SINGAPORE & Malaysia
$261 seven day total trip cost.
Member’s name: Justin Wizard
Home town: Chloe, WV
Departure city: San Francisco
Courier company: Jupiter Air
Length of stay: 7 days

I love to travel and get a restless itching from time to time. On April 9^th I phoned Jupiter in San Francisco and ask what they had going and where did they need someone? He replied Manila $37 going in two days, Singapore $80 that goes in 5 days. I said "I’ll take the Singapore trip." He faxed the agreement, I faxed it back with a copy of my passport first page as requested. I went out and I got an $80 cashiers check and sent it to them next day delivery. You can get cheap flights if you don’t wait till summer and can go wherever they need you. Remember the whole is fascinating once you get there.

I phone ordered a fabulous free package of information from the cheerful, eager to help Singapore Tourism office.. If you get it now, you don’t have to lug samples all back with you. Singapore Tourism Web site: www.newasia-singapore.com

I have learned to make courier documents 2 sided (less papers to get lost) and duplicate a extra copy. I put notes on the side as I go: what was easy, when something different happened, and cross out excess instructions. I give this back to the courier company for future improvements.

Advice:
1. Bring small snack bars, apples, chicken sandwich, peeled orange slices from home to munch. Bring bottled juice, a National Enquirer or Reader’s Digest.

2.Find out what time your flight arrives in Singapore. Is it midnight or earlier so you can plan accordingly.

The beginning of a trip I feel excitement, a big self grin, giddiness, and euphoria of freedom..

At the San Francisco airport I met two couriers going to Manila on same flight from Jupiter. One was new and nice, the others was smug and elusive with information.

The Jupiter courier agent was right on time. He was casually dressed and friendly. My luggage was carry on so no check in was needed. He said they had nothing to go with me, gave me the flight tickets and left. Advice: request a seat away from the smoking section. I went to the departure gate smoothly. 1 pm flight on Japan Airlines was fine and uneventful.

Take your shoes off after your flight gets under way. Just don’t wear the guys shoes next to you when you trek to the bathroom late at night who’s too polite to say anything.

Advice: Have arrival courier sheet folded in shirt pocket. Have tooth brush & paste in your camera bag to freshen up and Aspirin Ear plugs and eye shades really help.

Arrived in Narita, Japan at 4.:35 pm. Two hours later took off for Singapore. No courier duties.

Arrived at beautiful Singapore Changi Airport It is clean, organized, safe, modern, efficient-lines move through fast The service counters are staffed by competent, helpful. Several magnificent 45 foot two story water fountains with lights, orchids, and lush greenery.

The good news is their transportation system is excellent. They have buses leaving the airport every 7 minutes or so from 6 am till midnight. The Dilemma was that the buses stop running at midnight and I arrived at 12:02am. Taxis cost 50% more after midnight ($20>$30) to get into the city. Decision: Do you want to blow $30 on a taxi + $50 for a room or tough it out?

Get some money changed especially small bills and change-10c’s.

Choices:
1. Sleep on the airport benches all night. Ask where the more comfortable fold out seats are located. You won’t be the only ones there. Fold a small towel for a pillow. What I did: I walked around, got money changed. Settled down at 2:03 am and slept on 4 seats in viewing platform with several other people spread out. Not that good, not that bad. I’m just weary. Took a bus into town in the morning needing 1.40S exact change.

2. If you desire comfort and convenience at a price stay at the Transit Hotel on the upper floor of the airport.($53! US For 6 hours, $10 for each additional hour) Make reservations as they are often full.  The rooms are much more plush and comfortable than you would need being so tired at such an awkward arrival time. Singapore Airport needs some tiny, cheap sleep cubicles for $2 a hour, but they don’t. Where’s the suggestion box?

Don’t exit customs is you want to use the Transit hotel, shower or some of the other conveniences.

3. Meet a fellow passenger that can make suggestions, let you stay at their place, split a taxi or a room. Start grinning and looking sincere.

