Xmas and New Year in Singapore Part 4: After Special K left us, Timbo slowly but surely went down with a cold. Is this love sickness?

Before I start this blog, I must apologise for getting so far behind. As you will read, Timbo was very poorly and had the lurgi for quite a while. Although it took the lustre off this part of the trip, nevertheless we have had a wonderful time together. I cannot help but wonder how other humans cope when they do not have a Barli to look after them.

Tuesday 27 December 2016

Today was an official lazy day, after breakfast we made our way to the pool and my pavilion. I took possession again of my pavilion. Hooray!

We lay outside and snoozed. I even gave Timbo a couple of cuddles. The ignorant ordinary humans did not notice, of course. Part way through the afternoon it started to rain and everybody ran away. Timbo with his usual sang froid (he alleges he had it before I came to look after him, and I do not think he would tell huge fibs to me) said "We can wait a little for the rain to ease off a bit and then make our move." He is a wise Timbo.

So we sat in the pavilion as the rain came down and we waited a little while and the rain did ease off. Timbo is clever at working out the rain in Singapore. We walked over to the covered walkway and took our towels with us. Plenty of the other humans did not take their towels. I have this theory that perhaps they are not used to the sun, so they are no longer strong enough to carry the towels back after they have used them, because the sun has sucked so much energy out of them.

But Timbo was not feeling 100%. He got more unwell each day. It all started with a slight sore throat. Slowly but surely it slipped down and onto his chest. From there it progressed back up and into his nose and he sounded terrible and got even worse as each day went by. He even told Special K if he would rather not get close while he had the lurgi, but said he did not mind. But Special K likes Timbo so much he wanted to be with him. He is a really special chum. That is why we call him Special K. 


Wednesday 28 December 2016

We tried to do something but it was not successful, but we walked from the Aljunied MRT station to the next station, Payar Lebar. It is not anywhere tourists would find interesting, but Timbo being Timbo liked seeing the ordinariness of the buildings. He told me it is one of those small village areas you find in cities that get overlooked and are not heavily developed and have a charm of their own.

We tried booking our coach seats but kept having problems. Eventually it got sorted out. Phew. That was a relief. 

  
Thursday 29 December 2016

In the morning Timbo took his time. I am so glad I did not get his cold, it seems to have knocked him sideways. In the afternoon we sat down by the waterfall feature at the hotel. Timbo was able to snooze there but also take advantage of being in the open. He did not want to sit by the pool as it was too noisy and he could not face the sun as he was feeling so poorly.

We had a room service dinner as poor Timbo felt so bad. It was fish and chips with extra chips as Timbo was determined to feed his cold followed by some ice cream, because everybody knows ice cream has magic powers to restore the infirm. 


Friday 30 December 2016

Much the same. Poor Timbo. I have never seen him this bad, and he told me he used to get it worse when he was a stupid grown up who smoked cigarettes. Ugh! I hate them. I do not like the smell and it gets trapped in my fur.

Special K came to join us Friday evening. That was our last meal in the lovely Real Food in Killiney Road. They will open a new branch in Orchard Road not far away, and easier to stay dry to get there as it is linked by malls to Somerset MRT. 

I thought the sky looked nice as we stepped outside the hotel.

Saturday 31 December 2016

Saturday we did not do a lot. We went pharmacy shopping for Timbo and his cold. We have done a lot of pharmacy shopping, so much so he is going to as many different branches of Watsons or Guardian in case they think he is secretly addicted to expectorant or cold medicine capsules.

We were really stumped where to go for dinner. Eventually Special K had a genius suggestion (he really is a clever person, another reason why he is special) and we went to a Spanish restaurant. We, well Timbo, ordered various tapas. Had we known how very full of potato the tortilla was we would not have ordered both it and the patatas bravas. Timbo still thinks the best patatas bravas he has ever had were in a restaurant in Playa del Ingles in Gran Canaria. We went back feeling good after our dinner and quietly saw in the arrival of 2017. No fireworks, no crowds, just happy closeness with my two best friends. What more can a Bärli ask for?


