Bodyflight and Singapore Slings

Thursday, Nov 1, 2012

My head is not into blogging. I want to just experience. But I know there are some folks who want to know what I'm up to so I'll try and bring you up to date.

Sylvia arrived yesterday afternoon. I got out for a long walk down to the famous Orchard Street shopping district: all the clothes I'd never want... 5 story shopping mall...people of every color! Then walking back, looking for a plastic bag to put my fanny pack in to keep things dry, I stepped into a local food court and got lunch. $4.50 for a plate of Pad Thai, can you believe...and I was the only caucasian in the place. Fun! I hustled my way back to the hotel (thank you for my wonderful sense of direction - I never get lost) and in time to greet Sylvia and Myrtle (her trike) as they unloaded from a van. Sure is fun having a friend touring with me...and I think she's feeling the same way. Lots of laughter and craziness! But first SLEEP. And since we both hadn't had much the last few days, a nap turned into a night's sleep. But not all night.

Ya, about 3 am we found ourselves wide awake, so I got the bright idea to go wandering the streets. Why not? There's a nightlife out at that hour, no traffic, and it's safe...it's Singapore! So wander we did. Eventually hunger overcame us and we had the challenge of finding a place to eat at that hour. With several suggestions from people on the street that didn't pan out, we managed to find an Asian place open that was an upscale hotpot place with hot plates built into the table to keep you hot pot simmering. We didn't try that dish though. A flock of young Asian women came in about 5am all dressed in black for Halloween:) Watching them eat these hotpt soups with a medley of ingredients to plop in them was a treat. Theywere so bubbly and spunky before the meal and somber and sluggish afterwards.

After breakfast at the hotel later that morning, Sylvia agreed to join me to go out to Sentosa Island and iFly SIngapore. I got this crazy inspriation to try flying in the world's largest wind tunnel they have there! I've always wanted to skydive but don't know if I could step out of the plane. Still don't. Didn't have to:) So me and 10 kids and 2 young adults suited up to try out our wings. We had some flight training consisting of learning how to conform your body best to stabilize: arms up, back, and bent; legs spread and bent; and chin up with back arched. When asked if I had any neck or back issues, I, ofcourse said NOPE! Not gonna miss this opportunity because of a little neck and back pain..The first kid out of the box did great and flew alone without the training holding him after he got the feel for it. The next kid was panicking and kicking - not so smooth. Keep watching. WHat's the most common error. Gotta keep legs straignt. We learned hand signals from the training so he could communicate with us because its so noisy in there: legs bent, legs straight, chin up, have fun, and I want out. When my time came, I was so nervous, partly because you're in a glass tube and everyone is watching. I didn't want to be that crazy gramma! So I cross my arms, lean into the wind, he grabs me about the waist...and I'm flying!!!! Incredible feeling. I stabilized well and he was able to let me go. Not much control but what a high!!! Round two was just as much fun! I was not willing to pay $30 for another chance, but if it were cheaper and close by I could get addicted!!! Before we did our stint in the tunnel there were teams of people doing maneuvers in there - choreographed. When we finished, our instructor did some acrobatics: fipping, hanging upside down, flying up and down the walls. He said he's a "tunnel rat"!


(Unable to post video of flight here. Will try and post it to Facebook. It's on Picasa (along with tons of photos), but I don't yet how to provide link. Oh so much to learn...:))

Back to the hotel for our afternoon nap. So hot and muggy. Might as well sleep until it cools off. That was after getting a couple of Mango Lassis over at the Indian market.

Dragging our groggy selves out of bed around 7, we found a local Indian eatery for grilled veggies and naan. The streets of Little India were alive with lights and music and people celebrating Deepavali Festival. Wild! Then we hoofed it about a mile over to Raffles, the most famous hotel in Singapore and home of the Singapore Sling. A grand hotel built with that British Colonial tropical feel. The drink was EXPENSIVE, paying for the experience! But when in SIngapore...


