Goodbye Singapore, hello Sydney!

On our last day in Singapore we visited the iconic Skypark at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel which provided some great views of the area from the 57th floor including the Grand Prix track, the Marina Bay golf course and endless ships, coming or leaving a port that is second only to Shanghai in terms of size.

Gardens by the Bay sits below the hotel and was spectacular to walk and spend time in.

We left for Sydney late in the evening with great memories of some wonderful people, a clean vibrant city, a fantastic hotel and a fine introduction to Asia.

Australia for us meant Sydney and our first two days have been great. The city is easy to get round and like Singapore, public transport is fantastic. The highlights have included the convict museum which told some amazing stories of endurance and survival, but today has been truly spectacular. We walked from Spit Bridge to Manly, returning on the ferry in the evening. We experienced great views, new friends in the form of lizards and bird life (see below, and Maggie is still alive!), and witnessed some terrific surfing waves at Manly beach. We finished the trip with beers and food at a local craft beer place called Four Pines which was good as it gets! Returning on the ferry to Circular Quay was a great end to the day. The only disappointment has been no sign of kangaroos, koala's, Nicole Kidman or even Kylie but you can't have everything! Bondi and Coogee beach walk tomorrow!