'Single Standard': from Europe to Asia on BT/SK C, QR & SQ J

[9V-SIA]

Congratulations! I do believe this is the first sighting of a 772A ( with the updated interior ). Can't wait to try it.

Question: In the sleep position, is the footwell too tight for those with large feet?

Too small a footwell in sleep mode has been reported by a few here ( on A330 ) but UMD with his size 11 feet is especially vocal

[N_Architect]

B727: Dim sum platter had another item as well, it was a dumpling; the item shown cut in two I do not know what it is, but I will post a pic of the menu in a minute. Thank you for your wishes.

9V-SIA: Seat/feet in sleep position - I'm trying to see if I have a pic of same but seems not. I did try the seat in near sleeping position and it was the best seat ever I have been in (SQ B744 F seat excluded), especially when reclined. I do remember well that one (I said, one) of the seats I used (meaning in one of my flights) had a very tall (assuming the width/breadth of the footrest is kind of standard) footrest, but sadly cannot remember whether it was the SQ 772 one or the QR A321 one. I don't honestly think you or anyone else should have a problem.

What I do remember vividly is that this seat, in the reclined/near sleeping position was one of the most (if not the most) enjoyable. I was going to mention exactly this later on in my TR anyway. I was laying relaxed, covered with the blue (they really need to do smt about this) blanket, looking outside and it was so comfortable and sweet - an unforgettable feeling. Truly one of the most enjoyable flights I've ever had with SQ only because of this seat.

Thank you on the comment for the loss of my godfather.

QR - I flew them again in J last year, same route, ATH-DOH-PVG, Jan 2009. It was an A330-200 and an A330-300 on the way back (or the other way round anyway). At the time they were taking deliveries of more 777-300ERs but the PVG route still had the A330s, which were pretty new anyway. Well, let me tell you, the QR 777-300ER is even better, J seat pitch is increased, the screens are bigger if I am not mistaken, movie selection is pretty wide but as you may know I'm not an expert here, seat ergonomics are better in every respect (from the retractable opening vertical pocket in the middle armrests to the small spaces underneath for small items), amenity kit is fine, pajama kit is very nice (in the absence of F class perhaps?) and the seat offers really good sleep. Thought I found the very best seat till I flew with SQ's 772 in 12K if that means smt to you... QR is highly recommended though, they're not perfect (wait till you read about the check-in @ Changi a week later) but for the prices they charge their product is solid and value for money in my honest opinion. You'll love their J class blanket, too.

haf: Pity we didn't see ya in the SIN LD but we'll catch up sometime, I'm sure. Take care and always have safe flights.

jjpb3: Thank you for the good words.

phaleesy: Thank you on the comment for the loss of my godfather.

milehighj: Thank you.

[N_Architect]

Recap: We are up in the air on a SQ 772 to SIN. Brunch has been served, and J class passengers are enjoying their tea/coffee. I am resting in the reclined seat position thinking how lucky I am to have the opportunity to fly in such a way every once in a while. Cabin crew has started to go round the cabin with the duty free sales trolley.


Approaching HKG.


It’s dessert time.


Duty free sales with the very courteous LSS taking the lead.


Something less than 3k miles to SIN.


For 9V-SIA. As if I knew...


Duty free sales continue.


Japanese green tea with honey and warm nuts came for me after brunch.


Getting closer to SIN.


SQ’s KF entertainment – I love the jazz/new age channel.


Cabin crew working effortlessly on duty free sales. It is always a pleasure to fly with such an airline.

Almost half (if not more) of the people in our 60+ party group were Americans. Some of them made the mistake (or was it not?) to fly SQ J for the first time (now they got spoiled). You could tell by the expressions in their faces afterward that some of them were truly surprised by the level and quality of service. Would we not be equally surprised if we happened to fly inter-U.S. Southwest, AA, United or whatever else all year long?

[N_Architect]

All right, what a lovely flight that was.


The menu, as promised.


Here we should be about 25 minutes to Changi.




The downside is that cabins are pretty full. Their service, though, is still the best up there – there is nothing like SQ.









