Wrap Up

Gotta get this trip in the books.

As always, the trip home seemed so much longer/harder than the trip to start the holiday. Having flown on seven different airlines, I will say that Qantas was very welcoming to us as American Airlines Oneworld members. Even when flying coach, we had access to the lounge and priority boarding etc.  In the end, though, we agree with Skytrax and their recent ranking (coincidentally announced during this trip) of Qatar Airways as the number one airline for 2024. Well done, Qatar. Those votive candles put you right over the top!

After our 24 hours in Singapore, we had that overnight flight to Abu Dhabi, our night tour of that city, a long day flight to Heathrow, and then were immediately on the next plane to DC where we slept in a bed again before flying home on Tuesday. Sadly, that British Airways plane at the end of that marathon was the least comfortable, and we were getting more than a little cranky. Kind of on a knife’s edge emotionally at that “point”. (see image of precariously balanced rock from the Kimberely coast)

Something very sweet did happen enroute, though. On the flight from Abu Dhabi to Heathrow, our seats were facing each other with that short wall between - not side by side. I thought for sure that Michael would be perfectly happy to have a bit of space between us by that time. Imagine my surprise when he asked the guy sitting across from me if he would switch?

We started this trip’s blog asking the question, “Can they do it?” Well, not only did we do it, but Michael still wanted to sit near me at the end. Everybody together now, AWWWWWWW.💖

And that's a wrap.

Night Tour (Basically Drive About) Abu Dhabi

 We have/had 10 hours in AUH between midnight and 10:30a.  Decided to take a night tour to at least see the sights and to learn a bit about the city. Obviously this was a limited overview in the dark of night and mostly touched on architecture. So here are:

The “pineapple” buildings

The “Pisa” of Abu Dhabi

The Palace

And the jewel of the city, the Grand Mosque.

Two more flights to get us to DC. Overnight there. And then two flights from there to home. 🤞🏼

Singapore Airport Sunday Evening

 

For Comparison Last sunset from the boat

Docked in Darwin sent to me by new friends

Darwin to Singapore

 Yesterday was just a travel day. Up and out of the room by 8a. Off the boat at 9:30a. Hang at a hotel until 1:30p. Taxi to the airport and a 5+hour flight to Singapore. We arrived at the Marriott Tang Plaza around 8p with the recommendation that we go first to the lounge level before they stopped serving free drinks at 8:30p. We were also offered a late check-out at 5p today (Sunday) which is ideal since we fly out tonight just shy of 9p.

Michael wanted to get to the zoo on this his third visit to Singapore but you can see by the picture that it’s a bit rainy. (Not a colorized black and white photo just actually gray)

Michael wanted to get to the Orchard Towers, otherwise known as Four Floors of Whores; but a Google search revealed that they cleared out the strip joints, etc last summer.

So a sad and disappointing turn of events for Michael. 😢

Winding down, Wyndham

I am a day behind. Clearly we are winding down.  The three week mark may be the sweet spot. Yesterday, Thursday, was a very long day with an inland excursion that made the zodiac tours and hikes shine in comparison.

A couple hours on a bus to get to el Questro. Pretty rock, pretty rock.

The presentation by the local indigenous clan was very interesting and informative.  But the boat ride at a virtual snail’s pace on a river to see the water spitting archer fish could have taken a fraction of the time.

Coz lunch was a total of 20 minutes to eat before the call to get back on the vehicles. Another dusty, bumpy drive to a look out point to see the river valley and more rocks. Then back on the bus for two hours back to the ship.  It was just way too much time and too exhausting to be a good last touring day. 

Today was a day at sea.  Packing, etc. Tomorrow we disembark here in Darwin. Hand at the Hilton for a bit and then catch our 4p flight to Singapore. After we leave the ship in the morning, it will just about four days till we are home. 

Meanwhile, the best I can do are these:

See the wallaby on the rock ledge

Find the wallaby on the water’s edge

Waterfall, Rocks, Waterfall, Waterfall

 First, I didn’t really post anything from yesterday. Morning trip was to see a downed plane from WWII. No drama, no combat. Just a pilot who put in the wrong heading and ran out of gas.  Everyone survived.

 Then more rock art at Vansittart Bay. Gwion Gwion style. Much older art depicting tall, thin human figures (not creation beings) dressed in ceremonial garb (headdresses, bracelets, carrying bags etc).  These are so old that the aboriginals do not have any “connection” to them. No lore. No stories. They protect the images but they do not retouch/refresh them.

This morning was our last zodiac cruise. Could go again this afternoon but it has been seven days of zodiacs .  I can skip one more little float about. And tomorrow is a very long day of touring inland so taking the afternoon off.

We are at Koolama Bay. And took a trip up the river to King George Falls. I have been training for the hike to the top of the falls by taking the stairs on the ship. And you can longer hike up there. Darn it. 😉 so could only appreciate the 260ft falls from down below.