January 15 – 17
A bit of a change of pace starting now. A quick one hour flight from KUL to SIN to meet Mama and begin our 35 day adventure together cruising from Singapore to Shanghai.
The shift was immediate. Upon landing and collecting my bags in Singapore, a driver with a name placard was waiting for me outside baggage claim. He chauffeured me in a swanky black Mercedes to the Orchard Hotel where a bellhop swooped up my bags before I could even get out of the car. This is a far cry from my $38/night apartment in Kuala Lumpur and $1 street food dinners. I enjoy the extremes and appreciate both ends of the spectrum, so I’ll soak up the high end experience while it lasts, because after the cruise is over, it’s back to backpacker life for me!
Tuesday, January 15
Black Mercedes chauffeur, “long way detour” tour to the hotel, bitchy Chinese alterations ladies (only $12 and on hour to alter my jumpsuit though!), getting hopelessly lost in the underground mall/restaurant/crosswalk underneath Orchard Road, super malls, dinner w Mama, wine in the lobby before she passed out at 7 something, amazing shower, read my book, early night
Wednesday, January 16
Free Cruise group breakfast buffet in the hotel, met Bob and Betty (besties!), Dat Hop On Hop Off Bus dream lyfe, hop off to walk to Marina Bay Sands, cantilever observation deck, hop back on, Thai lunch in the underground labyrinth, Little India, Chinatown, Raffles Hotel, long day (it’s 6pm in the blink of an eye), skip dinner, amazing hotel HH on my laptop doing financials, chats with the 80 year old English couple, amazing shower, reading, bed, Mama’s cell phone goes off in the middle of the night, terrible sleep
Thursday, January 17
Free Cruise group breakfast #2 and head to the ship. Not really any Singapore time except the bus from the hotel to the ship. At 4pm sharp when we had our Assembly Station drill, the skies literally opened up and it was dumping rain. Room is pleasantly bigger than expected. Two beds, large veranda, double sinks, separate shower and jetted tub, big flat screen tv. Ok, hopefully this will be doable for 31 days.
Where's Lindsey? 