Ah yes, this is the life. The executive life. So we arrive at Manchester airport and there’s a huge queue to check in for Singapore Airlines. We start ambling towards the queue and this guy says “Singapore Air?” to which I reply yes. He points to the back of the queue and as cool as you like I say “we’re business class” and just like a 1980′s Martini advert suddenly we’re important and are immediately taken to the front of the line to the check in. Fantastic. We toddle off to the executive lounge to wait for the flight and for some breakfast.

We then get onto the plane before the rabble (turning left as we do) and I felt like I’d come home. When my girlfriend and I flew back from Antigua in the summer it was on a chartered flight with zero inches of legroom and we were praying the plane would crash and save us from our misery (we decided then and there to never fly economy long haul again – it helped us through the pain barrier). I’d already read about the flat-folding beds in Raffles class (as it’s called) so I knew what to expect but I was well impressed by just how much space we got. Not just the space in front but the seats are much wider than normal, and oh-so-comfy. With constant drinks, 4 course meal (and 3 course breakfast), being called by my name, and of course comfortable seats we arrived in Singapore 12.5 hours later feeling surprisingly fresh. It’s amazing just how much less it takes out of you flying properly.

Anyway, we fly to Christchurch tonight after 3 days here in Singapore and that should finish off the executive lifestyle. It’ll be back to basics, sleeping bags, tents, bed and breakfasts. Can’t wait. In the meantime have a look at some photos I’ve taken around Singapore that capture the essence of the place for me.