Sunday 1 January 2017

Happy New Year! We woke up late New Year's Day and went out for breakfast. Special K suggested one of two places which might satisfy Timbo and his craving for Eggs Benedict which he was continuously going on about. He told Special K the best ever was made by Laing. The hollandaise sauce had just the right level of vinegariness. The second best was in Café Laville, just above where the Regent’s Canal comes out of a long tunnel and into Little Venice. This is the third best, but a very close third according to Timbo. High praise indeed. I know Timbo likes nice things to be special.

Afterwards, Timbo wanted a walk so we took the MRT to the Botanic Gardens stop, which is the furthest point from the hotel. We went into the rain forest section. Timbo loves it there. He feels calm and relaxed. While we were walking about Timbo told Special K a little bit about Kew Gardens, a place that is very special for Timbo.

Underneath the Spreading Bamboo Clump

One of the trees in the Rain Forest section.

One of the many interesting sculptures in the Botanic Gardens.
This is called 'Nurturing', by Vanessa Marston.

We took the bus back. The Thai Embassy was being demolished it seemed (we found out later it was already remodelled and the older buildings were being pulled down. 

While we were walking to lunch Timbo was looking at the plants and we saw a sexual act in broad daylight. It was shocking to this in Singapore's famous Orchard Road.
 

1 of 2
A flagrant act of copulation in Orchard Road.

2 of 2
A flagrant act of copulation in Orchard Road.

We had a late lunch nearby, tcc at International Building in Orchard Road. Then it was time to go back to the hotel for a last goodbye for the weekend as Special K had to work on the public holiday. His employers are rotters.

Dinner was room service. I graciously permitted Timbo to share. You can see from the crumpled pillow in the background of the photo below that poor, poorly Timbo had another snooze.

Room service dinner was very filling.
Crab cakes, club sandwich and fries.
Yummy.

Monday 2 January 2017

Monday Timbo spent packing in preparation to go to Malacca/Melaka. Then a rest by the waterfall again.

We had dinner with Special K. We tried a place that looked OK selling cheap food, supposedly Hong Kong style. Timbo did not like it at all. It rather killed his appetite. It did not do much for mine either. We then went and bought some fruit for breakfast in the morning and some nibbles for the coach in case Timbo got really hungry, then an ice cream from the 7-11 in Lucky Plaza (Timbo calls it Yucky Plaza, you might easily guess why) as dessert and Timbo noshed it up with pleasure.

As we were returning to the hotel Timbo took photos of the windows flanking the Orchard entrance to Tang's department store. Now Xmas and New Year are over, it is time to get ready for Chinese New Year. Both Timbo and Special K thought the windows were beautifully done, very simple, but effective.

The right hand side of Tang's 2017 CNY display

The left hand side of Tang's 2017 CNY display

The  left hand side of Tang's 2017 CNY display
from a different angle

Back to the hotel. The final, final, farewell.

Bye-bye Singapore. I love you a lot still and want to see you again. Next time I hope Timbo is better and we can do all the things we wanted to but could not.

Xmas and New Year in Singapore. Part 3 -. The Long Xmas Weekend. Boxing Day.

In Singapore they do not have Boxing Day. Their holidays are different to the ones in the UK. The best thing you can do is to read Wikipedia for information on them to get some understanding.

We woke up and had a PatandTony each, and Timbo had brought us an Appenzeller Bärli-Biber each. Mine was yummy. Sadly, Special K did not like his. He is new to being an honorary Bärli. Give him time and he will come round, I am sure he will.

Somebody has to protect the PatandTonys
and the Appenzeller Bärli-Biber

We had a nice walk along Orchard and made our way to Fort Canning. It is a curious and interesting place which I would like to explore more, but fewer steps next time. It is very high up for me with my short legs.

