Singapore Zoo

Singapore Zoo is absolutely wonderful.  It'd have to be one the best zoo's I've been to thus far.  There are next to no wire cages and the enclosures are very lush and spacious.  One of the highlights would be the ropes that suspend over the walking paths allowing the Orang Utans free range to sit and climb about.  If you're tired from walking, there's a motorised tram to take you around the zoo or a boat that travels between a couple of docks.  For the kiddies, there are red toy wagons that fits 2 young kids that can be pulled around.  I got carried away taking happy snaps and I hope you enjoy the below selection. 
 

False Ghavial

Hamadryas Baboons

 

Baby Asian Elephant



Lion-tailed Macaque

Brown Capuchin

Celebes Crested Macaque

Mother & Baby - Celebes Crested Macaque

Orang Utang

African Penguin

Bumboats

Chimpanzee

Lion

Flamingo

Macaw

With love from Singa,

Sue

Singapore Zoo - White Tiger

I ventured off to Singapore Zoo today and fell in love with the white tigers. The Singapore Zoo web site says there are 3 feline sibs - Omar, Winnie and Jippie.  Only 2 tigers were in the enclosure today and the one doing to walking around could not possibly be a girl.  Tigers, whoever you are, you are bootiful.

With love from Singa,

Sue.

BBQ - Singapore Style

Apologies in advance for this post, but some marine fish just shouldn't make it on the BBQ.  Check out the dish second from the top on the left (click on photo to enlarge).   This is a billboard that I walk past on my way home from work.  Needless to say, I don't eat there.  But this is nothing compared to the selection of food available in the 'soup noodle' food court on the 3rd floor of Raffles City Shopping Centre.  Stay tuned for that post coming up on the weekend!

With love from Singa,

Sue.

Vesak Day

Tuesday 17th May, 2011 was a Public Holiday in Singapore for Vesak Day.  Vesak Day commemorates the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death.  It is a time of immense joy, reflection and peace and celebrated by Buddhists the world over.

[Although not a Buddhist temple] The Sri Veeramakaliamman Temple is a Hindu Temple and the detail is absolutely stunning don't you think?

With love from Singa,

Sue.

The Esplanade

The Espalande - Theatres on the Bay is a waterside building located on waterfront land near the mouth of the Singapore River, built to be the centre for performing arts.  This is an architectural icon with its distinctive twin shells.  As you walk out the back of the Theatres on the Bay, you come across an outdoor amphitheatre, which has artists singing on the weekends.  A lot of people were just kicking back with a glass of wine listening to the music and enjoying the river views.  There were quite a number of these colourful blow up human figures on the grounds and placed in and around the structure of the amphitheatre, which looked pretty cool.  The figures on the ground were roped off so you couldn't touch them, or slam dunk them.

I continued merrily down the Esplanade and came across my first outdoor food stall stand called Makansutra Gluttons Bay.  I wasn't game to try any of the local cuisines, but it was a very popular eating spot for the locals.  The walk along the Esplanade takes you to Helix Bridge.  If you take the Bridge you end up at Marina Bay, if you don't, you end up at the Singapore Flyer.  I'm waiting for a nice not too sunny clear day before I take a ride on the Singapore Flyer.

Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay

Outdoor amphitheater

Out the back

These colourful blowups are everywhere

Just hanging around

Street Food Stall called Makansutra Gluttons Bay

View of The Esplanade from Helix Bridge showing the twin shells. 
The tall building in the background is my hotel.

With love from Singa,

Sue

Helix Bridge

The Helix Bridge is a 280 metre pedestrian bridge that links the Marina Centre to Marina Bay.  It was opened in April 2010 and is the world's first curved bridge.  The curved design is created by two opposing spiral steel members, held together by a series of connecting struts, symbolising "life and continuity", "renewal", "everlasting abundance" and "growth", and resembles the structure of DNA.  Australian architects Cox Group and engineers Arup were part of the International design consortium.

There are a number of circular viewing platforms on the bridge for photo opportunities of the city skyline. 

At the entrance to Helix Bridge on the Martina Bay side, there is a photoscape called "Friendship".  The photos were taken by a group of young volunteer photographers that captured the inspiring and memorable moments experienced by the 3,000 athletics during the Singapore 2010 Youth Olypmics Games.   

Friendship Photoscape

One of the Friendship Photoscape panels

Looking towards Marina Bay Sands

Looking back towards The Marina Centre

Cityscape



With love from Singa,

Sue.

Marina Bay Sands

Marina Bay Sands is an integrated resort fronting Marina Bay, which was developed by The Las Vegas Sands and opened last year.  The three 55-Storey Hotel Towers are connected by a 1 hectare sky terrace on the roof, named Sands SkyPark.  I haven't been up to the SkyPark yet, but apparently there's a 150m infinity edge swimming pool and the world's largest public cantilevered platform, which overhangs the north tower by 67m. Everytime I look at the SkyPark, it looks as though a ship has been placed on top of 3 towers.  It's certainly a very unique and unsual piece of architecture.

Now for the inside... The resort has 2,561 room hotel, a Casino, 120,000 sq.m convention-exhibition centre, The Shoppees mall, an Art & Science museum, two Sands Theatres and seven "celebrity chef" restaurants.  The Shoppees mall has all the renowned luxury brands and designer labels like Prada, Hermes, Burberry, Chanel, Gucci and also stores that I would shop in like Pandora, Swarovski, Crocs, EPIcentre (Apple Store). 

Similiar to the Sunway Pyramid in Kuala Lumpur, there's also an Ice Skating Rink in the complex and what can only be described as a Canal where you can take a boat ride through the shopping centre.   It's not for me, but there's always a lot of peeps queuing up for a ride.  

Marina Bay Sands view from The Esplanade

Shoppee mall spans over 3 levels

Shoppee specialising in beautiful Teapots and Cups

Ice Skating Rink

The turning point

The Canal

The Art Science Museum has the shape of a Lotus

With love from Singa,

Sue.