09.09 The smell and therefore the air in the room feels better. Most things are packed and I hope it isn’t too much in the backpack. The weight limit is at 15 kilograms. What makes it so heavy? On the TV they talk about some suspected terror attempts against aeroplanes from Great Britain. I hope this won´t affect us. It is hard to believe but still.

10.14 We’ve just returned from the breakfast buffet. It was slightly cold food but tasty. Outside of the window some guys struggle to sell different things. We also got more information regarding the transport to Clark airport. A taxi cost 3000 pesos. Buses leave from Philtranco bus station in the area Pasay during the day. What we don’t know is the time of departure. How shall we solve this? Take some of these alternatives or find a taxi of our own and negotiate with its driver?

11.33 We´ve come to some important decisions. 1, We will go by taxi all the way, no matter the cost. 2, We have exchanged dollars to afford the trip. 3, We rest in the room for twenty more minutes.

12.14 We are on the move again. We are travelling through Manila in a taxi. I think that we made a wise choice. I also know that Christer agrees with me. Now I just will lean backwards and enjoy the ride. The last one by land through the Philippines.

12.38 We just stopped to fill up with petrol. The taxi driver ”borrowed” 500 pesos from me. It sure went fast to fill up with petrol, either the tank is small or they just filled in a little bit petrol. The driver was sorry for his air conditioner being in such poor state. He pointed out that this must be important for us coming from such a cold country. We told him that Sweden and the Philippines have about the same temperatures during these summer days. He looked at us and asked if it was our dry season?

13.48 We left the highway and stopped. The driver is taking a leak. If it isn’t filling up it is letting out. We are entering Angeles.

14.30 We finally reached Clark airport which used to be an American airbase. The volcano Pinatubo’s eruption in 1991 put an end to this. The eruption also devastated the infamous prostitute areas in Angeles. A couple of days after the eruption a typhoon swept by. All those things were taken as signs for that God punished the sinners living there. Before checking in we had to move all liquids, creams and such from our hand luggage to the luggage that we checked in. This as a result of the events in Great Britain.

Peter having lunch at Clark Airport.

15.12 After spending pesos on a cheeseburger, soda and souvenirs we now sat down to wait. In less then an hour the time has come to leave the country.

15.45 The minute of embarkation is here. But neither we nor anyone else will get onboard. The start is delayed to 16.51.

16.39 New time for take off is 17.15. This means that we will get later to Singapore.

17.05 We are onboard and on seats 20 E, F. Before we got in here we saw the volcano Pinatubo. Today we´re flying with Tiger Airways.

Flying with Tiger Airways over the South Chinese Sea.

17.28 We are up in the air heading for Singapore. Behind us we leave the Philippines, Luzon, Clark and traces from Pinatubo's eruption in 1991. The traces consist of a broad brown grey track through the landscape. Before take off we looked out of the window and saw our backpacks being loaded on to the airplane. That feels safe.

19.08 Within the next hour we will start to land in Singapore. It is dark outside and in here people are sleeping.

19.37 Hungry

20.04 Our landing is estimated to 20.45. I am getting tired of flying, but I just have to accept the fact. The fact that we tomorrow will start a really long flight.

SINGAPORE

21.40 We landed an hour ago. Our packing was picked up and we had it x-rayed. I never had my luggage checked after I landed before. We took a shuttlebuss to T2, which is terminal 2. Here we exchanged money and arranged with a ticket to the MRT-station Bugis. Now we are on a train and in two stations we will make a switch. The switch is necessary or we won’t get to Bugis.

22.10 To switch went smoothly. Eight stations later we reached Bugis and a short stroll later we ended up at New 7th Storey Hotel. Here we stay in room 507. It is actually the same room number as in Days Hotel by the way. As we got here we were told at the reception that Shu Ming had phoned and looked for us. I assume she will call back and check up on us.

After a long day we finally reached our destination, New 7th Storey Hotel, Singapore.

22.32 While I was having a shower Shu Ming phoned us. She wanted, as I assumed, to check that all was OK with us. Now Christer had his body washed and we are heading for hamburgers, King Size and above.

23.25 We’ve returned home after a visit to Burger King. We consumed a Double Whopper Meal each. After a stop at 7 Eleven we now have been driven to our floor, Yes! driven, our lift is run by an elderly gentleman. Outside our window there is a huge yellow red DHL-balloon. Just next to our room is a small balcony with three sun beds. These we attend to us tomorrow morning if the weather is great.

Saturday 12th of August

08.05 We had hoped to sit down and enjoy the sun on the balcony. There will be nothing of that. The gray/cloudy sky blocks the sun. Today is the last day on Asian soil for this time. What shall we do with the backpacks during our walk around the city? We have to kill some hours before going to the airport.

Christer eating a Chinese breakfast.

10.37 The time has come to eat once more. Breakfast, not at Tiffany’s, but at Liang Seah Eating place. We have ordered their breakfast special, Chicken rice. A classic Chinese breakfast for short. Most people here eat their breakfast on their way to work, not at home as we are used to.

11.12 We are for the last time back in a room. Now we shall pack our stuff and brush our teeth. It is Ok to leave the backpacks on the ground floor.

The big balloon outside our hotel.

World record in air-conditioners?

