Chinese Gardens

I felt quite tired this morning so didn't rush and only went down to breakfast at 10am, and while sat in bed I spotted a wonderful rainbow rising above the skyscrapers which was a lovely start to the day (added to my extras).

After breakfast I caught the MRT to the Chinese and Japenese Gardens which are in the Jurong East area.  It took about 30 mins to get there but was very easy as it's on the same line, just 12 stops from where I got on.  Entry to the gardens is free, so I spent a couple of hours strolling around the temples and pagoda's of the Chinese Garden and there was a beautiful bonsai garden.  As I was crossing a bridge over a stream, I spotted what looked like a little crocodile, but having googled it, it was a Malayan Monitor Lizard.

I crossed the bridge into the Japanese Garden which was very different, with lily ponds with the lovely red bridges across them. The lilies were very different to those we get in the UK, and I've added them to my extras too.  I came across a Stork as I crossed one bridge, and got quite close to it to get some photos, and it didn't seem too bothered about me being there, and I also saw a beautiful blue collared kingfisher.  Quite a collection of wildlife for one day!

It's been a very cloudy day, so not the best for photography, and the humidity has been at it's worst, I felt like I'd been dunked in the lake!  It started to rain slightly, and a wise old man on a bike passed me, and said 'rain is coming'.  He was right, within no time at all it got pretty heavy, but I've never enjoyed walking in the rain so much.  It was still hot, and I just had my shorts and a vest top on, but I did have my umbrella.

Back at the hotel I went for a swim again and when Alan got back from work, we went window shopping in Orchard Road.  There are some amazing shops there, but we didn't buy anything.  I said that I fancied an Indian curry, so Alan had a look on Google Maps and found one nearby that had good ratings called The Curry Culture.  It's in Cuppage Terrace which is made up of 17 colourful Peranakan shophouses which have been turned into restaurants and bars with a central covered al fresco dining area which reminded me a bit of Covent Garden in London.  It was very busy so there was a great atmosphere and we were lucky to get a table.  The service and food were excellent and if we were here for any longer we'd definitely go back.

It's Alan's last day at work tomorrow and they're starting an hour earlier in the hope that they can finish after lunch.  We don't fly home until Saturday night, so it'll give us more time to do things together.

Thanks to those of you who are following my adventures, apologies once again for not keeping up with you!