Boat Ride on the Bay

We were real tourists this morning. Took a boat ride that goes around the Bay and up the Singapore River a ways to view the heart of Singapore. And then we walked a bit of the Riverwalk to finish it off.  This statue out in the Bay is the iconic symbol  of Singapore--half lion and half fish called the Mer-Lion. Is a big fountain spewing water out of its fierce mouth. 
The downtown arts and science center which we have yet to take in.
The Singapore Grand Prix is a motor race which forms part of the FIA Formula One World Championship. The event takes place on the Marina Bay Street Circuit and was the inaugural night race and first street circuit in Asia for F1 races. They are setting up the grandstand for this years race which will be in a couple of weeks. It's a big deal here, apparently.  You can already see where they are putting barracades on the streets.
This is Clark Quay where we caught our tour boat. Lots of shops and restaurants on the water. Definate night spot.
Another garden with water lilies.
Clark Quay and our boat.
Quiet morning, we didn't have much competition for a good seat.
Another Singaporean dish. Laksa. The base of the broth is coconut milk, add spices, (more or less chilie), egg, meats, noodles. It traditionally has cockles in it but they always taste fishy to me so I prefer tofu or chicken.
Singapore skyline with art/science center on left.

A fun sculpture along water front.

This week

We had a magical moment this week when Helen, our Helper discovered a butterfly emerging from a cacoon on our patio. How it matured there with no one noticing was amazing in itself.

Lia was pretty tentative at first but then it turned into pure delight when it walked into her hand.
Will and I went to Fort Canning to tour an old WWII barrack and underground command center where General Percival  and the Malay High Command surrendered to the Japanese. Walked thru the history of the overrun of Malaysia, fall of Singapore, occupation, war camps and final end of war here. Dark days for S'pore  and another piece of history falling into place for us. Did you know that Singapore harbor was bombed the same day as Pearl Harbor? All part of Japanese master plan.
We walked over to Botonical Garden one morning this week with express purpose of seeing the Childrens Garden. They wouldn't let us in without a child!! No adults unless accompanied by an adult. Don't you love that!
Oh but we found the best coffee and donut that morning. Call them Cronuts. Cross between croissant and a donut. And ice coffee.
Lest you think we forgot how to fend for ourselves. . .Will made us breakfast for early morning on the deck as sun coming up. But yes, Helen does the cooking mostly.

I found a "Spin" pottery design store here and was pretty excited. First discovered it in Shanghai about 5 years ago. THE neatest modern pottery!  All designed by inhouse designers, mass produced in Jingdezhen, China and sold in outlets. Yes, I bought a piece.

Black swans at Botonical Garden

More about town

More pictures from our day at Gardens by the Bay.  That scooter of Lia's goes everywhere. Saves a lot of grumbling about walking and keeping up.  She has taken some tumbles on it, too.  Has the scraped up knees to prove it.
My art studio here in Singapore.

Lia using Tina as a prop to hold up a picture she painted in her Art class.



Walking along Orchard Road, the iconic upscale shopping street in Singapore.
She's "scooting."

A day off school

Today is a Muslim holiday called Eid Al-Adha so Lia did not have school. Also called The Feast of Sacrifice, it
commemorates when God appeared to Abraham in a dream and asked him to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience. As Abraham was about to sacrifice his son, God stopped him and gave him a sheep to kill in place of his son.  It is celebrated with prayers, gift giving, and feasting.  We celebrated the day off school by going to the Gardens by the Bay and going to the indoor Cloud Forest. Pretty cool, with a man made rain forest and real clouds!! And lots of plants and flowers.
Lia is getting wet under this indoor water falls.


We also wanted to go up on the elevated walkways between the "Super Trees" in the Garden itself but the sky opened up for a downpour and we had a real rain forest!!  They wouldn't let anyone go up there in bad weather. Too bad.

Waiting out the rain. We still got soaked getting to subway.
Lia hamming it up when I said "smile!"

Southern Ridges hike

The Southern Ridges is a 10-kilometre trail that connects 3 big parks along the southern ridge of Singapore. We decided to hike a portion of the route that is actually an elevated walkway over the parks and jungle landscape this morning. Attractions along this trail include its greenery, any birds or critters you can spot and the connecting bridges. Along with the dynamic views of city surrounding the parks.

We should have been out there earlier as it was already getting steamy by the time we got there at 8am.  But we maybe did 2 miles. Lots of stopping and looking. Had binoculars along but hard to spot birds in the thick tree tops. We did identify a Brown Throated Yellow Sunbird. Lots of birdsong and Cicadas were really loud.

Sunday church and Dempsey Hill

This afternoon we went to a trendy spot called Dempsey Hill.  It actually is on top of a hill. At one time there were British military barracks up there and has some Japanese occupation military history also. Now those barracks are upscale restaurants. Busy place on Sunday afternoon.
Found a nice contemporary art gallery there and this painting of John Lennon caught our eye. Look very closely, is made up of all kinds of "people." 
This one was also a great a grabber. London is painted in the "hole." Unfortunately my own reflection messed up the effect.
We found a Presbyterian church this morning. Looks empty but by the time service got started it was full. Sanctuary on 3rd floor with balcony, where we chose to sit on 4th floor.  There are lots of Christian church's in Singapore. We walked past "True Jesus Church," Singapore Bible College and a Lutheran church on our way to this one. But there are also lots of Muslim mosques,  Hindu and Buddhist temples and a couple of synagogues in this multicultural island.
A residential neighborhood very near apt complex. Surprisingly large homes that I am guessing are extremely expensive.

Adam's Street Hawker Center where we stopped for Kopi (coffee) and a prata (Malaysian rich egg pancake.)