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Singapore day 2

Wednesday Oct 31st
Singapore

Let me first finish yesterday. While pedaling around Little India I met Christiana, a woman traveler who loved Blaze and decided that's how she needed to travel too:). We moved our conversation from the street corner to an outside table with cold drinks sharing life stories. Blaze caught the attention of a couple of Polish young men, Michael and Anthony. Shared stories and pictures. These guys are headed to Sydney, Australia to "study" - the quotes are theirs! Turns out they are staying at the same hostel as Christiana. Small world.

Found the Perak Hotel and settled in. Took a short walk around the neighborhood before taking a brief nap around 3pm. Brief! Right! Waking at 2 am! Down to the lobby for wifi and then out onto the front porch to watch the world go by. The locals use the porch during the night to gather and share drinks and conversation. One guy was detailing his car right out front! Enjoyed the smells and sounds and ambience of the middle of the night. I know why I was up from 2 - 4... But when do these guys sleep?

Never did go back to sleep. Breakfast opened at 7 and I was there shortly after. Met 2 woman travelers, Jan and Lucia who had been here a couple of days and were heading to Indonesia. Nice not to eat alone:) More great stories of traveling. Love meeting all these people who are off the couch and OUT THERE seeing this wide wonderful world!

Figured out I was confused about Sylvia's arrival time -she won't be here until early afternoon. Lets go see Singapore! I hit the streets and wander to see where my feet take me. Why didn't I bring an umbrella? The architecture is amazing! Tall funky buildings - creatively styled. Lush aromatic gardens. Memories of Hawaii are aroused. Shopping district. Too posh for this eclectic bohemian woman! But fun to wander through. 5 story mall. American shops. Same old, same old. It's an homogenized world!!!


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Singapore

Tuesday October 30, 2012
Singapore

9:30 am. Sitting in a roadside cafe eating who-knows-what stir fry and bean curd pudding that's too red, too flavored, and too sweet. Oh we'll. never know til ya try.
Exhausted! Excited! At home back on Blaze:)
The flight was long. Oh so long. One leg was 13 hours followed by another 6 hours. And I'm not a fan of flying. My body isn't meant to go that fast. Or stay sitting that long. Or to sleep sitting up. So as soon as I can get "supine" (to quote a hiker friend, EZ Duzit), I will, just to sleep. And I did that at the gate in Narita (Tokyo). Thank goodness someone thought maybe I was waiting for the Singapore flight and mentioned it to the gate agents, who woke me up! Or I'd still be sleeping in Narita. Then the same women (mother and daughter, Maria and Cata) overheard me asking a flight attendant about sleeping in the airport and what happens to the baggage. They were planning the same thing. Turns out, they were the ones to have me awakened! My heroes!! We stayed together sharing stories and sleeping in the Snooze Lounge, had breakfast, toured the Butterfly Garden, and assembled Blaze. Wonderful people, great travel stories!!! Thanks for everything. Was good not to spend the first night alone.
Got a van cab to Expo Singapore parking lot. And now am pedaling about 10 miles to the hotel. Traffic is pretty considerate and normal. Nothing unusual. And the folks stare and smile back when I say Hi. I stayed in the sidewalks for a couple of miles but that's so much slower, that I finally took to the streets. Be brave or go home:)
This city is clean and comfortable. Nothing daunting. I just have to remember to stay left:).
It's warm and humid here. Had a bit of a shower just after I got started that felt good actually.
I don't know how I'm going to stay awake until bedtime. I know that's the rule but I feel like a zombie. I think a nap is on the agenda when I check in in a couple of hours.
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Getting Ready

The countdown is 3 days and I'm beginning to spin...inside. After having everything all packed on the bike, one of my roomies came home last night to find everything all over the floor!




Just double checking...or is that quadruple checking?  Or hextuplet checking? Mentally, all day, every day, I'm checking. And it's exhausting! Friends keep reminding me that they have stores over there too:))
So this morning's exercise is to test uploading blog posts with my new iPad. With pictures and a short video. Nothing exciting. Just something to test. And the video is rather soothing, I think. And right now I need soothing.

