Having had the flu the last couple of weeks I was in no state to finish updating this blog. Feeling better now, so going to conclude.
With the upgrade to business class with Emirates this made this the BEST flight ever. We got to Singapore airport early, breezed through check in and made our way to the lounge. All sorts of food and alcohol on offer and I tucked into a steak dinner with 3 or 4 vodkas to wash it down.
The seats on the plane were AMAZING, we were in the front row of business and my seat had a divider that I could electronically lift up or down giving me my own personal compartment!
The food was fantastic and I also sampled some more of that vodka!
So, a great trip home.
Well that's about it for now, to all the wonderful people we met along the way, you made our holiday so much better for us.
Love & Peace to all
Col & Chris
Friday, October 18, 2013
Friday, October 11, 2013
Singapore
As my computer is on it's last legs I'm going to try to wrap Singapore up in one post.
First off, the trip from Dubai to Singapore turned into a farce. We arrived early at Dubai airport to see if we could get emergency exit row seats. They only had one, so I grabbed that and Chris retained her original seat. On boarding the plane I discovered the stupid booking clerk hadn't allocated an emergency exit row seat but instead dumped me between 2 other people in an ordinary seat! This meant that Chris & I had been split up and I ended up with a worse seat than I originally booked. Thankfully the lady in the aisle seat next to me agreed to swap with Chris so we did sit together but not where we wanted to be.
So, we arrive in Singapore to be met by a chauffeur driven Merc, that cost us a cool $107 to take us to the hotel.
On arrival at the hotel we were offered an upgrade at $70 a night. We checked out both rooms and went for the upgrade. That lasted all of one night as the room was small and if you were sitting on the toilet you had no privacy at all as the stupid designer had made the toilet a glass enclosed compartment!!!!!
Anyway, we are both still a bit under the weather, but have snuck out a few times for food etc. We got to the entrance to Universal Studios but never went in. However we did spend a few hours at the casino and managed to get to the famous Raffles Hotel.
Went to the Hard Rock one night (live band) and another night to the hotel bar that also had a live band.
I'm going to dump some pictures below (that's if the computer doesn't crash) but there is some good news. Emirates have upgraded us to business class on the way home (Singapore to Brisbane) so we are looking forward to that.
First off, the trip from Dubai to Singapore turned into a farce. We arrived early at Dubai airport to see if we could get emergency exit row seats. They only had one, so I grabbed that and Chris retained her original seat. On boarding the plane I discovered the stupid booking clerk hadn't allocated an emergency exit row seat but instead dumped me between 2 other people in an ordinary seat! This meant that Chris & I had been split up and I ended up with a worse seat than I originally booked. Thankfully the lady in the aisle seat next to me agreed to swap with Chris so we did sit together but not where we wanted to be.
So, we arrive in Singapore to be met by a chauffeur driven Merc, that cost us a cool $107 to take us to the hotel.
On arrival at the hotel we were offered an upgrade at $70 a night. We checked out both rooms and went for the upgrade. That lasted all of one night as the room was small and if you were sitting on the toilet you had no privacy at all as the stupid designer had made the toilet a glass enclosed compartment!!!!!
Anyway, we are both still a bit under the weather, but have snuck out a few times for food etc. We got to the entrance to Universal Studios but never went in. However we did spend a few hours at the casino and managed to get to the famous Raffles Hotel.
Went to the Hard Rock one night (live band) and another night to the hotel bar that also had a live band.
I'm going to dump some pictures below (that's if the computer doesn't crash) but there is some good news. Emirates have upgraded us to business class on the way home (Singapore to Brisbane) so we are looking forward to that.
Raffles
Singapore Sling at Raffles (Only $27!!!!)
The Merlion outside our hotel
Outside Universal
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Dubai Day 3
Tuesday - Day 3 in Dubai
Well we finally felt well enough to get out this afternoon. We hired a 'limo' (with driver) from the hotel and asked him to give us a quick run around Dubai (for about 2.30 hours as it turned out.)
We got to see a lot but I can't put any names to any places as they were all in Arabic!
Visited the famous 'Palm Islands' and also got to see the tallest building in the world (it's bloody massive and I couldn't fit it all in the picture.)
Here's a few shots. Off to Singapore in the morning, next post will be from there.
Well we finally felt well enough to get out this afternoon. We hired a 'limo' (with driver) from the hotel and asked him to give us a quick run around Dubai (for about 2.30 hours as it turned out.)
We got to see a lot but I can't put any names to any places as they were all in Arabic!
Visited the famous 'Palm Islands' and also got to see the tallest building in the world (it's bloody massive and I couldn't fit it all in the picture.)
