First Visit, on the way to Rome
Straight into Singapore with no circling in the early evening. No queue with auto check in a border control.
D’Nova hotel – pleasant, tiny and a little ‘cheap’. Toilet in room which I don’t like. Great bed, great aircon, quiet. Went for a walk around the block and bought triangular snacks from the corner shop.
In the morning wandered down to hop-on bus and ended up at the botanic gardens – did a short loop through orchid garden, so impressive, then sat down for a brunch, a hamburger of all things.
Back to the orchid garden for a more thorough walk. Really enjoyed the revamped cool house and took lots of pictures.
Back to the hop-on and on to the gardens in the bay where I took a small tour. Good value as I learnt about the modern garden park. Lunch at the Jurassic food court – many small Singaporean style food shops. Enjoyed a blackberry panacotta with real fruit. Next to the temperate cool house and walked straight into the Australian section with bottlebrush. Big range from cactus to tulips.
Walked through the Marina Sands hotel complex and took a taxi back to Purvis St and bags. Difficult walk to station and a ride out to Changi.
- Wander, shower, wait.
Second visit on the way from Paris to Sydney
Arrived in Singapore in the early evening and taxied to hotel, sort of a bit of the red light district, but no problem. Stayed in an Ibis Budget and was pretty budget, but fine. Walked around the area and found a nice laksa dinner.
A walk around the area, has an interesting brunch, then off to the airport and a rest. Visited the butterfly area and had a shower. Flight left at about 8pm.