We at last reached the upper level and strolled around looking at the buildings, remnants of fortifications, and outdoor artworks, some of which were strange to me. Then we slowly made our way down to where the outdoor escalators are. On the way we saw a strange gazebo on its own, and further on down a small graveyard.

This art was much easier for me to cope with

This is either a fortification,
a peculiar public loo,
or a Tardis gone wrong.

The strange gazebo, complete with rubbish left behind by somebody.

Some other people enjoying Fort Canning

The little graveyard ...

... in spooky black and white!

After this we strolled to the former City Hall and the former Supreme Court of Singapore which are now an art gallery. As today was a public holiday we could all get in free, even Timbo. Here we saw the confident buildings, erected in the sure knowledge of the security of the Empire. There is a plaque that informs you the Supreme Court building was started in 1937 and completed in 1939. Timbo commented on the irony.

While walking around Timbo discovered a new artist he got very excited about, Wu Guangzhong. He had never heard of this artist before but what we saw made Timbo very excited and happy. He stood for ages (oh, my poor hind paws) staring at a picture of paddy fields. I think it was rather good too.

Then we had a really fab part. I give you the blurb about what we saw in the old City Council Chamber.

AFFINITY

ARTISTS: S1T2 and amigo&amigo
MEDIUM: Project Mapping

This interactive work explores the connectivity of people through time and space. Affinity represents the  intricate web of relationships we share with each other. It is  tribute to the connection every guest has with the room and those inside it.

This large-scale installation comes to life as you explore it. Activated by touch, a visual spectrum of light and sound emanates from each orb - from a vibrant multidimensional palette to an angelic white canvas.

With over 100 points of interaction, this artwork invites visitors to collaborate in creating an immersive experience. By working together they can control the way Affinity ebbs and flows.

S1T2 stand for Story 1st, Technology 2nd. It is a creative technology agency that believes technology can enrich the way stories are told. Its goal is to tell an engaging story, showcase innovative technology and create experiences that inspire.

amigo&amigo is an industrial design company best known for immersive light installation works that engage audiences and transform public spaces. It is passionate about pushing boundaries and creating artworks that are fearlessly experimental. Its light interactive works have been featured in Sydney’s Vivid Light Festival for three consecutive year.
Special K changed the lights while Timbo took some photos of me in front of them. He also touched the metal discs on the spheres and changed colours. Both he and Special K were like young kids. Timbo even used his chin as well as his hands to apply pressure to change the colours. It was fun!

Timbo made this standard triptych without any help from me.
He is rather clever sometimes.

A special stacked triptych.

Soon it was getting close for time to part again. We had lunch at the Muji café in Raffles City, and then back to the hotel where we said good-bye properly and the day was over. Special K went back home, we went back to the hotel and snoozed. It has been a very exhausting weekend for me.

I will continue as soon as possible to update you all on the rest of the holiday. For now, lots of Bärli hugs and best wishes to you all for 2017. I hope this will be a super 5 Paw © year (I am developing the Paw Marking System © for the future).

The sign of excellence, a Five Paw Award.
If you are really bad you get a no paw marking. Best avoided!

Xmas and New Year in Singapore. Part 1. Getting there.

Even though I have been on my travels a little while, I have not been blogging so far. I realise from my previous early blogs I have been making life very hard for Timbo, so I think it is fair both he and I should have a little break.

On Wednesday 21st December Timbo finally got round to delivering the chocolates he bought in Zürich to our lovely neighbours. It took me a lot of nagging to get him to do that, I can tell you. Once they were safely delivered we made our way to the airport. Although the flight we were on was at the same time of day as before, when we went on our trip to Venice, there were not as many people in the airport, and this time no shouty people in security which made Timbo much happier.

We got to Zurich and unpacked a little. Timbo decided he wanted to treat me to the new First Class lounge so we went and upgraded the flight to Singapore. Timbo had vouchers to allow him to do this. I am so lucky to have such a caring grown up.

