Singapore to Brisbane

Last day of holidays! We had no plans for today, despite obtaining a 4pm check out (9.30pm flight). You can usually secure a checkout late into the evening by paying 50% of the room rate extra, and we often do this when taking a late flight home. Some hotels are well set up for minding bags and have excellent change facilities attached to the pool or gym, and some are not. Our hotel has really limited facilities, so we opted for the latest free checkout time that we could arrange.

A late morning start saw us set off for some last minute shopping in the local area. In the marina area there are 3 shopping centres all linked together, with almost every shop that we like. I finally found my favourite massage centre, Kenko, and had a 20 minute shoulder massage. It sounds like such a short time, but these people really know how to make a difference.

We met up at the hotel pool for a last swim and a set of satays - the best that we've had this trip! We've really been blessed with excellent weather this trip, with only one huge rain storm in two weeks. I like the Singapore rain, but it makes getting around easier when it's not wet.

Bags packed and closed successfully (phew!), we hailed a cab (SGD20, including a tip for getting all the bags in) to Terminal 1 at Changi. We checked in without drama - I thought we'd have to pay excess baggage, but we were lucky - and passed through immigration to the Qantas Club. The Singapore club is huge and serves french champagne - always a great way to finish our holidays. We're both very happy that everything went smoothly and that neither of us fell ill (a big risk in Asia, but one I'm always prepared to take). Now it's all about checking out the duty free at Changi, of which there are literally kilometers, and relaxing in the lounge until our flight home.

I love travelling through Asia. I have done ever since my Mother brought us here in 1980. There's something particularly humbling about the way the asian people live their lives. I love the people, the food, shopping, the ever-encroaching jungle and the heat and rain. I was born in Malaysia and I think that even at such a young age, it still registered as 'home'.

Thank you for reading, and no doubt there will be plenty of travel notes to come. I have three more trips in the planning stages for this year! To my dear Step-Daughters - I hope that you've enjoyed keeping up with us this way. I know that you would have loved to have been every step with us, and we would have liked that, too. Sadly someone has to do the study! And yes, Nik, thanks for the hat!