4. Use the free airport hotel reservations service desk. They will know what is available.

The miles long road to the airport is neatly landscaped, with flowers, manicured bushed and trees.

The people in Singapore speak excellent English, dress nice and clean, polite. Few overweight people, no old clunker cars.

Their reliable phones cost only S10c (7cUS)

In the morning I took a bus to YMCA, 1 Orchard Street. I rented a private double room for S81.58 (US$53.18).(perhaps no short notice single rooms left?) (dorm room S$28.) The room was nice, clean, quiet, twin beds, phone, TV (plug in the antenna!), water heater not working, big closet, bring electric converter or borrow one from laundry room, has small refrigerator, good air conditioning, provides shampoo, towels, and a Gideon's Bible.

The room wouldn’t be clean or available till after 2, so I left my luggage in their secured store room, rented a towel on the fourth floor for $1, ($4 deposit) and took the elevator looking for a shower on the 9^th floor. Let’s stop right here. The community bathroom was deserted, no light switch, no hot water or electricity. You press a button for 2 seconds worth of water. It was awkward but workable.

At the front desk a dorm sharing gentleman was inquiring if anything could have been done about the 5 young, rowdy USA guys who got drunk somewhere and came home noisy to reminisce about it. Supervision can be weak.

The YMCA offers many classes on many topics, none which appealed to me at the time.

Sign in their lobby:
                      Do not forget to entertain stranger’s
                      for by doing so, some people
                     have surely entertained angels.      
                                                     Romans 12:11-13?

I a went exploring on a walk to Paradize Center by Little India, about a third of a mile in from of the YMCA. What a relief to not be lugging luggage. In the basement of the center hides many food vendors. I had a cut up papaya for S50c. Most of the non food merchant shops open at 10:30 am.

Local Singapore facts: Their water is clean and safe to drink. The city is remarkably clean, safe, the people content and polite, the locals dress nice, but don’t usually wear shorts. Ethics groups all get along.

Has the world’s busiest harbor and an Internationally acclaimed #1 rated airport

The local kids love American logos. I saw in just one look T-shirts with Planet Hollywood, Levis, Warner Brother cartoons and Nike.

Young people here are very clean, polite, articulate, with manners. What a comparison with so many American kids that are grungy, aggressive, angry, self centered, rude, over indulged, bored, minimal skills, nothing to do, need entertaining with no direction or purpose.

Singapore is known for it’s strict laws on littering, chewing gum, drugs and crime. No garbage, trash, cigarette butts, or chewing gum anywhere. Amazingly clean. It is possible. The fine for littering is $500. I don’t remember seeing a single policeman. It wasn’t oppressive or stiff. People knew how to act and were responsible for their own actions. If you were a crook you got punished. They have a vigorous anti smoking campaign with cigarettes not being allow through customs.

In USA everyone is a victim and not responsible. No accountability! No rules! Where are we headed?

Your can buy tour packages for 38S or use your own initiative, take an air conditioned city bus for $1.4 plus entrance fee. Find out when the bus departs and write it down.

You won’t run out of things to do or see. Singapore is a clean tropical paradise that has been called the city in a garden. Singapore also has one of the highest health standards in the world.

Here are a few attractions:

1. Night Safari zoo where over 1200 animals roam in a natural environment specially designed to resemble a jungle on a moonlit night. Special trams take you excitingly close to the nocturnal animals.

2. Singapore Zoological Gardens and enjoy breakfast or afternoon tea with an Orangutan.

3. Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a large primary jungle area that includes exciting nature walks.

4. Take a fascinating walking tours of Little India, china town and Gampong Glam

5. Enjoy a fancy dinners at the top of the worlds tallest hotel.

6. Visit Jurong Bird Park with 20 hecares of beautifully landscaped gardens housing hundreds of bird species. It boasts the world's highest man-made waterfall and has a comfortable air-conditioned monorail from which to view the park if you aren’t up to walking the entire area, which is quite extensive.

