A Day of Delays starts at Heathrow, London, but Ends With Amusing Apologies at Changi Airport, Singapore

 My family, leaving Heathrow Airport, London, England, went to the fast track lane to security. But even the fast track was slow.

My family member asked staff at Security - "What's the reason for the delay? If you've got crowds of people, you must know the number of planes and seat tickets sold. Why can't you just get more staff?"

The busy and beleaguered staff member explained, "We had staff laid off and no idea when we would need them again. Some of them retired or found other jobs. Now that we need them, we can't get them in a hurry. It takes 6 months to get them vetted and approved and trained. You have valuables going through and being checked separately. Laptops. Phones. Cameras. Suitcases. Jewellery. Money. Expensive items. You have to have references and criminal checks as well as training to be sure the checkers will be completely honest, and efficient, and not lose things or pilfer them."ow 

Oh, so now we know.

Changi Airport, Singapore's Weather Delays

On arrival at Changi Airport, there was rainy weather. Rainy season. 

The airport controllers wanted extra time between the take offs and landings, a greater margin for safety. So the Singapore Airlines plane circled in the air for a while.

Landed At Last

Then, lightning started striking. The baggage handlers had to be protected. The luggage was delayed.

Fortunately, despite this delay, the waiting crowd of unhappily hands free passengers, waiting with empty trolleys, stayed good humoured. At least, my family was happy. Why? Maybe because of the amusing apology signs with cartoon characters at knee level on the carousel.

Delayed baggage announcement. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Taxi Delays

The third delay was waiting for taxis in the rain. A shorter queue is for the more expensive, larger limos. However, even taking a limo was a wait. I got calls, 'I'm fourth in line. I'm third in line. I'm in the taxi, but the traffic is slow.'

At last, triumph. Family reunited. As the proverb says, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

What is the latest on Singapore Airlines? Are they still the best?

Heathrow airport, London, luggage trolley. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

 I flew from Heathrow airport in London, England, to Changi airport in Singapore. As usual I was taking care of luaggage. I always photograph it. Then if it goes missing I can describe it. Living in the Covid era, travellers now have to check on extra paperwork and allow extra time. 

The check-in staff at Heathrow were very good, but do allow extra time for the check-in part. They checked our vaccination certificates before we  joined the short queue to the check-in area.

The security staff were also extra helpful. They told us we could empty our water bottles and refill them later from water dispensers. Yes, indeed. But then we waited behind a family of two adults and three children who were re-filling all their water bottles.

The Singapore Airlines Lounge Breakfast

By the time we reached the lounge, we had barely enough time to order food. You can help yourself to croissants and smoothies. But there is no help yourself hot food any more. You have to order it. When our flight was called, I ran to ask if they could chase up the kitchen.

The food then appeared. My husband has the shellfish concoction. I am allergic to shellfish and had the English breakfast. 

Singapore Airlines Flight

As we boarded the flight we were offered a bottle of water. Very good. No plastic cup. 

I was seated in Economy. I had an aisle seat with an empty seat between me and another passenger. 

A good thing I had saved a little food from the breakfast. On the flight, the dinner was two courses, no starter.

I was hungry. I went to ask for snacks. The protein sandwiches or rolls with a processed meat or cheese filling were not supplied. Just Kit-kats, or crisps (which Americans call potato chips), or a packet of dried fruit, cranberries. 

No service of orange juice. I wish I had asked for extra with my meal. I should also have kept hold of my plastic beaker for the water.

Breakfast was served in the middle of the night. Apparently the cabin manager, or chief steward, decides on the timing. 

The aircraft still had a pack of playing cards on request for your entertainment. And white pads. And a pen. The pen I was give was completely dry, out of ink, had to be thrown away.

Everybody was asked to wear a mask except when eating. I had an aisle seat. The person in the window seat started coughing after eating and before putting on a mask. That worried me. However, by the time a member of staff walked past, the mask was on.

