Brisbane to Singapore

Day 33 - Brisbane to Singapore

Brisbane Airport, Singapore Airport

Wednesday, 24 August 2011

Well this is it, we're off today. We woke at about 7, showered and dressed then emptied the hire car and packed ready to go. We ate as much of the left over stuff as we could (I only managed half a bottle of tomato ketchup) and chucked the rest. I wanted to leave it in case the cleaners wanted it but Wendy thought it was better to throw it away. I did give one of the cleaners a pineapple and she seemed pleased. Wendy, the Eco Terrorist, even threw away a cool bag and ice block which I was sure could have been recycled. I did tell Wendy I thought she was an Eco Terrorist, and when she started speaking to me again we set off for the airport. We were a bit on the early side so we dropped in to McWifi to upload yesterday's blog and have a coffee.

Then we went to the airport and handed back the keys to the hire car, which was as simple as that. No forms, no signing etc, I just gave the keys to some bloke in the car park who said he'd take care of things and drove the car away, strangely laughing. I'm sure it'll be fine though but I did turn down his kind offer of taking our bags for us too. Not sure why he was wearing a balaclava but hey, this is Australia.

We had inadvertently left Wendy's coat in the hire car in Melbourne and Thrifty had arranged for it to be sent to Brisbane for us to pick up. However it looks like it has been run over, bleached and then set on fire just for good measure. We get the message Thrifty - don't leave stuff in your cars. I have taken photos and will email Thrifty but I'm not sure what they will do.

Then we went off to check-in, nervously carrying several items of hand luggage each, including plastic bags of stuff we had collected on our way and a didgeridoo, along with suitcases stuffed to the gunnels and seeming rather heavier than they were on the way here.

There was no problem and checking in went smoothly. Wendy's suitcase is on it's last legs and has sustained several airline induced injuries along the way including tears and a couple of lost handles, so we had had it professionally wrapped and sealed in cling film for $10.00.

We went through security which seemed a little less stringent than some. I suspect the X-ray man had spotted our Rolf CD in my bag as he was whistling Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport quite loudly in a knowing sort of way as we walked away. We didn't feel ridiculed, we felt proud. We are now fully paid up members of the DDRS (Don't dis. Rolf Society)

We did a bit of the usual shopping that you do in airports. You know the sort of thing - buy any old rubbish to use up your cash, and spend anything left on chocolate - then waited for our plane.

We were called to boarding exactly on time. Singapore Airlines is a great carrier. The staff are all really helpful and good looking too, and that's just the stewards.

We have just crossed the coast of Australia south-west of Darwin and are now crossing the ocean. Everyone is engrossed in the inflight entertainment, but I have been sitting in Lizzi's window seat and watching the countryside pass by below us. Australia is amazingly barren and huge with occasional long straight roads which seem to be going nowhere, and river beds both dry and wet and very occasional houses and settlements. Life in those settlements must be tough. There were several large bush fires as we crossed the Northern Territory.

We have had our meal (choice of beef stew or wok fried chicken) and now it must be time for a Singapore Sling. We are having Korean style fried rice with beef, egg and kimchi (no idea, and can't google up here either) for our next meal, or chicken and leek pie if you don't fancy that. As we are now over the ocean I think I'll watch Kung Fu Panda 2. Jess said that it is hilarious.

We have now arrived at Singapore and are waiting for our connecting flight to Heathrow. The local time is 20:47 and our connecting flight leaves at 23:30. Singapore airport is smart but quite warm and humid, it's currently 32 degrees outside!

	Nearly ready for off [Map]		Missed. Taken from a moving car [Map]
	Coat attack [Map]		We got the message Thrifty [Map]
	I don't fancy sitting next to him [Map]

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