Get this, our 5 star holiday from holiday didn’t end with the super generous extra night Jo and Mandy laid on for us at all, yesterday I woke up having had a terrible nights sleep due to feeling like a pile of shit and left checking out until the very last minute. After a little confusion with one of the concierge’s about when we were leaving he came back to us at the club and said he had arranged complimentary late check-out until 5pm… Result! With that we ate what we could manage at the club and then headed back to our freshly cleaned room so I could catch up on some sleep and try to kick whatever was wrong with me.

We took a taxi down to the MRT station because although I was feeling better I didn’t want to push it but still wanted to keep things in good standing with our budget… Which by the way is going about as good as I felt yesterday. Somehow having a week in 5 star opulent luxury has managed to hammer home how much we need to start watching the pennies, even though we didn’t pay for anything.

The walk from Little India MRT to Little India itself isn’t too far but with a backpack and the flu it feels far enough and determined not to let it get me down we made the ten minute walk without much fuss at all.

The hostel we stayed in before was full and so were most places nearby, with the evening drawing in I had started to feel rough again so we found a new, clean well looked after hotel for not much money which served perfectly as a halfway house between the Ritz Carlton and our usual diggs. I hadn’t really managed to eat anything all day except a few Extra Joss’s (energy drink of epic proportion) and the club buffet had started to wear off of Georgie so we went out for a spot of curry (of course, when in Rome…) but then quickly returned to our room so I could get some sleep.

Neither of us slept well last night, maybe it had something to do with new surroundings after a week in the same place or maybe because we’d got used to our mattress being two foot thick, whatever this mornings wake up call was definitely not music to our ears. Tired still feeling a bit rough and a fairly long day ahead of us we dragged our tired arse’s down to the MRT station and made tracks for Changi airport to catch our 11:10 flight back to Indonesia.

By the time we were in the sky I was feeling loads better and the flight was short and sweet, I think I made some comment before about Bali’s airport being not much more than a shack but Yogjakarta’s airport is even smaller and even more ramshackle… Not that I’m complaining, it feels good to be back in the rough where I can light a cigarette wherever I want and immigration is more about practicing English than actually getting you through whatever “security” checks are supposed to happen, I honestly don’t think anyone saw or wanted to see my passport!

We sat on the step outside the airport as usual sucking in a cigarette letting the most eager travelers and most “eager” taxi drivers meet first then jumped in one that was left and headed for the Sosrowijayan area apparently bursting with cheap places to stay. I’m feeling much better now and Georgie did a great job of playing nurse for me but we have plenty of time here and I don’t really want to push it for a few days so we found a place to stay and the closest place with Bintang, cracked a few and chilled out.

Back across the equator to Yogjakarta, Indonesia. was originally published by HappytimeBlog - Backpacking around the world - Learn how to make money travel round the world with you

Well we left you at Raffles on Tuesday night I think and since then we haven’t really stopped.

Wednesday was another pool day, the sun was shining and after the night we had a pool day was just what everybody needed. Obviously Jo sat in the sun until he gave himself a good scorching, it wouldn’t be a holiday if he didn’t! Georgie and I hit the gym – not as keenly this time but we had a go nonetheless!

We had to pop back to Orchard road for one last time to pick up Jo’s suits in the evening (which he was very happy with) and then we whisked the “rents”off to little India for a slap up curry. None of us were remotely hungry because when there is food available all day at the club it’s too hard not to graze, but we couldn’t pass up a little spot of curry.

Little India is very lively at night and had a really vibrant buzz about it, I think Jo and Mandy enjoyed walking about through the hustle and bustle especially after the peaceful week we’ve been having.

Thursday morning came around and so did our last day with the Olds, they checked out of their room and dumped their bags in ours, Jo had a business meeting so we hung about at the club (of course) scoffing the freebies and getting started on the vino until he finished we then took a stroll down to the marina to see the symbol of Singapore… The mighty water spurting MerLion!!!

I wasn’t sure if it was because of all the air-con we have been in but I started to feel a little run down, we ogled the MerLion and Georgie made a few videos for her La La Land then we retreated for the heat to the Fullerton hotel again for yet more drinkipoo’s.

