortunately the plane was full so I was stuck back in Economy. The new A380 didn’t really have too much special. The tv screens were actually the same size as my laptop screen so they are quite big but that is about it. It takes about 25 minutes to disembark because there are so many people on board. I was able to finish the episode of Top Gear I had started on decent.
I had heard that Singapore Airport was amazing and had lots to do. This turned out to be correct; free movie cinema, lots of shopping options, big games world thing! It was amazing! EXCEPT… it was in Terminal 2 and I was in Terminal 1. Although I had 13 hours to waste, the first 8 were occupied in the Terminal Hotel. I got a room with a bed and went to sleep!
After waking up and having a shower to freshen up I explored Terminal 1. Although I still had 4 hours to kill, I wasn’t game to venture out of the Terminal. I found not much that was exciting to eat so a toasted croissant it was. After waling through all of the Duty Free Shops and trying to convert prices in my head – I realised I didn’t have enough hand luggage to fit too much more in – so the Duty Free will have to wait until next time!
I still had a couple of hours so how does one waste an hour??? Simple – Get a one hour massage! After the massage I headed for the shower. As I walked out I was greeted by a girl in a bra and jeans! Both of us were very concerned that we were in the wrong shower but then discovered that they were a uni-sex set of showers / toilets. Anyway, after some awkward small talk I headed out to the lounge area. It was now 7:30pm so after a complimentary glass of water and cup of tea it was now time to head to the boarding gate. I had successfully survived 13 hours in Singapore airport – 8 of which were spent asleep and one was spent almost asleep!
When I left I thought that around one corner somewhere or on a ski slope or something I would run into someone I knew. I was only thinking during the massage that this still hadn’t happened. I thought between all the people I know, students I have taught, people I have done shows with that surely I would run into someone but I didn’t… UNTIL NOW!
As I am boarding my final flight I walk past the bulk head into the last section and discover a very familiar face… Arthur Frame – The Queensland Arts Council CEO – MY BOSS! We had joked before heading away that we would see each other but neither of of flights lined up. We never checked which flight out of Singapore we would be on… And to make the coincidence even more strange – I was sitting right behind him and his wife. So now I was satisfied that I did walk round a cornere and found someone I knew., Daniel would be jealous to know that his mate “Penny” was flying in Business Class and Arthur had njust finished having a lovely chat with her!
So I sit down in my seat – right behind my boss and his wife AND right next to Bra and Jeans girl from the shower! It was like a dodgy Hollywood script – I only say that because I have seen some dodgy scriptwriting in the movies I have seen on the plane. She had just been to Germany to spend New Year with her brother. She was a trained classical singer and was a hairdresser and managed some hair salons out near Jindalee / Indooroopilly. So we had many things to talk about – including how much she missed her boyfriend…
I think I achieved something new today… I made a flight attendant Moon Walk! True! We were discussing the Michael Jackson documentary and she was saying how much she like MJ’s music and I dared her to moonwalk – and she tried! It was one of the highlights of the holiday – maybe I was just really tired and thought it was good.
The flight in over Queensland was AMAZING. Everything is quite green and looking healthy, even Moreton Bay!
And now I am home. I have cleared customs and immigration and may have stopped in the duty free shop… My bags are unpacked and most things are put away!
And that is it! An amazing 4 weeks with a lifetime of memories – and I will always have the blog and photos to remember it by!
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