Postcard from the Far East - December-January 2011-12

On Saturday 17 December I left home at 7am and had a good flight to Chennai, but once there I had an eleven-hour wait for my connection to Colombo. However there were no problems with the onward flight and I duly arrived in Colombo at 2pm. After a few hiccups with my car I eventually set off for Kandy and arrived around 5.30pm [midday on Sunday for me!] in the pouring rain. A very long journey!

I was moved to the Topaz Hotel from the Tourmaline, where I should have been staying, but that was no problem – it is in the same complex and was a more active place. My room was comfortable enough and the food in the hotel was really quite good. The only problem was the weather! Very grey and wet! But I wasn’t too worried – I relaxed in my room and I managed a swim in between the showers on day one and day three. One evening I went along to a cultural show and then to visit the magnificent Temple of the Tooth.

On Saturday 24th the sun shone, albeit rather weakly, but sadly I had an email problem – someone had hacked into my email address book and spammed everyone. I had hundreds of replies coming in. So I had to take fast action, which took me some time. However I did get to the sun for a little while later that day. Christmas Eve was a lovely day but dinner was very strange. Unbeknown to me it was to be held at the sister hotel, Tourmaline, down the road. I turned up at my usual restaurant and they were happy to serve me a delicious dinner, but hardly anyone else there. Christmas Day was quite sunny so I spent it by the pool, but dinner was even stranger – no alcohol at all a religious day! So back to my room for a nightcap! On Boxing Day I took a trip to Nurwala Eliya [N’eliya] which was a wonderful drive into the mountains through the tea plantations. I took myself for a walk around N’elyia once there before my driver drove me back.

On Wednesday 28^th I was picked up at 8.30am and we headed for Pinnawela Elephant Orphanage where I spent two hours with these wonderful creatures – watched them having a bath and feeding. We then set off for a three hour journey to Colombo where I installed myself into the lovely Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel. As De La Rue had made the reservation for me [they have a factory in Colombo] I got upgraded to the Executive Club floor, which is very comfortable and I was even sent a bottle of fizz to welcome me! All very nice indeed!

I then spent most of the next 12 days relaxing in the sunshine by the Cinnamon Lakeside pool. One morning on week two, I visited my old company’s factory in Sri Lanka – a good day to choose as it was a bit stormy that afternoon. I did go out on New Year’s Eve with the De La Rue General Manager and his wife and the GM did take me for a sundowner at the Galle Face on my last evening, which was fun.

In the early hours of Monday 9^th January I took the short 4 hour flight from Colombo to Singapore. Spent the day relaxing and shopping! Found quite a good tailor to make up some dress material, and a dressmaker to adjust a skirt for me as well as cobbler to mend some shoes! It rained cats and dogs on Tuesday, so except for picking up my shoes and having a dress fitting I relaxed indoors. In the evening I had a great fun dinner with my nephew, Simon, and his wife Seetha.

On Wednesday 11th I packed up in the morning and then caught the very smart ferry across to Bintan Island which took just 50 minutes. I then settled into the Angsana Resort, where I had a lovely room overlooking the beach and the pool. Weather was a bit grey that afternoon but warm. However the next day the sun came out and I spent every day for the next nine days relaxing by their pool in glorious sunshine. There were a few annoying power cuts in the evenings on the first two days, but otherwise I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this delightful resort. I did manage a massage one afternoon but otherwise I did nothing very much but relax with lots of books! This little resort is very well run and seems to get good weather. Lying by the pool I got offered papaya [not for me!] each morning and an ice cream cornet every afternoon [definitely for me!] and I always got a little Indonesian present on my pillow each evening. It is worth a visit if you are in Singapore with a few days to spare but take your own booze – drinks are astronomical!

Then on Friday 20th it was back to Singapore which was very wet on arrival. However the next day was lovely and I went to the pool in the morning. In the early afternoon nephew Simon picked me up and I went over to their home to spend the afternoon with the family. In the evening Simon, Seetha and I went out for a very nice dinner in Dempsey Road. On Sunday, Chinese New Year’s Eve, we all took a walk around China Town and after a Chinese lunch we all went on the Singapore Flyer [similar to London Eye]. This was followed by a visit to an ice cream parlour at the Marina Bay Sands, and then I went back to my hotel for an early night. Monday was another sunny day so I spent the morning by the pool and in the evening Simon and Seetha invited me to dinner at their home where we were joined by Seetha’s sister and her family. Tuesday was pack up day to catch the evening flight to Hong Kong.

On the evening of Tuesday 24th I made my way into Central Hong Kong by the Airport Express, only to find a huge queue for taxis at Central. So I walked into the streets with my luggage and fortunately found a taxi immediately – albeit a rather expensive one because of the Chinese New Year celebrations! Thankfully I was well looked after on arrival at the Grand Hyatt and had a lovely room overlooking the harbour. My first day in HK was very cold and rather wet, but I took myself by MRT back into Central to do some shopping in the Lanes, although not many places were open thanks to the New Year. The next day I took the Star Ferry across to Kowloon [free for us senior citizens!] and I walked Nathan Road for hours and hours! The following day it was back into Central to wander the Lanes again and on my last day the sun came out so I was able to relax by the pool for a few hours. Then I had an excellent overnight BA flight back to London at the end of a wonderful holiday.