7. Sentosa Island is only 5 minutes from Singapore’s southern shores accessible by ferry, bus, or exhilarating cable car ride from the scenic mount Faber. At night the view is absolutely spectacular.

On the island you’ll find Underwater world with the regions most extensive Marine Life exhibit. Fantasy Island has water slides galore. The island has three luxury hotels as well as inexpensive hostels.

At the airport I met a nice lady from Canada promoting her company that manufactures quality peanut and almond butter at a huge international food exposition in Singapore the next day. She invited me to take a look as her guest. I guess I smiled and looked sincere. I love creative cooking and was eager to see what international entrepreneurs might have to share.

I saw booths of foods, tasting samples, seeing demonstrations, and an amazing automated machines that made french fries in many shapes and sizes created from easy to store and ship dry granules. We finally got together as she loaded me up me cookies and jam samples which helped me make friends as I went.

That night I made it back to the YMCA, took a shower and went to sleep. It felt good.

The following morning the YMCA served an ample buffet (sure to get me in gastronomical trouble). Breakfast is included in the room price ($5 if just dropping in) Take your choice of papaya, canned pears, melon, prunes, watermelon, croissants, jam, orange juice, cereal and milk, Japanese rice porridge; soy sauce, chives.

You have the chance to meet fellow travelers and compare stories. I was getting quite a few stares and figured I was just looking good after finally getting a good nights sleep and nice shower. The attention was continuous till the table cleaner pointed at my chin pointing out a gruesome shaving cut. Some days I can’t even get the easy stuff right.

What would be nice is to have an 8 pm traveler’s story hour. Meet people, hear where they’ve been, their adventures, calamities and joys, where’s the best place to go next, and what to avoid. Just my opinion again.

After catching up on my sleep for 2 more hours I checked out, I heard it’s much cheaper and less crowded north so now I’m Malaysia bound. It’s better to be on your way in the morning say 8:30 am rather than noon. You may miss a necessary connection with little chance to fix it if you start out too late. As it’s hot later in the day, plan doing the touring and sightseeing in the mornings, and reading and relaxing in the afternoon.

I walked from the YMCA to the Malaysia Bus Station about 15 minutes away with luggage. Luggage wheels would have been nice. Noon. Doesn’t it just figure. Hot. A big storm brewing. Went through Little India’s open air Farmer’s Market. Tables abounding with inexpensive fresh fruit; papayas 50c. I just love those fruit!

Got a bit lost, discovering, wandering. Luggage a pain to lug around. I feel I look so much like a tourist with my camera swinging around my neck. The sky is getting darker, and the wind is swirling leaves into the street. Shop owners are bring in their wares. A light rain begins to fall. I ask for directions for the bus station - there it is in sight - one block away. The sky opens up - now. So close, but didn’t make it. Rain, wind, thunder, lightning. Kind of awesome. The whole symphony of weather is upon me. I hide under a shelter with the other locals who didn’t seem too concerned. When the rain starts to let up after 10 minutes or so I make a run for the bus station. As I arrive the sun comes out. The things I do for excitement. Whew!

The bus is available and ready to soon go. I get on the Johore Bahru Express for S2.40 at 1:00 pm. If you sit on the left front seat you get a better view. The bus is clean, modern with good air conditioning. The bus goes non stop and drops you off at the border, where you go through customs. Have your immigration card filled out before you get there. Easy passage.

Malaysia
Buy a one way tickets there. Prices are much lower and your dollar buys far more in Malaysia.

From the border I used my bus ticket to transfer to the main bus terminal, bazaar, and local food market.

From there you can take a bus to Mersing which allegedly goes twice a day and the last at 8 pm arriving into town about 11pm - a little late. I arrived at 2:40 pm. What to do?

I changed $100 US into a big pile of 366 Ringettes. Remember to get many small bills. You feel rich with this big wad of spending power.

