Singapore: Sands Skypark

After Gardens by the Bay, we walked on to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and ascended the 56 floors to the Skypark. The Skypark is the ship-like bit of the quadrilithon, several hundreds of feet long. The infinity pool is open only to hotel guests. The plan was to hang around, enjoying the views, to down a Sling, awaiting sunset, and then also to enjoy the views by night. It's quite an experience. If you're concerned about heights, you might want to pass on this one.

Thus

View from below

Imagine paying $400 a night and having to stand in line to check in....

And we're there

Thus

Back toward a bit of the city, Singapore Flyer and the huge stadium in view

Gardens by the Bay, two domes, Super Trees, etc.

Ships parked out on the sea; Singapore's one of the world's largest ports;
trans-shipping is very big, as is refining oil

Sun setting behind financial district

The Merlion, one of Singapore's symbols; from 56 floors up

Other side of the bay (which is actually a reservoir), the Durians, Singapore's
municipal theater and concert hall (closer up they have the same pointy surface
as a durian)

As darkness falls, the eggie-type things, off in a pond by themselves, come to
life, changing colors; we'll see more of them later)

Pretty soon, everything is lit up

And then the Super Tree show comes on

The changing color thing is a bit of the Asian aesthetic I've yet to understand

Marina Bay Shoppes below, financial district in the background; it's New Year's
Eve, and the fireworks don't occur until midnight, too late for us

At first I thought this was the power-parking area outside the hotel; no, it's just
the rent-a-thrill shop; not surprisingly, I saw more exotics in Singapore than
anywhere else I've been; except Silicon Valley, of course

Singapore: Gardens By The Bay, Flower Dome

After the Cloud Forest we proceeded on to the Flower Dome. The Dome indeed contains some flowers. Mostly it is trees and shrubs, and mostly, oddly, those of the Mediterranean and California (conspicuously labeled). Whatever. It was enjoyable, but not as impressive as the Cloud Forest. Both had a kind of edutainment feel to them, not what you'd get in, say, a botanical garden. I guess that's what the world has come to. At best.

Australian bottle trees

The upward view

Flower

Norfolk Island Pines and possibly a Monkey Puzzle

Main Street New Year display

More impressive sculpture

In the Mediterranean, huge, ancient olive trees

Thus

Now in the California district

Tourist sculpture

Fuchsia arch

Date palms

 

More huge ancient olive trees...from Turkey, Greece, Spain?

Now on Main Street, as it were

How the years came to be named after animals (click to
enlarge)

There was a major dahlia display

As well as much New Year pageantry

And, a few flowers

Outside, en route to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel, an impressive line of Travelers'
Palms

Singapore: Gardens By The Bay, The Cloud Forest

January 24th was our big day in Singapore: Gardens by the Bay, the Skypark, and New Year's Eve in Chinatown. This will require several posts.

Even in the Garden complex, it's nearly always in view, and always the object of
attention

Sculpture, large and small, and in every medium, everywhere

Passing through a clump of SuperTrees

It's a huge place; would take days to see it all; our interests were the Cloud Forest
and the Flower Dome, two of the largest of the world's garden glass houses

Did not see the Chinese Garden, the Japanese Garden, the
floating egg thingies (next day), etc...

Helpful depiction showing our main interests: the Flower Dome, the Cloud
Forest, and the Super Trees

In the Cloud Forest, which is organized around this artificial
mountain, complete with tall waterfall

Helpful map

In addition to the plants, impressive sculpture everywhere

Basically, you take an elevator to the top, then walk and gawk
your way down on these ramps

Orchid district

Likes orchids

In the large carnivorous plants district, tubular carnivore
sculptures made out of Legos (pitcher plants?)

Ramp scene

Occasional glimpses of the city

Mineral displays, too (Rebecca)

Jungle scene

Amazing bench/fish sculpture; amazing place