Singapore
Procrastination: Laziness or a Subtle Art
Boy, did it come down to the wire. I thought that I had buyers for Vacilando all sorted out, and then Tuesday, that fell through. Great. Wednesday was spent going over what options I had left, one was leave Vac for friends to sell, and the other was sell it to a Backpackers' auto dealer at a lousy price. Well, something's better than nothing. However, around 10pm, I got a text from some Irish and Scottish guys whom I'd given up hope on. We talked and they agreed to buy Vac from me the following morning. So, I did get the deal done in plenty of time, about 18 hours before I was due to fly out. No worries.
That done, and my mind at ease, I headed out to St Kilda, and parked on Grey St. one last time. I met up with the Irish lads and company and had a few drinks with them at the Prince of Wales. Coincidentally, that's the name of the hostel which I checked into about thirty minutes ago. I spent the evening consuming what was left in Vacilando, the traveling supplies that I'd packed for the Outback: Absinthe, Whisky, etc.
Thursday morning, I awoke a bit groggy, and proceeded to move out of Vacilando. Around 11am, Paul came by, we took care of the paperwork, and then my van, my home, drove off without me. I helped Ty cut down a few trees, and then it was time to go. Actually, it was past time to go, we were running a bit late. Finding a Post turned out to be more difficult than Ty'd appreciated but we eventually found one, and I put a box on a slow cruise back to the US. It ought to make it there by August.
Then it was to the airport, and out of OZ. Ty dropped me off at the curb, and said his goodbyes there. I heaved Le Bete onto a trolley and headed in to check-in. No problem, except they wouldn't let me check in as I had no proof of onward travel. Okay. No problem, flight leaves in an hour.
I briskly walked over to Flight Centre and quickly bought a full fare ticket from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Full fare is more expensive but refundable. It's an e-ticket, so I'm able to cancel it via email, which is handy. Craig, who worked at the office there, helped me out and got me in and out quickly.
I headed back to the Austrian Airlines check-in and was allowed to check in this time around. I was then told to run for the gate if I wanted to make the flight.
I ran.
And stopped at duty free to use up the change I had from Vacilando. Turns out I had $21 in shrapnel (change). I made it onto the plane before final call even, and didn't have to wait on a long queue which was a plus. The seat next to me was empty and I collapsed into them and got a glass of water. Then it sunk in.... I was leaving OZ. Oh shit, hope I didn't forget anything.
With these thoughts in mind, I half noticed that we were taxing to the runway. I did notice when the engines revved up, and then I was flying, and leaving OZ, after 12 months.
It was a fairly uneventful flight, by which I mean that I lived. I'll give Austrian Airlines credit for having the best bread that I've had on a flight. I think that it was an eight hour flight which passed fairly smoothly.
Upon arriving in Singapore, I found to my irritation that Austrian Airlines was full of shit, and that I was not asked for any proof of onward travel. You can add whatever expletive you feel necessary here, quite a few went through my mind. Customs was equally a breeze, I didn't actually see any, and after getting my bags headed off to the find transport into the city. That part was fairly easy.
Getting into Singapore around midnight turns out not to be the best time to find a bed for the night. Also, it was over 80F, or 27C, either way hot, especially compared to what Melbourne'd been like. Add to this the fact that it'd been a while since I'd lugged Le Bete anywhere. I walked at least 2k before I found a room for the night. By the end, I staggered up to a hotel and left my bags there while searching the rest of the street for a dorm room (the hotel had only a super deluxe room left, I didn't bother asking the price). Luckily, I found a room across the street, checked in, returned for Le Bete and then took a shower. My t-shirt was entirely soaked in sweat at this point, and I felt a shower would be a very, very good idea. It was.
Today, I woke, had some breakfast and then went about looking for a cheaper hostel. The one I'd checked into was $18, which at 12.30am is wonderful, but I'd read that there were cheaper beds to be found. Found one, moved and that brings me up to present.
So begins my Travels through Asia. Today, is going to be very relaxed, I don't plan to do a whole lot more than get used to where I am and explore a bit. But, I'm here safe and sound, lest any of you worry.