Next: Final approach and landing in Changi.

[N_Architect]

We’re ready for landing. Flight was approximately 04:45 hrs in duration, if I remember correctly (but stand to be corrected). It’s around 1pm now in Singapore.




Is kyo+’s house nearby this area?




Touching ground in a second or two. I’ll miss SQ.


Unidentifiable SQ bird taking off magnificently while we taxi to our arrival gate.

One of my classmates had ordered a mini-van from the Shangri-La, and he offered if anyone wanted to join. I thanked him and accepted. We go through immigration and in no time our checked-in luggage items come out. I pop out for a second to exchange my RMBs, then meet the guys for the mini-van departure to our hotel. It’s pretty hot outside, but ok, we’re in Singapore. I am in Singapore! Having been here only for 6-8 hours last summer, it was a place to visit soonest possible. A shipping hub and a popular expat destination, but most important, a place with many friends. Friendships that were crafted few decades back, when I flew Y on charter flights ATH-LHR and then on the National Express to Geordieland, and they flew only once back to SIN (every summer), in Y, bringing together with them full desktop PCs and CRT monitors as …cabin baggage (prices of PCs were much cheaper in SIN back then).

Many of them are now yard directors, established consultants or investment bankers. I remember them sleeping 4 hrs every night at most when at Newcastle Uni, all year long. Pressure was so high from their companies (i.e. from their sponsors) for delivering exceptional performance (i.e. grades). Competition. A very familiar word in Singapore. Competition and sacrifices. This is how you get results. What you have there took a lot of sweat, deprivation and courage to be created. For decades. The untrained western eye does not feel this. I was talking to a friend few days back in ATH, just before coming to base. He told me “Singapore is a large laundry set up by the Americans for billions of $$$ to be recirculated.” You don’t need to know more – he doesn’t like Asians, but being my best friend and I can share this with you. It is always easy and fairly naďve, may I say, to oversimplify. When you stay and live in Asia for quite some time, only then you see how hard working these people are. If we in Europe sacrificed one generation to have the hypothetical prosperity we have now, in Asia they have sacrificed three. You need to respect and appreciate that. You need to understand that you’re dealing with people, not with monkeys. If you are not willing to go beyond that level, you better stay back home, don’t take the plane eastwards.

A couple of years back, a Greek Captain told me a story. He had come to take delivery of a large containership from the yard I was based on in South Korea. He said “The Americans put the Koreans into the shipbuilding game, it’s all U.S. loans and investment. This is how the Koreans started back in the ‘70s. In addition, somewhere around the mid-80s there was a policy dictated by the banks giving the shipping loans that the shipowner taking delivery of a new vessel installs South Korean crew. The Greeks followed this for a year but it brought a mess – the South Koreans had no real seamanship, especially wrt the machinery part, the ships were full of damages and poor maintenance in only 12 months; then the system was abolished…” I really don’t know if these views are true. It’s another conspiracy story about secret and hidden forces that shape our world. I do not know about laundries and dictated policies.

What I know is the effort and sacrifices of people, and from my experience this is prevailing in Asia. Even if the above stories or allegations are true, you need to respect these people. The fact that we are different to them (because of culture or origin) does not mean we’re ‘superior’ by default. I’ve seen many westerners in the yards, on the job, treating Koreans as if they are not humans. They believe all these things go unnoticed. No, let me tell you they don’t. Ask any expat who lives in Asia and is married to an Asian lady. In actual fact, many of these nations are very sensitive indeed to such matters and treatments. Now I’ve got into a long ramble, and this is a discussion that can last very long, so I guess I’ll have to stop it here. Those of you who know me a little may perhaps understand what I’m trying to say. I also didn’t like some aspects of life when I was for almost 4 years on South Korea. But I now I miss a large part of it. Get to know Eastern Europe, try to lead people with old-style Soviet mentality and then come and tell me what is easier, for example…

And now, after all this digression, I have to tell you about the Shangri-La Singapore (hahahaha). It’s not the ideal fit right now, is it? But we’ll crack it.

Here we go:


Shangri-La Singapore ground floor lobby area.


