Singapore
24-27 September
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24 SEP
Everything about Singapore is first class, first rate and first world. We flew here on Singapore Airlines, maybe the best airline in the world. It helped that we had business class tickets, too. The airport was spotlessly clean, the expressway coming into town was tree lined, free of litter, no potholes in the road, and all the buildings were sleek, modern and clean. We have emerged from the third world!
25 SEP
We decided today to go to the Jurong Bird Park, a huge place where hundreds of bird species are on display in massive aviaries. As you walk through the entry area, large arches full of orchids greet you. Each arch specializes in orchids of a particular color, ex. one arch had only yellow orchids, another pink, and another white. We’d never seen so many orchids! It took all day to maneuver through the park, especially when one is as fond of photographing birds as we are. There were many birds from this part of the world that aren’t seen in other bird parks. There were 3 species of birds of paradise, native to New Guinea and numerous species of hornbills, some of which we will hopefully be able to see in Borneo on our safari there. The park is lushly landscaped with tropical vegetation, flowers and epiphytes growing wildly and profusely on the trees. We enjoyed the time we spent there!
26 SEP
We had planned to take a harbor cruise today, but due to the fact that this past weekend there was a Formula 1 Grand Prix auto race in the vicinity, the cruise wasn’t operating. There was too much deconstructing and clean up going on. So, we went to the Singapore Botanic Garden and National Orchid Garden instead. We can honestly say there probably is not another place like this one in the world. The orchid garden was absolutely fabulous. What set it apart from other orchid gardens was the fact that in the others we’ve visited, the orchids are confined to hot houses that you tour. Here, in Singapore, the climate is a perfect hot house with temps and humidity just right for the flowers. So, they grew in profusion outside in the gardens. They were so stunning that you couldn’t stop taking photos.
Another large component of the botanical gardens is the Ginger Garden. Many species are grown there, as they are all over the downtown area, too. The entire botanic gardens takes up a lot of area, and all of it is so well managed, manicured and maintained. We couldn’t even imagine the funds that must be necessary to keep an enterprise like this one going. In addition to the gardens, the city itself is generously endowed with trees, shrubs, and all sorts of greenery. It’s just a beautiful city!
27 SEP
This morning we took a short cruise in Singapore harbor. The port area is huge; Singapore is a major sea hub for shipping. There are also many small nearby islands that make up the country. Most fascinating was a building that was a series of 3 towers with what looked like a ship on the top spanning all the towers. On top of the ship-like structure was a garden of trees and greenery. As it turns out, it is the Marina Bay Sands, an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay in Singapore. Developed by Las Vegas Sands, it is billed as the world's most expensive standalone casino property at S$8 billion, including cost of the prime land. There is also a ferris wheel in this area called the Singapore Flyer. It’s a giant—42 stories high, taller than most of the tall buildings around it. It boasts 28 air conditioned capsules with seating for 30 people in each.
We’ve enjoyed our brief stay here in this city. Singapore is vibrant and growing. New construction is going up everywhere. There seems to be a good amount of industry here, clean industry. Education and health care are important priorities. Singapore could be a role model for the type of city we need to see more of in the 21st century.
Orchid
Singapore Botanical Gardens
Pictures: Due to the additional number of pictures we wanted to post for Singapore, please view them at our photo website below.