Singapore - our final two days

After the Cloud Dome at the Gardens by the Bay we visited the slightly smaller but no less impressive Flower Dome.  The temperature was temperate, still refreshing compared to the outside heat, but not as cooling as the Cloud Dome.  Hence there were flowers and a vast array of cacti.  There was a special exhibition of spring flowers from Europe - so lots and lots of tulips and daffodils, which seemed incongruous to our eyes, but were very popular with the locals.

Trying to capture the architecture

wooden dragon!!!

 Unfortunately hereafter the battery on my camera died after overuse, so no more photos that day.  The battery was charged again overnight and the next day, our penultimate day in Singapore, we  had the opportunity to visit my oldest friend's sister K, who had moved to Singapore in 2014.  Richard dropped us off at her address at the Changi Sailing Club.

It was lovely to see K and we enjoyed her kind and generous hospitality.  The children enjoyed a swim in the pool and we enjoyed lunch together and heard all about her new life in Singapore and her training to volunteer as an official tourist guide.  We particularly enjoyed the chance to relax and do nothing but chat, with nothing to see and nowhere to go, which was a perfect way to wind down after such an amazing adventure.

Richard collected us at the arranged time, and we dined out that evening near the waterfront at a huge and busy seafood restaurant.

Our host family went home taking Tom to bed as it was our last evening in Singapore.  Richard then took us as promised to the rooftop bar and brewery at Level 33 - a trendy place to observe the nightlights of Singapore.  http://www.level33.com.sg/

So that was it.  Our trip was all but over.  The next day was the flight home, leaving and landing on a Friday, so we'd have the weekend to recover before getting back into the swing of things and returning to our normality.

For me the highlight was meeting with our sponsored child.  But the whole experience was unforgettable.  Vietnam and Singapore in style.  I recommend it.

Kat.

Singapore - Gardens by the Bay

Walking back after the dog walk we passed the tree most commonly seen in Singapore - the Rain Tree.  'The Rain Tree can easily be identified by its big umbrella-shaped crown. The leaves have a habit of folding up at dusk and before rainy weather, hence its name. When the Rain Tree blooms, the crown is covered in clusters of pink-white flowers'. source: common trees in Singapore.

Richard took us down to the Street Food market for lunch.  We passed the ParkRoyal hotel(?) on the way - with its interesting terraces...

Whilst the food was delicious the experience was a little sanitized - in keeping with Singapore's reputation for safety.

Gardens by the Bay -   SuperTree Grove

Kingfisher sculpture and Marina Bay Sands building and rooftop garden in background:  Marina Bay Sands

yet more food!

what's distracting Simon?

that'll be it...

ah, take me back, all is forgiven.

approaching the Gardens by the Bay Cloud-dome

we didn't see any...

Marina Bay Sands again

I bet that's a full-time job...

Inside the Cloud-dome.  Phew!

Orchids, obviously

Cloud-dome sky walk.  I didn't do it.

Count the animals in the carving.  There's more than you think!

The cloud-dome was spectacular.  Not only in the architecture and design, in the eco-system and built-in self-reliance, but in the wonderfully refreshing cool temperature (by comparison to outside) and the habitat planting.  I'd have a season ticket to this place, a jewel in Singapore's crown, the wow factor and the calmness combined for a special experience we won't ever forget.

Kat

Singapore - Night Safari & curry for breakfast!

This is one of the things Singapore is famous for.  I had mixed feelings, as I always do when visiting a zoo, but the aspect of going after dark was an interesting spin on things.  It was very busy, but we got into the queues and watched the show, and then toured round on the bus, and got off and walked a way.

This was our host for the show part of the attraction.  She was very knowledgeable.  I've forgotten what she said.

Wolf.  need I say more?

Unfortunately these are the best of the pictures I took that night.  I think my camera battery was running down, and it's not best easy to take photos of animals in the dark unless you're a professional and have the super-dooper equipment.

The next day Richard took us to to have curry for breakfast - apparently a must when visiting Singapore...  it was surprisingly good.

Richard had walked us to his nearest curry-house, along with his dog, and on the way back we ventured onto a walkway in the nearby nature resort to explore a little more.  We came across a family of monkeys, and then the vista was pure virgin rainforest - which is what Singapore would have been like when Stamford Raffles found it in January 1819.

All this before lunch.

More about that next time.

night y'all,  Kat