Shangri-La Singapore – we’re still in the ground floor lobby area.




Still on ground floor.


Shangri-La Singapore, 12th floor, right as you exit the elevators.


Shangri-La Singapore, view from the 12th floor. The St. Regis can be seen straight ahead to the right.



Next: The room; more on the hotel; spicy adventures right from the very first night (just when you thought you wouldn’t get any of that).

[N_Architect]

The Shangri-La Singapore experience.

Dear prospective guest,

Your experience starts from the moment you arrive at our property. For all six of you in the minibus, we know well you are tired from the long flight and promise to take care of unavoidable formalities in the most efficient and unobtrusive way. You will be welcomed upon arrival by our staff who will carefully note your name down and then escort you straight to your room for individual check-in. During the room check-in, our agent will explain to you carefully and in detail all the room features and hotel facilities. In case you feel kind of uncomfortable with this feature, please sit back and relax – it is our job to offer you a warm welcome to our property. The girls (check-in agents) who conduct this procedure are gorgeous anyway, so you should not be having any complaints. If on the other hand you feel it is kind of too much being greeted constantly by our staff, whether it is every time you take the elevators to your room or going out to Orchard Rd. for some shopping, please feel free to enjoy our warm smiles and gestures – we simply want you to feel like home.

If you wonder if we are an escort-friendly hotel, an attempt to walk in with a ‘temporary guest’ at approximately some time well before midnight will provide you with the correct answer. If you are too busy with experiments of such kind, simply ask our contributing sampler, N_Architect. In the unlikely event you find the ‘all-day’ restaurant too noisy during breakfast, may we suggest breakfast in bed or in our Club level area. We also hope you will be very happy swimming in our large outdoor pool, even if you cannot seem to find any reason in being out sunbathing and immersing your well looked-after body in our crystal clear chlorinated waters.


My room was a standard one, nothing extraordinary. Their mattress, though, rocks.













We would highly recommend you take a walk or use our shuttle service down to Orchard Rd. where a number of high street boutiques and shops with excellent service await you. Orchard Rd. is only few minutes walk from our property. In addition, our concierge will be happy to provide you with a small map where you can see the Shangri-La Orchard Rd. minibus pick-up/drop-off service locations.


A walk down Orchard Rd. is a must upon arrival.





Next: The blind date that never happened; the mystery 23yo guest (when and at which IP address remains to be clarified).


Mystery guest enjoying her cup of tea in N_Architect's room at the Shangri-La Singapore some time well after midnight.

[N_Architect]

While in Shanghai, I received an email message from a 29yo girl in Malaysia. Herself an entrepreneur, with multi-cultural origins and experiences (expat father), she found my (now inactive) profile in a dating website and dropped me a line. She appeared very positive in wanting to meet me, and as soon as I told her I’d be in Singapore a week later she noted that it would possibly be viable she could come over in order to meet. Well, at the end that did not happen and I do not know the reason why. I guess she changed her mind or something else interfered. While in Singapore, a day before my departure back to Europe, she sent me a quick email saying “Hello, where are you now?” I replied back “At the Shangri-La Singapore” but never heard from her again.

A week later, in Athens, I would do another blind date (now that I come to think of it, I may be doing this much more often than your average ‘next door’ guy – but with the craziness and unconventional thinking that governs my state of mind I never was that guy, right?) The second date did not work either, not because we did not like each other (how could I not like her? She was Pisces…) but because of the distance. Moral of the story – do blind dates only in the area where you live and work (but we already knew that, did we not?)

Anyway, let us move on. But before we do that, I need to set something straight:

I wrote some things about Asians, Westerners, etc. in one of my earlier posts. I also wrote something about Singapore that a friend told me a week back. Perhaps I may have been over the top in posting this, as I know well people are particularly sensitive to this type of comments. However, I did, as it is my firm belief that one should not restrict him/her self and should reflect on opinions of others. Naturally it may well be premature to jump to conclusions on such issues or make any sort of judgments, but it struck me when that friend of mine made that particular comment. Being at a stage of my life & career when I am actively looking to come back to Asia (and especially to Singapore) for work, I detest any kind of similar generic judgments on such issues. Those who know me a bit should be aware of this. Many people in Europe do not understand Asia and its people. You know something? I do not either. But the point is that many of these people are not willing to understand Asia, this is where the problem lies. They believe they are safe by not having to make an effort in understanding this large continent and its people, and they may be right. But this option will not be available for their children and grandchildren, that is what they omit to consider.

