Singapore 2

Whilst researching more things to do here, I come across the ArtScience Museum. This is the one that looks like a giant metal flower. Initially, I'm put off the price but the exhibitions on are so interesting to me I eventually decide resistance is futile, and on our third day here I head there by myself giving Heidi a chance to have a lie in. The museum's open when I arrive, so I take some rather good snaps on the Helix bridge (named because it looks like a strand of DNA).

I love my camera's panoramic mode

The three exhibitions were as follows:

1) The permanent exhibition which was all about how art and science intertwine. This was less interesting as it initially sounded, and consisted mainly of cool interactive pieces like projections that would react to you touching them and stuff. A lot of stuff geared for kids here.

2) An exhibition on big data. This was more interesting. This was a simultaneously a history of our information age to the present day and a collection of art pieces that use data. I learn quite a lot here, including how Singapore is attaining to be the first "smart city" using live data feeds to improve people's lives.

3) An exhibition showcasing original works of M.C Escher. You know Escher, right? The guy who did crazy stairs? I don't know a huge amount about art but I know I like him so this was a big win.

Flight plans around America in a single day

TMI

Self-reflexive self-portrait

I head back to the hostel to get Heidi and we head back out to the Botanical Gardens. Botany is not an interest of mine, but we soon see why it's such a draw for tourists and locals alike. First of all, it's HUGE so it would never be difficult to find your own spot to chill. And it's also very pretty. On our walks around we see several fairly large lizards also out for a jolly. The gardens is free except for the orchid gardens, but we've been told they're worth the 5 dollar admission. I would agree, albeit just.

Chillin'

I take my botany selfies a bit more seriously than Heidi

We were looking forward to chilling at the gardens some more, but they are quite far out of town and we need to get back as we want to catch a light show that we missed the night before. We also want to check out Orchard Road, which is the main shopping street here. There are 30 individual shopping malls here. It rivals Dubai.

We go back to Marina Bay Sands Mall which is nearby the Gardens, and also contains the DC Superheroes cafe. Unable to resist, we shell out and get some ice cream and a drink here. This is our dinner. Whilst waiting, I read a Batman comic because it seems appropriate.

The service wasn't so Flash-themed

When we eventually back to the Supertree Grove, we don't have to wait long until the show. The show changes on a monthly basis, and this month the theme is musical theatre, so the trees light up to the sounds of Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, et al. I'm not usually impressed by this kind of thing but I had a smile on my face the whole time - The Supertree Grove is Super Impressive.

Trippy

When we purchased our zoo tickets it included 4 separate parks - The main zoo, the river safari, the night safari and the bird park, so on our final morning we decide to hit the bird park. Like the zoo and night safari, a tram takes you round but there are places to walk as well. The variety of species is once again vast, from flamingos to owls and some seriously big birds of prey. 

Pingu

Too many E numbers

Heidi and a giant bird

Showing off

I know it looks like this owl is winking at me, but actually I woke him up by accident.

We were hoping to see Chinatown before leaving but our next flight is in the early afternoon so we have to give it a miss and head straight to the airport. We both loved Singapore and know there is so much we didn't do - The Battlebox, Chinatown, Little India, Sentosa Island...but we agree that we will have to come back some day.

Next Stop - Auckland!