12.31 A worried European girl has asked our Indian receptionist about different places in Singapore. Where is it safe? Where is it safe to stay? The man just smiled and said; "Everything is safe in Singapore!". The backpacks are left in the storage room at the hotel. We are back by the Singapore River. We are benchresting and drinking soft drinks.

13.03 We’ve returned to Chinatown. We are wondering if we shall buy a dried lizard, a parcel of dried seahorses each or some other peculiar stuff.

14.12 We carried on strolling. The heat affects the strength and pace. We are sitting with our backs to Clarke Quay. We need an air-conditioned mall. We need coffee.

Chinatown Point, one of many malls in Singapore.

Christer with some of Singapore´s high-rises.

Peter on his way to take some photos by Singapore River.

15.00 Coffee, yes. Air condition, yes. Mall, no. We are sitting at Café Delifrance opposite St Andrews cathedral. They have excellent coffee and Ok pastries. Now we lay out plans for the remaining hours. On the way here from Clarke we saw a bike-riding girl. She biked past a no riding sign. Added to the sign was a sign saying the fee for bike riding was $ 1000, US $ 660.

16.30 We carried on walking around in the town. One of the latest things we´ve seen is a peace monument.

17.37 We went to the Suntec City Mall. This is a world of its own. In this world we found a grocery store. We strolled back through other malls and now sit down at a Myanmar (Burmese) restaurant. There must be miles of malls areas in this city.

19.02 The Myanmar-food was delicious. It is soon time for the final ride by land in Asia. What remains is this train ride, the one we switch to the take off of our plane and the landing and take off in Bangkok. We have informed a young couple that this train, with a change, goes to the airport.

19.34 We made a short stop at terminal 2. Here we rearrange the packing. Only the most important and nothing forbidden in the hand luggage.

19.54 We just had a short train ride between T2 and T1. Now we prepared the packs for the flight.

20.41 We’ve waved bye, see you in Stockholm!, to the backpacks. Furthermore we have checked where the gate is, made some purchases, and got ourselves some things to eat and drink and now sit down in a plush armchair each. The tiredness we felt earlier is gone. Now one can travel on for 46 more days, or?

21.02 We are sitting by the gate and wait to board. We had no bigger problems at the security control. Just a beep from the zippers on my shorts. We have once more seen the couple we guided.

21.29 Onboard the plane. Seats 46 G, H. Here we will be remained seated for a while. As a start there will be a two hours flight to Bangkok.

An empty plane during our stop in Bangkok.

23.38 We’ve landed in Bangkok and entered a new time zone. This one is one hour behind Singapore time. Outside it is dark and 31° degrees warm. We had a little to eat on the flight.

Sunday 13th of August

01.08 After 20-25 minutes of taxing we left Bangkok’s airport at around 01.00. Now they promised us more food. What shall I do? Eat a little, sleep a lot or just simply sleep?

02.03 I am listening to music but will soon turn it off, put out the lights and sleep.

CHANGING TIME ZONE

FINLAND

06.58 Now we are back in Finnish time. We have returned to Helsinki’s airport. In less then three hours we will take off again. This time towards Stockholm.

07.11 We keep sitting on the same spot as we sat the last time we were here, that is in June. Now as then we have received the news that the flight is delayed. Not as bad this time, only fifteen minutes.

08.24 The couple we helped in Singapore has walked by here. Are they on their way to catch our plane? Tomorrow I will get up and go to work. It sure feels far away.

Peter sitting on the same spot as he did in June.

08.54 We are waiting by our last gate for this time. We are sitting by gate 13 and wait to board the plane to Stockholm.

10.24 We finally left Helsinki airport. As we took off a man got too eager to also get up. Strong words over the loud speaker brought him back in the seat.

SWEDEN

CHANGING TIME ZONE

10.07 We are back in Sweden and in time. Now we just will get to the gate, get out, bring our luggage with us and get to Sky City here at Arlanda Airport. There we will eat and get down to the train that will take us closer to home.

10.34 First we waited by carousel 1. Others that were waiting were our fellow passengers and a lot of luggage from Heathrow, Budapest and Vienna. All these had been sent on the 11th of August, the day for the suspected terror plans. After a while we changed carousel and there were the backpacks we waved good-bye to in Asia.

11.54 We just had lunch at our favourite place Alfredo’s here at Arlanda. Now we will digest the consumed and soon to down one floor to wait for the train.

12.51 Around 24 hours ago we were on our way on the train that would take us to Changi Airport in Singapore. Now we are sitting on the train that will take us to Sundsvall in Sweden.

13.36 In the beginning of this trip I mentioned that it would take a while before we saw a Swedish forest landscape again. We are now, back in that forest area.

14.52 Through the train window the sun comes in. Green forests, red cabins and blue lakes pass.

15.29 In about twenty minutes the two travel pals will part for this time. Has everything gone well? Have we had fun? Will we travel again? The answer to these entire questions is a solid yes. The latest news from our friend Roberth is that he is testing beer in Prague at a furious pace. What will happen there we don’t know, but our summer trip on 47 days ends here.

16.08 I am back where I started. I am sitting on the bus to Docksta. In the luggage compartment is my backpack filled with clothes and stuff from the trip. In here I sit filled with energy and amazing memories. But I don’t want to travel again. At least not until l have washed my clothes, aired out my backpack and slept in a bed.