On February 12th we jetted off en route to the other side of the world - New Zealand specifically. Pausing briefly to acclimatise with a sleepover for three nights in Singapore, attempting to limit the effects of the flights and time differences involved.
Here's the Singapore story - in photos. (New Zealand will follow when I find the time to sift through the 2,000✭ pictures and videos that we came back with from an amazing 5 week adventure).
Singapore was called Singapura, which translates as Lion City in Sanskrit, by Sang Nila Utama, a Sumatran Prince after he thought he saw a lion on the island but there have never been any lions so it was probably a tiger.
PHOTOS >>>
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| The iconic Marina Bay Hotel |
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| The unique Gardens by the Bay |
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| Amazing Cloud Forest at Gardens by the Bay |
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| Inside the Cloud Forest dome |
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| Stunning orchid in Flower Dome |
The 'must be done' drinks in the Long Bar at the Raffles Hotel (pictured above.) While costing 32 Singapore dollars EACH ! (about £18), this one off experience saw us exit the building before the alcohol tricked us into a second round.
On Valentine's Day (right) one of our better 'selfie' attempts. Clearly taken before we saw the final bill...
We also manage to catch up with a friend from Long Island. Dianne who works for the airlines was in town on a short layover - here we are (below) about to sample the curries at RAS - The Essence of India, on Clarke Quay.
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| Margaret after a visit to her Singapore hairdresser |
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| The Little India district - near our hotel |
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| Spoilt for choice in Chinatown - hmmm 'Soursop Drink' anyone ? |
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| Very Singapore 1: cheap items 3 for $10 |
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Very Singapore 2: They love a sign and a fine: Up to $500 for this (above).
And (below) a sign in a toilet, a Gentle Reminder that says "Please help to keep the toilet clean as we progress towards a civilised society" ! |
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As some of you are aware my phone malfunctioned mid trip and all the photos I'd taken up to that point and saved to the micro SD card in my phone appeared lost forever.
The computer/phone shops back in London gave me little hope of repair and I had given them up...
Then Scott said try a USB Card Reader in my computer and download some recovery software called EaseUS. Amazingly this worked and I was able to successfully recover all my Singapore photos, plus the first 11 days on the South Island of New Zealand, including the hike up Roy's Peak overlooking Lake Wanaka. Very happy about that in particular as it was a long walk up.
✭ So the total is now a wee bit higher than at first thought... just need time to get on with it !
– The MORAL of the story : Never give up ! –
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