And this post will test using Google Groups to distribute the email. Some of you may need to check your spam folders. Your notification that you were added to Google Groups may be in there as well as this blog post. I can only control so much!

Location:Home in New York

The Next Adventure

Saturday, October 13, 2012
Fairport NY

My motto, if someone asks me to join them on an adventure, is to say Yes unless I have an absolute reason to say No. So when Sylvia Halpern (www.myrtletheturtle.me) asked me to join her biking SE Asia for 7 months, I said "But I just got off the plane from Europe! I need time at home before I can decide." And she patiently waited while I adjusted to being home, went backpacking in Maine, vascillated every day thinking about going, and got bored not traveling... and said YES! Let's go! It was a torturous decision, but I want no regrets in this life (well, only a few) and I had nothing to do this winter and I would have been reading her blog wishing I was with her. So I booked my flight to Singapore. Sylvia already had her flight and a guesthouse lined up. When I went to book (using those great frequent flier miles), I had to arrive about 31 hours ahead of her...at 12:20 in the morning. Being cheap, and thinking the middle of the night is not a good time to check in, I'm planning on crashing on the airport floor til morning. (I've actually slept in the Singapore airport before, so I know my way around:))

So the plan is to trike - ya, we both ride trikes, how cool is that? - from Singapore to Beijing, through Malaysia, Thsiland, and across China. 4000 miles. 7 months. Yup, somebody who likes to go as slow as I do! I'm doing it! I'm biking around the world - just in stages. It's gonna be such a blast! Two blonde ladies on trikes pedaling along into little Asian villages. Can't you just see us?!

Here is a rough map of the route we will be taking.  I haven't a clue how we'll actually cross China other than enter up the Mekong River by "ferry".  We're flexible and will make decisions as we go along.  Nothing's written in stone:)

Two weeks left to get ready, store the car, prepare the house for winter, enjoy these autumn days, and fret over "what am I forgetting to think about?" My mind is exhausted from thinking, worrying, concentrating, exploring, and processing.

Some exciting new things on this trip: using an iPad to journal and process photos and videos while on the road, downloading library books (both evokes and audiobooks) on the road, staying indoors every night -no tent, and traveling with another trike, and biking through third world countries. I'm glad I'm going with Brave Sylvia:) !

So that's what's going on right now. Next update will be from Singapore!

Keep on pedaling,

BagLady


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Location:Fairport, New York

Departure Day

Wednesday July 25th



I'm leaving for home with mixed emotions. I had to book my flight a couple of weeks ahead and my mood then was different than my mood now. But finding an airport to fly out of was not easy seeing as how I was using frequent flyer miles at the economy level. So I didn't really have the flexibility I thought I would. And thinking about going to another new country with all the adjustments to language and culture yet again is exhausting. And I know that much of it will also be the same as the last 5 countries, too. So I think everything is unfolding perfectly:)


Spending a few days with Heike was relaxing and wonderfully easy as usual. She has become such a dear friend. And she was such an amazing help with getting my boxes for me and helping understand that my worry was normal.

But everything went amazingly well at the airport. They accepted my dimensions for Blaze's box. And they never weighed either one. All that worry for naught.

So a quick shopping trip through the airport to use up the few euros left and I'm on my way for a very long day to the open and welcoming arms of dear friends back home:)))

So what have I learned? Wild camping is less accepted in Europe though not impossible. I like some time alone AND I like companionship. I make friends easily and wherever I go. It's just so much harder with a language barrier. I like to talk. Surprise. Surprise. I continue to do something while the enjoyment outweighs the hardships, but when that shifts it's time to change plans. I can and did handle everything that came my way: the abrupt departure of my traveling companion, rain day after day, being asked to break camp and move at night in the rain, trying to get info even when there's no common language, finding out where I was or how to get found when misplaced using mutiple maps and map app, building a new box in 6 hours with a toy box cutter, heavy cardboard and only 2 bike boxes. And I'm sure there's things I handled and have forgotten. there never was a plan for this voyage, only many options: bike Europe with Fuat for 4 months, break away after a while and bike some of Europe solo, go on to Australia and New Zealand if I felt like it. Options. Go with the flow. See where the current takes me. And that's what I did.