As no bus seemed to be available I took a taxi to Mersing for 60R. ($17 US) All taxis are mandated by law not to charge more than that for the 3 hour drive. This flat rate is for one or more passengers and they are ready to leave when you are. See if you can get a New York taxi driver to give you a rate like this!

The Better, cheaper way for next time: There is an express bus from Newton Square not far from the train station that goes all the way from Singapore to Mersing several times a day. Air conditioned modern, clean bus. You ride higher for a better view, the seats are comfortable and if one is leaving soon, you get there just as fast as a taxi. Call the bus company for times and locations.

The left front seat offers the best view. Remember the driver is on the right side over there.

I take off with the taxi for an interesting drive once you get out of the congested, well worn, bustling city of Johor Bahru. You will pass small towns, jungle, gently rolling hills, then new apartments/shopping centers being carved out of the orange dirt and low jungle. You will see why progress doesn’t seem like the right word for what you see and what used to be there.

As we drove further, about 1 hour and a half the jungle becomes thicker which an occasional monkey at the side of the road. There are immense plantations of palm trees for their fruit or oil which wasn’t able to be discerned.

Mersing is a friendly little seaside town with many things going on. Just as my taxi arrived about 5 pm the driver took me to a little shop selling boat tickets to Tioman Island a highly rated place to go. You can go by slow boat cheaper in 1 ˝ hours, or speed boat in 1 hour for 30R one way. They seem to have the boats coming and going often. I left at 5:10 for the island with 8 other passengers - A Finnish couple, two young Australian girls, and two English girls. We were bouncing over dark green waves with white ocean spray blasting out as we hit a wave crest.

The boat stops at several harbors, dropping off, picking up people. Each spot looked gorgeous like in the fancy travel magazines where you can’t even afford a subscription let alone the bazillion dollars to stay there with the Rockefellers. It’s nicer than Gilligan’s Island. Better than the postcard your annoying show-off friends sent you. I think you’d like it.

I took a chance and got off at the next stop Air Batang just down from the top left part of the island. The boat left, leaving four passengers and me walking down the pier where home will be for a few days. I saw a sign "Selamat Datang". I thought that was the name of the village. Dumb me saying: Hi! I’m staying at Selamat Datang. It means "welcome".

When you get to shore from the pier you can turn left or right. Being a traveling adventurer you have to make decisions like you know what you’re doing. I turned left with authority walking down a path with my luggage past garden cottage on the right, with their own restaurant on the left, almost touching the beach. I previewed several cottages seeing that they were all unique but similar. Which to pick? You could get a really rustic, no fan, 2 beds A frame, bathroom elsewhere for about $2.20 US.

The fanciest are the Bamboo Hill Chalets for 100R for big family, then smaller for 80R, & 50R a night. Susan, a delightful articulate and classy English lady who married a local gentleman has set them up quite nicely. She just got a computer and we correspond regularly by e-mail. You can make reservations or say hi at www.bamboosu@em.net.my.. The electricity is eccentric making owning a computer hazardous. I told her about solar power and batteries or a laptop and she told me thanks anyway.

There is a path through the jungle that starts at the corner of her place that can keep you busy for three and a half hours. If you stop to rest and others come by you become the local expert if you have been there at least 10 minutes.

Her cottages were booked up so I settled for the "ABC cottages" next door for 20R or about $5.50US a night. What a exotic tropical name, I know. I stayed in cottage number 1, which hibiscus and greenery all around it. My front porch had two plastic green chairs so you and a friend can watch the day go by. Inside the simple but clean room had a queen size bed, with romantic insect netting over it. A fan was aimed at the bed. No towel are provided, but one did appear when I mentioned one would be so nice. No hot water, but none was needed. The bathroom will not do for the stuffy Holiday Inn crowd, but if you can grin and just enjoy where you are it was totally fine. If the toilet doesn’t work a bucket is right there to help things along. No problem. Two large open windows would bring in a gentle breeze, and surprisingly no insects. I was almost disappointed hoping for a thrilling page describing horrible midnight purple and green flying marauders with fangs.