Not wanting to go back to our hotel and stew on the inevitable (having to say goodbye in a few hours) we decided we would hop on the hop on – hop off sightseeing bus to kill an hour, it’s an open top affair and the wind in my hair and whiskey in my belly seemed to be helping me perk up. The bus we got on was the Heritage tour, it took us around the CBD, little India, China town and the river front amongst others. We got off near the giant wheel that is the Singapore flyer and had a Popeye’s before heading back to sink a few at the club and prepare Jo and Mandy for the off.

We sat in our room watching the clock and getting the shit hugged out of us by Mandy until it was time, the tears started to roll and we went with them down to the lobby put them in a taxi and said goodbye… Georgie bless her was sobbing and Mandy looked like she wasn’t far behind, we waved until we couldn’t see them any more then turned and went back to the club, I was feeling proper shit and Georgie needed a stiff drink so we sat until closing and drank them dry.

It has been an amazing week and we have had so much fun, it’s always so good to see Jo and Mandy and always so hard to say goodbye but I suppose that’s the price you pay for being a traveller… Still doesn’t make it any easier though.

Amazingly the olds sorted us out with another night at super swank central Ritz Carlton so today we are going to enjoy the facilities until the very last moment before we have to get back in the cheap digs down at little India and tomorrow we leave Singapore too, back to Indonesia… This time to Java.

Thanks a million Jo and Mandy we miss you already and you really didn’t have to be so amazingly generous, we really appreciated it all but mostly we were just so happy to see you and be with you… Mandy don’t worry I don’t have swine flu I had a rough night but the club bourbon helped a lot and today I’m feeling loads better, have a good time in Dubai but most of all have fun!

Our last days in Singapore with the “Olds”… was originally published by HappytimeBlog - Backpacking around the world - Learn how to make money travel round the world with you

Today is looking like its going to be a day of not very much but it doesn’t matter because the last three days have been very busy… I’ll start with Sunday.

It was a quiet sort of day spent by the pool at the Ritz Carlton, Jo and Mandy laid out on the loungers while Georgie and I took full advantage of the hotels other superb facilities… The club lounge and the gym. With no beach to jog down we settled for the super swanky gym and I even managed 5km, the furthest I have ever ran without the police behind me!..

A storm blew in by midday and we were stuck at the hotel for most of it, not that it was a problem, we just enjoyed a presentation or two and a cocktail or three at the club. The rain lashed down on the marina and from the 32nd floor we could see lightning striking buildings all over the city, just across the marina a massive building project is underway where they are building a huge casino called Marina Bay Sands I think, sat on top of the three towers are tall construction cranes and as we sat swigging our drinks a huge bolt of lightning hit one of the cranes… No damage but the thunder was so loud it shook the windows!

As night fell over Singapore the storm passed and we got ourselves together for a trip to the famous Singapore Night Safari. It boasts all manner of creatures and animals acting naturally under the cover of darkness, we hopped aboard the natty zebra striped train thing that ferries people around and prepared ourselves for excitement.

We had a laugh as the train drove past sleeping piles of animals under spotlights that looked suspiciously like they were sleeping… Every time I have ever visited a normal day time zoo certain animals that you want to see frolicking about are often asleep and we are told it’s because they’re nocturnal… Bollocks! They are all just lazy because at the night safari the truth comes out… All the fun animals like lions and tigers can actually sleep up to 20 hours a day.

The rest of the night safari followed the same pattern… Spend five minutes trying to spot the little bleeder and when you finally manage to you realise it’s fast asleep! Except for the bats they were very much awake and by far the best thing there, they flapped about around our heads swooping only a couple of inches from us and I got a couple leaves and scared the winkles out of Georgie.

All in it was a good day, relaxation, achievement and sleeping animals… What more can anyone want from a day. Honestly though, zoo’s are a day time affair and had it have been just Georgie and me I would have felt pretty cheated but we had as much fun watching Jo and Mandy squinting into the shadows.

We had a spot of food down by the marina at a lovely clean little hawker centre before calling it a day and turning in.

