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My Day 1

From: Helen
Date: 11 Apr 2006

Comments                                                                                  [Itinerary]

Day 1 – April 11

Here's me laden down with:

Flash Drive around neck
Passport around neck
Small handbag around neck
Backpack on back
CPAP machine in right hand
Laptop in left hand
Wheelly suitcase.

I was late, in a hurry and worried. Margaret, my travel companion, was anxiously awaiting my arrival at Sydney's International Airport. I knew our agreed contingency plans were being contemplated. Laden down like a packhorse, following the signs, trying to avoid people, trolleys and anything else that might get in my way my body language was truly unambiguous. Finally, puffing and panting I arrived to find Margaret preparing to make her move, alone. A quick "Hullo", a bit of a hug and we headed off into the unknown.

The flight to Singapore was a learning experience. I put on my seat belt but that was it! The young lady sitting next to me, a seasoned traveller, showed me how to work the in-flight movies. I saw the beginning of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire five times before I really understood how to operate it, correctly. And when lunch arrived I needed a lesson on the workings of the tables. Once I'd been educated the flight went well, wasn't too long and the in-flight movies kept me occupied.
In the thirty plus years since I last left my comfort zone there's been many changes foisted on the intrepid traveller. Airports for one! Airports are so intimidating. I hate them. Canberra Airport's not too bad, still relatively small. Then there's Sydney's International Airport, that's daunting. And then there’s Singapore Airport. It's enormous, a small city. It overwhelms. But it does have ‘moving walkways' and believe me, that's a definite plus. There's colour's everywhere. Garden features bring the outdoors indoors. Orchids, big and small are everywhere, growing on driftwood, on trees and in huge tubs. Shops of all sizes and hues offer the traveller everything they could possibly need or want. All very beautiful but lacking something.
Singapore today is very different from the Singapore I remember. Gone is its distinctiveness. It’s now a modern city with tall, majestic buildings, gardens everywhere and large, flashy cars. The cars constantly amazed me. Except for taxis and trucks no car looked older than about a year. Maybe that's why I didn't see one car exhibiting the consequences of an accident. I felt like an outsider: not like a welcomed old friend returned after many, many years away.
Last changed: Saturday October 18, 2014