Take me under the sea - world's largest aquarium, Singapore

Today is cold and windy outside far removed from the warm sultry humid conditions of our recent trip to Singapore. So rather than show you pictures from around my cold wintry Western Australia, I decided to warm up by taking you back for a visit to another of our favourite Singapore attractions.  If you missed my last two posts about Singapore, please scroll down to the bottom to find the links.

The S.E.A Aquarium at Sentosa Island, opened in November 2012, is the world's largest acquarium, home to over 1000,000 marine animals.  But first we have to get there. 

There are several options, but we decided to take the Cable Car from Mount Faber (a taxi from your hotel might be the easiest option to get to Mount Faber). The cable car deposits you in the heart of Sentosa, and gives you spectacular views of Singapore and an overall view of what is install for you at Sentosa.  There is so much to see and do at Sentosa you could easily spend several days here - or stay in one of the hotels on Sentosa and be only a short stroll or bus or tram or monorail ride away from the many attractions.

But one attraction you must visit is the S.E.A. Aquarium -  home to 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species in 45 million litres of water. Comprising 10 different zones with 49 habitats, the aquarium takes you on an underwater voyage beginning in Southeast Asia,  through the Arabian Gulf and the Open Ocean. 

 But first up we went through the Maritime Museum where you can learn about the history of sea exploration and trade in Asia.

The entrance to the Aquarium is through a dome tunnel - we chose to go on a week day to try and avoid some of the crowds, but found out later it was a pupil free day in Singapore so there were lots of people! I loved the huge central round tank you can see in the second picture here.

 The various exhibits were amazing!  There is even a shipwreck and a dolphin tank !I And I couldn't help wonder what it was like for a dolphin living in a tank, even though he had some mates to play with. He kept zooming around and coming up to the glass to look at us. Were "we" a curiosity?

I was fascinated by this exhibit showing below and above the water - it represents the Sundarbans Mangrove, home to a myriad of endangered plants and animals found along the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

You wouldn't want to get tangled up with this elegant but stingy creature - the Japanese Sea Nettle.

S.E.A. Aquarium Senior Curator Grant Willis said: “S.E.A. Aquarium offers not only a stunning display of habitats, but also education and conservation programmes in which families and guests can participate.Younger guests will be thrilled to know that we have specially designed exhibits such as the Discovery Touch Pool, the Lens Aquarium and Floor Aquarium, to provide them up close

encounters with our marine residents.”

 Our grandsons were certainly enthralled with the underwater world only inches from them - 

 The centerpiece of the Aquarium is the Open Ocean Gallery seen through the world’s largest viewing panel - 36 metres wide by 8.3 metres tall. (how much water pressure must be pushing against that panel !)  The viewing area is tiered and there was soft "underwater" music playing in the background - you could just sit here being mesmerised by the amazing under water world. I can see now why my husband and son love scuba diving.(but I am not sure I am ready to take it up - too many "bities" for me!)

This manta ray was gliding up and down, turning over and over in a bubble stream. I must say I did feel a little sorry for him trapped in this aquarium, even though the aquarium is huge. He reminded me a bit of a big cat prowling back and forth in front of a wire fence at a zoo. 

If you are going to Singapore I encourage you to add Sentosa's Aquarium to your "must do" list, but plan to go to Sentosa for the whole day and make sure you allow a few hours to enjoy the Aquarium properly.  Of course, on the way out, you can always buy a souvenir of your visit. 

Afterwards you might like to relax on Siloso Beach, participate in some Fish Reflexology , snorkel with the fish, or enjoy the Adventure Cove Waterpark or Universal Studios (but Universal would take another whole day!) - just a few of the activities on offer at Sentosa. Don't worry there are lots of food outlets to keep your energy levels up! 

To find out more, please go to - SEA Aquarium and Sentosa

Thankyou for stopping by to visit - I hope you have enjoyed this little look under the sea. I look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful week.

 I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photos Monday, Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World, Travel Photo Thursday, Oh the Places I've Been, and the "What's It Wednesday" party going on over at "Ivy and Elephants". Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Around the World  
What's It Wednesday
Travel Photo Thursday
 Oh The Places I've Been

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The breaktaking world of Gardens by The Bay, Singapore 
High Life at the Raffles 

And slices of quince which they ate with a runcible spoon........

