Excitement levels amongst the Parkers grew steadily over the three or four weeks leading up to our departure. For me it started with a Sunday night Keynote slideshow, and voting on what we wanted to do and see in Japan. Even a week in Tokyo (aka 17 slots for activities) requires some serious shortlisting!
We were all looking forward to specific things - food, culture, fashion, cherry blossoms, Harry Potter world. Most of all we were simply excited to be leaving New Zealand for the first time in over four years, and to finally be visiting Japan - two years and 51 weeks, give or take, after our original plans were thwarted by Covid lockdowns.
We began our journey bright and early on Friday morning, having delivered Hodgson to the cattery and Thistle and Kowhai to their holiday destination (thanks Mum and Dad!) over the couple of days before. The kids have an extra week added to their April school holidays for this trip, so there was the additional excitement of finishing a whole five school days before their friends. Adrian bid a slightly bittersweet farewell to his Adminis colleagues - he’s starting a new job when we’re back. I was racing to the finish as usual.
Our alarms went off at 3.30am - not a time the Parkers normally like to be up and about, but the kids in particular enjoy travel days that begin in the dark so there was no trouble getting everyone out of bed (somewhat different to school days for some of us!). Our taxi was almost 30 minutes late - an alarm issue at the driver’s house we think - but we still made it to the airport with time to spare.
We had 15 hours in transit from Wellington to Singapore via Auckland. Other than the late taxi everything went incredibly smoothly. Leo was thrilled to discover all the Harry Potter movies available in flight and has grand plans to watch every single one. I think he managed two on this leg, so he’s got some intensive viewing to do on the our remaining flights.
Coming through customs in Singapore was fast and easy, and our super-friendly taxi driver was waiting on the other side to take us to our hotel. It’s just over 10 years since we were last in Singapore on our big trip home in late 2012. That time we’d already been travelling for three months by the time we arrived (it was a short stop between Sri Lanka and Auckland), and the kids were three and two, so a different time altogether. We were curious to know what had changed since then, other than us!
According to our taxi driver most of the changes is new buildings going up. He also shared some interesting facts about Singapore, like if you hit a tree or lamppost with your car you are responsible for the cost of any damage. For trees, they calculate it on the basis of the age of the tree, the amount it cost the state to grow it to this point and the cost to replace it. And that the men do two years compulsory military service, with an additional two week’s training a year for the following 10, so they have a force ready to be mobilised at any time. Some of the initial training was done by the Israelis in a train the trainer kind of deal.
Getting out of the car we were travel-weary, and hot. Even at 6pm it was about 30 degrees and humid. After a quick stop to refresh ourselves we wandered to nearby Chinatown an explore and for a meal at Tiong Bahru Boneless Haianese Boneless Chicken Rice. We discovered that Anthony Bourdain ate there once (we knew because his photo was on the wall). He has good taste - it was delicious!! After that it was a quick walk home through the squeaky clean streets (not one bit of rubbish to be seen!) to tumble into our bunk beds grateful to sleep lying down!
We’re all pleased to be in Singapore, and just a day away from our long-awaited visit to Japan.
It was a stunning morning in Auckland.
Happy to be travelling again!
Rain in Chinatown, Singapore.
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