Singapore

Flower dome and Cloud City, Gardens by the Bay

I visited gardens by the Bay on a night tour last time I visited. It included a walk around and then a view from near the top of the hotel. This time I expanded my stay and paid for the tickets to go in the giant domes. Video: https://youtu.be/oWo0kgt9dCo

The first was the flower dome. It was cool temperature unlike a hot house with some impressive displays and complete view to the outside. Video: https://youtu.be/oWo0kgt9dCo

I played with my new toy. A 360 camera. Because of this I have more video than i have pictures. I am still playing with the video which I have uploaded to YouTube in my library: LouiseMaine.

After the flower dome, we went to cloud city which had characters from the new Avatar movie scattered around. They also had a machine that scanned your face and would turn you into an Avatar. Video: https://youtu.be/GH9IFs-Zc20

There are 360 views to the outside which is breathtaking.

One of my 360 videos is here: https://youtu.be/bHNEekshtaw

Though not part of that tour, as we were leaving Singapore I learned there was a large waterfall in the mall connected to the airport. It is a vortex waterfall and I am so glad I checked my luggage and received my ticket then went across to see it. Pretty spectacular. There are hiking paths along the bottom that you can access at various points that lead to overhead walkways.

Now off to Manila!

Little India and Kampong Glam

Our hotel was in Little India which is pretty if a heritage trail that also goes through a Muslim quarter called Kampong Glam. The street art, good, and vice was amazing. One of the items on our agenda was to get a western COVID vaccine. The trails led is too the hospital clinic we needed.

Kampong Glam, Sultán temple

The food here in Singapore is amazing. One of the other things that we did was to find the local Hawker Street to eat like a local.

There I also found a nice gentleman to fix my sandal as the bottom was falling off. A total of 3 Singaporean dollars which is about 2 USD. He would not take a tip.

And of course I again had a Singapore sling at the original Raffles hotel. The drink was created for women as they were not allowed to drink in public and it looked non alcoholic.

This is my second trip to Singapore, the first when COVID had first hit the world and I had made the choice to go back to China rather than the US. I revisited some places I had already been as I was traveling with someone who had never been here but also did more street wandering.

I love Singapore. It is not just a green city with the number of gardens but also with their electric vehicles. There are large buildings but it is very open. There is a lot of history here.

I stayed in Little India which is one historic area here. Off of Serangoon Road, it has colorful buildings and shops with amazing restaurants. The street art is fabulous. As we walked to various places we also found different routes to find new places.

Of course the most iconic places are the esplanade and the marina sands/gardens but the bay area. We visited during the day and at night.

The esplanade boasts the Merlion statue of a mythical creature.

Across the bay is the famous marina sands hotel.

On the way are many historic buildings.

These buildings recreate Durian, the smelly fruit you either love but many hate.

Gardens by the Bay are giant structures that have plants growing up them. They are iconic in the skyline and a beautiful park along the way across from the esplanade and under the shadow of the Marina Sands.

From the gardens you can walk through the center of the Marina Sands on an elevated walkway.

On our last night we bought tickets for winter wonderland festival at the gardens. Music, lights, food, but a lot of people….. Add still a pandemic. It is tough coming from China to freedom. Actually a little scary for us.

We also visited another park with different views of places we had been. I loved the food but most importantly the ability to walk around in a beautiful environment!

Singapore botanic garden and the official Singapore Sling!

I needed to go for a really long walk after days of little activity. The botanic garden is beautiful.

Swan lake

Ginger garden

In the center of the garden.

Evolution garden focused on how plants shaped the world for animals. Plants have been around much longer and or histories are wound together.

I went back for a swim to cool down and to do some more work. Later I went out to find the legendary Raffles hotel and the Long Bar to drink their original Singapore sling. This drink was made for women as they were not allowed to drink in 1915 in public. The bartender made a drink that looked like fruit punch but with alcohol so they could!

This hotel costs $700 Singapore dollars a night. Looking at the cars, I can see that. The people who work there are dressed in turn off the century uniforms.

Inside the Raffles Long Bar.

This machine will shake 6 Singapore slings at the same time (including my drink in the bar!!!!)

I spent 3 hours there talking to the gentleman beside me. He is from Ohio and a professor that worked in Guangzhou (near where I live might I add) and then on Macao. He was here for a job interview. It was nice talking to him. We had a lot of similar experiences and life histories except he is younger.

Many of the places had sings about having symptoms or having been in countries of concern should not visit tourist spots. I did not go inside out of respect. I have no symptoms but have been in those countries.

Coming to Singapore and leaving Singapore to Thailand I have had the most extensive screening due to my US passport and China visa. I am now set to leave for Bangkok and my appointment before moving back to China. As the coronavirus numbers have declined dramatically there but are increasing around the world, it is looking safer there.

Singapore

I had scheduled an appointment at a hospital in Bangkok and it was easier to come to Singapore first rather than the layovers traveling from Malaysia. Over three days I took a few breaks from online grading mostly to find food but one night light tour.

Singapore has it together. It is a beautiful city and amazing. Its response to coronavirus is to temperature sensor everyone everywhere. Hand sanitizer was available everywhere too.

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. While I was in Singapore I was temperature checked everywhere I went including breakfast.

Walking down towards the marina.

Down at the marina. Behind me is the marina sands hotel and casino.

The center has an infinity swimming pool looking over Singapore.

Down by the arts complex a band was warming up for the nights show.

On the way back I walked through the esplanade park. This is front of the Asia museum.

Night light tour.