Entertainment

The best part of the flight? The films and the music. The choice is reduced. I could not find learning languages which used to be an option. I found two compilations of country music. 

I watched two good films. One was a murder mystery, with a double plot, and a twist end. On a lighter note, I watched The Chef. Humorous story of a chef in a restaurant and his battle with a critic who puts him our of business. Reconciliation and happy end.

Music

I looked through all the music offerings. I found some Amy Winehouse. But no Pavarotti or light opera, operetta, comic opera.

I finished with a few Country music songs, which inspired me to write one of my own. I saved the best songs by clicking on a star and hoped that meant those songs were saved to my playlist for the next flight.

Is Singapore Airlines still the best? Not as good as they once were. But good enough.

Useful Websites

About the Author 

About the Author

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time on bha.learncool.sg  

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 

TESTING, TESTING - Double Vaccinated, tested three times, And Back Through Changi Airport, Singapore 2021, contrasted with UK 2020

 How has travel changed in a year? My last big round trip was travelling from the UK to Singapore (travel to UK for our son's wedding - after months of rearranging venues and numbers of guests and renewing paperwork)

FIRST Round Trip UK UGUST 2020 

Last year, in August, at the Writer's Summer School in Swanwick, Derbyshire, one of the teachers was wearing a lanyard saying that she was exempt. Fine for her. But I just had to hope that everybody else was safe.

On the first night I sat at a circular table of six. The next night my position was usurped by a late arriving pair of guests. I felt a second class friend. 

However, later, when I learned that one of the group had contracted the virus, I felt that the situation had worked in my favour. I did understand the point of all the testing and precautions.

Singapore Quarantine

Back in Singapore, on arrival, in 2020, I had to quarantine in a four star hotel for two weeks. At great expense. 

Meals arrived on the room doorstep like airline meals. Included in the cost. 

Plus the cost of the tests to be released from the hotel.  In addition to the cost, the test needed to be released was nasty. The masked lady jabbed up my nostril four times and I jumped and screamed. Eventually my husband came over. I asked them to try the other nostril and another assistant. My husband held my hand and kept saying. "It's ok. Just keep still."

I dreaded the repeat.

2021 London, UK - LESS QUARANTINE BUT MORE TESTS

However, my next round trip in 2021 was easier. My experiences before departure from Singapore consisted of a test. The only hiccup was going home to get our passport for the paperwork. 

Then after we paid IN ADVANCE yet again, we found the test had been posted to us, so we did the test in a kit on arrival in London. It went into a special postbox for fast collection, round the clock.

Postal Test In UK

In London after arriving we self quarantined at home. We had received postal tests. These tests which require you to dab your throat and then your nose. 

The third test, to depart from the UK to Singapore, was another cost, but no physical stress. We had a test nearby, in a room behind the local chemist - what Americans call pharmacy).

Fourthly, the test on my return to Singapore was much easier.

Priority Designated Post Boxes

Post in a designated postbox. Presumably with frequent collection times. We managed that. The box outside the post office was a designated box.

Food Shopping

For a couple of days we lived on food we had brought with us in a Cool Box from Singapore. Then we got negative test results so we could go out shopping. And take trains.

Train Travel

In London Underground signs said everybody had to wear masks on London transport. About half to two thirds of passengers did so. 

Private Wine Lunch - Sanitizer

When my husband arranged a wine tasting lunch, we asked for a sanitizer at the door to the private room. We had arrived early to allow for any extra arrangements - or travel delays.

No Double Dipping

 We did not allow people to dip their hands in the bowls of almonds and cashew nuts. We asked for bowls for the nuts, then for spoons. 

I went around, masked, doling out 4 to six nuts slightly above into cupped hands without letting the spoon touch anybody's hands. 

London and Heathrow 2021 October

The third test, to depart from the UK to Singapore, was another cost, but no physical stress. We had a test nearby, in a room behind the local chemist - what Americans call pharmacy).

Singapore

Fourthly, the test on my return to Singapore was much easier.

