The Botanic Gardens

Felt a lot better after a full night’s sleep and so feeling refreshed we went to The Botanic Gardens. The gardens were established in 1859 by the Agri-Horticultural Society and designed by Lawrence Niven, who reflected the English garden and influenced the emergence of many English gardens and parks from that time to this.

I found the gardens deeply calming and many areas had quite a serene ambiance to it. As you explore the gardens you encounter people practicing yoga, group meditating, picnicing, playing games or just chilling in this park. Quite extraordinary. The plants are beautiful and impeccably presented. The National Orchid Garden is a stunning display of colour and foliage. This section of the park is busy though, but exquisite and well worth a view.

The park and gardens are a wonderful representation of vision, creativity, expertise and superior landscape design and gardening skills. The work undertaken here contributes to plant research, conservation and education. This space is an impressive example of superb landscaping and I highly recommend visiting the gardens and park, particularly if you are interested in horticulture.

Travel and Singapore Cable Car Sky Network

We decided to get a 3 day MRT ticket which is for the underground trains and also covers you for buses. So we caught a bus to the metro station and then a train to the above area. I can recommend this as using the metro system is a safe, clean and quick method for getting around Singapore.

Again, this was a very exciting experience. The views of Mount Faber, Sentosa and the surrounding bay are breathtaking and picturesque.Truly a dramatic landscape and a sensational experience.

If you want to go on the cable car, catch the metro to Harbour Front station.

Clarke Quay

After a snack of Vietnamese food at So Pho Restaurant, we decided to explore the Clark Quay area. If you go, catch the metro to the Clarke Quay station. This area encapsulates the bustling atmosphere of Singapore by combining two centuries of heritage, history and change which influenced Singapore’s transformation from a fishing village to the contemporary metropolis it is today.

The place is full of bars, restaurants, shops and people enjoying themselves. We stopped for a beer and then enjoyed a ride up the river, along the intricate shaped Esplanade, viewing numerous bridges and old buildings blending with the new architecture. Fabulous.

During the ride along the river, the family riding on the boat with us, (the boat was nearly empty) spent the entire time taking photos of each other, doing various poses and not looking at the fabulous scenery at all! Felt like telling them to sit down, put their phones away, relax and just enjoy the ride. Sometimes you should enjoy the experience, don’t you think? Quite bizarre. Why do people want so many photos of themselves?

After more ambling around we stopped for dinner in the Pump Room Microbrewery and had one of the most delicious sirloin steaks I’ve ever eaten. A great end to another stupendous day.