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The Changi Chat

...and so i find myself in the conundrum of having started writing a travel blog and then using up all my travel leave in one go. I'm used to exaggerating my daily life into would-be-exciting-if-not-so-mundane exerpts about multiple gym classes, topical and celebrity news, outfits that resemble david bowie, and everday annoyances like traffic and burnt toast.  These fit conveniently into the constraints of a few hundred characters allowable on facebook and less often on twitter-as 140 characters renders me into a paralytic state of writers block. While readers are probably left wondering WTF at the abbreviated shorthand ridiculousness...I like to think these teasers leave the reader wanting more. However something tells me i'm not quite ready to broach an essays worth blog length entry about the perils of internet shopping....in case that isn't, well, the case. So in the meantime, what to do in such a predicament if i am to keep my loyal follower(s) (anonymous though you others may be mum and dad) until my next big adventure?! I have decided to dig deep into the archives and publish some of my earliest (at times cringe-worthy, but good for nostaligc value) work- travel stories from a journey though central europe, morocco and Canada back in the winter of 2006/2007.  It all started with a story/email/random stream of consciousness if you would have it called "the changi chat". don't worry- i think it gets better. or at least more interesting than an airport?! ok here goes.


"just a quick message on my 6 minutes of free internet time at changi-singapore airport. Not usually pushed creatively with such strict deadlines so i apologise if my literary skills are a little lacklustre (just a bit of alliteration to get the ball rolling...2 minutes down). Well, running on no sleep for about 36 hours. Packing 30 kilos of luggage takes up most of the night as i found out. Endured a 6 hour flight where i drifted in and out of consciousness listening to music but without the mental stamina to sustain watching a movie.

The sign on the screen "thankyou for smoking" was initilly confusing until i realised it was the movie guide and not a warped safety instruction.  Had a row of seats and TV set to myself on the plane and then an overdue epipthany(?!) just prior to landing that i could have lay across the seats to sleep, save awkwardly curling up in the corner and causing a wry neck (too embarrassed to blow up cheap pillow- won't be so self consicious next time)

Plane er plain "singapore noodles" served for dinner, washed down with a Tim Tam and some OJ- because i thought it was breakfast time 6.30am not pm(?!) perhaps the first of a couple of cultural experiences, or at least what can be contained to within the airport... 6 hours to kill.. Singapore Burger King?..About to find out about the shuttle to town. The sign doesn't appear to be in English however, and i havent thought any further than that!

More soon.

ok now.

internet crashed, so resending. In the meantime have investigated and not gone on the shuttle to town (poor timing, lack of time etc.) Wandered around aimlessley for a while (peeling off thermal layers of clothing ) and wandered much further than warranted the enjoyment of the Bamboo garden, Orchid garden and Rooftop sunflower garden- thankyou for smoking, indeed!! I think there is one more garden on my list.  Eagerly anticipated the free movie cinema and then grappled with the disappointment of missing the first 20 minutes of an old-school not-quite hitchcock thriller. Been much too overwhelmed with the choices of instant coffee opting to now go and spend my converted currency on a neck and shoulder massage prior to negotiating my way into the qantas club... at least thats the plan (After being forced to cross the Skyview 'private' lounge off my list)

until next time"
xoxo

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