Scooter girl rides again

Finally a decent shot of Merlion

Singapore Straight full of boats

Scooter girl

Waving goodbye to Marina Bay Sands

Finally met one of the fast car guys,
he was lovely

Flossy the dog, out enjoying Sunday
lunch with her family

Waterfall at Jewel at Changi

Airport train between terminals T2 and T3
goes right by the waterfall
(also caught this train just for the fun of it)

Late checkout arranged so thats brilliant I can get out and about for a bit longer as there is always just one more thing I want to do. Lets walk back over to Merlion and hustle with the Chinese tourists and see if I can get a better shot. The Merlion is the quintessential image of Singapore and is a mythical creature with a lion's head and the body of a fish. Gee, these ladies are pushy, this noisy one thinks I want a photo with her, no lady you have had your turn move on, please. Now another one wants a photo with me, I don’t have Bec today what is going on?

Let’s escape this madhouse and do the thing that I liked the best in Singapore, scootering. Its flat, there are lots of paths and places to explore. The scooter lady tells me to take the red one as it is faster. Ok, then, yep its heaps faster, off I go under the bridge and into new territory. Just at the same time, the wind arrives and then it pours down. Are these scooters rain magnets? A bit of kit adjustment and I am off again, along the river, around the parliament precinct, hello Elgin Bridge. Is there something called Elgin in every country? Its raining even harder, time to shelter and watch the boats go by. 

Eventually, the rain eases and onwards I travel, I think this is where I turn. Bit of green at the end of the street and yes I have made it to the base of Fort Canning Park, but how do I cross the road and get to the top of the hill? Whizz a bit further down and find a crossing but the hill still looks insurmountable. A French guy out for a run, assures me if I just gun it straight up that path with the workman I will be there. Hmm, not too sure, he says its fine its electric you will make it and I am running that way too, throttle on full, go. Zoom, zoom, stop, I make it halfway. French guy comes running up behind and offers to push it the rest of the way up the hill. I decline and do it myself and then I am off and going again around to Raffles House. I have made the highest point and think it is kind of weird that 200 years ago when Raffles built his house he did not know he would have such a good view of Marina Bay Sands.

Photos done, starting to rain again, time to move on, oh oh, the scooter wont start, its displaying a message E16. What do I do now? Eventually, I take a gamble and push straight towards Marina Bay Sands, down 50+ steps, clunk, clunk, I hope travel insurance covers me if this scooter is broken. The gamble worked,  walking through another new area now and then I see the bay and can short cut back to scooter place. 

They give me a new scooter and zoom, I am off again out to Marina Barrage, I want to see the otters but they are not home today, its so good zooming along rather than walking, this really is the perfect way to explore Singapore. The barrage creates the barrier between the fresh water in Marina Bay and the sea. I figure out I can scooter right to the top of the barrage building, everything is awesome! Wind starting to pick up, that means more rain is on the way time to head back. Another bird from my Singapore top ten list flys by. That's 8 out of a possible 10, much higher success rate using the Rikki ‘homemade mini guide’ method.

I return to the room a drenched rat, time to shower and rethink my packing I won't be wearing these shoes home to Oz. The final bit of the journey also has a long list of things to the Jewel, only opened a few weeks ago it is a shopping centre centred around an amazing indoor waterfall and lots of extra experiences like a virtual race on your push bike with a taxiing plane.  Its a madhouse everyone in Singapore must be here, the Pokemon shop is the most popular, I could do a frozen custard at the Shake Shack but there is no way I am getting in that line. Check-in is bizarre all automated and a bit too complicated for my travelling brain, thankfully Bec clued me in earlier in the week. Now onto the butterfly garden and see if I can find which airport train goes through the centre of jewel. You could spend a week at Changi Airport there is so much to do. Next stop home!

Blue birds and crowds

Waterfall aviary, this is 33m tall

Blue Macaws are the drawcard

Leah's Macaw, I wonder if Rickki
has ever seen any of there?

ION shopping centre on Orchard Road

Fancy

Air-conditioned underground
walkways are a great idea

One small area is preserved traditional shop-houses,
 a stark contrast to the modern shopping buildings

Five weddings on at the Conrad today, one was
even at the pool area

My fav night show, Supertrees

After the show everyone leaving to get to the train,
this is the biggest crown I have seen in Singapore,
its Saturday night and its a long weekend to
celebrate Vesak Day

Its my last full day in Singapore so lets make the most of it, the first stop is Jurong Bird Park about a 20-minute taxi ride out of the city. Oh goody, there are the penguins, they have emperors, are they real? They are not moving, the girl next to me asks her friend the same question, yes, there is movement they must have just been waiting for the first visitors to arrive.