Boy, did it come down to the wire. I thought that I had buyers for Vacilando all sorted out, and then Tuesday, that fell through. Great. Wednesday was spent going over what options I had left, one was leave Vac for friends to sell, and the other was sell it to a Backpackers' auto dealer at a lousy price. Well, something's better than nothing. However, around 10pm, I got a text from some Irish and Scottish guys whom I'd given up hope on. We talked and they agreed to buy Vac from me the following morning. So, I did get the deal done in plenty of time, about 18 hours before I was due to fly out. No worries.
That done, and my mind at ease, I headed out to St Kilda, and parked on Grey St. one last time. I met up with the Irish lads and company and had a few drinks with them at the Prince of Wales. Coincidentally, that's the name of the hostel which I checked into about thirty minutes ago. I spent the evening consuming what was left in Vacilando, the traveling supplies that I'd packed for the Outback: Absinthe, Whisky, etc.
Thursday morning, I awoke a bit groggy, and proceeded to move out of Vacilando. Around 11am, Paul came by, we took care of the paperwork, and then my van, my home, drove off without me. I helped Ty cut down a few trees, and then it was time to go. Actually, it was past time to go, we were running a bit late. Finding a Post turned out to be more difficult than Ty'd appreciated but we eventually found one, and I put a box on a slow cruise back to the US. It ought to make it there by August.
Then it was to the airport, and out of OZ. Ty dropped me off at the curb, and said his goodbyes there. I heaved Le Bete onto a trolley and headed in to check-in. No problem, except they wouldn't let me check in as I had no proof of onward travel. Okay. No problem, flight leaves in an hour.
I briskly walked over to Flight Centre and quickly bought a full fare ticket from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. Full fare is more expensive but refundable. It's an e-ticket, so I'm able to cancel it via email, which is handy. Craig, who worked at the office there, helped me out and got me in and out quickly.
I headed back to the Austrian Airlines check-in and was allowed to check in this time around. I was then told to run for the gate if I wanted to make the flight.
I ran.
And stopped at duty free to use up the change I had from Vacilando. Turns out I had $21 in shrapnel (change). I made it onto the plane before final call even, and didn't have to wait on a long queue which was a plus. The seat next to me was empty and I collapsed into them and got a glass of water. Then it sunk in.... I was leaving OZ. Oh shit, hope I didn't forget anything.
With these thoughts in mind, I half noticed that we were taxing to the runway. I did notice when the engines revved up, and then I was flying, and leaving OZ, after 12 months.
It was a fairly uneventful flight, by which I mean that I lived. I'll give Austrian Airlines credit for having the best bread that I've had on a flight. I think that it was an eight hour flight which passed fairly smoothly.
Upon arriving in Singapore, I found to my irritation that Austrian Airlines was full of shit, and that I was not asked for any proof of onward travel. You can add whatever expletive you feel necessary here, quite a few went through my mind. Customs was equally a breeze, I didn't actually see any, and after getting my bags headed off to the find transport into the city. That part was fairly easy.
Getting into Singapore around midnight turns out not to be the best time to find a bed for the night. Also, it was over 80F, or 27C, either way hot, especially compared to what Melbourne'd been like. Add to this the fact that it'd been a while since I'd lugged Le Bete anywhere. I walked at least 2k before I found a room for the night. By the end, I staggered up to a hotel and left my bags there while searching the rest of the street for a dorm room (the hotel had only a super deluxe room left, I didn't bother asking the price). Luckily, I found a room across the street, checked in, returned for Le Bete and then took a shower. My t-shirt was entirely soaked in sweat at this point, and I felt a shower would be a very, very good idea. It was.
Today, I woke, had some breakfast and then went about looking for a cheaper hostel. The one I'd checked into was $18, which at 12.30am is wonderful, but I'd read that there were cheaper beds to be found. Found one, moved and that brings me up to present.
So begins my Travels through Asia. Today, is going to be very relaxed, I don't plan to do a whole lot more than get used to where I am and explore a bit. But, I'm here safe and sound, lest any of you worry.
posted by Bob Stein at 9:15 PM
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