I was glad to lay down my luggage and took a refreshing cool shower. I went for a walk taking in the greenery finding an unnamed small lizard that thought he was hiding better than he was. An occasional designer butterfly would flutter by trying to pick which colorful flower would be his supper. Another visitor said a lemur was on her porch yesterday. You don’t have to go to a zoo, the critters come to visit you!

The local cats have a distinctive look, quite thin, rear haunches too big like a rabbit, and still meow as loud as the one you have outside your window at home. I heard man domesticated dogs, but cats domesticated man. Here they do as they please as if on important assignment or totally blissing out in the sunshine. If only humans could learn to relax like a cat.

Every 300 feet would be another open air on-the -beach restaurant with 80 selections. I picked my home base restaurant and ordered mashed potatoes, grilled onions and a fried egg for 4R, about $1.09US. No more four am airplane food, cold fish, or mystery green and beige things. A fellow is cooking fresh fish chunks selling for about $3.60US over a wood pit.

It took a little while as they peel my potato, cook it, mash it. No instant stuff. Real food.

I’m in no hurry. I don’t have to be anywhere. It’s beautiful and peaceful. The people are happy and everyone gets along. There are no cars on the island. My money could stretch for weeks easily. I feel like a unneurotic Hemingway writing about feeling of discovery and simple joys. Now explain again why I need to go back?

My almost cold drink arrived immediately so I could sip as the sunset was putting on it’s evening show.

Dinner shows up from the male waiter and I linger over my tasty repast, enjoying the evening trading stories with a crazy Englishman and his lady friend. Don’t let him tell you about parasites, bugs and snakes in Sumatra while you’re eating.

The restaurant waiter wasn’t able to give me change from my 10R bill so they started as tab for me for the next 3 days. No credit checks, driver’s license verification, or "manager to the customer service counter". It just wasn’t a problem. The policy was order whatever you want, pay us before you go. Enjoy!

No crying kids, everybody has something to do, everyone gets along. No tell me, who’s got the backwards society?

The less it takes for you to be content the happier you’ll be. The more you require the more you miss of what’s really important.

Here you wake up, put your shorts on, go for a long walk on the beach, come back take a cool shower, comb your hair back, and you’re all set for breakfast. Blow dryer aren’t needed, even if you could find a plug and brown out the whole village.

How many of us are rushed, stressed, broke, and neurotic? Is it worth what you pay, for what you get?

The evenings cool down with the gentle breeze relaxing you in the many hammocks available for anyone’s use.

I have seen several signs mentioning how the drinking water comes from a natural spring on the higher parts of the island mountain and is pure, delicious and good to drink.

After supper, following the well lit pathways I take another walk drinking up the air and atmosphere taking intense looks hoping to imprint the picture and feelings, hoping to never forget these memories. Purple bougainvilleas, fire red hibiscus, gold and red zinnias, and flashy big bird of paradise plant.

I come home in a hour and folded myself into the bed listening to the invisible chorus of frogs. I feel the breeze and drift of to sleep.

The sun comes up late over the hill at Air Batang.

The next morning I signed up for a snorkeling trip to Coral Island 45R (just keep dividing by 3.66!) including all gear and 5 stops. The boat pulls up right in front of my "hotel" and off we go at 10 am. The boat captain zooms off for our destination. A flying fish jumped and glided for a surprisingly long time along the boat. Maybe I thrill easily.

We soon got to the island. No one lives there because there’s no water, but it’s still green, lush palm trees with a uncrowded white soft sand beach. I can see the fish in the reef below and anxious to jump in. At the last minute I remember the sun screen juice I brought with me. I impatiently rubbed some into one shoulder, another hurried swipe across my lower back and into the water I went. You can just tell out in there in audience land this is a problem just waiting to happen.