We then went to meet lovely Heidi at Tibits in Winterthur as she was not feeling well. We had a good meal and chat, but I let Timbo do most of the talking, which is not that difficult, to be honest. We got back and Timbo looked in at the Orrell Füssli bookshop at the airport and bought a short Wallander story by Henning Mankel.

On Thursday morning, Timbo took advantage of the free wifi to upload stuff to the cloud. He is getting quite good at it. We are both learning about the cloud and stuff like that at the same time. You may be surprised to know that even though I am an amazing Bärli I do not yet know everything. I am still very young.

He finished packing and we checked out. He then spent about an hour texting while I was left twiddling my claws. We popped into a couple of shops in Zurich, Ganz Photo in Timbo's favourite street in Zurich and Musik Hug, where Timbo bought some printed music. We met Heidi for coffee at the Hotel Central Plaza, then back to pick up the luggage, check in at the special First Class check in and go to the new First Class Lounge.

Before we got to the lounge, Timbo was asked to show the security people in Zurich what he had in one bag. He has two special cameras with him this time and he has brought two lenses for each of them. One of them is going to be mine when I am more expert, and I am already getting much better. The security people were very nice to him. Timbo says they are some of the best people and always friendly. After the trauma was over, he bought some chocolate as therapy from the Sprüngli shop. Lovely special chocolates for us to share with Special K. Chocolate is a therapy for sharing.

We then went to the First Class lounge. Now, if you ask the people very nicely in the Terminal A First Class lounge they will drive you over to the long haul terminal. Which Timbo did. We were taken down in the lift and a man checked Timbo's passport. This is an exclusive special place for First Class passengers, but I think it is also used for people with very short connection times, as sometimes planes do not arrive on time for different reasons. It is very good that us First Class passengers share our special area for these people wth special needs.

Inside my First Class Ride across the Airport

Outside my First Class Ride across the Airport

I cannot begin to tell you how utterly fabulous this new lounge is. The best I can do is to provide you with a hyper link to a website where a lucky person gets to review loads of things about flying in the best comfort possible, the lucky devil. Timbo has left a comment and mentioned me. Not sure I like that. I am a shy young Bärli, after all.

 

Me and my champagne (1)

Me and my champagne (2)
I can hold my drink, you know.

I  decided we needed to relax and take things slowly. We ordered some food, and a glass of pink champagne to go with it. Timbo was rather rude about me on Facebook. I hope you will all tell him off for being so bad to me.

The Goose (1)

The Goose (1)

The crème brûlée (1)

The crème brûlée (2)

In next to no time the three or so hours we were there had sped by and it was time to board the plane, this time it was one of the old A340-300 planes. As I have already blogged about how wonderful it is in Swiss First Class, I will not do it again. All I will say is the man who looked after us is from Winterthur, and Timbo asked the lady who worked with him if he could have a few of the special Swiss Xmas chocolates for Special K. As we were in First Class we get posh Sprüngli chocolates, not the usual ones, which are delicious, which is why he had to make this special request.

Timbo was most surprised and delighted when, instead of a small loose Bärli pawful, he was given a nicely packaged human fistful of chocolates. Thank you, Swiss. You have made a little extra magic happen again at 35,000 feet above the earth.

Special K's Surprise

Our plane docked at around 18.20. It was not too far from the passport control so we passed through quickly. Unfortunately the number of big planes arriving at the same time and the volume of passengers meant the luggage took longer than usual to arrive on the carousel. I think Changi airport wanted to prove that they are only human after all and can have hiccoughs in the otherwise normal smooth operation Timbo has experienced.

Special K was not able to meet us so we made our way to the hotel. He came to join us later but he was caught up in a heavy downpour. At this time of year when it rains it does not last long but it falls heavily. We went out to collect him as we had an umbrella. We said hello and hugged each other. Special K was very happy to see me I could tell, so I gave him an extra special as humungously big a Bärli hug I could manage. He and Timbo chatted about things and smiled and hugged and I joined in for more hugs. In fact, there were so many hugs we were all squashing each other.

