The post post-conference tour (otherwise known as Jenny's holiday) Not India, Singapore

Friday 5th October to Sunday 7th October: Crowne Plaza Changi Hotel, Singapore

After the group arrived at Singapore Airport looking tired after an overnight flight, everyone caught the next flight and headed for Melbourne, except Jenny, Dianne, Jan and Anne. We headed to the end of Terminal 3 and kept walking until we walked into the reception of the Crowne Plaza Changi Hotel. For two nights we enjoyed staying in rooms situated between the tarmac and one of the Air Traffic Control towers!  The idea was that Jenny, the organiser ‘extraordinaire’ could have a rest from keeping us organised and healthy and happy and well-fed.

It is a beautifully designed hotel and the rooms are completely soundproof so despite being right next to the tarmac we heard nothing!

Here’s a few of the highlights:

1.       Gardens by the Bay. This extraordinary park is situated on the water and is manicured within an inch of its life! The lawns are perfect the gardens beautifully controlled and there's not a scrap of rubbish anywhere. 

We visited two of the features: the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest . They were both stunning, and incorporated vast numbers of plants from all over the world into gardens enhanced by lots of sculptures: some funny and others contemporary, some primitive and others for children.

Hundreds of flowers from one dahlia
 plant in the South American garden

 

Travellers sculpture by a
French sculptor

Why do my cyclamen never look this good!

   

   The Cloud Forest took us up winding ramps and walkways through the clouds and beyond the waterfall. 

We were fascinated by this tourist who draped herself in
front of any display for photos. We were particularly
taken with her pale pink stiletto scuffs
decorated with ostrich feathers.
 Just the thing for tramping around the gardens!!

  Jenny didn’t appreciate the heights as the suspended walkways were high and not very wide.

Even Lego sculptures amongst the impressive
display of carnivorous plants: The sign said
'Do not touch or you may be eaten!'

Don't miss this if you go to Singapore.

  
2.       A visit to Raffles and then Chicken Rice – the traditional Singaporean dish

Half of an Alaskan crab with ginger and spring onions.......

...And the other half with a sweet chili sauce

3.       A Chili crab dinner at Jumbo Restaurant East Point overlooking the water. Absolutely superbly cooked sweet Alaskan crab: easy to shell and lots of meat. Half of the huge crab cooked with ginger and spring onions, and the other half cooked with a complex chilli sauce. Superb (and dare I say it …just as good, if not better, than Ministry of Crab in Colombo!). Put it on your bucket list I say!

I’m writing this on the plane homeward bound, so that means that the W&P journey is officially over for another two years.

Fascinating discussions, friendships renewed and forged, learnings to be gained from other cultures and beliefs, self -discovery…..and loads of laughs and good times.

Thank you to Jenny for providing all of this yet again.

Thank you to the guest bloggers – Thelma, Marianne and Linda.

Farewell from your correspondent...until next time

Dianne