I swam and snorkeled over the next 5 hours seeing a multitude of colorful interesting fish. The water was smooth, warm and inviting.

I came over with 7 big, tough looking Japanese fellows. They were fun loving, laughing easily, and even generously shared some snacks with me. I noticed their tough guy image changed when they got in the water. They didn’t jump off the boat but went to the shore first putting on life jackets then timidly walking into the water together in a line. They got about 3 foot deep when a small fish swam across one guys foot, he yelped and galloped for the dry sand with all the rest rushing behind him. This was more fun to watch than the fish. They kept getting braver and braver and finally put their face in the water. They loved it, meanwhile still on the lookout for unknown poisonous killer monsters. It was funny to watch grown men being so panicked over harmless situations.

I had been swimming quite a bit and thought I would watch them and get a little sun on my stomach. So great to relax! After a few minutes I heard a rustling to the right behind me. I went back to dozing as it was probably dry leaves stirring in the wind. I then heard it again closer. I looked lazily with one eye to see an approaching four foot monitor lizard five feet from me flicking his tongue out. I leaped up with an involuntary Aah!! - and went running for the water. The Japanese guys had seen the whole thing and were laughing hysterically. This wasn’t funny. I could have been eaten by the killer beast. Was four feet a big one or the smallest baby one? How was I to know?

After some inquiries it turns out the best word to describe the lizards is docile and curious. Still they should warn us they’re all over and loose. They can swim well and enjoy fresh water so if you think you see an alligator, it’s these critters doing their thing.

The next boat stop featured layered mushroom like stacks of colorful coral. What a sight!

We went to 3 more beaches including a village on the other side of our island where we could get a cool drink or lunch. You know me - I like the food parts.

The boat dropped us off back home at 1 pm, back to my cottage to take a cool shower.

I went to the restaurant 40 feet away, sat down, closed my eyes, spun the menu and pointed. I had picked a sardine, cucumber, tomato, mayo sandwich and rice for $1.33US. I know this sounds strange but you have to try different things as you go. It was ok!

I was getting sleepy and went to snooze for a couple hours. I woke up to sunburn. I should have know better. I should have worn a T shirt. I keep thinking I’m still superman and imperious to all pain and suffering. Don’t let my mom know about this or she make me put lotion on at the airport before I leave.

There’s something I call a gratitude grin. It’s when I feel happy, at peace, content, and physically tired. It’s been awhile.

Don’t miss the 7:30 pm show. You though you were hearing birds in the trees earlier, nope, they’re giant fruit bats that all take off at &:30 pm sharp from three tall trees. They’re totally harmless but quite a Hitchcock show. Bring a friend.

Things to do: kayak, fishing, snorkeling, photos, read, chess, long nature walks, eat, BBQ fish, fruit, play music, visit with fellow travelers, swim, suntan, write articles, catch up, rent Internet time on Susan’s computer for 6R per hour, visit other villages, Rooms are half price during off season

If you want to learn scuba diving, go or refresh your skills you can sign up for lessons in the crystal clear local warm water.

I have found I enjoy going slow there, go fast back. While raveling you can get tired, queasy, seeing a long way still to go, boats, buses, trains, taxi and buses.

They have daily flights from Johore Bahru and Singapore to Tioman Island. I recommend the boat there, and the 60 minute plane flight back to Singapore for 190R.($52US) one way. Toram Air 09-4147830. Save 4 hours travel time. You decide. Make sure you know departure times and how to get there.

Kuala Lumpur has a bigger airport than Johore Bahru and has daily cheap courier flights there from Singapore. (Singapore courier company ph: )

What time does the boat leave the next morning? The good news is that everyone knows. The bad news is that each person gave me a different answer. The boat left at 9:30 am for 1 hour 50 minutes back to Mersing. I got off boat at 11:30 am. An express bus was waiting to go 11:40 am for15R Mersing to Singapore. I never seem to have to wait for a connection in Mersing. We stopped at the border. Have immigration papers filled out, the bus driver may have them, or keep extras. Get in line and don’t dawdle. Have passport ready. Bus drivers don’t wait if you have problems finding a pen. I think two German girls had to wait for the next bus.