We went out for a while once it had stopped raining heavily. Timbo bought some little inessential supplies from Muji in the Paragon Mall. Soon it was time to say goodnight to Special K and he went home and we all went to bed tired and happy. It is lovely to see bestest friends again.

My First Ever Diary Entry. A First Class Bear Gets A Special First Class treat.

When you are a bear and you have found your human, the only human that was meant for you to look after, you soon find out if looks can be deceiving.

Timbo said he fell in love with me from among all the other bears at first sight. Ha! He does not know bears like he thinks he does.

Well, after we went from Penang to Singapore and stayed there a few days, I met Timbo’s specialest friend. He has got a nice nick name. Timbo calls him Special K, because he is a very special person.

Special K has a lovely smile. I thought it was the cutest smile I have ever seen since I arrived in the shop at the lovely E&O. Believe me, I have seen lots of smiles in the shop.

When it came time for us to go to cold, chilly, nippy, London I wanted to be tucked in Timbo’s bag to go to the airport.

I am excited, what does cold mean? What does chilly mean? Why does nippy mean? I think it is not going to be as lovely and as warm like Penang or Singapore, but I think it could be fun. I know I will like it, because I will be with Timbo, looking after him.

Apparently you have to check in to get on a plane. You cannot just walk up and get on one. First you have to give your luggage to somebody who sends it off to who knows where?

While we were doing this, Timbo and the lady were talking about miles and redeeming them. The lady gave Timbo a number and he said it was wrong and too much. Timbo was right. I am learning Timbo knows some special things and makes sure he knows about them. I think he can be a clever Timbo, for a human. He is not a bear, so he cannot be that clever.

Next, after you give away your bags with your belongings,  there are all kinds of people who have noisy machines in their hands that stamp a small book of Timbo’s.

He said everybody has one these when they travel the world. They are called passports. I asked Timbo why I did not have one. Apparently, because I am a bear, I have special privileges which mean I do not need a passport book. Sometimes, I feel I would like to be a tiny bit less special and have those books. Timbo says they tell stories of places he has been to.

After that there are loads and loads of bright, shiny, shops, and they sell all kinds of things. Timbo went around and said there was not much and he then used magic spells like “exchange rate” and “Brexit” and “those blithering idiots” to make the desire to spend money go away. They worked very well. Timbo must be a powerful wizard to make himself not spend money, because everybody in the hotel shop always spent a lot of money.

We next went to the lounge. This is yet another special place for certain special people. There are different kinds of special people and they all have different special places. Timbo said he was not that special, well, not yet. I asked him when he would be. He smiled and said to me, “Wait until we get to the gate”. Then he crossed his fingers. I crossed my claws too. They are magic claws. Only a bear’s special human can see them. Timbo’s smile grew bigger when he saw me do that.

After he had been doing lots of finger tapping on his phone, and lots of smiling, writing nice things to his friend Special K, he said it was time to go to the gate. We went past all the bright, shiny, shops again. I am learning humans do things like this, to make sure the magic spells are still working.

Next we get to the gate. Timbo had to take all sorts of things out the bag (I stayed hidden), and then we all disappeared inside a big box that made me feel funny. Timbo says they use Ex Rays to see what is there. These Ex Rays could not see me. I must be an even more magical bear than I thought.

We came out the other side, and Timbo had to pack the bag back up again. It is unfair to Timbo, because he packed it very well in the first place. I know that because I had loads of space to snuggle up in.

The people looked at his ticket. This made it the fourth time somebody had looked at his ticket. Humans cannot trust each other very much to read the same information. After a few minutes when we had been in this new lounge (but I thought we were at the gate) Timbo’s proper posh name was called out. He went to the man and the lady who after all that checking of the ticket only took it away and gave him another one. Timbo said with a happy smile “2K”. This was the magickest magic spell so far.

After a little while longer, the man asked Timbo and three other people to join him. Nobody else. We went along a special tunnel which then became two tunnels. A lovely lady was guarding our tunnel. I knew it had to be an even more special tunnel.

