Not quite ready for the real world yet…

Singapore may have the top rated airport, but not all the airlines are! I will admit we may have gotten spoiled as we haven’t flown on a ‘budget’ airline for years, but it was extremely frustrating.

First we went to print our boarding passes at the machines and get Richards bag tagged and dropped off. He spent quite awhile trying to figure it out how to drop the bag at the machine without any help. Finally I went over and we just took it to customer service. However, the line was about 5 passengers deep and the lady at the front was trying to check 8 boxes of mangos… so that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. We then went back to the automatic bag drop and found someone to help.

Now it was off to security. I was pulled aside first as I had 2 bags. I had to go to a scale and the total was more than 7kg, so they made me check a bag (which I was not happy about). They weighed Richards 2 bags and said he was ok.

So off to security we went again. Now we didn’t get far before Richard was pulled aside and said he couldn’t take both his bags. We explained we were just at the counter and they said he was ok, but clearly he wasn’t. So he then had to check another bag. Now Richard did say he had to pay to check one bag on-line, so at least they didn’t charge us.

Finally off to security and as I get to the front of the line… I don’t have a stamp on my boarding pass so I am turned away to go and get my ‘stamp’. I go to another desk and without even looking she stamped my boarding pass. Once I get back to security they don’t even look at my passport as I have a stamp on my boarding pass- so everything must be fine.

Immigration is next and we breeze through and drop our remaining bags on an x-ray machine. We are immediately in the departure hall and realize we didn’t go through security, which we think is odd but are frustrated and hungry so we go off to find some food.

After what seems like forever we finally find some edible food and have a few drinks… sort of edible.

Now I was so happy to find a hot water dispenser so I could make myself a nice cup of tea. On the walk to our gate we realize we now have to go through security… so I have to pour out my cup of tea! Once again I am disappointed.

Amazingly we board the plane without issues! One item that I didn’t think about was the bulkhead seats sometimes become the exercise area for the Asian passengers- at least it added some comedy for the flight!

We also went to the flower garden and were really impressed! The colors were amazing.

We went to Gardens by the Bay this morning and I have to say it was amazing!Unfortunately I have so many photos to chose from- here are just a few… from the GoPro camera.

And a few from my Nikon camera. I think once I get home and have a chance to edit some of them there will be some good shots.

This morning Jo and I went for a walk and did some grocery shopping then we headed out on a 10k hike. We had some lovely views!

Then we went to enjoy a nice lunch by the water and enjoyed some Australian football

Now it is nap time before dinner with Mark and Ange tonight!

We have been in Singapore for a few days now. It is nice to relax and just take some time to do nothing.

Yesterday we went to Chinatown and did a bit of shopping. Today we are going to explore downtown and take a boat cruise along the river.

This morning we visited an ancient town called Duong Lam. It is located about 1 1/2 hours from Hanoi.

Once we arrived we walked into the town and collected our bicycles. We biked along alleys and enjoyed lunch in a 400 year old home.

Then we cycled out to a temple. Passing farm fields and animals.

We passed through the market and community center in the before returning our bicycles and heading back to Hanoi.