Onwards I go there is lots to explore, rather than bore everyone with my bird obsession lets do highlights list:

• watching everyone go ape over the Australian birds in the ‘Lory Loft’
• sheer size and amount of birds in the waterfall aviary
• blue macaws, the drawcard of the park and the only spot to see 4 different types in one location
• number of flamingos in one pool, but gee did they smell

Eventually its time to farewell the birds and head back to the city, whilst I am touristing Australia is voting on our future. Many people will be enjoying their democratic sausage and its good to see the High Commission in Singapore is in on the act and throwing a few on the barbie.

The next event for today is to see what Orchard Road the famous shopping strip is like, Saturday is the perfect day to go shopping in any city starting at the ION centre, the theory is the higher you go the more expensive the shops are, the lower the cheaper, theory confirmed. It did look a bit strange though to see a Steinway piano store next to a Lego store. The best bit is all the underground tunnels to get between the stores and not have to go out into the sun and cross the roads.

I check them all out and am most impressed by Tangs, a homegrown department store sprouted from the dreams of a door-to-door salesman who arrived from China in 1923. Called the ‘Tin Truck Man’ he carried goods in a tin trunk that became his trademark. Tang brought this prime piece of real estate and his family still own the department store and land. 

A short break in Itsen food hall (my fav Japanese departo), onto the Mac shop and then some welcome relief with the Emerald Hill shophouses, there are only so many shops I can take so its time to return to base via the MRT. This time I have to do a line change at Dohby Gaunt, success whisked back to base in 10 minutes.

Time for a swim and a nanna nap by the pool before tonight's finale. Back in the room, I can see the Fountain of Wealth and the National Stadium, the stadium is a kilometre away but has a screen inside so big I can see clearly what is going on from my room. It also has the largest free-spanning retractable dome roof in the world (of course, Singapore don’t do things by halves) and cost a billion dollars to build. Now I am off to join the Saturday night fun and visit the supertrees!

Meeting Godzilla and a Transylvanian in one day

Chinese Garden

Frangipani Garden

Planet, a 9m sculpture that looks like it floats

Water lilies under the Art Science museum

New friend

The ultimate photo spot tucked away in a corner

First time working in a room with 'No durians' sign

Some of the room,
arms not long enough to capture width!

Chijmes, an old church and convent converted
 into restaurants delightful in the evening twilight.
This is the church from the movie, Crazy Rich Asians

L to R: Vasu, Cornelious (originally from
Transylvania now living in Canada, in town to run a workshop)
Wolf, me and Maish who we have worked with for years.

Up and out early for take two of Gardens by the Bay, the first day we saw the main bits, today I am off to explore the smaller gardens themed around countries or types of plants. There is hardly anyone around this is bliss, and the temperature is slightly cooler, phew. First up is the China Garden, then bird spotting, finally the kingfisher lake and then down a small path for a better view of water lilies. Ahh, scream, its a big lizard, bigger than any goanna I have ever seen, I jump back, the lizard has a scream too and jumps back we both frighten each other. Once I get my wits about me I see if I can find Godzilla, I can hear rustling in the bushes but not see anything. Godzilla is not happy about a tourist being out this early. Now onto the main event for the day.

Why, oh, why did I suggest running a workshop on my holiday? I must have been possessed. Anyhow here I am dressed up and coherent ready to share some insights on intranet and digital workplaces. We are at a site that has been built by the government to encourage innovation and development, one of the projects they are partnering with Germany on is an air taxi (basically a massive drone).  The workshop goes well, then onto Mexican at Chijmes (much excitement the church from Crazy Rich Asians) and more Ferraris then onto Din Tai Fung, a well-known dumpling place it is supposed to be much better than in Australia. Correct delicious food. But even better is the conversation with Maish who we have known for many years, his colleagues Wolf and Ng and Cornelious (originally from Transylvania) who is in town to run a workshop on design, a great night!

Walking on the wild side

The happy tourist arrives

Orangutans <3

Malay Lacewing

This guy was very friendly

The giraffes have very big tounges

River 

Giant Panda wondering
why the tourists are all excited

Capybara, worlds largest rodent

Loved the Amazon River Cruise, this is taken
before I knew the boat was about to drop

One of the monkeys that got
too close for comfort

The day has finally arrived I am going to the zoo. Lets ignore the Aussie animals, head straight and to my main objective there they are, the ORANGUTANS big, orange and fluffy. I am amazed that they are in the treetops and on ropes happily playing away with no fences or cage. Two big ones are just sitting there watching everything but the rest are very active and feeding, climbing and playing, what a good time of day to arrive. The mother and baby are just the cutest.