Four hours later (2:38 pm) the bus dropped me off at Newton Square where I ordered a big late of fruit for S3. I received directions to the subways about an 8 minute walk away. Such a warm day. Got wheels on your luggage yet? Not enough time to sightsee the reptile farm so took the subway to Bedok. S1.50. Needed to change trains easily at city hall. Got off soon at Bedok. A prosperous modern shopping area, with sidewalk shops nearby. Took a bus to the airport. Dropped off my luggage. It’s on the same level as arriving buses to the far right. They don’t have inexpensive lockers because of bomb liabilities so you take luggage to a storage counter where it gets logged in a computer, your passport number is verified then they give you a receipt for S4.12.

Took bus #27 (S1.20) back to Bedok/Tampines Market to eat, sightsee, visit big modern computer store, pass every national American fast food restaurant. Buses go every 7 minutes and take only 15 minutes to get to the airport so I can sightsee till the last minute of 7:50 pm.

I picked up my baggage from the storage counter. Got an easy to find rolling airport cart and leisurely headed for the courier meeting area.

Courier agents are known for being late, so I had time to burn taking photos. I saw a good background and asked for a guy standing there to take my picture under the famous international clock. I thanked him and continued to walk around admiring the fancy airport. At the assigned time I pulled out the courier instruction sheet and was told to meet at the clock area and went back to the clocks. It turned out my picture taker helper was my courier connection fellow who was 15 minutes early. We talked for a bit - he was a nice guy.

Enjoy the airport amenities! Take photos of how your airport at home isn’t. Get checked in and visit the Transit area floor: Shower with towel $5. Spacious roof top pool and Jacuzzi, including a shower for S10.30. Use the modern gym for S10.3.

The plane left on time and had an uneventful flight to Narita, Japan. The hotel bus came by to deliver me to the Nikko Hotel with a flock of stewardess. Along the way I saw with my very eyes a police guy picking dandelions and placing them in a hedge for more to see.

At the hotel I went up to the desk, sign in, got a key to the courier company paid room. I freshened up and went for a walk downstairs. I knew they had a wonderful buffet breakfast, and even thought I told myself I wasn’t going to eat, it looked too good to pass up. I had 8 or 9 assorted plates and a wonderful memory. I have to pay for my own meals while there and was startled at the bill request for 1900 yen. That sounds like a lot! It came to about $16.00US.

I was tired from the time change and big meal and went for a short walk, then up to my very comfortable room to go to sleep. They have robes, slippers, the whole works. I can rough it with the best of them, but an occasional pampering is just fine. Finally it was time to go back to the airport that went smooth.

I met the courier agent - nothing to go - have a nice trip!

On arriving at the departure gate and was informed, sorry but seats were only available in the smoking section. This will be fascinating to see how this will work out. I will not be sitting in the smoking section. The flight is full. I don’t panic. I have enough confidence to know it will be OK. Somehow. I board the plane put my luggage in the overhead in back and wait for everyone to be seated. I then politely asked the stewardess if she had 10 or 15 vomit bags because I had a huge meal earlier in the day, am a not smoker, and will be wildly throwing up all over for the next 15 hours on their flight. She looked quite worried because I was in her section. She talked to another stewardess. They started asking each row of passengers if anyone wouldn’t mind switching. After 15 minutes they found someone. I got to sit where I could breathe. Whew! Don’t be a victim. Make things better by your own ingenuity.

Duty free zones where you can buy a $200 item you don’t really need for $197 that you couldn’t give away free at the swap meet.

What are they doing in the bathroom for 10 to 15 minutes each? I’ve heard rumors and even read stories if two people go but just one?

