For The Love of Travel

The ArtScience Museum….shaped like a blooming lotus flower, acts as a ‘welcoming hand’ to the city. 10 irregular ‘petals’ rise to the sky with varying heights, each designed to serve as a gallery. (Thanks to Headout for this particular image).

Its surrounded by a large lily pond reflecting pool, enhancing its serene, iconic look.

Firstly the “Flesh and Bones” exhibition – which traces over centuries…the examination of the human anatomy through medicine, art and sciencific investigation; and diverse cultural practices that have shaped how bodies are cared for, depicted and understood. 160 artefacts and artworks, all ambitious in their framing of how the body has been documented and imagined, so fascinating. I was particularly taken by a 1780 life size print of human musculature; Solamaly Namasivayam’s charcoal life drawings; and had a good chuckle seeing 20thC Mr Muscle posters.

On to the next exhibition choice – wow, what a visual feast!! Flowers that bloom and decay all around you; animals evolving from floral motifs; an immersive crystal universe exploring astrophysical phenomena; kid’s sketches of acquarium creatures that get selected and projected along a wall; slat-walking….yes teamLab, an international art collective, has been at it again – exploring the relationship between the self and the world, and new forms of perception.

A grand lobby and bar, ATLAS graces the ground floor of Singapore’s iconic building, Parkview Square, in the historic Bugis neighbourhood. Completed in 2002, Parkview Square was the crowning glory of developer CS Hwang, the late chairman of the Chyau Fwu Group. ATLAS is a celebration of the 1920’s rich art deco, culinary and beverage traditions. Beverage highlights include elegant European cocktails and one of Asia’s finest collections of gin, spirits and champagnes sourced from around the world. The Maquis was my cocktail of choice…a delish blend of mezcal, tequila, lime, green chilli oil, parsley, rosemary and thyme. Yummo!! You feel very special sipping and supping in this opulent setting.

Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony is an ultimate light show set against the open sea at Siloso beach – a dazzling blend of water, laser, fire and music. A heart warming tale of friendship and courage woven into the show as a plot line is almost unnecessary – the shimmering water effects, fiery bursts and laser magic with a fireworks finale has it all. 20 minutes of wow!

My ultimate tourist activity…the Singapore River Sightseeing Cruise 🙂 – cruising along on a ‘bumboat’, enjoying skyline views. There were a few standout locations to photo, hope you like my images…

I think I’ve done really well given the heat and humidity ( I won’t go the full Judith Lucy disclosure pathway!)… and flu that I’ve been battling. Yes, I’ve started the antibiotics tabs I got from the GP ( just in case ):)

Really looking forward to Spring and temperature in the Netherlands :)!

The Singapore Oceanarium has “22 multi-sensory zones” to engage and immerse you.  When you enter, the first thing you see is a giant, dark room aglow with jellyfish tanks. It’s hard not to be mesmerised by thousands of glowing moon jellies floating in one of the largest jellyfish tanks in the world. This one in particular, took all my attention.

All of your other marine life friends are here too: hammerheads and sandbar sharks, manta rays and eagle rays, dragon morays, clown triggerfish, big eye, red lionfish and blue and yellow poison dart frogs. Habitats closely replicate species’ natural homes, for example Australian sea dragons are now expertly camouflaged in a kelp forest.

The Oceanarium invites you to look back at what the seas would have been like during the time of the dinosaurs. Loved the animatronic Dunkleosteus, an extinct creature that was the largest fish in the sea during the Palaeozoic Era. There’s a real commitment to education about everything from animal adaptations to marine conservation. If you want to learn about the marine world, this is the place for you.

The only thing I was appalled by, is that the Oceanarium keeps six dolphins in a very small space and — for a fee — allow visitors to pet them. In this day and age, it’s surprising that the Oceanarium is not more attuned to the ethical concerns raised by this kind of treatment. I was hoping to find that they’d cut their dolphin immersion program, but no such luck.