Saturday, March 17, 2018

Sunday Sights in Singapore

The National Gallery
Ahhh, art. If that is your art opinion, you will be well satisfied by the exhibits (both permanent and on loan) at Singapore's National Gallery. This fall we saw works by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama: Life is the Heart of a Rainbow. Awesome. Currently impressionists' words from the Musée d’Orsay Museum are on display. Two highlights from this exhibit include a collection of paintings showcasing how impressionists used shades of black and a collection of artist's tools and how technology of the time (paint tubes and the like) influenced the impressionists.

Madame Darras  by Renoir

Can you imagine?! Renoir's palette and paint box!



The Cloud Forest
Bring a jacket or a wrap when you venture to the Cloud Forest. When you walk in you feel the temperature difference immediately. Constantly cool, the Cloud Forest must measure temperatures in the high sixties, low seventies. Definitely chilly to folks who are acclimated to the eighties and nineties of the tropics. Cooler than the air are the flowers--and they are everywhere! Imagine a three story man-made mountain cloaked in greenery: that is the Cloud Forest. At every turn up the "mountain" we marveled at floral displays that brought art exhibits to mind.

Up on the walk way in the cloud forest.
Orchids on exhibit



Tree Top Walk
I enjoy a walk in the woods. The birdsong, the cricket chorus, the squish and rustle of mud and leaves, nature is restorative. We first did the Tree Top hike in July. Computer science teacher, Nick Kwan, organized a group of new teachers. He also took 360 degree photos and uploaded several to Google Maps. My husband is in the picture below.  Beware of the monkeys though. Don't smile at them (showing teeth is a form of aggression in the world of monkeys). Don't carry food, either. Monkeys chased us like trolls across the suspension bridge.



The sun was barely up when we arrived at the park this morning for the Terry Fox Run. If you do not know about the Canadian hero, Terry Fox, take a few minutes to be moved by his story.  It is a beautiful day for a run/walk at East Coast Park--bougainvilleas are in bloom  and the breeze coming in off the water--glorious. The park is much bigger than I first thought and along the pedestrian trail are camping sites,  restaurants and rental stations. I can't wait to go back with our roller blades and to rent paddle boards and explore. 


The Slice of Life Story Challenge is hosted by the team at Two Writing Teachers during the month of March and on Tuesdays throughout the year. Head over to share your own slice.



8 comments:

  1. So fun to read. I love Singapore and how imaginative and creative all the tourist spots are.... I like the comparison of monkeys to trolls, they are a pest here in India and I would thoroughly agree about how unpleasant they can be! Thanks for the introduction to Terry Fox and all the lovely photos!

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  2. Stunning photos - and what an equally stunning experience. I will try not to smile at any monkeys in the future -!

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  3. We have our Terry Fox run at school this week. It looks like you are enjoying life in Singapore. Even though I have lived in Kuala Lumpur for nearly 4 years I have only been to Singapore twice (for conferences), so I do not know it well at all.

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  4. Oh my. It looks like you are up to some adventuring. I loved hearing about your experience.

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  5. Thanks for the virtual tour of Singapore. Lots of fun stuff to do. My favourite line? "Monkeys chased us like trolls across the suspension bridge." I kind of feel like that's the beginning of an entirely different slice. My kids did the Terry Fox run in the Fall - they want to know why Singapore is doing it in March!

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  6. I enjoyed your virtual tour. So much beauty. This is just too good: "Beware of the monkeys though. Don't smile at them (showing teeth is a form of aggression in the world of monkeys). Don't carry food, either. Monkeys chased us like trolls across the suspension bridge." I think this moment needs a slice all of its own!

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  7. I love your Singapore tour. Thanks so much!

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  8. Singapore sounds amazing! I would love to see all of those wonderful sights! And the architecture too. I am married to an architect, and just this morning we were talking about the architectural innovation in Singapore and its overall architectural importance. That's for sharing a snippet of life there!

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