I hope none of you is ever offended by what I write – if not, drop me a line. I need to know if I cross any lines.


My time in Singapore is nearly over, for now…

So Friday evening is here. A week in Singapore has gone by like a split second. I loved walking in Orchard Rd., shopping is fantastic here, got some TWG tea (six different variants) as well from DFS, the overall level and quality of customer service almost everywhere is truly excellent, we had the SQT LD as well and this was another opportunity to enjoy great food and have good laugh while catching up with good friends (kyo+’s sense of humour is amazing), I got a mini heat stroke as one day I foolishly decided to go out at 3pm and walk/run half of Singapore (so to speak) in 2 ˝ hours, I also got an allergy from eating some crab delights at the hotel, the Shangri-La was ok but I do not ever want in my life again to take breakfast in such a busy and noisy restaurant like the one they have next to the pool, local food rocks and is really cheap, Singaporean girls seem beautiful, well behaved, tied to their families with strong bonds and seem to look after themselves very well, LKY’s autobiography is interesting but in some cases he seems to be telling part of the truth, SQ is still the king (or should I say queen) up there, and I need to put a full stop here ‘cause I can continue forever…

So, it’s Friday night. I planned to check out from the hotel at about midnight. Had to attend two dinners before that, though. One at the Equinox restaurant, and the SQT LD.

In going up to the 70th floor on the way to the restaurant, we first visited the ‘Asian Bar’ for a drink. It was around 7pm, perfect time for some nice shots while dusk was slowly making its presence visible in beautiful Singapore.


Images here taken with my Nokia E72.








The Asian Bar. Upon coming back home I was told it is full of gorgeous creatures of all origins as the night settles in…


Singapore sunset.

[N_Architect]

Then the SQT LD followed. Details on this have been posted elsewhere. Not being able (time-restricted) to continue with the guys for a drink, kapitan takes his [always meticulously clean and shining] car and drives me back to the hotel (thank you so much Captain) before continuing with the rest of the gang for a drink or so.

I take a shower. Luggage etc. were all done earlier in the day so all is left is to go down and meet my colleague who, again, had ordered a minivan to Changi. It is all three of us on the same QR flight, to DOH. The fun starts here. He wants to take his time and be at the airport 2 ˝ to 3 hours ahead of scheduled departure. Under my normal practices this is unimaginable for me, however not having much to do at the hotel and wanting to spend some time in Changi (which I have really missed), I decide to join him on the minibus ride to the airport.

Long story short, due to a misunderstanding the minibus was not there for us. Instead, and due to the mistake the hotel staff had made, we got a free ride to Changi, courtesy of Shangri-La Singapore.


On the way to Changi.

I arrive in Changi T3. Through GST, then to the QR desks. Huge lines observed. For Y, I understand, but for J class? It’s at least 10 people or travelling parties waiting in line for business class check-in. A more careful observation reveals there are only 3 desks open, one for Y, one for J and another one for internet check-in. It’s bad, and we are currently 2 hours before departure. What is going on I have no clue.


Kind of not expected to wait so long for J class check-in.


Total waiting time for me checking-in was 45 minutes.


Shall I combine this with the single check-in desk open at ATH on the start of my journey two weeks back?

In any case, I am very happy with QR even after the check-in delays. There is always a reason for something happening. When you have time to spend in lounges and also the luxury of sleeping comfortably during the flight, these can offset any minor delays you may have encountered earlier on. Safe flights are the most important aspect, all the rest can generally more or less be tolerated.

Our plane to DOH had technical issues at Changi. Half an hour at a time, we managed to suffer continuous postponements to out departure time and finally ended up with a 3 hour departure delay. Technical issue was the reason. Fine for me. This left me only 18 minutes connection time in DOH, though… But I’ve told you, they know, and they are pretty well coordinated over there – so I made it, and my luggage did, too.