Here's a few shots. Off to Singapore in the morning, next post will be from there.
 |
Notice the rocks behind Chris. This is all re-claimed land. |
 |
The 'limo' driver & me! |
 | |
Chris outside 'The Atlantis' (on the Pam Islands)    |
Dubai Day 2
Monday 7 Oct
Well not a lot to report really. Chris & I were still under the weather and didn't do a great deal. We had another look around The Mall Of The Emirates (it's HUGE!) and in the night time when it was a bit cooler grabbed a cab to the Dubai gold souk where we picked up a couple of presents.
The souk is a hurly burly place with dozens of hawkers trying to sell you a fake Rolex or whatever, a bit annoying but they were pleasant enough when you refused.
No pictures I'm afraid.
Well not a lot to report really. Chris & I were still under the weather and didn't do a great deal. We had another look around The Mall Of The Emirates (it's HUGE!) and in the night time when it was a bit cooler grabbed a cab to the Dubai gold souk where we picked up a couple of presents.
The souk is a hurly burly place with dozens of hawkers trying to sell you a fake Rolex or whatever, a bit annoying but they were pleasant enough when you refused.
No pictures I'm afraid.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Farewell UK - Hello Dubai
Sunday 6 October
After a teary farewell to Caroline & Joe (@ 6am mind you) we made our way to Heathrow sort of dreading the 7 + hour flight ahead.
We needn't have worried as we scored exit row seats on a brand new 380. Amazing plane and we were in the front row of our cabin (First off). Emirates were fantastic, the service exceptional, the food top notch and a drink whenever we wanted it. (I gave the vodka a bit of a nudge).
We landed in Dubai on schedule and were met by our driver who drove us to the brilliant hotel we are staying at,explaining things as we drove along this stunning city.
We ventured out into the Mall Of The Emirates, to grab a quick bite to eat, and then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. That's where it went all wrong. Both Chris & I had coughing fits during the night and kept each other awake. I crawled out of bed at about 10am but Chris was still not well and slept in until almost noon. I'm feeling a lot better today but Chris is still a bit under the weather. (Talking of which it's about 37 degrees here at the moment).
Anyway, a few pics of the hotel room are below and a couple of pics of the snowfields that are inside the Mall Of the Emirates. It's real snow and you can actually ski there or stay in the snow chalets!
After a teary farewell to Caroline & Joe (@ 6am mind you) we made our way to Heathrow sort of dreading the 7 + hour flight ahead.
We needn't have worried as we scored exit row seats on a brand new 380. Amazing plane and we were in the front row of our cabin (First off). Emirates were fantastic, the service exceptional, the food top notch and a drink whenever we wanted it. (I gave the vodka a bit of a nudge).
We landed in Dubai on schedule and were met by our driver who drove us to the brilliant hotel we are staying at,explaining things as we drove along this stunning city.
We ventured out into the Mall Of The Emirates, to grab a quick bite to eat, and then back to the hotel for a good nights sleep. That's where it went all wrong. Both Chris & I had coughing fits during the night and kept each other awake. I crawled out of bed at about 10am but Chris was still not well and slept in until almost noon. I'm feeling a lot better today but Chris is still a bit under the weather. (Talking of which it's about 37 degrees here at the moment).
Anyway, a few pics of the hotel room are below and a couple of pics of the snowfields that are inside the Mall Of the Emirates. It's real snow and you can actually ski there or stay in the snow chalets!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Cold & Flu
Sorry I haven't posted for a few days but Chris & I both caught rotten colds (or maybe flu) which reared it's ugly head on Monday.
We put this down to an American guy who was on one of the excusions with us in Greece and was full of it (Cold or flu that is!)
I have kept myself in all week, only ducking out once to get something to eat, but on Thursday night I managed to get to the local pub and met up with Mark & Lisa, their son Callum, Mark's workmate Dan, my sister Carole and my nephews Rob & John. It was only a brief meeting to say farewell. Today is Friday and I'm starting to feel a lot better.
However Chris is a different story. One day in the week Chris & Caroline did some sightseeing and another day visited a friends house and in the afternoon went to see 'The Mousetrap'. Chris is paying for that now as she is still pretty sick. We are just hoping we will both be well for the flight to Dubai Sunday morning.
Sorry no pictures this time around.
We put this down to an American guy who was on one of the excusions with us in Greece and was full of it (Cold or flu that is!)
I have kept myself in all week, only ducking out once to get something to eat, but on Thursday night I managed to get to the local pub and met up with Mark & Lisa, their son Callum, Mark's workmate Dan, my sister Carole and my nephews Rob & John. It was only a brief meeting to say farewell. Today is Friday and I'm starting to feel a lot better.