We booked tests at the pharmacy near our home which was a blessing. Because we arrived to find we needed our passports. We had to send one person home to fetch them. (The same thing had happened in Singapore, you may recall I mentioned earlier. We should have remembered.)

We had to show our paperwork for the previous test, the booked flight, the passports.

Singapore 2021 - Changi Airport

Back in Changi, our flight passengers on arrival were kept separately through passport checks, collected luggage from our flight's carousel, then on a marked route to a linked area.

It was like a hospital, but also the entrance to a Disney area, with up and down barriers. The passengers were almost outnumbered by the numbers of masked marshalls in blue protective overalls.

1 We had to show forms that we had registered for our tests. 

2 Then to pay for the tests. 

3 Then to have the test. PCR test.

PCR Test

PCR is polymerase chain reaction.

I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't like the tongue presser used to keep my tongue out of the way before the throat swab. I immediately gagged and said, 'Oh, dear, now you have to do it again.' 

'I've already done it.'

The nose swab was equally quick.

All over in a few seconds. Nothing like as bad as previously.

The longest delay was waiting for an oversize cab to transport my husband's bicycle.

Good thing I had not worried, unnecessarily about the jab. I had decided not to worry. I had recalled reading that worrying does not help.

To our surprise and delight, only four hours later the results came through. Negative. We could send one person out shopping for food.

At the mall you needed your phone to show your negative test. First at the mall entrance. Then at every shop you entered. You need your mask, and your local money. Don't dash out without your phone.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymerase_chain_reaction

About the Author

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time on bha.learncool.sg  

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 

Please share links to your favourite posts. 

Changi Airport During Covid-19 - what can you still see?

 

Pre-flight test

In August 2021 before leaving Singapore we had to get a Covid-19 test done. This took longer than expected. You could not book online, just turned up. Then having arrived at noon we were told the first appointment was 1 pm. We had lunch from Starbucks but all the restaurants were in no seating allowed. Even the shelves where you could park a cup of coffee were cordoned off.

We asked where we could sit and eventually found a public seat which was partly available. You needed one person to wait, lurking, for whoever was sitting there to vacate, then quickly slide in. 

Changi Airport

At the airport, Changi Airport's Terminals were reduced to two. The taxi could let passengers off at only one door. You went through the trace together before entering.

Checking in was fast. Hardly anybody at the airport. No great welcoming seasonal displays.

The sculpture angel wings is still there. But cordoned off so you cannot stand right up next to it for a selfie or yourself with wings. Still good to see it.

Jewel

I thought Jewel was open but the taxi driver said it was closed. I knew it had been closed for a while but thought it might have been reopened. Barriers seemed to be up. It was gone 9 pm. 

Ironically, one of the films on the flight from Singapore to London was a documentary about the opening of Jewel. I enjoyed the film. I learned that the water is treated. And that cleaners work through the night, cleaning the floors but also the overhead windows.

Useful websites

https://www.changiairport.com/

About the author

Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and until Covid-19 was a frequent flyer.

Free Travel show in Singapore at Expo Friday Aug 2 and over the weekend (NATAS)

Singapore's National Association of Travel Agents (NATAS) organizes two consumer travel fairs every year, travel in February, and holidays in August. The fairs take place at Expo, one train stop away from Changi Airport. Expo is conveniently on the Blue Downtown line as well as the link to the airport.

Of course I am interested in travel. I am a travel writer. I travel a lot.

Singapore flag.

Some of my family are expats in Singapore, so we sometimes go back to the UK for birthdays and holidays. Other times we spent in Singapore, often having a birthday meal at Raffles Hotel, or another top restaurant (after eating economy meals of chicken rice or eating at home in order to save up).

One year I saw some ads come in for weekends away when we were looking at restaurants for a birthday meal. I said, "I'd rather celebrate by having a meal in a new country".

You can travel either of two ways. Pick a destination, and find the cheapest time of year or the best last minute offers. Or start with your date and look for the best and most interesting holiday available within your budget.