Going home with a smile on my face:

5 countries
8 weeks
40 inches of rain (my estimate:))
1500 miles (2500 kms)
Many, many new friends!!!

Whew!!!

BagLady


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Hamburg Tour

Tuesday July 24th
Hamburg, Germany



Heike suggested I go into Hamburg for the day. It isn't a city I've ever thought much about. But that changed after yesterday.

First excitement: taking the train. I'm not a pro at this so Heike did the research to find the trains and stations I needed. But I didn't take good notes. Going in I was on the right train, but didn't know which stop to get off at. I had the name for the end of the line. Looking at my map, I realized I missed the right stop by one. Good mistake. Got off at the central station. Classical music playing:) Delightful! But where exactly am I and how do I find the Rathaus Markt? Too big a city. Couldn't find the right streets on my map app. Ok. Here goes. Turning on my phone. Use the GPS. Ahh. I see where I need to go. Turn off phone. Route stays on Google Maps for me. Yippee. Nice stroll through Hamburg on a sunny morning. Find coffee and a Danish. Got it! Find the meeting point for the Free Tour. Yup!

While waiting for the tour to begin, struck up a conversation with Natasha from Brazil now living in Germany. We enjoyed the tour together. And her German friend joined us too.


Hamburg is a quite beautiful city that was severely burned during a horrible fire in 1842 and then bombed in WWII. There is a memorial remains in the bombed out shell of a church.


A stark reminder. It's a major harbor city with lots of canals. And there's also an island that's a model of urban development where many apt buildings, offices, hospital, and university are being built.



And then there was the trip home. Got the right train which was packed. Squished. Can't breathe. Hot. No air. Can't hear the stops announced. Can't see out to read the names.


Ask a woman to help me get off at the right one. She says most everyone will get off there. Here we go. I'm off. Can breathe! Check board. Train isn't listed. Check map. Looks like its a station too early. Ask for help. Confirmed. Ok back on. One more stop. Home!

Boxes all packed. Ready for bed. Early morning coming. 11:30 pm. Go to sleep. 12:30 am GO TO SLEEP. Getting up at 5:15 am. GO TO SLEEP . It's 1:30 am! You need SLEEP!!!! Finally.

BagLady


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Boxed!

Monday, July 23rd
Quickborn, Germany



Today was the day I've been dreading since I landed in Dublin: the box rebuilding day. And it was not nearly as bad as I feared. Heike, the dear that she is, had already retrieved 2 enormous bike boxes for me. They are probably from ebikes. And they are really heavy cardboard. Oh. Ohh. Gonna add weight to the already heavy bike and a weight limit of 70 lbs and no way to test it before going to the airport. But it's built!!! Heike was seriously impressed! Ye of little faith, as we say:)

The other problem has been finding a box for the rest of my stuff. And don't ya know, when Heike went to the dumpster to throw away the scraps of cardboard she came back with 2 box possibilities. I think one will work fine as long as I pitch any unnecessary items and pack carefully leaving no air pockets.

So the plan is to go into Hamburg alone tomorrow by train and take another Free Tour. I'll have done 3 if the 12 available. I really enjoy the history and humor:)

And we've had some delightful evening bike rides. So it's been a peasant, relaxing visit. Heike and I never fail to laugh and have fun:)))


Lights out. Busy last day in Europe and 24 hour trip home. I should pedal home from Newark - probably get there faster!

BagLady


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Last Night on the Road

Saturday July 21st
Gluckstadt, Germany



1:11 pm. Made it! Had a goal of getting to the ferry to Gluckstadt by noon on Saturday. Set that goal in Bremen. And I was there at 11:30 am! I didn't know when it ran or how often but I needn't have worried. Every 20 minutes! It's a freeway!





So now I'm 20 kms from Elmshorn and can go at my preferred pace.

Sitting in a cafe sipping a luscious strawberry milkshake.


Ahhhh! And no wifi in town. I'm gonna check with the hotel before leaving. I see a great business venture: bring wifi to Germany! You'll make a bundle!!!