Eventually, its time to move on, lets go 100% tourist and jump on the tram, thats good for the feet, the plan is to do a loop but I see butterflies ahead, stop the tram driver I want to get off. The butterfly aviary has all colours and kinds its cool and delightful and as it is earlier in the day I have the butterflies to myself, bliss.

The zoo is laid out so well, most of the exhibits look like natural landscapes and not fenced in, there are also lots of free-roaming animals I like the squirrels the best. A BIG thunderstorm arrives, lets just duck into the lion watching den and sit it out. This den is air-conditioned, extra bonus. Storm over back out and everything is dripping wet and maybe 1 degree cooler, or is that wishful thinking on my part? Onwards to explore lots more and eventually its time to exit through the gift shop (I did not buy anything, another first!).

Next door. Is the river safari this is a separate wildlife park themed around the rivers of the world, Mississippi, Nile, Ganges etc, but the drawcard is the Giant Pandas let me at them, so cute. Now I spy a red flash out of the corner of my eye, its in the foliage along the edge of the path. Its a tiny, long beak, it is it I have found Singapore’s unofficial national bird, the Crimson Sunbird. It even stays still long enough for a short bit of video.

Next up is the Amazon River Quest I have a boat to myself and expect to meander along at a sedate pace, however, we start with 2-metre drop and a splash and now I feel like an intrepid explorer spotting, monkeys, jaguars, flamingos and scarlet ibis as the boat goes down the river. But the best spotting is the capybara. I did not know they where here. A few years ago I met an Aussie girl who was was travelling to a small zoo in the north of England just to see a capybara, she had an obsession since her childhood. Every since they seem to pop up everywhere in shows or articles. They are the largest rat in the world and look like an overgrown guinea pig. The Amazon Quest was a total surprise, its my idea of fun, I think I will do that all again. Repeat. 

Lets go for something more sedate now a lake cruise, more Crimson Sunbird spotting and there is one final bit to explore, the Squirrel Monkey Forest, double gates, hmm, wonder why? Wow, its a big display and humans and monkeys are in together, I don’t know which way to look first. Video this, photo there, sooooo cute, running in front, squatting down to get more footage. One jumps on me, then another, and another, eeek, stay still, what should I do? Phew, the keeper comes running to shoo them away, I live to tell the tale. Now that was a close encounter!

Time to calm down and cool down, sit in the air-conditioned Amazon flooded rainforest for a while watching the fish swim by as there is one more event for today so I need to re-energise. Had a nice chat with a lady from Qatar where it gets to 55 degrees and feels like you are living in an oven but she finds Singapore heat even hotter.

Based on feedback from two other Aussies I set off with low expectations for the next event, Night Safari. Tales of crowds and can hardly see the animals is what I have heard. But it has to be done, so far the crowds part of the story is true. The line for the tram in unbelievable but hey it’s been such an amazing day, let’s just wait and go with it. Finally on a tram, off we go and yep, the tales are true, a total waste of time can barely see anything. I don’t understand how this is one of the highest rated experiences in Singapore on trip advisor. On the plus side, I saw the moon and stars my first time this close the equator, all the stars where in weird positions and I did not get attacked by monkeys in the dark!

Solo strolling

Selfies in my new orchid dress

Divine

Tekka market was intense

Liked the flower garlands the best,
individual flowers are threaded onto string

House of Tan Ten Niah

Street mural

Waiting for a blessing? It was hard
to understand what was going on

Created an artwork at the gallery

My fav car so far

Light show from other side of the bay

Up and attem’ its an early start to avoid some of the heat, first stop is the ginger garden at the Singapore Botanical Gardens, again lots of joggers and walkers. Lets wander up this path to see what we can find, its all lush, green and beautiful.  A dash from the bushes….. I think it is jungle fowl,,,,, that counts as a new international bird!  All chickens evolved from the jungle fowls of south-east Asia, immigration at its best?

Hmm, have to box around the old ladies practising sword moves (with real swords) and now into the National Orchid Garden I go. It is drop dead gorgeous from the first step, beautiful orchids, aesthetically arrange rocks, a nature scene of perfection. Whats that? I think it’s a hummingbird? Get around the other side for a closer look, its an olive-backed sunbird. Chalk up another international bird.

On I go, every twist and turn of the trail is beautiful, orchids in all sizes and colours another feast for the senses. What’s this building, its the VIP section, ok its time to find Lady Diana’s orchid. Done its a lovely white serene flower, pity it is placed against a white wall. Lets get the design school in here to paint this wall a different colour, please.

Sweating profusely in my new orchid pattern dress, its time to cool down in the air-conditioned gift shop, they have flower themed Christmas ornaments. Happy days! Eventually, its time to move on and meander down through the bottom half of the garden. Feet sore, need to rest, keep walking only 500 metres to go…. There is a lake, with a perfectly positioned bench in deep shade, time for a muesli bar and a drink. (Yes, Beck I am drinking). The lake is moving, is it fish? Oops its turtles they entertain me during my break, then pigeons come in for the attack, can't seem to shoo them away, they are scarier than the monkeys yesterday.

