Orchids

 November 27, 2022

Singapore

 With no luggage, we went to bed last night at 9:00, and we stayed in bed 11 hours, only sleeping some of the time and the rest of the time trying to.  We got up at 8:00 this morning, not particularly refreshed.  We dressed in the same clothes we had traveled in, and went across the street to the Marks and Spencer Café for breakfast.  M&S is a giant British department and food store, and their foods are just inside the café.  Pre-Christmas is really here, as bad as at home.  Here’s a surprise: Chanukah gelt repurposed as M&S Golden Coins and sold as “Delicious Stocking Fillers.”  In Singapore. 

After spending about an hour on the phone trying to locate our luggage (no one knew where it was), we decided to go about our day.  We walked about a mile along Orchard Road, the primary shopping street, to the most famous Singapore attraction, the Botanic Gardens.  They are enormous and extraordinary, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

They are kept immaculately, and every view, every sight, is remarkable. 

The weather is difficult, with the temperature in the mid-high 80s and humidity which feels like 110%.  Your sweat does not evaporate.  This morning there was on and off drizzle, which stops no one; it’s just part of living here.  The drizzle is so light that many people don’t even carry umbrellas, but we did—our hotel room has one for us to use.

 Inside the huge Botanic Gardens is a very large orchid garden which has an entrance fee for non-citizens.  This was beyond extraordinary.  Dozens of paths through orchids of all sorts.  Apparently this orchid facility is one of the most famous in the world for the preservation of old species and the creation of new hybrids.

 



We took a taxi back to the hotel, took a nap, and awakened to good news—the hotel concierge has a call from Singapore Air that our bags have arrived and will be delivered tonight between 8 and midnight.  We are relieved!

 Tomorrow we’ll explore the waterfront and harbor.

Comments

  1. Ralph P. LockeNovember 27, 2022 at 6:07 AM

    I can't see what the golden coins have embossed on them. Presumably not menorahs or Stars of David! But it's clear where they got the idea from....
    --Amazing photos from the Botanic Gardens. It sounds like nothing needs much watering--the frequent drizzle keeps everything green. I've heard that English lawns are so wonderful because of the frequent rain there.
    --Astounding variety of orchids--and I'm glad they're preserving older species, which are probably hardier and can help to create new ones that are more pest-resistant, etc. An iris farmer in the Rochester area showed us the "original" iris he kept going back to--it was small, and the flower was a pale, greyish purple. But it continued to have value for propagating new varieties.
    --I hope your luggage did come as announced!!!

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  2. Rwa442November 27, 2022 at 6:39 AM

    Ahhhhhh, the botanic gardens! One of my favorite places in Singapore. Your comments are so reminiscent of our times there. Beyond extraordinary is a perfect description for the whole place. As to the weather I recall 80/80 as being a pleasant day and walking in the shade as an imperative! There are so many different cultural imprints there - Chinese, Indian, Malay and British. Hope you get to Chinatown, little India and a stop for a g&t at Raffles. Enjoy!

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