Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 7: Flora

Singapore proved to be a Floral Dream.  Orchids grow outside, orchids grow wild - everywhere!  The tropical trees and plants were beautiful.  I love taking photographs especially interesting close up shots of foliage.  I have a vast photo collection of flowers and plants from my travels – I take the photo, not the flower!  Enjoy the photos of some of the most beautiful flowers!

Water Flowers

Tree Flowers   Orchids

Leaves

Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 6: Haw Par Villa

Haw Par Villa aka Tiger Balm Gardens is a very interesting place, off the beaten path, and certainly not a crowded tourist attraction – we enjoyed an almost completely private visit.  It was an educationally odd experience.  After the first bit of fun and amusing statues we got into more of the history, tradition and mythology, Emma  (5) started out ok, then after the Ten Courts of Hell Entrance – she didn’t proceed beyond the entrance – she cried the rest of the time, refused to get out of the stroller, kept her eyes covered, declaring this was a scary place (some was, mostly not). Ethne (3) on the other hand romped around, played in the tunnels, and enjoyed the adventure – even the scary and really odd parts!     

The park contains over 1,000 statues and 150 giant dioramas depicting scenes from Chinese folklore, legends, history and illustrations of various aspects of Confucianism.  The attractions include statues of the Laughing Buddha and the Goddess of Mercy, as well as dioramas of scenes from Journey to the West which retells the classic Chinese legend of monk Xuanzang in his search of Buddhist scriptures. The most well-known attraction is the Ten Courts of Hell, with gruesome depictions of hell, punishment, and reincarnation in Buddhist belief and Chinese mythology, all set in a 60 meter-long trail of a Dragon.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haw_Par_Villahttp://www.yoursingapore.com/content/traveller/en/browse/see-and-do/arts-and-entertainment/architecture/haw-par-villa.html 

I think it would make for an excellent Miniature Golf Park… an easy transition, highlighting history, tradition, and cheap family fun!        

             Yes, that is the statue of liberty in the midst of pagodas and Buddha shrines. See Emma and Ethne in the tunnel…          

History:  In 1935, brothers Haw Boon Haw and Haw Boon Par -- creators of Tiger Balm, the camphor and menthol rub that comes in those cool little pots -- took their fortune and opened Tiger Balm Gardens as a venue for teaching traditional Chinese values. They made more than 1,000 statues and life-size dioramas depicting Chinese legends and historical tales, and illustrating morality and Confucian beliefs. Many of these were gruesome and bloody, and some of them were really entertaining. But Tiger Balm Gardens suffered a horrible fate. In 1985, it was converted into an amusement park and reopened as Haw Par Villa. Most of the statues and scenes were taken away and replaced with rides. Well, business did not exactly boom. In fact, the park lost money fast. But recently, in an attempt to regain some of the original Tiger Balm Garden edge, they replaced many of the old statues, some of which are a great backdrop for really kitschy vacation photos, and ditched the rides. They also decided to open the gates free of charge.  http://www.frommers.com/destinations/singapore/A23799.html 

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Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 5: Durian Fruit.

There is this wicked looking fruit in Southeast Asia called Durian (duri= thorny an=building).  I read about it on one of the online Singapore travel guides – it was described as  smelling and tasting like “eating garlic ice cream while standing next to an open sewer” Wow! They weren’t kidding. 

My first encounter was while walking through the market in Chinatown.  there was this putrid smell – almost indescribably disgusting. Sickly with a brief bit of sweetness – but not sweet – rancid, rotten, decaying flesh with a spicy bitter bite of an aroma.  It filled my sinuses, I couldn’t get the stench of it out of my nose for the rest of the day, it was one of those smells that cause a gag reflex reaction– it was powerful – and I was only down wind -  I didn’t see any – but they were there.  It wasn’t until I was at the wet market the next day that I was able to put a shape to the name and smell.  I took a few snapshots See above & left) they just scream “Don’t touch me!” “Eat me if you dare”  “danger, danger” (looking like a medieval weapon – swinging from a chain).

It is unfortunate and un comprehendible that anyone ever looked at the spiny, brutal thing and thought, “Hmmm, that grows on a tree – bet it’s a fruit – bet I could eat it.” It has a very, very hard outer casing- difficult to open – guess that was the fun part of the challenge! After getting it open and smelling it’s pungent fragrance I just can’t believe someone still proceeded to put it in their mouth – and (I gag to think of it) eat it!  Apparently it isn’t that bad to eat – (reminder when ever someone says “not that bad” I remind them that still doesn’t mean it’s good) – I didn’t try it, I didn’t feel it was a necessary fruit to taste – I caught enough of the flavor in a whiff!I wasn’t privy to seeing the inner parts that clearly, a woman at the wet market was hacking away at the flesh and pith (above).   You can see a cut version nicely opened I found on the internet, fruit resembles foie gras – from what I understand the texture and flavor are equally bizarre.  They are a delicacy, called the “King of Fruit” enjoyed by those who eat them (on purpose). 

There are some interesting advertisements for Durians- certainly caught my eye.  While we were driving, I saw this huge billboard along a Singapore highway with this good looking guy sitting among a pile of Durians – and eating one… yeah right… apparently if you eat Durians you’ll be cool like this guy… everyone is eating them… don’t you want some too… I didn’t fall for this peer pressured ad.  Then there is this sign I saw on the internet  about CIMB Bank – I guess they are selling the idea: “King of Fruit = King of Bank”.  There is even a Durian looking building in Singapore – the Esplanade. 

Now before you think me biased against these fruits because I can not embrace another culture’s delicacies, I must let you know I am not the only person who feels this fruit is odd and smelly, after all it is featured on the Things that Stink website & there are signs on the MRT (subway of Singapore) and in hotels prohibiting Durians... 

Singapore Lesson#2 those medical face masks I saw so many people from Japan and China wear – I am sure I know why now… Durian smell filters!

Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 4: Feeding the Lories

     While at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore, we stepped off the monorail and entered the huge Lorie Cage.  Lories and lorikeets were everywhere and for $3.00 SGD one could enjoy feeding little cups of nectar to these delightful and friendly birds.   This was my favorite part of the Bird Park!

Feeding the Lories with the nieces on a cable bridge, we were at the mid level of the cage.

I thought… If I put the nectar on my shoulder… perhaps a little Lorie bird will come and sit on me! It  worked … and then another flew on! 

Emma and Jeff feeding Lories Pretty birds all in a row

Adventures in Singapore: Chapter 3: Jurong Bird Park

The Jurong Bird Park in Singapore was spectacular!  Birds from all over the world, some caged, some not.Emma Bird in a tree!We especially loved feeding the Lories in the Lorie Cage – See Chapter 4!  This little birdie lives in a coconut husk Caribbean Pink Flamingos Flamingos from Africa/ Southwest Asia Adorable Penguins Birds perched in the jungle palms

Romping in the deluge that ran through an exhibit building from a short but very wet downpour!  Singapore lesson #1 – always wear shoes that can get wet and always bring an umbrella! The rain came on all of the sudden, we were in an open outdoor caged exhibit watching the birds, huddled under our umbrellas then we ran for the exhibit entrance pavilion, which was a glass enclosure.  water ran under the doors right through the center and out the other door, the ceiling showed the torrential soak! The girls enjoyed the splashing! The rain cooled off the day!