If you want to be creative, insist on having to go to the bathroom just after the guy on the isle next to you get served his dinner, drinks and coffee. Make sure the beverage cart is between you and the bathroom. Look desperate.

The bathroom flush explodes with the loudest whoosh. With apprehension I step back before detonating. I read a story once of a woman that got sucked inside out on an airplane toilet seat.

At 4 am I was given a disease questionnaire quarantine card. I started getting all the symptoms.

At 4:15 am they served a cold Japanese breakfast which is ghastly when you’re tired. It didn’t sit well.

The stewardess got on the intercom and bid us farewell with "thank you for picking Japan Airlines and we hope to see you on your next fright to Japan."

Arrived in San Francisco. With carry on luggage I was through customs and out the door quick. No courier duties. I waited for my 7B bus 12:16 pm, (7F would have been better- and right behind it) $1.00. I unfortunately got on the bus going south when I needed to catch my connection in downtown San Francisco. Oops! The driver let me off 20 minutes down the road, I switched sides of the road and waited for the next bus. It came, dropped me back off at the airport, got the right bus and after about an hour was at San Francisco Transbay Terminal at First and Mission. Amtrak didn’t have much information or help so I was able to get on a Greyhound Bus leaving in 15 minutes at 2:20 pm arriving in Fresno at 7:45 pm for $21.

A grand trip, far too short, no big problems, the cost was tiny for the magnitude of the adventure. Prices are low, the people are friendly, and there is so much to see you have never seen before.

The hardest part of travel isn’t money. It’s time, getting your life untangled, and courage to go into the unknown. Travel teaches patience, understanding, resourcefulness, ingenuity, trust, and confidence.

My total 8 day trip cost
80   JUPITER AIR COURIER RATE
1     am bus to YMCA
53   YMCA
1     Towel, shower
2     breakfast fruit
0     free expo food samples
3     Bus to Malaysia
17   Taxi to Mersing
17   Boat to Tioman Island
3     Mashed potato meal
3     Sandwich
15   Coral Island snorkel trip
3     Bus to Newman Square
3     Fruit dish
2?   Subway
1     Bus to airport
3     Storage locker
1     Bus back
5     Fast food
1     Bus to airport
16   Breakfast Narita ( an indulgence!)   
1     Bus SF
1     Bus SF
21   Bus SF to Fresno
8     Misc.
$261 total for courier trip

I could have easily stayed another week for only $50 more.

YMCA on 1 Orchard street front desk is open all night. Ph: 336-6000, fax: 337-3140. Bus 16 stops right in front. (Costs S1.40) Good central location.

Beach Hotel, ask for their nice apartments across the street with a S45 special courier rate. Rooms 2 & 3 are the best. 95 Beach Road, on the corner of Liang Seah St. directly across from the police barracks. Mail: Singapore 189699, Ph: 336-7712, fax: 336-7713

Hotel 81 $45?

New 7^th Story Hotel. S65 or $40 US

Fax: 011-65-334-3550 ask for Ms Tin

New Asia Hotel. $25 US.

#2 Peck Seah. Ph: 011-65-221-7580

Waffle’s Homestay. $26US

490 Bridge Rd. 2^nd floor through Indian Café. 011-65-334-1608

Amber Hotel $40. Open 24 hours. Taxi $20.

The Mayfair City Hotel (US$45) is located in the Colonial District and is within tolerable walking distance of the National Art Gallery, National Museum, the huge Raffles City Center, Raffles Hotel and Singapore River.

Malaysia

ABC Beach Hotel, Kampong Air Batang, Pulau Tioman, Pahong, Malaysia.

Bamboo Hill, kg Ayer Batang, Palau Tioman, 86800, Mersing, Malaysia. Ph: 09-4191339, fax: 09-4191326. E-mail bamboosu@tm.net.my

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I hoped you liked hearing about my adventure and welcome your comments.

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