Deepest Bulgaria

In the depths of Bulgaria at present - way up in the hills. Had a swim in the Black Sea near Varna yesterday. Internet access is not easy but will reply to emails in time. Cruise boat is great - about 136 people on board. Great meals and lovely scenery along the Danube. Good tour guides with lots of history. We are enjoying the history and archaeology we have been hearing about and seeing in the museums. Great art gallery in Bucharest too - European art like El greco, Impressionists, Breugels etc . Great Rumanian sculpture by Brancusi.

Singapore

Had a good trip from Auckland with not much turbulence and good Asian food on Singapore Airlines. Our hotel room was rather small and basic and didnt even have a teabag, just coffee and milo and 1 small bottle of water. Had a full day walking round Singapore today. The temperature would have been well over 30 degrees. Started off in Little India looking through some of the shops with their brightly coloured silks and embroidered fabrics. The National Museum would have been the highlight - it was refurbished over 3 years and is state of the art, dimly lit and sparsely furnished. You walk around with headphones and screen where you can hear and read all about the various exhibits - not all that many of them, but lots to listen and learn about the history of Singapore, most of which I had forgotten.

Then walked the length of Orchard Rd stopping for dumplings, noodles, roast duck and rice at the Meridien foodhall, then down as far as Tangs. On the way back called into Istana, the presidential palace which was having an open day in honour of the National Day. Lovely lawn and treelined drive and an openair concert of Indian string music. Hundreds of Singaporeans were taking advantage of the occasion.
At the other end of Orchard Rd at another foodhall we had egg custard tarts and strong sweet coffee , before picking up our luggage and catching a cab to the airport where we are now awaiting our next 12 hr flight to Frankfurt.