Bruce and Vicky got me to the airport last evening in plenty of time for the chaos to begin. I was too early to check in so managed to find somewhere to sit. When at last the desks opened for the flight to Kuala Lumpur I joined the long queue of mainly Indian looking people. A lot of them had loads of suitcases, and either the multiplicity of their cases or the combined weight resulted in would-be passengers being expelled from the queue to try again. At least one Indian was rather abusive towards the poor staff. To my grateful surprise I managed to book myself and my case onto the connecting flight to Singapore.
The time dragged, I was glad to find a Macdonalds open and operating and I had a hot apple pie as nourishment. Boarding was fun - another Indian had stolen my seat and refused to move, I had to get a stewardess to intervene. In the end I benefitted from having a spare seat next to me! I could have done without the Frenchman behind me trying to chat up a lone girl but I guess it helped pass the time for him. Not sure he was very successful.
We arrived safely at Kuala Lumpur at 8am-ish local time and I weakened and decided to try a dim sum place. I had almost tried one in Malacca but there was a long queue. The airport was using the same gate H4 for multiple flights which was confusing but I got on the right plane and so did my luggage! The flight to Singapore was very low on passengers, and also very quick! An efficient airport at Singapore I got through immigration and collected luggage beating the driver who came to collect me.
Staying one night at the splendid Paradox in an emperor sized room with a balcony. It would be even more splendid if the taps would provide hot water for me. I didn't do as much as planned in Singapore. I will leave the place again feeling unsatisfied. I'm tired, I didn't plan this well, I have an early start tomorrow, I had to do battle with the MRT, first needing to work how to work the gates (I needed to buy a card) and then how to load sufficient funds onto it. I have a NETS card with plenty of funds on it if anyone is visiting Singapore by the way.
I did manage to see more of the excellent Gardens by the Bay after flailing around the MRT system. The MRT map I had misled me or rather I misinterpreted it. There were too long queues for the SkyWalk but the Cloud Forest was fun. Saw an otter on my way back, a large beast.