Overseas trip 2013 - Part 2: Singapore

 

ION Orchard shopping mall after dark

Hello again!

 

Before I get into my Singapore vacation post I have to say there's so much more to Singapore than I'm showing here - and if you're wondering why there aren't any pictures from places like the Singapore Flyer, Universal Studios, Chinatown, or Little India just to name a few it's because we've visited and snapped those on previous trips to Singapore. The photos I've posted just represent our newest experiences in this wonderful place.  After several trips over the years I've developed a genuine love for Singapore so I'd return again in a heartbeat - the climate, the food, the greenery, the shopping, the ever evolving nature of the place, and of course the people - I have a growing circle of Singaporean friends (in Australia too!) so that gives me another reason to love the place...

 

Singapore Zoo

 

 

 

The Singapore Zoo has the most impressive, lush setting so I was just as interested in taking pictures of the vast gardens as the animals.  Seeing the white tigers was a highlight, as was seeing the hippo mama and baby snuggling!
 

 

Marina Bay Sands

The last time I was in Singapore, Marina Bay Sands resort was still under construction and I was incredulous at the design, apparently inspired by a deck of cards (fun fact from Wikipedia).  This time around we did the obvious touristy thing and visited the rooftop Sands SkyPark to take in the view - and maybe check out the iconic infinity pool too.  Well, the rooftop pool can only be accessed by those staying at Marina Bay Sands or a limited number of visitors with special passes so that was out but we did get the view on a relatively clear day.

The cityscape view...

...the two conservatories at Gardens by the Bay...

...and the Singapore Flyer as seen from across the Marina Bay.

My men were checking out the National Day rehearsals down below on the water while I played stealthy paparazzo!  

 

Art Science Museum

Another amazing new building - this one's modelled on the lotus flower and the clever design also captures rainwater which is then recycled for use inside the building.  This was damn difficult to photograph and in retrospect I should have tried to stitch together a panorama to get the whole structure in!  We spent some time inside viewing the current 'Mummy: Secrets of the Tomb' exhibition.

 

One of the many waterlilies in the pond outside. 

 

 

S.E.A. Aquarium

We unluckily chose the very day the local kids were off from school to visit the aquarium so it seemed all of Singapore was in attendance! 

 

Gardens by the Bay - Supertree Grove

 

 

 

I've heard several people refer to the Supertree Grove as being very Avatar-like.  I truly envy the imagination of the person who envisioned this because it seems so prehistoric and other-worldly.  There's a walkway suspended in the air connecting the 16 storey high trees and we paid a measly sum of $5SGD for the privilege.  The trees are also illuminated at night and seeing them all lit up is on my return visit wishlist!

 

Flowerdome

 

 

The Flowerdome is one of the two massive air conditioned conservatories in Gardens by the Bay and was an interesting mix of floral whimsy and other unusual foliage displays including the cactus garden just above.   I've spared you here but for some reason I took a disproportionate (read 'ridiculous') number of pictures of cacti and succulents - probably because they were actually the first things greeting me when I entered the dome!

 

 

Cloud Forest

The Cloud Forest dome was dominated by the cooling 35-metre waterfall spraying fine mist everywhere and the manmade mountain blanketed in rainforest plants. You take an elevator to the top of the mountain then make your way down via the wire walkway encircling it. 


Equinox

To finish I'm sharing the wonderful view of Marina Bay my husband and I enjoyed during our dinner for two at Equinox restaurant, some 70 floors up.


Next post:  The great Singapore beauty haul!