Where are we today? Singapore!

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Part 1

 We arrived in Singapore early on Saturday morning.  Friends on the ship, Jae and Brad, lived here for a time. A group of us took them up on their offer to show us around.  As soon as officials cleared us to get off the ship, we were off on an adventure! 

Brad and Jae
Look at those Canadians and Americans using the moving sidewalk the Singapore way — standing to the left.

Our first stop was the 200-acre Singapore Botanic Gardens. There was so much tropical beauty there, it was impossible to get it all on camera. 





Our goal was to get to the National Orchid Gardens, which is located in the heart of the Botanic Garden. Once there, we got to see 1,000 orchid species and 2,000 hybrids.  Some of them were growing along outdoor walks.  Orchids which are found at higher elevations and slightly cooler temperatures were in the tropical Montane Orchidetum.
The Orchidetum houses winding upward paths and a controlled climate to simulate ascending levels of tropical mountains. 







Lovely Singapore is a steam bath. 😅💦 By the time we exited the orchid garden, we needed an unscheduled break for juice and water in a garden restaurant. Then, we were off again, this time to Little India.  (You probably know that the four main ethnic groups in Singapore are Chinese, Malay, Indian, and people of European descent.)

When we got to the Indian area, one of the ladies in our group was overcome by the heat.  As I was melting, too, I accompanied her back to the ship. The rest ate Indian food, walked by an ornate Hindu temple, and enjoyed the wild shopping experience known as Mustafa’s.  (More about Mustafa’s in my 3rd Singapore post.)



While I rested at home, I rewatched Crazy Rich Asians and had fun picking out the sights of Singapore. By the time the others came home, I had revived.  We regrouped for the evening’s activities. 

Stay tuned! 
 

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