MONDAY 14th MAY 2012

WE'RE OFF!!!

Josh arrived to get us up at 7.00am and after picking Den and Sue up we were on the highway at around 7.15am and sat back in the comfort and luxury of the Coastal Charters Statesman! (Complete with a copy of the paper and bottles of water)! Traveling in style that's for sure!
The traffic was quite heavy on Tonkin Highway, but we arrived at the International Terminal at just after 9am, where Josh let us off right outside the Qantas checkin doors!
We duly deposited our cases and got our boarding passes before having a wander through the Duty Free shop and then meeting Jase and Katie for a coffee - Cheryl and Glenn arrived soon after and we had a good chinwag for an hour or so!
After saying our goodbyes to all, (a bit teary I must say - not able to be with Katie in her last couple of months of pregnancy) we did the security and customs things and were soon in the departure lounge, having only a short wait before our boarding call.
The flight was a good one - the plane a recently upgraded one, with plenty of leg and seat room - and we were soon in Singapore on a very hot afternoon! Well over 30 degrees and as usual very humid, and after quickly clearing customs and getting our cases we were in an air conditioned taxi heading for The Park Hotel on Clarke Quay.
We checked in and freshened up a bit and then took a walk along the river stopping at one of the many bars and restaurants for a beer, before doing some more exploring! We found a particularly nice looking place, The Wine Connection, and had some tapas for dinner and after a few more drinks headed back to the hotel for bed!
So after many months of planning and seemingly endless days of waiting our big adventure has finally begun and whole raft of new places, cultures and faces awaits us! Just so looking forward to it all!