Go to Expo on Friday or over the weekend and halls 5 and 6 have travel booths. In addition there are lots of local travel agents. I noted the exhibitors by subject matter:

AIRLINES & AIRPORTS
Changi Recommends

Drukair (Bhutan)
Etihad
Hainan (Chinese budget airline, to UK and Europe)


Polish flag. Similar to the Singapore flag.

Lot Polish airline


Norwegian Airlines

Royal Bhutan
Royal Brunei

CRUISES
Costa Cruises
Dream Cruises
Royal Caribbean

TOURIST BOARDS FOR COUNTRIES



Flag of China
CHINA


Flag of India

INDIA



Flag of Indonesia.
INDONESIA


Flag of Japan

JAPAN


Flag of Korea.

KOREA


MALDIVES
NEPAL



Flag of South Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA


TAIWAN
THAILAND


Flag of Ukraine
UKRAINE

CITIES, Regions & DESTINATIONS


Flag of Indonesia.
JOGJA - Jogjakarta, Indonesia


Flag of Malaysia.

Melaka, Malaysia


Flag of Australia
Perth, West Australia

OTHERS
Other stands feature hotels, Tavelodge Asia hotels, and photos, FOTOHUB.

If you are short of time and want to take in halls in turn:
Here they are some of my favourites by halls:

HALL 5
China, Dream Cruises,

HALL 6
Costa Cruises,

The NATAS event is open from 10 am to 930 pm.

Useful Websites
http://natastravelfair.travel/about-us/

About the Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Changi's Jewel Shopping Mall With A Giant Waterfall Puts Changi Airport Firmly On the Map

Changi Jewel's giant majestic Waterfall. Photo by Bennv3771 in Wikipedia.

Changi's Jewel Shopping Mall looks like a giant donut or bun, with trains running horizontally through its middle linking to the adjacent terminals. The centrepiece of the complex is the huge 40 meter high waterfall, the world's largest indoor waterfall.

The complex was due to open Wednesday April 17 2019 but the week before it was open for previews. I opted for a two hour slot on the earliest available day, not the first couple of days, as other days had been taken.

The Journey
Emails warned that traffic would be heavy and advised taking the MRT train. I had planned to do that anyway. I would take a taxi to the airport when burdened with luggage which I want to watch. But just for fun, the metro is good enough.

From the Downtown blue line I had to change onto the green line for the lst stop. A ten minute wait. I was surprised it took so long, when the trains at my usual boarding station run every 3 to five minutes in peak hours.

From Changi Airport MRT station your route to the Jewel is signposted at every turn. You should allow 20 minutes to walk there, more if you dawdle in shops, the toilet or for photos or drinks.

Between the MRT exit and the walkway to the Jewel, you pass several interesting shops such as one featuring the local fruit, Durian.

Photo Opportunities
The Waterfall
1 When I arrived at the MRT, the approach to jewel was through glass sided elevated walkways passing fine views of the palm trees and the control tower.

2 On arrival in Jewel, you could immediately see the waterfall in the middle, through one of the spoke walkways. Singapore is hot and walking around makes you perspire, even if most of the way is air conditioned. However, the spray from the waterfall was pleasantly cooling.

Arriving half way up the waterfall viewpoints and the building levels at level 1, you can look down at the people below on basements 1 and 2, and up at those on walkways above on levels 2,3,4 and 5.

The main activity is photographing yourself and your friends against the waterfall. It looked like a giant camera club outing.

I found the waits for the lifts took too long and instead opted to use the escalators. I spent from 11 to 5.30 there. I went down to Basement 1. I found a great jewellery shop with good prices. They were offering opening discounts, like many of the shops. As I paid, the assistant asked, "Are you a member of Changi Rewards?"

I went along to Customer Service and got help signing up. Further around the mall was an even cheaper jewellery shop, items prices at $12, with $30 for three. All very bling, glittering, as if determined to outdo diamonds, with unusual shaped designs.