 Most of us I am sure know the poem The Owl and the Pussycat -

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear (1812 - 1888) was first published in 1871 - click here to read the entire poem - The Owl and the Pussycat

Don't you love that word - runcible - but what the heck is a "runcible spoon"?   I found several definitions on the web - mostly similar - so I am thinking it is a bit like a splade we know today -  or a "spork" as Americans know it.  
Here is the definition I found -  "A fork curved like a spoon, with three broad prongs, one of which has a sharpened outer edge for cutting".

But it is not the runcible spoon that I am here to talk about - but I will talk about quinces....

I must admit that I have had a love affair with quinces since I was introduced to them a few years ago. I wasn't surprised to read that in Ancient Greece and Rome, the quince was a symbol of love and fertility.


According to -  ABC's Gardening Australia - Quinces originated from Persia, now Iran, and then spread throughout the Mediterranean. (click on the ABC link to read their informative facts sheet)


 You can see below a gorgeous botanical drawing by  Franz Eugen Köhler in 1897 -







  








The quince grows on a small deciduous tree, a member of the apple and pear family, and we only seem to see them in our market here for a short time in winter, so I snap them up when I see them. It is now August (the last month of winter) and I have just read that their harvest season is from late March to May (Autumn) - so I don't know why I can only usually buy them around June-July (winter). I should ask the market!

 They seem to be mostly only found in old orchards - The brother of a friend of mine has one on his family farm out in the Ferguson Valley. I was hoping to go out there this weekend and pick some quinces, but then she rang and told us the quinces are finished and the tree is completely bare!  Hopefully I can go out there next year when the tree is in fruit.  Here is a view of the Ferguson Valley, not far from Bunbury in Western Australia.

beautiful Ferguson Valley, Western Australia

 As far as I know I have only seen a quince tree once. It was a gnarled twisted old thing with it's spreading branches propped up by an old chook (hen) shed. It looked like it hadn't been pruned in years, but we were able to pick a bucket of quinces to make quince paste. 

One of my favourite weekend getaways is the Blackwood River Cottages located on a farming property edged by the Blackwood River and forrest in Nannup (you can see some pics below). There are stairs going down to an old garden orchard and I wonder now if there is a quince tree hidden in there somewhere.....

I had heard that there was a quince tree at historical King Cottage in Bunbury and as I had to go into town this morning, I took a chance that they might be open. As it happened they had a school group visiting, so I went around to the back and quickly took this picture you see below - and yes the quince tree was bare except for a few last leaves clinging grimly to the branches. I will need to go back at the right time next season.  Built in the 1880s by Henry King, King Cottage Museum is a project of the Bunbury Historical Society and is open from 2-4pm daily. You can read more about it by clicking here - King Cottage

 

Quinces turn from green to yellow when they are ripe, and evidently are ready to pick when they start to drop from the tree. Even though the flesh is hard they bruise easily. The fruit can be stored for around three months in the refrigerator. 

They also start to brown off quickly when cut as you can see in these images. 


 But beware - the fruit is very hard and cannot be eaten raw (however out of curiosity I did taste it today - it tastes a bit like furry pear). Wash the quinces to remove the "down", peel, core, and cut them into slices, (you might want to cover them in water as you do this as they brown quickly in the air after cutting) and then poach them gently in sugar and water. The slower and longer the cooking time the deeper rose colour they will become.  I have read though it does depend a bit on the ripeness of the quinces - riper fruit turns a deeper colour. 






I found this simple delicious recipe - 

For about 4-5 quinces - peel, core and quarter the quinces (or thinner slices if large quinces). 
Put in an oven-proof dish, 
with juice and jest of 2 lemons and 1 orange (although I found that just one lemon was enough)
1 or 2 cinnamon sticks  (1 is enough)
1 and a quarter cups of raw sugar 
and about 500 mls water, enough to cover the fruit. (quantity dependent on the number and size of the quinces you have). 

Cover with a piece of damp baking paper. Bake at 160-170 C for 2-3 hours. 












 Serve them up with dollops of cream or icecream - delicious! I really can't describe the incredible aroma and sweet-tart taste. Their gorgeous perfume invades the house when I cook them, and the flavour - oh my goodness - so divine. It is indescribable. 



You can also make quince paste to spread on crackers with cheese or just spread on bread and enjoy!

