Travel: Singapore Day 17

Day 17

This morning we headed off to the Singapore Art Museum which was only a short walk from the hotel.  It is housed in the incredible building that used to be a school.  In the renovation they knocked down classroom walls to create all the galleries.

There was some fantastic work there.

This painting was quite incredible.  Depending on which end of the painting you are standing the painting looks different.

For the rest of the afternoon we shopped.  Things have gotten a lot more expensive in Singapore since we were last there so there weren't too many purchases but it's always fun looking.

Tonight we caught the Marina Bay Light show.  There is a water show that goes with it if you are down on the Promenade by the bay.

It was great watching the buildings change colour and the lasers in the sky.

That was our last night in Singapore and last day of holidays.  Tomorrow we are on the plane back to Australia.

It has been an awesome trip and I feel so fortunate to have experienced so many amazing things over the last couple of weeks.  We also made new friends in Taiwan which is priceless.  We hope they visit Australia in the future.

Travel: Singapore Day 16

Day 16

We had absolutely nothing planned for today other than taking it easy and have a bit of a rest after the last couple of crazy weeks.

We decided to do a High Tea at the Mandarin Oriental.  They do two sittings each day, the first one at 12:00 noon.  We thought we could double it as lunch so we booked in for the early session.  We could walk to the Mandarin Oriental through the CityLink Mall so there was no rush.  Before we left we watched this storm roll in across the bay.  It was amazing to see the sunshine disappear and the dark clouds fill the sky.

The High Tea was beautiful.  I do love tea and decided to try something different.  This is a white tea with jasmine flowers.  It was very nice!  I loved the teapot too!

It started off with a Champagne Jelly with berries.

Followed by the 3 tiered stand filled with Champagne Cassis Mini Gateau, Tiramisu, Choux Pastry with Mango Cream, Fancy Macaroon, Ham and Cheese Sandwich, Egg and Mayonnaise Sandwich, Parma Ham and Mozzarella Wrap and Cucumber and Chive Sandwich.

Then there was delicious Fruit Tarts and Pecan Ovale along with citrus scones and chocolate pearl scones.

Once all that was cleared we went onto the next course which was Smoked Trout Tarts with Creme Fraiche, Scallop Ceviche and Truffle Potato

I missed photos of the Mushroom and Thyme Puff and Bourguingnon Beef Pie.  I was too full by that stage!

And lastly they finished with Pralines.

The best thing about high tea was just sitting and relaxing while enjoying good food.

COST: SGD45 per person

Afterwards we needed to work off some of what we'd eaten although all we felt like doing was lying down like sloths.  We headed down to Chinatown, in the rain, and had a wander around.  I love the colourful buildings in Pagoda St.

We were back in the room to watch the sunset over the bay.  It's lovely watching all the lights of the city come on.

We decided to head across the road to Chijmes for dinner.  This old convent has been renovated into an entertainment precinct.

There is plenty of choice with restaurants including an Australian one, Hog's Breath Cafe.  They are all over Singapore now.  We don't eat there in Australia so decided to give it a miss.  

Tomorrow is our last day in Singapore and then it will be home to reality and work!  We will be making the most of it!

Travel: Singapore Day 15

Day 15

My blogs have slowed down as we've been so busy and I've been too tired at night.  Only another few days in Singapore though.

This morning we checked with reception whether we could swap rooms for one that has a view of Marina Bay.  They were very happy to assist and for a small amount extra we had swapped rooms.

I think you would agree that this view is worth moving for.

We headed to Gardens by the Bay today.  We visited the Cloud Forest Dome to start with. It was nice to escape the heat in the cool of the dome.

There was such a great variety of flowers which we tried out our new macro lens on.  

The 35 metre tall mountain is covered in vegetation and there is two walkways that come out and around the mountain.  It also has the tallest indoor waterfall.

Next stop was the Flower Dome.  It was completely different to the previous dome.  Just inside are these fantastic displays.  Each flower has a television that shows the cycle of that flower goes through to bloom.

There was a fantastic cactus garden that my dearest hubby spend a lot of time in taking photos.  I thought he'd left me behind he was gone so long.

The dome is incredibly expansive and is broken up into different regions of the world.

One of his cactus flowers.

They change the displays each month.  We were there for the Easter display which was very cute.  They currently have Tulipmania happening which would've been awesome too.  Not sure I'd be allowed to fly back each month to check the displays out.

Then there are the super trees. They are massive and range in height from 25-50 metres.

We went up one of the 25 metre trees to walk across the Skyway which is 128 metres long.  I would've loved to have gotten back at night to see them all lit up in lights but we just ran out of time.

When we finished at Gardens by the Bay we walked across the road to the Marina Bay Sands to have a drink at Ku De Ta on the 51st floor.  It has magnificent views!

We headed back to the room to have showers before going our for dinner.  We have been to this restaurant on a previous trip and the food was so good we decided to go back.  This time we had a set dinner which was altered a little as we weren't keep on Shark Fin Soup.

We had Fried butter lobster which was delish.  I am not normally a fan of lobster but this one changed my mind.

White Pepper Crab which is a specialty of Singapore.

Crab Fried Rice, my husbands all time favourite that I can't see to recreate at home.

The No Signboard Seafood restaurant is on Clarke Quay (there are others around the city as well) so we took a walk along to see the river.

We headed back to our hotel and look at the view from the room at night.  I really can't get enough of it.  

Travel: To Singapore Day 14

Day 14

Sorry I'm running a day behind but here is the last of Taiwan, the airport.

We arrived quite early at the airport thanks to a speedy taxi driver :)  This meant we had plenty of time to wander around.

After having a bite to eat we took a walk around and found this Hello Kitty check in counter and on closer inspection, Eva Air has Hello Kitty flights.

So you get your own check in area which is very pink!  Not sure if you'd be able to get your husband/boyfriend here.

All Hello Kitty amenities for the flight.

Even Hello Kitty planes.

Once we passed through immigration we were surprised at how large the terminal is.  There are shops everywhere you look.  They had this beautiful umbrella display.

And a mural of a waterfall, something Taiwan has plenty of.

It's a really lovely airport to spend time in.

We arrived in Singapore on time and headed straight to our hotel which was the Fairmont Singapore.

The room was absolutely beautiful!  The bed was big and so soft.  I could've just stayed in the bed forever.

Then there was the modern and very clean bathroom.  I really dislike when you are dying for a bath at the end of a long day to find when you get in there is mould around the edges.  That certainly wasn't the case here, in heaven :)

Tomorrow we are off to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore so stay tuned.