Did I mention that I love Singapore. It's clean and quiet, and has amazing gardens
I started my day with my hotel breakfast. I knew what to expect, and what had too much dairy for my delicate body (no waffles for me, which meant no waffles for the starlings that hang out by the poolside restaurant). Instead of waffles, I made do with smoked salmon, sourdough bread and plenty of fresh fruit. This morning, they had watermelon juice with a hint of ginger. Wonderful. And the hostess remembered that I like mint tea. I used my manners and thanked her for her attentiveness.
I then finally turned on the tv and watched “The Age of Adeline” starring Blake Lively. It was a nice hotel movie (did I tell you that I watched Bad Moms on the plane on the way here. Laughed out loud a few times).
I started to get hungry, so I forced myself out, hopped on the metro, and went to the Old Airport Road Hawking Centre. It's a food court out where the real people live, with about 60 stalls, each selling their own specialties. Tables are on the outside and the middle.
I walked around once completely before getting a mango and soursop juice, then another rotation before choosing something to eat. I honestly have no idea of whether I got what I ordered, but I ended up with bbq pork, deep fried wontons and baby bok choy on noodles. It was delicious.
I was a little disturbed when I saw cages of turtles at two different stalls. I'm always uncomfortable when I see food that is still in the form of a live animal from whence it came. The turtles had some sort of weird rope bondage thing going on. I wasn't entirely sure whether they were still alive, but if they were, the ropes would prevent them from going anywhere.
Then it was back on the metro to visit an ice cream parlour that had sorbets. Fortunately, this ice cream parlour (Island Creamery) was very close to the Botanical garden, my other tourist attraction of the day. The Old Airport Road Hawking Centre was my first attraction, although most people there seemed to be locals.
Turns out the sorbet flavours of the day were soursop and mango. They were as good in sorbet form as in juice form.
Now, on to the gardens. They have been designated as a Unesco world heritage site, and like all heritage sites, they were impressive. Equally impressive to the horticultural splendour was the local use. There were many multigenerational families picnicking; some people were practising dance. Joggers were abundant and unobtrusive. It was full but not crowded.
The orchid centre was at the far end of the park, which made for pleasant discoveries on the 1.3 kilometre walk there. There was a bamboo grove, with couples tucked in off the pathway. A palm forest bordered Symphony Lake, with its floating bandshell. There is also an evolution garden, a children's garden and a few other specialty gardens.
But the orchid centre was by far the most impressive part. It was bigger than the Sunken Garden at Butcharts, and had oh so many orchids. My favourite area featured orchids named after visiting dignitaries. The first was in honour of Margaret Thatcher, although the William and Kate one was prettier.
There were arbours and gazebos and many winding paths. And oh so many orchids blooming in great profusion. Overall, the orchid garden was very green, with splashes of cover, but my pictures don't show that. They show colours galore.
And speaking of pictures, I didn't bring everything I needed to to upload pictures. You'll have to wait til I get back.
The clock just outside the orchid garden had four faces with the time in different places. Vancouver was right up there with London and Singapore. I don't remember looking at the fourth side.
I opted for dinner in the food court in the mall attached to the hotel. Same sorts of foods as at the Hawkers Centre I went to for lunch. Same sort of prices too. Just a newer, fancier environment.
And no turtles.
I have a half day here tomorrow, so I'll have another delicious hotel breakfast and go to Sephora to be a girly girl for a few minutes.
I'm happy to report that my shoes are finally dry (it took four days) and I found some spray to counter the inevitable smell.
I'm so very glad that I came to Singapore. It's amazing.
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