Bella’s on Tour – signing off in Singapore

After two amazing weeks in Sicily it was time to start our journey home.

Sicily – Zurich – Singapore

We went from the dry heat of Sicily to the humid heat in Singapore for a couple of nights. Apart from Debs, none of us had been to Singapore before and Debs visit was many moons ago.

We stayed in Chinatown and enjoyed the culinary delights and hustle and bustle that has to offer.

We spent our only full day in Singapore zipping around on the MRT visiting the various sights – Little India, Orchard Rd and the Gardens by the Bay.

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) and was part of the nation’s plans to transform its “Garden City” to a “City in a Garden”, with the aim of raising the quality of life by enhancing greenery and flora in the city. Its Flower Dome is the largest glass greenhouse in the world.

We finished off with a Singapore Sling at Raffles.

Ngiam Tong Boon was a talented Hainanese bartender in the 1900s helmed with years of experience managing bars, hotels and restaurants in Asia. After being hired by Raffles Hotel Singapore, he worked as a bartender in Long Bar, then located in Cad’s Alley. It was during this period that an undisputed legacy was born.

With a rose tint, tall Raffles glass and crisp pineapple and cherry garnish, the Singapore Sling continues to be a favourite among guests even after a century. The Singapore Sling elates guests with a perfect fusion of acidity, sweetness, and bitterness coupled with a dash of alcohol, while remaining aesthetically pleasing.

We went to the highly recommended restaurant, Artichoke, for dinner. Artichoke is a Middle Eastern-inspired New School Kebab and Mezze Bar in the heart of Singapore’s Arts and Heritage district, helmed by chef-owner Bjorn Shen. The food and service were top notch.

Singapore is a beautiful city that prides itself on its orderliness, cleanliness, efficiency and friendliness. Quite the contrast to Sicily

Today we went to the Botanic Gardens which are pretty amazing. The idea of a national garden in Singapore started in 1822 when Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist, developed the first “Botanical and Experimental Garden” at Fort Canning. This garden closed in 1829 and it was not until 30 years later that the Singapore Botanic Gardens at its present site was founded by an Agri-Horticultural society. This oasis of beauty and greenery was soon handed over to the Government.

In the early years, the Gardens played an important role in fostering agricultural development in Singapore and the region through collecting, growing, experimenting and distributing potentially useful plants. One of the earliest and most important successes was the introduction, experimentation and promotion of Pará Rubber, Hevea brasiliensis from 1877.

This became a major crop that brought great prosperity to the Southeast Asian region. In the 1920s, the Gardens spearheaded orchid breeding and started its orchid hybridisation programme. In contemporary times, the Gardens also played a key role in Singapore’s Garden City programme through the continued introduction of plants of horticultural and botanical interest.

Today, the more than 80-hectare Gardens is home to over 10,000 kinds of plant life set in verdant landscapes. The Gardens has grown into one of the world’s finest tropical gardens and an important centre for botanical and horticultural research, education and conservation. It is also home to the National Orchid Garden, which features the world’s most extensive and comprehensive exposition of orchid culture.

It was then time to head to the airport – three Bella’s heading back to NZ with one heading to her home away from home in Thailand. A wonderful two weeks exploring, eating, drinking, chatting, laughing and enjoying each other’s company