The land beneath looks blackened and blasted, like some unimaginable force scoured it with fire. The odd dry riverbed only serve to exacerbate the impression, looking like cracks in the surface of the land.
So far I’m not terribly impressed with Scoot. The seats are hard and narrow and the chair supports are inconveniently positioned so as to reduce the already lacking legroom. The lack of head support is very noticeable. Give me the Jetstar or Qantas seats anytime over these. There is no cabin entertainment, no moving map. I cannot see anyone with the somewhat costly iPad based entertainment units. Maybe they are yet to be supplied.
But none of the complaints can detract from the real joy of flying, soaring smoothly through blue skies isolated from the troubles and stresses of the world outside. The hum of the jet engines is loud in this 777, I really need my noise cancelling headphones as I listen to relaxing music.
I am seated right over the wing, three rows further back than the seat I booked online. Nobody is in the middle of the three seats, which is fortunate as I use the additional legroom. A couple of rows ahead of me are two tattooed, nose pierced rocker guys, one with very long hair and a bandana. Once upon a time they would have been forced to have a haircut in order to enter Singapore.
When we took off from Sydney it was through the grey drizzle. Soon we powered up into blue skies above a cloudy, hazy landscape. I fell asleep for a while, worn out by too many late nights.
When the food trolleys came out I was glad I had an early lunch. There is as much fungus as in the old Marsfield canteen. It’s nasi biryani or a croissant for me should I have the need to eat.
Now the land is browner and the air choppier. Safe and smooth, that’s all I really want.
The cabin has been darkened and many sleep. A baby frets on the other side of the aircraft. There is the tinkle of a bell as a trolley selling is pushed down the aisle.
Outside, the scene has changed from scattered afternoon cloud to haze. I recall another flight to Singapore, back in 2004, with Qantas. Then there was the excitement of a continuation on to Europe. No such further flights this time.
As we cross the Arafura sea towards Indonesia late afternoon clouds are sharply defined in the late afternoon light. Even here over the empty ocean there is beauty in flight.
Land appears, a dark coastline behind which mountains poke out of the haze, dreamy, exotic, like a painting. Is it Timor or another island of Indonesia. Without the moving map I am unsure.
I request some cheese and crackers for S$3. It’s difficult to get the crew’s attention as the buzzers don’t stay set. They’ve had issues with people accidently bumping them. Thus buzzer calls go ignored. The cheese is of the soft sort, but no knife is provided to cut or spread it. I can’t be bothered trying to attract their attention again.
I happen to glance at my accommodation booking printout and am shocked when I see that it is not the Hotel 81 Tristar in Geylang that I’ve booked, but the Hotel 81 Geylang. Big difference! No wonder it was so cheap, but how many times have I stared at this booking? I don’t want this other hotel, it’s quite distant from Joo Chiat Road. Nothing I can do about it mid flight. I’ll just have to see the hotel counter when I arrive.
The seatbelt sign is turned on as we pass through high cloud. It’s a bit bumpy but not too bad. We eventually emerge into beautiful evening skies which accompany us all the way to Singapore.
Darkness is falling as we begin our final descent into Singapore. We approach from the south, over Johor Bahru. Last time we flew this way it was on a turboprop from Kuantan. As we land I am taken back to that first flight overseas, that excitement.
Right now I am in a hurry. I want to get through immigration and sort out my accommodation and phone card. I first visit the UOS money changer desk and pick up a StarHub Tourist Prepaid Card for S$15. It’s great value with free international calls to Australia and the option of using $7 credit out of it to purchase 1G data for 3 days. I’m online again, but my battery is almost out of juice.
Accommodation proves a trickier issue. None of my preferred hotels have any space now. I eventually settle on the Amara, more expensive than I have budgeted for, but cheaper than most. It is near Tanjong Pagar, far away from the food of Geylang.
The shuttle bus ride takes forever, this hotel is not close to the airport. I am so tired now and very hungry. I worry that I am not going to find any hawker stalls open by the time I arrive, but as we approach the hotel I see the Maxwell Food Centre out of the window. Yay, I wanted to visit this place anyway!
The hotel is quite nice. No carpet in my room and the bathroom looks a little frayed around the edges, but other than that, clean and modern. Internet is expensive though – lucky for the mobile net.
As soon as I drop off my bags and take a trip to the bathroom, the first since Sydney, I am out the door and off to the food centre. Across the road is a local centre where the pasar malam stalls were pulling down their tarpaulins for the night. Then I walk past old shophouses. This seems to be the bridal and Korean food area as that’s about all there is.
Most of the stalls in the Maxwell Centre are closed, but I manage to order a meal of white carrot cake from one and sticks of satay from another, washed down with a not very good lime juice. It’s my first real meal since 11am Sydney time, almost 12 hours ago. And it’s so cheap!
Then it’s straight back to the hotel. I need sleep.