Next: The return to Europe; the valuable discussion with a retired 82yo Singaporean architect on the plane back to DOH; shopping at CPH Kastrup.

[N_Architect]

All right, no pics for the SIN-DOH leg but some comments. It is 5:30am and finally we are off, three full hours after originally scheduled to depart. Pretty busy flight, plane almost full, I’m in 5F again and on my left a retired Singaporean architect who is flying to the UK for visiting his son. He seems he has things to say and he needs some good company, so we start talking. Minute after minute, question after question from my part (something which I love), he tells me the ‘Singapore story’ as well as his own in a shortened version of course. He had his own architectural office, now he’s off the business. It is a privilege to talk to such people, you do get to learn a lot on a number of issues – on life, work, politics, to mention a few.

On the two seats to his left, i.e. on the port side of the aircraft (seats 5A and C) a couple sitting comfortably. Asians, now if you want me to tell ethnicity I wouldn’t bet on it but they look Thai to me from the little experience I have. Perhaps not, I really don’t know. Point of the matter is they don’t look like a real couple. They seldom talk, and when they do they never look at each other, instead they only look forward and open their mouth. She is in her early 40s and looks towards us pretty frequently. I like her, but am not making a move as she is theoretically escorted. She keeps playing that game throughout the flight, and I do the same. Lovely that orange handbag she carries with her (looks like Hermes). Her companion is wearing a large red ring in one of his left hand fingers. Upon disembarkation in DOH they get off the bus at the main terminal. They would actually join us later on the flight to ATH… (yes, they were on my next flight as well).

We land at 07:45 hrs. My connecting QR flight to ATH is scheduled for 08:05. Taxiing, off the plane, onto the bus, few minutes very slow ride to the Premium Terminal (PT), I jump off the bus and fast through security, I do not take out from the Dell carry-on case my two laptops instead I send it through the X-Ray machine, no fuss from nobody (!), sorry but no time to buy that Hermes Caliche (what a heavenly scent that is) or a mobile phone at the duty free shops, straight to the small gate for ATH departure, onto the luxury bus alone, off we go to the aircraft. Boarding fine for me but we’re still waiting for few more pax, Y and J ones. Seems a number of incoming flights to DOH were delayed that day.


It’s an A321 this time to ATH, looks newer than the A320-200s they use in this route.
J seat controls, etc. are slightly better designed/improved on this aircraft cabin.

In flight supervisor (or whatever QR calls them, I do not remember) comes and introduces herself. She is thin, tall, brown haired and quite beautiful. That QR scarf looks lovely on her. She is from Romania, and speaks very little Greek. For the purposes of this trip report we’ll call her Amanda. Very polite and courteous, she acknowledges when I say that I will skip the meal and instead I will have green tea with honey. I did have breakfast prior to landing in DOH anyway and a spinach pie is waiting for me at home, so sorry but no more airplane food for today. I end up drinking two green teas along with consuming the assorted tasty butter biscuits. Amanda keeps coming back offering a third tea, but in the fear of becoming an addict I decline the offer. I do find a number of opportunities to chat her up, be it duty free sales, discussion on perfumes, on Greece, but she does not appear to give that much of a space for more. I understand. I am in 03A, port side and the seat next to me is empty. Fantastic. I had originally chosen 02A but was reassigned upon arrival in DOH, if I remember correctly.


Seat 03A.


Ditto.


Having just passed the island of Rhodes earlier on our left, we continue to ATH.


Leg space shot, seat was reclined though at that moment.


Paros island on our left, Naxos island on the right. The beautiful Aegean sea and its islands.


Getting closer and closer to ATH.

[N_Architect]

Seats 03D and F.


One of the most expensive land areas (per sq. m.) in Europe – Vouliagmeni and Kavouri. Just before turning slightly right for final approach.
I am told that atmospheric conditions here (i.e. humidity, etc.) in that particular area are almost ideal all year long, no matter what the weather in nearby areas may be.


