A work day for Larry, a play day for Eileen.

First, a couple of shots from the ancestral Chinese temple by our hotel.

The whole touring day was spent at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a huge complex with multiple speciality gardens, including the Orchid Garden, which itself had multiple gardens. The Gardens can be reached by the SMRT.

From the website: The idea of a national garden in Singapore started in 1822 when Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore developed the first ‘Botanical and Experimental Garden’ at Fort Canning. It was only in 1859 that the Gardens at its present site was founded. Today, the Gardens is managed by the National Parks Board, a statutory board of the Singapore government. The Gardens cover 74 hectares (183 acres), roughly a narrow rectangle. The Gardens are free except for the Orchid Garden, which was S$5 (about $3.61).

The SMRT Botanic Gardens/Bukit Timah gate is at the far end, about 1.5 km from the Orchid Garden and one of the two main entrances, the other being about midway. The first part of the walk was along an open areas and got more shaded.

The place is enormous and even 4 hours couldn’t do it justice. Most of the time was spent in the Orchid Garden, with some strolling around the Herbs and Spices Garden, the Bamboo Garden, the Foliage Garden, the Ginger Garden. Skipped were the Nut Trees, the Trellis Garden, the Rainforest, the Healing Garden, the Fragrance Garden, the three lakes, etc. And there was a nice relaxing lunch at Halia by the Orchid and Ginger Gardens.

Umbrellas are good for sun as well as rain.

Orchids

This orchid may not be as spectacular, but it is the national orchid, Vanda Miss Joaquim, first orchid hybrid in Singapore, developed around 1893 and declared the national orchid in 1981.

Some of the beautiful greenery.

Cute little guy.

After his class, Larry met me up on the roof of the hotel and we drank a little wine. Some pictures from the roof.

Looking towards Marina Bay.

A partially obstructed view of Clarke Quay. More of this later.

Larry got a message about joining the Epsilon and BTI people at dinner at Jamie’s Italian on Orchard Street. Lots of food, wine. Back to the hotel for bed!

October 19, 2015

Eileen Samberg