The Botanical Gardens Trip 30 November 2014

This morning I was not sure what to do so after last night waking poor Jane at midnight after  getting the time wrong, she contacted me for a chat then I had breakfast.  The service was much better organised today, afterwards I decided to go to the Botanical Gardens to take some photos especially the orchids. By the way Chico has not been out on this part of the holiday,  I think it's the  heat and  humidity as well as having to carry him that have prevented me, which in a way is a shame and there is not a lot to put on Facebook for him.

So I am now much more confident about transport so off on the shuttle to the MRT and to the gardens,  it was especially hot today,  the initial walk and smells were beautiful, it is very well laid out but it seemed to get hotter and hotter as time went on. I explored varies parts and eventually reached the orchid gardens, there were some very impressive ones I had never seen beforehand, the place was quite busy and again many people were more interested in taking selfies and posing than looking at these beautiful flowering plants, the humidity seemed to get worse so in the end I made my way back to the MRT and to the hotel only stopping at a bakery stall to buy something different for my lunch, on arrival I needed a shower so now am relaxing before going into town for one last look at the lights before an early night as I depart very early in the morning for Shanghai.

The trip into town was much easier this time and I headed left when I got off the MRT well this was where it was all happening, everywhere was busy and the Christmas decorations were more as I expected much brighter and prolific and lots of upmarket stores. One I went into was one I had been in 20 years ago when there had been a lower food court of basic stalls now it was proper shops but the prices reflected this also. There were so many people not sure if they were locals or tourists, most taking selfies again with the decorations. Eventually I decided it was time to go so back to the hotel to finish off packing for tomorrows trip.

Singapore and the Christmas lights at last 28 29 November 2014

The man was there to take me to my hotel,  it seemed a very long drive, but at long last time to check in, there seemed so much more paperwork here than elsewhere and to operate the lift you needed to use your room key to activate it. The room itself was spacious but no bath or view this time. I was tired when I arrived to unpacked and had a rest for a while.  It seems there is a shuttle bus to Orchard Road where I was hoping the main Christmas lights would be as well as the MRT station.

I decided to take the shuttle to the city, again it was a long drive, but then I saw the lights they really were impressive, it was here we were dropped off and the bad news was there was not another shuttle back later, so I would have to sort out an alternative,  but now I started taking video of the lights as I walked down the road, unfortunately after a while I realised that it was just the same lights for a long way and then they stopped.  So I turned round and started back, I was feeling hungry as it had been some time since I last ate so  crossed the road where there seemed more shops, given the time many were already closed so in the end back to old faithful I found a McDonald's which filled the gap, then wandered back to where I started looking for the MRT to get me back to the hotel, eventually I found it in the middle of a shopping precinct 2 floors down,  its seems this is where many are located,  I managed with help to obtain a ticket and get on the right train, when I got off though  I was totally lost, but eventually worked out my way back to the hotel. I had remembered that I had breakfast and free Wi Fi Included so checked this with the staff, then off to have a shower as it had been very hot and sticky with the heat and humidity on my trip, then a catch up with my e mail and Skype to Jane for a while and off to bed.

The next morning wad the first time I struggled to get up during the holiday, I think my body was trying to tell me something, got ready had a breakfast then off to see Sentosa  and the cable car ride across the river. I was impressed with myself at yet again obtaining a ticket and finding my way, the trains are mainly very busy snf fast and the air con is almost freezing cold,no wonder people wear thicker clothes, but I could not believe all the stops and that it took an hour. Yet another shopping precinct to get lost before finally getting to the exit, but bad news it was a terrible downpour, I went and got something to eat, getting lost yet again on my way back

I found my way to the cable car paid my money and got one to myself,  firstly I went to Mount    had a look round the views were obscured by trees then off to Sentosa this time sharing with some young people. I took a number of photos at this time hopefully you will see some after I get back home. My intention was just to turn round and comme back but I noticed a couple of things that felt would be interesting, in the end I found lots of fountains statues and other  things to take the photos of. The one thing that had benn consistent throughout the holiday is the number of people taking selfies or of each other and missing the bigger often more beautiful setting they are in, it seems such a shame plus there seems no common courtesy in waitng for one person  to finish before stepping in front and blocking the view for themselves,  rant over.
Then back down through the shopping precinct snd luckily to find there is another line that only took 15 minutes to get back. I returned to the hotel to rest for a few  hours and catch up yet again with e mails etc before deciding to go to the local precinct for something to eat. Afterwards I walked back and noticed and heard music playing next to the hotel,so I went to see there was a nice  seating area and a group was playing country  and western music whilst some people line danced.  I watched for a little while then noticed a dome I had not spotted earlier,  it seems it was a museum, but then I came acrosd the local buddist temple I went to have a look and was offerred a drink and food, I explained that I had just eaten but accepted the drink,  I then got chatting to a man there, the inside was very beautiful,  after a while I left and returned to the hotel for the night.

Last day in Copenhagen 24 June 2013

I must apologize to you readers, for getting so far behind but it has been a busy few days since my last post, I will post this about our final day in Copenhagen,  then tomorrow try to catch a little on the next day or two, its always harder when busy to find the time

Sadly this was our last day in Copenhagen,  we started with a hearty breakfast, then into the city by tram.
We decided to do one of the hop on off, boat trips, to make it easier to get round,  there was a group of young school children on board who were very well behaved, this photo is of a particularily low bridge we went under, we again visited sites such as the little mermaid but also a mixture of other sites that were of interest,

I noticed this motorhome as the boat went past, I hope nobody tried to walk to the back whilst it was parked so far back on the quayside

Then went looking for the Round House Rundtarn, what a climb it was  along the sloping floor to the top

but well worth the effort, we could see the bridge to Malmo in the distance

but also some of the rides at Tivoli Gardens,

next we went to the Botanical Gardens, had something to eat, then wanderd about admiring the displays and taking photos

,  this is one of the alpine gardens together with my elusive travelling companion Brian,I enjoyed the tranquility of the lily pond with the ducks

eventually we left there and I returned to the hotel, Brian stayed on.

I did some packing, had a rest as my back was in pain,  then we later went for our last meal at the Chinese,  I had a real beef burger, it was 3 times the size of those from a certain fast food chain and much tastier,  I struggled to finish the meal.

Next we went to the promenade to take last photos,  of the sunset,

clouds had gathered so nothing like as good as we hoped for,  so we started back, but over a 10 minute period the sky went a lovely red and pink making it worth the wait,

then back to the hotel as it was getting cold, then more packing before we went to bed.