However Chris is a different story. One day in the week Chris & Caroline did some sightseeing and another day visited a friends house and in the afternoon went to see 'The Mousetrap'. Chris is paying for that now as she is still pretty sick. We are just hoping we will both be well for the flight to Dubai Sunday morning.
Sorry no pictures this time around.
Sunday, September 29, 2013
Doug
A few years ago I managed to track down my best friend from the early 60's. We used to work together and became best buddies for a number of years. It took nearly 10 years of searching to find him again, as the last time we saw him was in 1975 when Chris & I and Chris' Mum & Dad visited the UK.
So after a gap of 38 years I finally got to meet up with my best friend Doug Lockwood.
Doug met me at the station and we spent the next 7 hours or so non stop talking about the old days. We visited some of our old haunts, went to his house and even managed to get to a sea side resort where we used to go for holidays.
Here's some pics of the day we tripped down memory lane.
 |
Me & Doug's awesome dog Leicester |
Thanks for a great day Doug. Let's not leave it another 38 years!
Last Day In Athens
Saturday was our last day in Athens so after a long lay in we still had a few hours to kill before the taxi was due to take us to the airport. We decided to visit the National Archaeological Museum and had a quick look around at some of the amazing exhibits. Don't ask me what they were because there were so many and all from different periods in time.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Back In Athens
We arrived back in Athens this morning (Friday) and got to the hotel about 9am. Check in wasn't until 2pm so we had a lot of time to kill. (remember we were up at 5.15am). decided to try to find the market area and did a bit of shopping. (Note the earings Chris is wearing in the picture below).
We were back at the same hotel where we started the trip from and were not really looking forward to it because it was pretty dowdy. However, I asked the female clerk (who remembered me) if we could get a refurbished room and once again we got a free upgrade and are very happy with our new room!
Back to London tomorrow.
We were back at the same hotel where we started the trip from and were not really looking forward to it because it was pretty dowdy. However, I asked the female clerk (who remembered me) if we could get a refurbished room and once again we got a free upgrade and are very happy with our new room!
Back to London tomorrow.
Cruise Round Up
Friday. We arrived back in Athens shattered from the cruise. Most of the excursions we took required us to be up at ungodly hours. Even disembarkation needed a 5.15am wake up call!
We didn't (and couldn't) participate in the night life on board because of the early starts. However we both really enjoyed ourselves.
There was a small casino but opening times were odd so only managed to contribute about 30 Euros!
I took out an unlimited drinks package, which meant I had to drink a lot to get my moneys worth! Chris had a non alcoholic package but we managed to switch drinks several times.
The only downside really was the food. Just about every meal we had was COLD (even though it was supposed to be hot) but for the price we paid we ain't complaining.
The cabin was small but serviceable and had everything we needed. Cabin staff and tour director and drink waiters were superb, although some of the food waiters needed a good kick up the bum sometimes.
We never swam or sun baked, using any spare time we had to catch up on badly needed sleep!
A nice touch was a couple of times each day our cabin was cleaned and the staff made our towels into animal shapes, such as swans, dogs, rabbits a bull, love hearts etc. A picture is included below.
I enjoyed this part of our holiday with Santorini being the stand out for beauty and Ephesus (Turkey) for it's history.
Here's a couple of pics taken on the ship.
We didn't (and couldn't) participate in the night life on board because of the early starts. However we both really enjoyed ourselves.
There was a small casino but opening times were odd so only managed to contribute about 30 Euros!
I took out an unlimited drinks package, which meant I had to drink a lot to get my moneys worth! Chris had a non alcoholic package but we managed to switch drinks several times.
The only downside really was the food. Just about every meal we had was COLD (even though it was supposed to be hot) but for the price we paid we ain't complaining.
The cabin was small but serviceable and had everything we needed. Cabin staff and tour director and drink waiters were superb, although some of the food waiters needed a good kick up the bum sometimes.
We never swam or sun baked, using any spare time we had to catch up on badly needed sleep!
A nice touch was a couple of times each day our cabin was cleaned and the staff made our towels into animal shapes, such as swans, dogs, rabbits a bull, love hearts etc. A picture is included below.
I enjoyed this part of our holiday with Santorini being the stand out for beauty and Ephesus (Turkey) for it's history.
Here's a couple of pics taken on the ship.
 |
Woof woof |
Santorini
Thursday Afternoon. This was the one we had really been looking forward to and it turned out to be breathtaking. I will let the pictures (and I have lots of them) do the talking.
 |
Flour honey, walnuts & Greek yogurt |
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)