Marks & Spencer had a free taste of biscuits. I found lines marked down for a quick sale because the food such as potato salad had to be eaten the same day. I opted for potato.

Marks was selling bananas in bunches and I wanted only one.

Downstairs, lowest level, was the food court. Lots of unusual stuff. Coconut. I found two juice bars, The cheaper one had a slice of watermelon for one Singapore dollar.

Toilets
I was disappointed that my toilet in the Ladies had no washing device in the brand new toilets. Later I discovered that the bidet in the toilet is in the handicapped wide-door cubicle.

All in all, a most enjoyable day.

Useful Websites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/04/jewel-changi-update-driving-to-changi.html
https://flights.staralliance.com/en/
changiairport.com
https://www.jewelchangiairport.com/
Singaporeair.com
visitsingapore.com
http://www.changiairport.com/en/airport-guide/facilities-and-services/airport-parking.html

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

The World's Highest Man-made Waterfall At Changi Airport's New Jewel Shopping Mall

Photo from Wikipedia. Photo author Changi Jewel.

We thought it was the new terminal building, Terminal 5, but it isn't. It's a giant building added onto the other terminals which combines shopping mall and indoor nature park. Like gardens By the Bay, which has a giant indoor waterfall.



Night time Attraction
From opening day, Wednesday April 17 2019, you can go there in the daytime, or at night to enjoy seeing everything floodlit.

Here is my bucket List:
1 The waterfall - by day and night
2 The Garden Walk
3 Yotel hotel

Restaurants

Shops
The big Pokemon shop
The Apple store

More Information
It opened a week in advance for two-hour timed previews. You can read about it in Singapore's major newspaper, The Straits Times, and in Wikipedia.

Hotel
If you are on a stopover in Singapore you can stay in the complex at the Yotel. The hotel takes booking of a minimum of 4 hours and has family rooms. The hotel group has other branches in London, Paris, Amsterdam and Istanbul.

Restaurants
Many of the restaurants are open 24 hours. So whatever time your plane lands or leaves, you have something to eat and somewhere to meet. Several restaurants offer views of the waterfall.

Shops

I shall be showing more photos later in mid-April, taken by myself and photographer Trevor Sharot.

Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewel_Changi_Airport
https://www.8days.sg/eatanddrink/newsandopening/we-got-a-pre-sneak-preview-of-shake-shack-a-w-lavender-bakery-at-11425268
https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/fashion/attractions-and-shops-to-check-out-at-jewel-changi-airport
https://www.changirewards.com/news-3.html
singaporeair.com

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Toilets? Can't find them? Airport's super size signs

Airport toilet sign, Terminal 4.Changi airport.

Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Can't find a toilet in the airport or shopping mall? terminal 4 at Changi Airport in Singapore has the answer. It's these new super size illuminated toilet signs. Other airports and shopping malls, please copy.

Travel Tips

travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

australia.com

visitbritain.com

visitbritain.shop.com

visitbritain.org

visittheusa.co.uk

visitsingapore.com

Singapore Airlines: 

singaporeair.com

Author

Travel writer and photographer, Angela Lansbury.  

Teacher and tutor of English and other languages.Please bookmark and share your favourite posts and websites.

What did I think of VietjetAir?

Budget airline. Goes all over Asia. We travelled from Changi airport in Singapore to Hanoi in the north of Vietnam.

The staff uniforms were jolly red with and elegant contrast gold piping on collars and cuffs. Red is their colour. Even the seat belts were red.

Seats were in sets of three on both our planes to and from Hanoi from Singapore's Changi airport.

On the way out we were taken by surprise. You have take your own food and drink or buy theirs. If you order food and drink online in advance you can be sure they won't run out and you get a discount.

For hotels
booking.com
Comparison site:
https://www.clicktripz.com/rates/search/index
For airlines
travelok.com
vietjetAir.com (Comprehensive list of budget airlines in Wikivoyage.)
For transport
https://www.grab.com/vn/en/
Language
Duolingo.com 
(Remember to click on the sound symbol to hear how words are pronounced.) 