When we go to the end of this tunnel a beautiful smiling lady said what Timbo told me later was “Grüezi”, a Swiss word to welcome you. I was a word that you have to say back but Timbo using his knowledge of magic said “Grüezi wohl” which makes the lady feel even happier, he said.

Cor! Wow! Golly! Blimey! What a big room! And only eight huge, massive, humungous, big seats for all five of us! There was a funny little seat opposite each big seat. Timbo tucked me in the one he had and put the safety belt round me so I would be ready for when we left. He did not want the lady to tell him off for not looking after me properly. When she came to check Timbo was a good boy, She was very pleased he was looking after me properly.

All buckled in properly.

The photo Timbo took of me with the special bag of goodies and slippers he was given.
Please note, nothing bear sized was provided.

The lady also gave Timbo pyjamas which he is allowed to keep (Swiss do not have bear sized pyjamas, I think that is very wrong). Timbo says he does not wear or like pyjamas very much, but these pyjamas he has from Swiss are the best and most comfortable he has ever had. He said they are featherlight and then sniggered. That word must a funny word, though I do not know why. I think Timbo might be a little naughty.

We had loads of gorgeous scrummy things to eat. I was not as hungry as Timbo, so I only had a little bit of a starter of lovely salmon. Timbo also had the green split pea soup that he said was "Super Suppe" to the lady. That was Timbo making a joke I found out because the words sort of sound a little bit alike.

Timbo's Salmon Thingy

My Sensible Sized Salmon Thingy

The Super Suppe. Haha!!

Then it was time for bed. The nice lady made up a bed for us. When it was all done I crept under the duvet and it was really lovely.

In bed waiting for Timbo.

Cor, what a big bed!

And there are special nibbles by the bed for me!!!

Then Timbo came back with his featherlight jim-jams, as he called them, then he sniggered again. He got under the duvet and we slept long hours. But before we went to sleep, the nice Julia lady gave Timbo something that made him gasp and he said “Oo@! I love these!” It is a traditional gingerbread from Apenzell, part of Switzerland. He had one. I had a nibble too. I can understand why Timbo loves them.

They have a name that has extra meaning for me. They are called Appenzeller Bärli-Biberli. These are small version of the Appenzeller Bärli-Biber. Putting -li at the end of Biber makes it mean it is a small thing. I asked “So what is a Bärli, Timbo?” He smiled at me again and said “You are a Bärli, Iain.” Gosh.

On this special new plane, there is so much lovely specialness for me, there are slidey parts that make it like a tiny, tiny bedroom. The slidey bits are about as high as Timbo’s chest and he said he likes the tiny, tiny bedroom not being all locked away.

When we woke up we stayed under our cuddly duvet a bit longer. It was soon going to be breakfast and the lady took the bed away and pulled out the table and gave us a lovely breakfast with crêpes, they are very posh pancakes says Timbo, with bananas and yummy sauces. Then it was soon time for Timbo to get dressed properly, while he was away, that nice lady Julia brought me a nice big bag of Appenzeller Bärli-Biberli, all tied up with a lovely SWISS ribbon. She must like Bärlis. I like her.

Me and my nice big bag of Appenzeller Bärli-Biberlis

When Timbo got back he had to pack everything up into his bag. I have a private photo of me with Annamarie and Julia, and also with the lovely Sara Dibenedetto, who was the kind and caring Maître de Cabine who was also a friend to me, but she was busy looking after everybody on the plane, so I did not get a chance to know her better.

We landed in Zurich which the Swiss spell Zürich. It is also the name of the Canton, which is like a small country inside the bigger country of Switzerland. That is a bit like my old home in Penang, because Penang belongs inside Malaysia. We had a nice relaxing wait before we went on to London, but it was not as special or exciting a journey, because they do not do nice First Class with big beds to London.

You know, I could not have chosen a nicer human than Timbo. He showed me there are many nice humans in the world, they are almost as nice as bears, or even Bärlis. I think I prefer to be a Bärli.