Desaru

We set out for a weekend with our kiwi mates Chris and Juliette for a relaxing weekend in Desaru. This is a little place just up the coast from us but on the Malaysian coast. It is a short ferry ride. To get there you book your accommodation and they provide you with a ticket for the ferry ride (normally)...we booked the night before so the ferry ride was non existent... we knew we had to catch the ferry from Changi and went to the ferry terminal at Changi Point. After asking the guy - he assured us we were in the right place so we sat down to wait. the ferry was to leave at 10 am. As the time began to get near to 11 am we asked again but were told that this one only goes to some other jetty that we didn't think we wanted so we left there and caught another taxi to another ferry terminal - unfortunately this one also was the wrong terminal - we finally found the right terminal - Changi Ferry Terminal - only to be told that the next ferry was due to leave at 5 pm that night (some 6 hours away). We went back to Changi Village and had a lunch at the local hawker centre and then went back to the first one to negotiate a ferry ride across in a bumboat. Wayne is sitting in the corner of the bumboat. It takes a maximum of 12 people and took us an hour to get across the waters.
Chris and Juliette settled outside and began reading their books. The day was lovely and we were pleased to be finally on our way. We felt we had already had an adventure before we even got to Desaru.
Looking back at Changi Point Ferry Terminal.
We passed this boat on our way...notice all the tires around the boat - it looks like rough weather but it was really quite calm.
Finally at our hotel, only to find that they had given us rooms with single beds....so we asked for a change of room...this was done and the view was much nicer.





The walk on the beach was just wonderful and beautiful...so worth the trip. We lazed around for the best part of the afternoon, having a couple of cocktails by the pool and swimming to get cooled off.

We ahd dinner at the local restuarant...Waynes came out with what looked like a dunces hat on and underneath was the rice. The meal cosst us 136 ringit...which is about $70...and that was for the four of us.

We went for a ride on a boat to see fireflies, they were interesting and amazing. We thought they were going to bigger than what they are but were just the size of a mosquito.

We decided this last Tuesday to go for a long walk frim McRitchie through to Bukit Timah...the walk was beautiful, meandering past a resovoir, alongside it and furhter on to Bukit Timah McDonalds for a well earned meal and drink and air-conditioning
Wayne is showing where we started our walk and looking like it was going to be a hot day.
As we went past a log in the water there were a couple of turtles watching us.
Along the way we saw this tree and its berries grow on the trunk. Don't know what it is called but it did look rather strange.
These bugs are acutally black with yellow spots and are quite pretty. The bugs are on what at home we call wood ear.

It is hard to see but there is a woodpecker on this stree trunk...we could hear the knocking from quite a long way away. It does have a yellow stripe on its head but the light wasn't very good for showing what the bird actually looks like. We also saw a drongo bird...we have been looking for one for ages...it has long tail feathers that hang down and is black. I just love its name.


Waynes hands are smaller than the vine he is holding.


We are halfway though the walk and it was lunch time. We sat on a seat and ate a yummy sandwich and a drink of water while I phoned my lovely sister for a chat.
A centipede walked along the path.
These two photos are of some colorful fungi we saw on the way.

The beautiful butterfly was resting...you have no idea how many photos wa both took to get the wings open.
We noticed what looked like a pipeline going across our path, upon closer inspection we found it was a trail of either ants or termites.








And look at this for a grasshopper.


On the Bukit Timah side we walked along a Durian Loop and came across a number of people out looking for Durians...we find it hard to understand why they eat this fruit, it smells disgusting and it has prickles on the outside. The fruit only falls at night time so all were looking for the fallen fruit. We understand that it is the only fruit that is an offensive weapon.

A weekend with Sue

Sue bused down from KL for a weekend with us and it was great to have a good catch up with her.One of the things we did was go on the flyer...and yes both Sue and I did even although we thought the height was going to be a problem but it actually was great fun and we had an amazing view of Singapore. This is down the bottom of the flyer in a purpose built rainforest.


















This is before we took off and we were lucky enough to get a carriage by ourselves.










There were so many wires holding this flyer together and it amazed us just how many and the thickness.
28 people fit into these capsules and this one is at the height of the arc.





















Sue is sitting in the middle of the capsule. She did get up and walk around a little.











This ride cost us $29.50 each. We came down and had dinner and a drink at a local eatery - Olearly's - and then took a bus home. The bus ride took 1 hour 37 minutes and costs us $1.58...good value for money...we saw parts of Singapore we had not seen before so that side was good. These bus seats do get rather hard though. .































Looking down on the mechanics in the middle of the flyer. Outstanding how this thing moves so slowly around allowing you to get such a slow half hour on the ride.







While waiting for the bus we looked back at the flyer and found it was lit up with beautiful lights

June Holiday

It was with deep regret that we had to head home for Wayne's dads funeral. We are going to miss him terribly...he was such a wonderful father-in-law to me and an awesome grandfather to the boys.

As a last respect for Poppa he was driven around his farm on the tractor. Charlie (Femy's son) drove while Wayne, Ian and David held him on.. The day was clear, crisp and sunny.




























As Poppa was put into the hearse we let some helium filled balloons go and watched them float away.











It was the first time that Poppa and Nana's grandchildren had all been together for a number of years so we took the opportunity to take a photo. Back row - Logan, Bradley, Craig. Middle row - Loryn and Katie. Front row - Jason, Lloyd and Geoffrey.






Being in Singapore we don't get to see the frost so it was an amazing feeling and sight to see. (My poor car.)









I had never been out fishing with Ian and it was a treat to have the time and weather to be able to do this while home. The morning was frosty and cold and there was some wind.
Ian's boat, Runaway Cash, is huge (especially compared to our little boat) and it had a cabin where I could watch us going out from Whakatane to the Raus. I was fine for a while and caught some fish but after a couple I had to just look straight ahead and only could look down when emptying my stomach contents...not nice for me but the crew were very understanding and kept very quiet with their comments.




We even went in closer to the shore to help but this didn't help me at all. I don't remember what fish or how many fish we caught but when got back home and had some for dinner they were very yummy.









The boys sat on the boat and ate sandwiches of cornbeef while I walked around taking pictures.











Whakatane is a pretty city.












Looking out to sea is a wonderful sight.












Another frosty picture.












And at last a real fire...and it did keep us warm...Beth's children (Jacob, Claudia and Dominic) are standing in front of it.

The Great Race

The amazing group of helpers Ben, Ruth, Jo, Tim, Wayne, Juliet and Chris...these guys were such a great help.











At the top of the Pagoda in the Chinese Gardens.












Re-enacting a scene.











Hougang Pernicious Pirates













Orhard Goodlookers doing their puzzle to start.












Bishan Babes











Simei Slingers












Goodlookers of Orchard











The Brotherhood of Bishan












Wayne and Juliet at the evening