 And what about a piece of delicious quince pie for afternoon tea? Photographed in beautiful afternoon diffused by clouds natural light on my patio. The beautiful china came from my mother-in-laws china cabinet. It was given to her by her work friends when she married in the early 1950s.  I think this delectable quince pie deserves beautiful china.

Quinces - have you tried them? Do you like them?  And have you seen a runcible spoon?

Thank you for stopping by - I hope you have enjoyed learning about quinces, and if you haven't tried them that you will look for them in your market in Autumn. They really are delicious! I look forward to hearing from you. 

 I am linking up to Mosaic Monday,  Our World Tuesday, Tuesday Around the World, Travel Photo Thursday, Oh the Places I've Been, and the "What's It Wednesday" party going on over at "Ivy and Elephants". Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Our World Tuesday
Tuesday Around the World 
Travel Photo Thursday
 Oh The Places I've Been
What's It Wednesday 

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The breathtaking world of "Gardens by the Bay", Singapore

Last week I showed a little of our recent visit to Singapore - High Life at the Raffles. 
No I didn't stay at the Raffles - I wish! If you missed it click here - High Life at the Raffles

 This week I take you to Gardens on the Bay - only a few MRT stops from the Raffles.

I don’t think any words I conjure up can adequately describe the beauty and magic of “Gardens by the Bay” in Singapore.  Opened in June 2012 what they have achieved here is nothing short of Outstanding! Stunning! Amazing! Spectacular!

The gardens are a brilliant kaleidoscope of exotic plants from around the world that whisks you away from the hustle and bustle that is Singapore.  It is certainly a wonderful place to go if you need some time out from your busy holiday in Singapore.   

Located in the Marina Bay area (behind the Marina Bay Sands Hotel - the one with the boat on top!), the gardens can be enjoyed all day until 2am in the morning. Access to the Outdoor Gardens and the night light show is free. You could easily spend a whole day here.   The gardens can be experienced in several dfferent ways - 

The main gardens which include Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes and the Heritage Gardens can be strolled around at your leisue at no cost. The Heritage Gardens are a collection of four themed gardens that take you through the history and culture of Sinapore's three main ethnic groups and colonial past. You can see the Supertrees in this mosaic - more about them later.  

The two massive conservatories can be visited at a very reasonable coast as can the sky walk and a tour bus around the gardens with commentary.  The Cloud Forest Dome geatures an amazing 35-metre tall central "mountain covered in lush vegetation 

and the world's tallest indoor waterfall (10 stories high).  

The Cloud Forest Dome showecases plant life from tropical highlands up to 2,000-metres above sea level. You can go up to the top via a lift and then walk down along the aerial walkways. 

 The orchids were simply stunning!   

Can you see the bird? 

I love the elegant simplicity of these plants - I wish I had found out their name...though I don't suppose I would be able to grow them in Australia.  
ps - Noel from Hawaii and Travel Photo Mondays tells me they are - anthuriums. Thanks Noel! What a brilliant place blogging is! 

Gardens By the Bay tries to educate as well as enthrall. In Earth Check and +5 Degrees you are given a visual sobering insight into the radical changes that Climate Change is bringing about and the problems we are likely to face due to climate change and habitat loss and the effect of temperature increases around Earth. We desperately need everyone to do what they can to look after our planet before it is too late. If we don't the amazing life as we know it today, plants and animals, and even mankind, will be lost forever.    

The Flower Dome replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean regions like South Africa, Australia, California, Chile and parts of Spain and Italy. Home to a collection of plants from deserts all over the word, it showcases the adaptions of plants to arid environments. We even saw Australian boab trees. Colourful changing displays of flowers in the Flower Field reflect different seasons, festivals and themes.   There is even a restautrant. You can see it in the top left hand picture - the blue area under the bottle trees. Unfortunately we arrived at the Flower Dome in the early evening, so I wasn't able to take a lot of photos.   

Our boys were mesmerized by the floor kaleidoscopes. I thought they were pretty cool too.   

The unique trees" in the Supertree Grove soar up to 16-storeys hight. You can stroll freely amongst the trees or for a small price walk along the OCBC Skyway, a 128-metre long walkway 22-metres about the ground that connects two Supertrees, and take in the panoramic views of the Gardens and Marina Bay area.   Unfortunately we arrived too late to do everything....so it will be on my list for next time.   