Monday was the exact opposite of the great night safari swindle, we popped along to Sentosa Island, Singapore’s prime beach destination. We took a cable car from up on mount favour over the docks and the sea down to the Island, somehow we managed to book onto some sort of tour group but it wasn’t too bad at least we didn’t have to walk.

The sights we were expertly guided around were the aquarium, very cool – got to touch some stingrays and see some crabs that span a good 4 ft, and a slightly weird cinema/simulator thing where we all got strapped into booths and flung around to a big screen showing a log ride. The ride kept breaking down halfway through and it just added to it’s weirdness but eventually it managed to finish and a good time was had by all.

Next up was the luge – a sort of big skateboard with handlebars, Mandy wasn’t too keen but once she was strapped in it was clear she was gunning for pole position…

It was really fun as it goes, if it was a little longer it would be possible to achieve some serious speed and when your arse is only an inch off the floor it feels like your going a lot quicker!

The luge brought us nicely to the beach and more importantly a beach bar, I was down to my shorts in seconds and we quickly got amongst the beers as if we had never left the sand.

The drinking continued into Monday night as we spent it necking Singapore slings and boogie-ing the night away to a funky band down at the classically beautiful Raffles hotel.

Yesterday we went to Changi museum in the morning to get to grips with Singapore’s POW history which was sobering but like any other museum of war somehow necessary. In the afternoon we took a stroll around china town and in the evening we went to the Hard rock cafe for some hard rocking grub and live music… Georgie and I managed to sneak a bottle of booze back to our room and with it we drank ourselves to sleep…

Night safari capers and Sentosa Island beach bummery was originally published by HappytimeBlog - Backpacking around the world - Learn how to make money travel round the world with you

As I’m sure you can imagine the last few days in Singapore have been divine.

We have enjoyed living in the lap of luxury thanks to Jo and Mandy (Mum and Dad) and who doesn’t enjoy that!

Georgie and I were up good and early as usual nowadays but Jo and Mandy had asked not to be disturbed until after 9am at the earliest so we just spent the first morning in our luxurious dressing gowns swaying about in our luxurious room enjoying all manner of luxurious luxuries.

When the rents finally woke up we all headed to the Ritz Carlton club no less for a very delicious breakfast with an even more delicious view, I would like to say it’s a hard transition to make between budget beach chic and 5 star luxury but I would definitely be a liar! Although if made to choose I would pick the grubby beach bum life any day it really is a treat and amazingly generous of Jo and Mandy to put us up  like this, and we couldn’t be more grateful!

At the club on the 32nd floor they serve up food all day, they call each different one a presentation and that is really the best word to describe the table of super tasty morsels, also all day cocktails and champagne are of course included and abused!

With breakfast sitting well we headed down to ground level and off to Orchard road, Jo was in the market for a tailored suit and Georgie was in the market for a good old window shop.

Before we left the hotel we were all pretty tired from a long days travelling and a long days shopping just added to it, so once the tape measure had been cast around Jo we wandered back to the hotel for whatever refreshments and presentations they happened to be serving up.

Our rooms both enjoy stunning views out across Singapore and the view from the bathtub is particularly good so with a few hours to kill until dinner we took full advantage of it and had our first soak since being away again…

In the evening we once again ventured away from the allure of the club lounge for a stroll down the river to Clarke Quay and it’s many lively bars and restaurants, had some grub at Hooters and a drink in the very regal Fullerton hotel. It seemed like the place to be and had a real hustle and bustle about it but of course a very clean hustle and bustle as is the Singapore way!

Tired and weary it was time to head back to our hotel for a nightcap and our extremely plump beds…

It is so good to see Jo and Mandy again and Singapore is proving the perfect place to relax and enjoy their wonderful company, with not too much to do and see so we don’t feel like we should be doing we can get on with just being with them for a week… Perfect!

Catching up and chowing down at the Ritz Carlton club! was originally published by HappytimeBlog - Backpacking around the world - Learn how to make money travel round the world with you

From K.L all the way to Singapore… Little India oh how we love it. was originally published by HappytimeBlog - Backpacking around the world - Learn how to make money travel round the world with you