Author

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Strange things about Madeira, Volcanoes, Water, Waterfalls, the wet Westerlies, the world's islands and wet places

Problem
Where? Most people don't know of Madeira but don't where Madeira is. I had been there before but had forgotten the location. It's the fate of many islands, such as Singapore and Malta.

Black Volcanic Ash
The island is made of black volcanic ash. It was formed from a volcanic eruption. So were many islands. Think of: Hawaii.

Indonesia's Eruptions
Everybody has heard of Krakatowa. It was well documented by survivors.
Another of the Indonesians' islands was a greater disaster for local people and the whole world.  On Sumbawa an eruptions created the year of endless night, which reached as far as England and Europe in the early 1800s.

Red Earth
So the volanic eruptions leave black ash and black beaches. But Madeira also has red earth. Like Singapore and parts of Africa and Devon in England. I know. I spent a lot of time wiping Madeira's red dust from my shoes off the sills of the hire car. Then more time wiping the 'red' - or rather orange, stain off my white and turquoise trainers.

The World's Wet and Windy Places
Wet areas of Madeira and Singapore are on one side of the island. The winds blow one way because of the rotation of the earth. As the earth spins the air moves past. The air drops water vapour on the mountain tops so you get streams and waterfalls running down towards the sea at sea level.

The West and the West and the Westerlies
The west of Singapore, around places called Bukit, which is Malay for hill, gets more rainfall, more than the drier East near Changi airport.

Madeira Levadas - Water Channels
On Madeira the farmers built levadas or draining channels or waterways taking water to their land. The rainfall means green grass, bushes, trees.

Tropical Weather and Plants
Heat means tropical colourful flowers, and palm trees.

Madeira is south of England, hotter. Heat and wet means tropical plants, bananas, coconuts from coconut palms, cane for sugar and rum.


Useful Websites
lastminute.com
opodo.co.uk flight comparison website
tripadvisor.co.uk
tripadvisor.com
visitmadeira.com
Wikipedia.org Madeira
Wikitravel.org Madeira
Wikivoyage.org Madiera

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Why Change Lines At Botanical Gardens Railway station, or McPherson, Singapore

Singapore flag.

New mural
A colourful new mural enhances the walk or faster walk along the travellator in the linkway connecting the blue Downtown and yellow Circle lines. I don't know why the mural includes the words New York. 

Check Wikipedia and the railway's own website and you can find out.

If you are going to Expo near Changi airport and wish to shorten your travel time the mural seems to psychologically shorten the changeover time.

The change at McPherson is even quicker. Down the escalator and you are already on the other line platform.

Strange Foods In Singapore and At Changi Airport: durian, kaya and pandan

SINGAPORE
If you are travelling to Singapore, or on a stopover to Australia or anywhere else, look around Singapore or the airport.

Singapore is like one long food festival, with multi-national stalls on the cheap hawker centres and department store food courts.

Pandan Cookies and Cakes
My unfavourite food is the so subtle green pandan cake popular in Singapore which rarely tastes of anything and has no much or crunch. However, try anything once.

Pandan Chiffon cookie at Singapore's Changi Airport. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Pandan cake, Wikipedia.

You will find pandan cake in many bakery counters in kiosks in hawker centres (food courts in the basement of upper floors of shopping malls and department stores).

Durian
Durian comes in many forms. The evil-smelling fruit, like a green football. Cut up into oozing greeny yellow pieces. Horrid, in my opion.

Durian cakes in shopping mall, Singapore. Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Yet durian gives a wonderful flavour in ice creams and cakes, like banana, or chestnut.

You can also get chewy durian gums.

Durian gum. Photo by Angela Lansbury. 

And look for a durian topping, a paste squeezed like toothpaste over ice creams from hawker centres.

And this week Durian at the Goodwood Park hotel. On through June and until July.

