Nature's Noise

Staying right next to Singapore Botanic Gardens has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. I am definitely close to nature, including all the flora and fauna. But I am also close to the "noise pollution". Every day, there is one or a whole family of red junglefowl (taking turns?!) which never fail to crow at all sort of odd hours, including late at night, early morning and throughout the day. 
It can get nerve-wrecking at times. :S

Walk in the Gardens

My friend, who is stationed in Myanmar for work, is back in Singapore for a short visit. We went to Singapore Botanic Gardens for a walk in the evening before heading for dinner at Cluny Court. 

The setting sun

Never knew monitor lizard could climb trees!

First SBG Walk in 2018

Yesterday was the first SBG walk that Juliane and I took in 2018! Yes, I know, we live so close to SBG yet we don't make use of SGB. :P

SBG Tyersall-Gallop Core

My friend, Vanessa and I went to visit the new Tyersall-Gallop Core at Singapore Botanic Garden. We walked on the elevated boardwalk of the SPH Walk of Giants and round the Keppel Discovery Wetlands before proceeding to a yummy breakfast at Bee's Knees at The Garage. 

My breakfast - Pork sausage, scrambled egg, hash brown, and salad

Red junglefowl

Black and White

Came home late via the mrt and walked though the garden. Took a "black and white" photo of the eco-lake, all natural lighting. :)

Nature@Singapore Botanic Gardens

The flowers seem more vibrant in colour after the heavy downpour during the late morning and afternoon. 

The main gates of SBG

Dinner @ Halia

I was invited to dinner with Dr Maddalena Taras and CTL colleagues at Halia, Singapore Botanic Gardens. It is really nice of CTL colleagues to invite me. :) I really enjoyed myself with the great company and the good food. I was too busy chatting that I forgot to take photos of the food except for the desserts which were absolutely delicious. :P

Die Die Must Have Chocolate - Really, that's the name of the dessert!

The Other Harbour - mango mousse, yoghurt sherbet, mango, pomelo

It is the first time I am having a meal at Halia even though I have lived next to SBG for the past 16 years. I think I will be visiting Halia more often. :) 

Happy Children's Day 2015

(Source: www.blogwatch.com.ng)

It is Children's Day today. (It used to be 1 October but has been changed to accommodate the PSLE dates). I took Juliane out for lunch to celebrate Children's Day.

After lunch, we walked around the Botanic Gardens. We eventually ended up at The Library of Botany and Horticulture. We looked at the plant cuttings and Juliane ended reading a book. :)

The Library of Botany and Horticulture

Juliane's Children's Day gift

Post National Day Holiday

It is the day after National Day, another public holiday as it replaced National Day falling on Sunday. Juliane and I went to Food for Thought, Singapore Botanic Gardens for lunch. Marieann refused to go with us and she's smart because it started raining while I was ordering food. I decided to try local fare and ordered chicken laksa and iced rose bundung ripple latte. OMG, I almost died from the spiciness. No idea what I was thinking when I made my order! :P 

Juliane's kid meal

After our lunch, the rain had stopped. We walked around the garden to admire nature and to walk off our lunch. :)

A visit to the Singapore Botanic Gardens is a nice end to the National Day Jubilee Weekend. :)

Botanical Inspirations: Orchids of Singapore Botanic Gardens & Their Heritage

I finally took some time out to visit Botanical Inspirations: Orchids of Singapore Botanic Gardens & Their Heritage at Singapore Botanic Gardens (SBG). Since SBG obtained its UNESCO World Heritage site status, I haven't had the chance to visit it even though it is a 3 minutes journey from my front door to the entrance of SBG. :P 
Botanical Inspirations spans across two exhibitions: Orchids of Singapore Botanic Gardens & Their Heritage and Tropical Splendour - Plant portraits from Shirley Sherwood Contemporary collection. I am really happy that I took time to visit the exhibitions. The orchids are really beautiful and the portraits are life-like. 

Orchids named after VIPs and celebrities

Orchids named after the late Dr Goh Keng Swee and Mr Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore National Flower - Vanda Miss Joaquim

I should really take advantage of the SBG being in my backyard and visit it more often.