Changi is the name of the Singapore international airport (there is no domestic airport in Singapore, as it's a city state, so no where else in this 'country' to fly...).
I find it a very appropriate name, just with reference to the Indonesian language, where 'changi' actually means ultra-modern, super-fancy, chic... and that's certainly a great description of the Singapore airport, and most of Singapore for that matter! It was officially classified as a 5-star airport, and also unofficially on sites like sleepinginairports.com has been recognized as a fabulous place to be stuck in transit (if one has to be stuck in transit).
So that's what I am... and that's why you're hearing about this airport (from an ultra high-speed free internet connection in a swank free lounge/relaxation oasis)...
From Wikipedia: There are many versions for the etymological roots of the name Changi. One source says that it comes from a climbing shrub, the changi ular(Apama corymbosa), which grew in the area. Another claims that it gets its name from a tall tree, the chengai (Balanscarpus heimii), which abounded in the area in the early nineteenth century. Changi could also be a variation of the local timber named chengai. This heavy local timber is commonly used for buildings and furniture, and is valued for its strength and renowned for its deep rich colour.
With a 6 hour transit in Istanbul on my way back to Indonesia last month, instead of hanging out in the airport, I decided I would like to see a little of this city steeped in history. Turkish Airlines actually offers a free city tour if you are in transit for 8 hours or more, but that didn't apply to me, unfortunately, so...
I hopped on the subway, transferred to the tram, and bumped and jostled my way into the heart of the old city... one that has been the heart of the Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, and spans two continents! As I watched the sunset over the Blue Mosque, I walked along the Bosphorus, feet firmly in Europe, and gazed over at the full moon rising over Asia, dolphins frolicking in the foreground.
I walked the narrow cobblestone back alleyways of Sultan Ahmet, admiring history in the patchwork of layer after layer of building materials used to rebuild crumbling walls after each of the many earthquakes that have plagued the city. And I covered as much ground, and absorbed as much of the life as I could in the short time I had.
After prayers, when the devout streamed out of the mosques as the sun set, the city came to life, and I realized that there was no better time to be here than during the fasting month of Ramadan! The public plazas were filled with colourful decorations, families and lovers, music, and FOOD! I watched the Whirling Dervishes - to be perfectly honest, I had no idea that this was something that actually existed... I guess I had a vague inkling that it was a term for someone running around crazy like a chicken with their head cut off, or perhaps a Tasmanian devil type figure... Now that I have delved into the story, I can say that it's just the opposite of that silly notion! In fact, the Whirling Dervishes are a sect of Muslims, and the dance symbolizes the harmony of life - the motion is that of the earth and every molecule there-in, just as electrons revolve around the nucleus of all existing matter. You can see more about the Whirling Dervishes on this interesting page.
I sat in the evening plaza, munching on my doner, and reveled in partaking in the routine daily life of this Turkish city.
Sticky, sickeningly sweet candy-on-a-stick in hand, I headed back to the airport, utterly exhausted!
It's 9 am at Toronto Pearson Airport. I have an extra-long transit time in the Toronto airport since arriving on my flight from Ecuador while waiting to catch the bus which will deliver me home...
I arrived, zipped through customs and found an out-of-the way comfy chair to set myself up an enclave for a nap, a read, or to enjoy the (finally!) free wi-fi at the airport.
It is also strategically located with a view of the Tim Horton's lineup.
I took up my post at 7am. I'm not in a rush... I have hours to fill until 2pm... so I decided I would wait to make my approach on Timmy's until there was no lineup. It's been 2 hours, and it's not looking promising! There has been a constant line of at least 10 people, at times 2- and 3-deep! All I wanted was a Timmies, now back on my home soil... or perhaps it's the cloves that have me craving... ??? Anyway, it's an eye opener at the lucrative coffee business of Timmies!
Sorry... I just realized that last post was rather out of the blue for most of you! And then I forgot to POST this post - hahaha! So here it is almost a month later - more on the last month to come!
A quick update:
I spent until mid-March in the Galapagos with Martin, enjoying the enchanted islands, trying to figure out the best ways to run our little dive business, luxuriating in the sun sand surf and sharks and sealions, and being frustrated over both our visa issues!
Enjoying the sea breeze on Isabella Island
Curious baby sealion allowed out to play for the 1st time!
Mid-March I arrived back in Indonesia, with a teeny stopover in Florida to see my parents in their fabulous new digs and enjoy a special belated birthday dinner and some delicious strawberry shortcake together!
Best birthday dinner ever!
yummmy!
I specifically came back to Indonesia to support the filming of our education program by a Swiss TV documentary - it was a great success, and I can't wait to see the program! They agreed that it is probably the most important program for conservation of this phenomenally biodiverse area, and we all think this film will do wonders for funding the future of the program... fingers crossed! I have also had a great deal of opportunity to work with the Kalabia and do some more training with the education team since being back.
Students gather outdoors with Kalabia at the end of the jetty
Then, and as a result of that week of filming, I had the incredible opportunity to be aboard the MV Pindito for her first ever Whale-Macro Journey, which was informational, inspirational, fun, and all-round absolutely fabulous!
I feel like I've spent a lot of time in transit over the last few months... in fact, I'm writing this post from a transit lounge in the Makassar airport.
Perhaps this feeling of extended transit also relates to the fact that I feel like I'm at the point in my life where I'm waiting for my flight to be called in the departure lounge as well....
Anyway, my last two trips between Indonesia and Canada, with imperfect connections, were longer than usual… and conducive to jet lag, and arriving not knowing which end was up!
Singapore Changi Airport
The massage chairs are gone!?! Imagine my dismay, when, after walking from the far end of Terminal 3, ALL THE WAY through terminals 2 and 1 to my favourite spot in Singeapore’s Changi International Airport, the Oasis lounge, only to find out that its major draw for me (ie. the free full-body massage chairs) are no longer there! Now, those of you who know Changi know that it’s no small feat to walk all that way… but I figured I’d get some exercise after my 6 hour flight from Tokyo to Singapore, then have a delectable rest at Oasis… unfortunately it was not to be!
But I found Sanctuary, which was the next best thing… super-comfy reclined chairs, surrounded by live plants, and dimmed lighting. I have since been given some insider information that I must look near the out-of-the-way window seating in T 2 next time…
Personal Entertainment System
The advent of the personal entertainment system on long-haul flights is something I praised until my last flight... Someone forgot to tell the dude sitting behind me that it’s TOUCH screen, not punch screen… so for 14 hours from Toronto to Tokyo, I had to put up with my head bobbing about at the whim of Mr.IronMan and his entertainment selections… not fun. Oh, but this guy couldn’t just pick a movie and go with it… no, he was listening to music the entire time, and choosing it SONG by SONG!
The flight connections didn’t work out so smoothly on my last trip, so I actually had an overnight in Japan. Ok, well, I got the cheapest airport hotel available and figured at least I’d arrive well rested! Lucky me, the Hotel Nikko Narita has a free shuttle service not only from the airport to the hotel, but also into the city of Narita. (Yes, another case where the Tokyo international airport isn’t actually IN Tokyo… the nearest city is Narita). But anyway, the shuttle meant I actually got into town, had some fabulous Japanese food, and visited an absolutely gorgeous temple and park compound. I had the entire place to myself.
... there happened to be a few geocaches hidden in around there, so that is what i had for a tour-guide!
On my more recent transit through Frankfurt airport, I got a LOT of exercise! I decided to try a geocache which was IN the airport… well, it turned out that I had to walk the entire length of the airport to get to it (then RUN BACK to my departure gate so I wasn't late for the flight!) – I approximate it was at least 3 kilometers each way!