Finally, I make it to the MRT and hop on a train I can smell I have arrived from the moment the train doors open, this is Little India. Lots to see here including Tekka Market, with giant durians and don’t look at the men cutting off fish heads and bits of meat with cleavers. Yuk. This is intense. Onto see all the flower garland shops, love it and then the crazy colours of the house of Tan Teng Niah, shoes off for the Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple, lots of people praying no idea really whats going on. A quick trip down to Kampong Glam, the best bit is all the unique design shops in Haji Lane. Now its time to get out of this sun / photo / shopping frenzy and have a rest.

 

Revitalised by air-air-conditioning its off to the National Gallery I go, its two old buildings the city hall and supreme court joined with a modern extension by Norman Foster and repurposed into a gallery. Its a maze of all different types of art, Georgette Chen is definite favourite. But I think the art back in the Conrad is more my style. Back to base and more Ferraris parked out the front, I have lost count of how many I have seen - it seems like the most popular car in Singapore! 

Final step count for the day: 25,054 (16.72km)

News from home: Game of Thrones fans are angry at plotline of the final season, google 'bad writers' is a thing.

Monkey Mania

Exploring the rainforest in MacRitchie Reservoir

Much excitement we found monkeys!

Monkey! (Long-tailed Macaque)

Merlin, the symbol of Singapore

Gorgeous in their matchy matchy outfits,
I want to do this!

Last lunch, egg rice, sweet and sour fish and beef noodles

Nicest bunch of tourists we have met

Our matchy matchy photo shoot

Enjoying the lightning storm from the bridge
 with 100's of other happy toursits

Supertrees at Garden by the Bay
ready for light show

Armed with much google research and a hand-drawn map we are off to MacRitchie Reservoir to try and find monkeys. I rate we have a 50/50 chance. The lovely Conrad concierge speaks to the taxi driver and gives him directions to the exact spot we want to start this mission.

We are here, there is a brown sign to a nature trail, let's go down this path, there are lots of people exercising, this is it, let's go. A few steps in whats that? There is a screech high in the trees, oh my, its monkeys, the plan has worked! They are very high up in the top of the trees, there's another, and another, they jump between trees, there are big ones and small ones, all doing their thing oblivious to us and the early morning joggers below.

Time to calm down and move on and explore a bit more of the jungle, I tell Beck to look out for snakes, she is not too sure if I am joking or really mean it. On we go, its much cooler in the shade of the trees, I know there is a boardwalk up here somewhere, through some mud, chase some small butterflies and we are at the boardwalk. It just keeps getting hotter and hotter, time to head back. 

It’s a well-made walkway, the vegetation is so lush, for Beck is just like being in Queensland to me its a novelty. We meander along chatting and snapping, keenly looking for more monkeys and wildlife. Oh oh, I must have taken the wrong track we are on the wrong side of the reservoir, time for a break lets have one of those apple danishes Beck has stashed in her backpack. Its good to stand still for a while the heat is oppressive. A group of oldies power by on their morning walk (age is relative) and politely suggest that we put our food away or we will be attacked by the monkeys. The nice man also says if the monkeys come to not look them in the eye. I am playing it cool with Beck. But what the hell? These little things attack? Its time to head back and get out of here.

A few more steps down the path and another bunch of monkeys emerge. Did they smell the food or is it a coincidence? I feel like running but decide to stay at a distance and get a photo. I tell Bec if the monkey attacks make sure you video the event :) Thankfully they decide to just stay in trees about 3 metres above us and dance and play. One leaps mid-air from one tree to the next. So we move in closer to watch, amazing!

Back to base and its time to visit Merlin, check out the opulence at the Fullerton Hotel, love the cake bar and have a wonderful experience with a bunch of Indian guys who wanted photos with Beck they were lovely and it was a lot of fun. I am madly taking photos of them taking photos. People just kept arriving from nowhere to join in the fun. Another pick and mix lunch, this time its sweet and sour fish, beef noodles and egg rice, plus two strange but refreshing tea drinks. A little bit more shopping and packing then its time to say good-bye to Beck. Sob, after 5 days of shared fun my awesome travel buddy has to return back to reality. I will miss you, not crying now.…much.

Time for a shower and then let's get going again. Following the ‘Jane Smith School of using public transport,’ I master the MRT and hop on down to Marina Bay Sands, explore the shoppes miss a torrential storm and have some dinner. Now I am perfectly timed for the main event of the evening, the light show in the Supertrees at Gardens by the Bay, magical!