Kaya Toast
Kaya is coconut jam, yellow and tasty, spread on toast for breakfast or a snack. I've also seen this at the airport.

Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com (Singapore Airlines)
https://www.ishopchangi.com
http://www.changiairport.com/en/shop-and-dine.html
http://www.goodwoodparkhotel.com/durian-fiesta-2018-,promotions_viewItem_1341-en.html

Author, Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

Airport Attractions - From Butterfly to Cacti and Aviation Museums

Changi Airport Fish in Koi Pond, level two, departures, Terminal 2, photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Problem
An hour to kill at an airport - what should you see and do?

Answers
CAMBODIA
Statues and history panel.

GERMANY
Munich Airport
Brewery.

JAPAN
Oxygen bar. The oxygen comes in flavours.

SINGAPORE
Changi Airport, Singapore.
Terminal 1
Cacti Garden on rooftop.

Terminal 3
(Singapore Airlines from Changi, Singapore to Heathrow, for London, England.
The ground floor is for arrivals.
The Butterfly Garden is on the two departure levels, level two and level three, to top entrance next to the Ambassador Transit Hotel and Movie Theatre.

Butterfly Garden,
Hotel with swimming pool,
Koi Pond,
Orchid area,
Rubbing,
Movie Theatre,
giant multi-storey tube Slide (Slide @T3),  seasonal sculptures and animated displays. Daytime tours of the city if you have a couple of hours in transit.

Ground floor arrivals: 

giant Sculptures, for selfies. 

Tips
Other airport attractions worldwide include the Acquarium at Vancouver Airport, Canada; IMAX cinema (movie theatre) at Hong Kong airport; in Dubai, a Zen Garden with children's play area, a five star hotel containing a swimming pool for guests; the swimming pool at Quatar (entry fee); slot machines at Las Vegas, USA; and the services of a morgue at Brussels airport. Some rate the fast monorail to Shanghai airport as being special. More details from:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-4473138/The-world-s-oddest-airport-attractions-revealed.html
changiairport.com/guides
Download the e-version of airport and shopping guides or pick up a foldout copy at any information counter in Changi Airport.

Changi is frequently voted the world's best airport :
http://www.worldairportawards.com/awards/world_airport_rating.html

Not far behind is South Korea's Incheon Airport. Wikipedia explains:

Incheon International Airport (IIA) (IATA: ICN, ICAO: RKSI) (sometimes referred to as Seoul–Incheon International Airport) is the largest airport in South Korea, the primary airport serving the Seoul Capital Area, and one of the largest and busiest airports in the world. Since 2005, it has been rated the best airport worldwide by Airports Council International every year.^[2] It is also rated as the world's cleanest airport and the world's best international transit airport by Skytrax.^[3]

The airport has a golf course, spa, private sleeping rooms, an ice skating rink, a casino, indoor gardens, and a Museum of Korean Culture.

Full details of airpot wifi and other facilities such as showers from
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia
It reveals the airport with the toy exhibition.
http://www.sleepinginairports.net/asia/tokyo_haneda.htm
The airports in Europe voted highly were Helsinki with its library and Talinn with its book swap and bookshelf lounge.
If you want to contribute and comment on an airport, you can fill in their airport survey for all the airports you have visited recently.

For sporty types, South Korea has an airport golf course, and Munich International Airport offers mini golf.
More information from:
http://www.layoverguide.com/2008/12/top-ten-airports-to-get-stuck-in.html

I looked for airports in Russia, because I have more readers in Russia this week than any other country, even the USA. But I had no such luck, so if you know of a great airport facility in Russia, please let me know.

You can also read reports on airports hotels in TripAdvisor.

In the UK plane spotters might enjoy a trip to the aviation museum at Gatwick:

Gatwick Aviation Museum
Vallance-Byways
Lowfield Heath Road
CHARLWOOD
RH6 0BT

http://www.aviationmuseumguide.co.uk/guide_london.php

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
See my previous posts on Changi airport.
Post in preparation. Come back for more tomorrow.
Please share links to posts.