Glyfada area from high up, with the old ATH ‘Hellinikon’ airport visible at the far center.


Part of the area in-between the southern Attica coast and ATH ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ airport.


Attiki Odos (or ‘Attica Road’), the long highway connecting ATH Int’l Airport to the city and its northern suburbs.


Landing.


Taxiing.


Taxiing.

A week back home followed, but as you may imagine it is never enough. Pretty soon it was time to head back to ‘op base’, Riga.

Departure flight was SK to CPH, in C, then connecting to a BT flight to RIX, again in C.


Goldair lounge at ATH.


View outside the lounge, the Sofitel is the white building seen far left.


That was just about it, another fantastic and adventurous journey comes slowly to an end.

No pics again from the flight, apologies. C class almost full that day to CPH, SAS crew typical but after the meal service they disappeared, meal (lunch) was good, no green tea available on board, I am in my favorite 1F, seats are tight as the middle of the three seats is slightly wider and not covered by this plastic tray (however still ‘reserved for comfort’), baby in row 02 keeps crying throughout the flight but I don’t care, I’m comfortable enough and lucky to be able to afford flying C inter-E.U., flight uneventful apart from the fact that the Scandinavian Captain kept disturbing our peace every now and then through the very loud speakers so the 02 stbd side row baby was constantly on an ‘alert call’ and kept breaking our b***s, thank you SAS but nothing extraordinary overall and better send the three 50yr old FAs back and bring forward those two nice blonds by the way.

Arrival at CPH Kastrup. The England vs. Germany match is live soon. I take a walk round, plenty of shopping, prices are nothing extraordinary, Montblanc fountain pens seem slightly cheaper than Singapore, I barely manage to restrain myself and not get away with that platinum 146 (3,900 Kroner) or even the George Bernard Shaw limited edition (6k Kroner). I do get a set of four Danish porcelain tea cups at Eur 68, reduced from regular price Eur 214 (but no hand-painted light blue designs on the outside of the cup).

Off to the lounge for a beer and to watch the last 20 minutes or so of the match, I get shocked upon discovering it is 3-1, take some fish cakes, salad, bread, oregano crisps and a beer, 4-1 the pantzers, ok, MANFlyer is not happy but what to do now, have a safe flight back home for England and for me.

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it and promise to take more and of better quality pics next time.

N_Architect

[Paint Horse]

Great report as always. Please continue expressing your opinions. I value your insights.

[N_Architect]

Great report as always. Please continue expressing your opinions. I value your insights.

Thank you and noted. I was waiting to see if and when you may post a comment on this TR. Your feedback especially is always important to me.

[phaleesy]

While in Shanghai, I received an email message from a 29yo girl in Malaysia. Herself an entrepreneur, with multi-cultural origins and experiences (expat father), she found my (now inactive) profile in a dating website and dropped me a line. She appeared very positive in wanting to meet me, and as soon as I told her I’d be in Singapore a week later she noted that it would possibly be viable she could come over in order to meet. Well, at the end that did not happen and I do not know the reason why. I guess she changed her mind or something else interfered. While in Singapore, a day before my departure back to Europe, she sent me a quick email saying “Hello, where are you now?” I replied back “At the Shangri-La Singapore” but never heard from her again.

Cold feet, busy with work or playing hide-and-seek? Guess you'd never know but what a time-waster!

Great report as always. Please continue expressing your opinions. I value your insights.

What Paint Horse said, though there are several issues where our opinions differ.

[Kyo]

Thanks for the TR! Very thorough read and I wonder if I should start drafting TRs whilst on the plane also to save time...

Really had a good time seeing you again at the LD. If we'd known you were going to be in SIN until 5:30AM, you'd have no excuse to come to the after-party organised by kapitan... lol

[haf]

Thanks for the stories. Always enjoy reading them and the little detours you take

It's been 2.5 years for me out here now. I'm always up for a chat if you ever want to get a grasp on this town as an expat considering moving here. Just a different perspective - one of many you will hear along the way no doubt! Always good to see you well-taken care of by the boys when you arrive!