Happy New Year!

Only a little fatigued from Gardens by the Bay and the Skypark, we decided we wanted to see a bit of Chinatown on New Year's Eve. The build-up to the New Year celebration had us very much impressed...

Everywhere, fully-fruited calamandon trees, one of the
symbols of fruitfulness and prosperity; we had a huge
calamandon tree in the backyard of our 39th St. house, in
Miami, when I was a child; citrus, but sour beyond belief;
my father loved them, and fed them to our dog, Blackie,
who devoured them, loyally

The Legos Year of the Rat set; sold out

New Year's gourmet food hall, Takashimaya's

Ever culturally-sensitive McDonald's

Prosperity Oreos too

Festive German New Year's kaese

Rats in the boulangerie!

So now we are in Chinatown

We were not alone

The Rat rules

First Singapore police we've seen, in nearly a week; everything's done by camera,
we heard

A New Year trinket store, by 11PM, completely broken down, gone

So after walking around a bit among the masses, I was hungry; but maybe not
this stand

We finally settled for this place, loud and boisterous, the only long-noses there

The choices

Most people were having the fish in red curry, but I knew
that wouldn't do

So I opted for the spicy beef and green beans in cumin sauce; she took a bite and
said thanks for sharing; I can't believe I ate the whole thing: Happy New Year!

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