Butterfly Garden, at Changi Airport, Terminal Three. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

The whole airport is a delight. Palm trees in the luggage carousel area. Changi Airport. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

What To See And Do At Heathrow Airport and the World's Best Airport, Changi, in Singapore.

Heathrow airport has improved, with interesting pictures showing the development of the airport and famous people passing through, such as HM The Queen, and the Beatles.


When I searched the internet I found an article on exhibitions of sculptures representing runners and others at the UK Olympics; also a webpage seeking exhibitors for future presentations.
http://www.moodiedavittreport.com/heathrow-celebrates-british-sporting-talent-with-t5-exhibition/

But the world's best airport, according to many awards, and many travellers, including myself, is Changi in Singapore. Every visit brings a new surprise, plus renewed admiration for the permanent aspects.

In April 2016, Changi Airport provided a photo opportunity where you could stand between giant wings, like the female model symbol on a Rolls Royce car.



The halls and carousels are decorated by seasonal displays.

In August 2016, Changi has small models of buildings illuminating by lights which change colour.




(More photos being added shortly. I've just learned how to link my foreign phone to my laptop to download the photos. I went onto the internet and asked. Up popped the answer. First you download the software to link the machines. Then I had to delete some photos from the camera. I had lots of duplicates where I took two in case somebody clinked their eyes or one picture was blurred.)
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, Singapore resident.

Beautiful Temple In Singapore

This beautiful temple is in a side road. Worth a trip. Visitors are welcome. You take off you shoes and   wash your feet at an area surrounded by seats and shoe boxes to the right of the entrance - foot washing on a hot day very welcome and refreshing. 

The gold tower gateway, a feature of such temples is eye catching and colourful.

Here's the history of the temple.

All the statues of the Gods are entrancing. These two are my favourites. 

Travelling there

The temple is on the Changi airport side of the island.

How to get there? By public transport, MRT (underground train) to Aljunied which is stop EW9, 9th stop on the East West line which splits to end at Changi airport or Pasir Ris (EW1). From Aljunied take a number 40 bus. On your return the number 40 bus stops on the opposite side of the road to the MRT station. If you can't face climbing all the steps up to the overhead bridge, there's a lift (elevator) up and down on both sides of the bridge.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer. 

Photos copyright Angela Lansbury

Airport decorations

UK's Heathrow, Terminal 3 has pictures of the Beatles arriving in London. Another picture shows and the five planes nose together like petals on a flower marking the founding of Star Alliance.

Singapore's Changi is building a new terminal. Meanwhile decorations mark seasonal events in other terminals.

Airport Adventures: butterflies, beer, wine, weddings, gourmet hampers

Choose the right airport and a plane delay is not so bad. You can also arrive in good time and find amusement.

I've not yet found an airport better than Singapore's Changi. Spacious and clean. Any room for improvement? Yes, please put luggage trolleys at all plane exits. Arriving from London you get off with coats and clothes which are too heavy for a tropical climate, booze bought at Heathrow or on the plane, a newspaper or two, plus hand luggage, and a handphone to alert friends, relatives, or taxis of your arrival. You need a trolley. The airport could also arrange for trolleys all the way through.

I must admit I have never noticed the jumbo slide at Singapore airport. Not that I'd have used it. I always wanted to see the butterfly garden but somehow I'm always in the wrong terminal.

Marrying at the airport (Amsterdam) is a good idea. Your family can fly in for the wedding and fly straight out. No problems getting to the airport to fly off for the honeymoon.

Munich airport has a popular brewery and South Africa intends to copy the idea with wine. I though airports sold alcohol. Good for visitors I suppose. You want to keep your wits about you for boarding a plane.

Heathrow is offering gourmet picnics to take on board. That's a great idea.

www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2828922/Taylor-Swift-concerts-outdoor-skating-rinks-site-breweries-butterfly-conservatory-