Blogs from Singapore, Asia - page 5

I finally got back overseas recently! Three weeks in South East Asia. A short conference in Singapore, then a free flight to Manila (courtesy of Singapore Airlines) then exploring more of Singapore and a week in Kuala Lumpur. Due to his lung condition, Ross was unable to come this time, and I was disinclined to write travel blogs. However, for anyone intrested, here is the final cut of my photos from Flickr: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjzZaV6 Craig Smith.... read more

The title refers to the fact that retracing a few former steps is this traveller's return visit to Singapore, 25 years on, and a place which failed to make the right kind of impact upon the first visit, simply because the plan of action had been nowhere near thorough enough to allow it to be considered anything of a former travel highlight. This time around, however, the circumstances were radically different, and the 4-night stay, kept mercifully short, was designed to prevent the prospect of going over budget from blighting this mini-episode. A budget-conscious hotel choice in the centre of the commendable Geylang district was strategic enough to be able to enjoy the fruits of the entire city state without being too far away from a return journey in the context of a day's urban trekking. ... read more

Located by the Marina Bay Waterfront in the heart of Singapore, Gardens by the Bay is a sanctuary for nature lovers and budding horticulturalists alike. Comprising three distinct spaces over 101 hectares–Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden–this oasis of lush greenery has won multiple accolades since it first opened in 2012. Three waterfront gardens that define Singapore as the world’s premier tropical garden city, Gardens by the Bay is a national and international exemple of sustainable practice. Manmade Supertrees within the gardens are aesthetically pleasing and environmentally sustainable. The imposing, 25 to 50-metre-high structures contain approximately 160,000 plants, with 11 out of 18 Supertrees containing environmentally sustainable features, such as inbuilt tanks which lead directly into the cooling of the domes. Seven Supertrees have pho... read more

http://www.heygo.com... read more

Your first reaction is that both are quite bad, or perhaps even tolerable, given the circumstances. I can probably count on one hand my decent airline meals, and most of those were on Singapore Airlines. My best hospital meals were at UC Berkeley. I contracted pneumonia as a sophomore there and was also hospitalized with a mysterious and unknown virus while I was in grad school. And I must tell you, the food was well above average, perhaps even pretty good. Why? I found out the UC Berkeley's Cowell Memorial Hospital does not have a cafeteria or its own food services. All the food came from across the parking lot, the famous Faculty Club. Once I had an appetite, meal selection became great fun. The menu for the next meal would arrive, and I could select ... read more