Singapore Fling
Singapore fling, not the Singapore Sling, the alcoholic drink first made in the Raffles Hotel Bar in the first half of the last century.
Singapore is the ideal place to break your journey when travelling to or from Europe for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has a wealth of activities for both young and old. There are hotels to cater to every taste and it is serviced by some of the best airlines in the world with their national carrier, Singapore Airlines, winning multiple awards over the past few years. And finally, the flight time from Singapore to Sydney or Melbourne is under eight hours.
High on our list was Gardens by the Bay. In January 2006, an international design competition was launched to seek world-class design ideas for Gardens by the Bay. A year later the first sod was turned and the rest, as they say, is history.
Singapore is the ideal place to break your journey when travelling to or from Europe for a number of reasons. Firstly, it has a wealth of activities for both young and old. There are hotels to cater to every taste and it is serviced by some of the best airlines in the world with their national carrier, Singapore Airlines, winning multiple awards over the past few years. And finally, the flight time from Singapore to Sydney or Melbourne is under eight hours.
High on our list was Gardens by the Bay. In January 2006, an international design competition was launched to seek world-class design ideas for Gardens by the Bay. A year later the first sod was turned and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Super Trees - measuring between 25 and 50 metres tall are tree-like vertical gardens, designed with large canopies that provide shade in the day and come alive with an exhilarating display of light and sound at night. Over 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers are planted on the Super trees.
With all that growth, it is not unexpected to see maintenance work taking place to keep the gardens looking pristine.
With all that growth, it is not unexpected to see maintenance work taking place to keep the gardens looking pristine.
Under the two domes, plants and trees can be found from every corner of our world. Bright flowers as well as spiky cacti.
Interspersed between the plants are statues to create a beautiful scene, or provide a contrast.
Interspersed between the plants are statues to create a beautiful scene, or provide a contrast.
It looks like Amigo is eating an ice cream and has shared it with Pablo the pony.
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Alice in Wonderland is wondering when she will be getting her ice cream. Can almost hear her shouting.
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Imagine for just one moment that you are not a human being. You are a little bug. You smell this wonderful smell and go and investigate, falling into this flower and can't climb back out.
Goodbye cruel world. |
Now imagine you are a young child and you are given a large supply of Lego blocks. Would you make a carnivorous plant, and a Lego insect, or just the plant.
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Of course not all plants are 'pretty pretty'.
Some look just like living stones. (Lithops)
Some look just like living stones. (Lithops)
With such beauty, who can resist a selfie?
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And who can resist posing for 'that' shot
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By now, half the day has gone,
and your feet are starting to hurt.
Time to move on to something else
and your feet are starting to hurt.
Time to move on to something else
Perhaps it is now time for a ride on the Singapore Flyer. The thirty minute ride, 165m above ground, gives those poor feet a chance to recover, and offers a good view over part of the city'. Hope you have a 'head' for heights.
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Enough of the touristy things. Time to boost the economy with a bit of retail therapy, and there is no shortage of therapeutic locations to choose from. Up-market, down-market, middle market, the choice is yours. My preference is to shop up-market at home so lets go and see what bargains are there for the asking that do not carry an up-market brand name.
Temple Street in China Town derives the name from the Sri Mariamman Temple which is the oldest Hindu Temple in Singapore, established in 1827. The Temple is located at the South Bridge Road end of the street.
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Shopping is hard work. Time for some lunch? What about eating both where, and what the locals are eating. Why not visit Bugis Junction in Down Town Singapore?
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