World Tour 09

Sorry we haven't put up a blog in a while.

A few days ago me and katie went kayaking down the river it was fun, but hard work. You have to use your arms a lot and it requires alot of strength. We kayaked about 2 miles. It was alot easier on the way back because you were going with the tide.

We went to the weirdest party a couple of days ago, it was a Christmas party in July!!! We talked all night and the food was delicious.We met many nice co-workers of my mum's. There was a secret santa and I got a boomerang and a wordsearch book while Katie got a small crocodile pendant and a book of puzzels.

We went to the beach on Monday and the waves were about 6 ft tall and some had a huge crash effect. Although everybody says there's sharks we're completly safe.

By the way I got my hair cut today and it's awesome!!!!!

Byeeeeee!!!!!!!!

Left Singapore...21.25 on 16th July on Quantas flight 52, in an Airbus 330 (so my mad mother tells me - she also made me take a photo....see below). She probably lost a few more brain cells falling down the stairs at the airport (no, she hadn't been drinking) and getting spectacular bruises.

Well we arrived in Brisbane on the 17th, Mum's birthday. Allan and I had organised a trip to the cinema to see the new Harry Potter movie, which was amazing btw! Bus 379 back into town and then off to to Jimmy's on the Mall for a delicious dinner. I had a gigantic burger and Allan had a very creamy carbonara.

We've seen the south bank, the site of the 88 World Expo exhibition (what a difference from what we did in Glasgow on th site of the Garden Festival...built a car park and a cinema complex. Oh and a nandos. WOW) and taken a few of the small ferries across the river, as they function like buses. There were lots of small market stalls in the south bank, selling local craftware, jewellry, consmetics, leather goods and the like, as well as a gigantic big wheel, which even Mum went on. There were also a few street acts, which were fantastic. Guys juggled machetes and limboed under poles on fire. They were hilarious and very entertaining. That night we ate down at the river, which was lovely, but cold, once the sun had set.

Mum has been working at the QUT Uni, and Allan and I checked out the local area. We've only been here for a few days, so we don't know that much about Brisbane just yet.

It's winter here, but still very hot. The temperature has been up to 23 degrees, and it's been sunny every day. Unlike Singapore, the nights are cold, and the sun sets earlier and faster.

We'll upload more information soon, when we've discovered more about Brisbane.

Well, we did walk to the museum....it took all of 5 minutes. Then inside the cool, we learned about the past and the numbers of seafaring peoples that lived in this hot, lush and fecund part of the world. My dad spent time here during WW2 - don't know exactly when it was, he was in the navy, and spoke scathingly of the arrogant confidence of the British ruling class that 'Singapore would never fall'....of course it did, and fast, as had the whole of the Malayan penninsula. Anyway, the pink tanks are quite an installation, look closely, the barrels are heart-shaped and the tower looks like a pagoda from beneath as well. I'm gonna drag them off to the science museum this afternoon, on foot again, so moans and groans. can't get the kids into the top of the Stamford tower, though, as the bar area is restricted in age. Spend time there with my pals Annie and Lainey, in 1991 and 1992 respectively, before gping on to Penang and KL, respectively.

The river area is all redeveloped since that time, too, with lots of restaurants and a little jazz bar, too, where at least the slings are affordable......

Yesterday we went to the art gallery and the best part of the visit was the history gallery because it was all interactive. You got your own buddy accompaning system that told you all about the exhibits as you walked through them. It told you the past of Singapore (which used to be called Singapura) since 1819 to modern day. There was also a really amazing exhibit in the front of the gallery, the picture is below.

The love tank is pink and has love hearts on it. It's ultimately a meditation through art, a prayer to transform this huge menace of violence and destruction into an object of beauty, purity and peace.

When I woke up today I got all excited about my tennis coaching at 10 in the morning to discover that it had rained over night and still pouring buckets. The lesson was changed to three o'clock and I'm looking forward to it. Breakfast this morning contained 2 slices of toast, 1 bowl of rice krispies, 2 tiny pancakes and some fruit.

The weather over the past few days has been cloudy. Hot and sticky with some sun and rain. We are stuck inside because of the weather. Imagine at night, it is as hot as it has been during the day in Scotland and it's 3 times worse during the day and mum makes us walk everywhere. Every hot day we go into the pool and swim it really cool.

In Singapore the tours look amazing, were are going on one today. Singapore has alot of high buildings some as high as ours and maybe even higher.

left Glasgow (see photos of us in the hall) and took flight to London then Singapore. Gla-London borard cards in photo too. Long flight to Singapore...we watched videos and slept quite well.

We have arrived in Singapore and it's very, very hot. It's day 5, but only feels like day 2. We have been dining down by the river and are enjoying the vast cuisine, Allan especially likes the Indian food and recommends it highly!

We are staying in the The Stamford Swissotel, named after the famous Stamford Rafffles, the founder of Singapore. There are many things that keep us occupied in the hotel, when it's too hot to go sightseeing, such as the tennis courts (for Allan) and lounging about by the pool (for me). Our hotel is extremely high- 71 floors- but we're only on the 30th. Our room has an amazing view of the city, especially at night, when Singapore is more awake than asleep!

There are many malls here, most of them with at least 6 floors, and also for those who prefer adventure, there is the night safari and the forest walks. We journeyed to the safari yesterday and we would recommend it for everyone. If you like seeing tigers, deer, giraffes, zebras, rhinoes, buffallo, exotic birds and other wild animals, this is the place for you! Take the 45 minute tram ride past the exhibits, or walk around the park, seeing the large animals close up (but safely, as safety is Singapore's first priority). There are also many shows, where you can see fire eaters and creatures of the night and there are plenty of gift shops and all-you-can-eat buffets for the hungry ones!

Speaking of being hungry... we have also eaten in the hotel restraunts, which are amazing. For lovers of cheese, chocolate and other Swiss delights, or if you just want to avoid the thunderstorms, like we did, the Swissotel Swiss Cafe is the perfect place to eat. Allan discovered the chocolate fountain when we were there, and at the end of the night Mum and I had one happy boy!

I have to go, but Allan and I will keep you posted on Singapore and our future journeys!

As for Me - well, I'm busy working at the YMCA, teaching ! Students are great and we're piling through masses of material. Swimming and lounging around are providing R&R, as long as I can avoid rampant we'ans chasing the credit card out of the wallet .... especially la Kate, what with all this designer stuff around....going to try Sentosa on Wednesday; hoping for less plastic than the last time I was there - circa 1992 !