Sunny day too. Woke up to it! Sure does raise the spirits. (Wifi would raise them a bit more:))

6:30 and I'm parked for the night on the edge of a field on a back country lane. I had to wander around a bit to find my spot but I think I'll be unbothered here tonight. And I have about 5-10 kms to go tomorrow to meet up with Heike which isn't til 1 pm. After pushing every day I'll have time to sit and read a book tomorrow. Hope the sun cooperates.

My last night in my tent, on the road anyways, is always bitter sweet. I am ready to come home. I've tried on the idea of taking a train to Italy but I just don't want the hassle of another culture, language, rules, and loneliness. I know no one there. It would be "the same, but different". I'll save that for when I find a biking partner. And maybe plan it with hostels and campgrounds. It's not sounding as much fun already:)

No regrets. Everything happened as it should have. Perfectly imperfect:)



Home on Wednesday and on to other adventures. Looks like I'll be joining dear friends from the AT (Appalachian Trail) for their final stretch. Willing and Abal will be doing the 100 Mile Wilderness in Maine the beginning of Sept and have invited me to join them. Sounds like a plan! It's taken them 5 years to section hike the trail and I've joined for a bit every year except last year. I hope this biking has conditioned me for climbing Katahdin:). I remember it was a doozy and that was after 2100 miles of hiking!

Gute nacht,

BagLady


Love this family in blue cycling together...note 4th on sidewalk.

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Getting Close

Friday, July 20th

11:00 am I slept 11 hours last night. Woes me, guess I was tired! And awoke to no rain. Packing up dry! Felt a bit odd. Stumbled around on the route this morning off course twice already. I'm getting much braver. Not afraid that they won't speak English. Even if they don't, I think they can help me. This morning I stopped a car to get help. That's a first in Germany.



And now I'm in a little restaurant getting my coffee for the morning. Had a fruchplunder (fruit Danish) from the grocery store for breakfast 10 minutes ago when I was getting today's salad for dinner and some bread. Needed to charge both phones so when I found this spot, I'm getting coffee, charging and lunch all at once!! Donertasche. That's what I'm having. Gyro meat in a wrap. I'll be giving up meat again when I get back home, but here it's such a big part of the diet and would really limit my options.



I passed through the prettiest area this morning. Findorf. Beautiful homes and gardens. Otherwise it's most farm land. Also beautiful, but in a different way.


7:30 pm I'm camped out in the open this evening on a quiet lane on the edge of field in the woods...sorta. Can't be in the dark deep woods again. I can't see why anyone would mind and I need to get my mojo back. Some men out for an evening bike ride had stopped on the road and were commenting about the bike, so I stuck my head out, but my English scared them away. They were smiling and friendly though. If someone comes, I'm not moving. They can darn well haul me off to jail. It's a dry evening though after another day of rain on and off. And I'm enjoying having my tent open and the evening light pouring in. The field has oats swaying in the breeze...stiff breeze at that...but the woods block me from the worst of it. And the sky has...no, had...the most beautiful white fluffy clouds against a blue background. It's cloudy now...the grey, rainy kind. Don't know how long the dryness will last.

2nd the last night on the road. Very ready to come home!

Gonna keep this short and sweet...oh, oh, heard a car...is this the time...no, guess not...no one's is there.

Oh I do want to share about trying to find postcards and cash in the last sizeable town. No one wanted to speak English with me. One gracious woman, when I went to the bank and it was already closed, worked with me though to finally tell me where an ATM was. I don't know what they call it here, but it's the machine that I put a card in and I get euros out! But postcards were hard. DId finally get a couple but I had to ask and ask and ask. And when they do use some English with me, I thank them for it! And I love the folks that at least try and help me and don't just look at me like I'm some creature from Mars...I get that sometimes. Lunch ordering today was stumbling but I managed to ask enough questions pointing and he answered and pointed...and we figured it out together. He had some English though, so that helped too.

Ok, going to bed early and hoping for a long uninterrupted night. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

BagLady


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