Over 162,900 plants comprising more than 200 species and varieties of bromeliads, orchids, ferns and tropical flowering climbers are planted on the trunks of the Supertrees, which have panels that harvest solar energy.  In the evening the Supertrees come alive with a dazzling display of changing lights which left me completely in awe - I felt like I was walking through the gardens in the movie "Avatar".   

There are several dining options, but we chose Satay by the Bay for a typical SIngapore stay feast. The bottom right photo is acatually the open-air bathroom - I couldn't resist taking a photo.   

Located across the water from the Merlion, Gardens by the Bay is easy to get to via the MRT (alight at Bayfront MRT STation). Prices are very reasonable - check the website for how to get there and opening times and costs -
Plan your visit to Gardens by the Bay

I hope you enjoyed this little tour to Gardens By the Bay. I THOROUGHLY recommend you visit Gardens by the Bay if you ever go to Singapore. 
Click here to go to their website - Gardens by the Bay

Thanks for stopping by. I look forward to hearing from you.  Take care and have a wonderful week.

 I hope to be back again soon with some more pics.

Did I mention earlier there is a hotel with a "boat" on the top - you can see it in the background here - 

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Our World Tuesday, Travel Photo Thursday and Oh the Places I've Been. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Our World Tuesday
Travel Photo Thursday
 Oh The Places I've Been

High life at the Raffles, Singapore

"While at Raffles, why not visit Singapore?"

or so says the Raffles Website -  Raffles Hotel, Singapore

"Probably the world's most famous hotel. ‘While at Raffles, why not visit Singapore?' Indeed. Not just a hotel, an icon; Raffles Singapore is an oasis of colonial style, calm and charm in the heart of modern Singapore - exclusive, historic, and one of a kind."

 Well we were in Singapore a week ago - this was our view from our hotel balcony -

 and we did visit the Raffles - it was next door - here are some pics - elegance at it's best - but of course with a price tag to match......

And a little history - 
you can read more by clicking here - Wikipedia-Raffles_Hotel

and the famous Long Bar - You need to go up to the first floor to go to the Long Bar. I have just read that this is not the colonial bar where the likes of Somerset Maugham and Rudyard Kipling put away gin and tonics while penning stories about the jungles of Malaya. The original Long Bar was located in the hotel lobby. However visiting the Long Bar at the Raffles is certainly a thing to do if you are close by. 

and the famous Singapore Sling? - expensive yes, but it is iconic.

Said to have been Invented by barman Ngiam Tong Boom in 1915, it's origins and original recipe seems clouded in history. Click here for a really interesting story about it - 
Worldfoodist-who-invented-the-singapore-sling?

Here are the proportions officially published by the hotel:
 
30 ml gin
15 ml Cherry Heering (brandy)
7.5 ml Dom Benedictine
7.5 ml Cointreau
120 ml Sarawak Pineapple juice
15 ml lime juice
10 ml Grenadine
a dash of Angostura bitters
Garnish with a slice of pineapple and a cherry


And where did we stay? - right across the road from The Raffles - at The Swissotel The Stamford - The Stamford, Singapore

We have stayed there before. Wonderful rooms, swimming pool, connected to a shopping complex, plenty of restaurants to cover all choices in the shopping complex, MRT adjacent, fantastic location.

It's not quite the Raffles, but it doesn't have the same price tag attached either. Ps - if you are going to go to the Raffles, check out their dress standards on their web page first, or you may be turned away.

Our view from our "harbour view" room - the pics in this panorama don't quite match up, but you get should get the idea - that is the Singapore Cricket Club in the lower RHS. You can't see the Raffles in this pic, if was way around to the left from here.

 I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of the Raffles. I will be back again soon with some more pics from Singapore. Here's a sneak look - Gardens on the Bay.....

And which camera did I take with me? My trusty little Canon G11 - a handy little camera which takes fabulous pics without the weight and the "she's a tourist with an expensive camera" label pointing to me!






A couple of links for you -  Raffles Hotel, Singapore
  Singapore Sling, Raffles

I am linking up to Mosaic Monday, Travel Photo Monday, Our World Tuesday, Travel Photo Thursday and Oh the Places I've Been. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

Mosaic Monday
Travel Photo Mondays
Our World Tuesday
Travel Photo Thursday
 Oh The Places I've Been


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