London            30/8/2010

Spent three days in London and it is as exciting as always. Had a lovely day at Kew Gardens. Other days, walked and walked and saw lots of interesting sites including the Wellcome Medical Collection, The Bank of England Museum, the Old Operating Theatre Museum at St Thomas Church and Charles Dicken's House Museum. Also saw an amazing play at the West End called War Horse with magnificent, life-sized puppets as the horses.

The Palm House, Kew Gardens

The Butterfly House, Kew gardens.

Dicken's House Museum.

Love the shoe!

Devon/Dorset    20/8/2010-27/8/2010

We had a great week staying with Jenny and David in a lovely converted barn near the Devon/Dorset coast.


We visited lots of picturesque villages and enjoyed seaside activities including a tram ride. This is Thomas Hardy country, so we visited his house etc.


Typical English weather - brollys up/brollys down/jumpers on/jumpers off.                                        

The Cobb at Lyme Regis, as featured in Persuasion and The French Lieutenant's Wife. 

Abbotsbury

Seaton Tramway

Outside our house with Jenny and David.

                                Salisbury                                             20/8/2010
After an uneventful flight to London, we headed to Salisbury for two days. A lovely city, lots of history, quaint town centre, fabulous cathedral and close. The world's oldest working clock is inside the Cathedral. Plenty of drizzle - typical English summer weather. A wonderful apartment.

Salisbury Cathedral

Street scene.

                                                          Singapore    17/8/2010

Went to Sentosa Island and spent the afternoon at Universal Studios. Lots of fun - a feast for the eyes. Small compared to Los Angeles but cheaper and less crowded. Everything very loud, just like LA.

Water World at Universal Studio

Bill enjoys Ancient Egypt

Gorgeous view of the lights of Singapore and the laser show from our pool deck.










Food wise, found a fabulous steamboat restaurant and also tried Singapore chili crab-delicious. Also went to an Indian vegetarian restaurant as recommended by Alexander.  Great food and very cheap.

2010 trip to Europe

Singapore           16/8/2010

             East Coast Park

The first bike ride for trip was along the East Coast Park Singapore - tropical gardens and the ocean along most of one side. There was a lovely breeze when riding, but stopping for long periods is not advised - it gets so hot.

Part of this path is along the beach and some goes through beautiful tropical gardens.

This is our fabulous 'on the top of the world'  hotel pool, over looking Raffles Hotel. For some reason they upgraded us to a luxury suite, so we are really living it up here.

Oamaru

We stopped at this unique harbour town on the way back to Christchurch.  It has masses of impressive Victorian and Edwardian architecture built in creamy local limestone.  There are lots of art and crafty type stores and a lot of people dressing up in historical costumes.  

Oamaru is a harbour town on the Pacific Ocean.

Bikes are everywhere.

A decorated car.

Warehouses at the harbour.

A carriage.

Another bike.

  

A penny farthing.

Impressive buildings.

The Town Hall

A bank.

This guy is having fun!


After visiting Oamaru we went on for another night in Christchurch and flew home the next day.

Dunedin

View our apartment.

Walking up Baldwin St, the world's steepest street. 

The Otago Peninsula.

The happy Hens, a great place for souvenirs.   

Royal Albatross Centre.

New Zealand flora

Over looking a beach with a frolicking seal.

Here he is!