On Sunday we went to the Botanic Gardens, a sprawling green space in about the center of Singapore. I think we'll be spending a lot of time here while Ted is at work. We can be outside doing fun things and be close to a sprinkler too. Oh, and it's all a quick bus ride away. We mostly visited the Children's Garden on this trip, but there is no food allowed there, so we did venture into the broader garden for a picnic under a gazebo overlooking a pretty lake with black swans. Yep, it was that pretty. This post will mostly be family shots so if that sort of thing bores you, skip toward the bottom to check out some shots of the vegetation (the stuff that bores me).
Getting there seemed easy enough. One bus to another bus, each one only taking us about 4 stops. It would have been easy if they weren't constructing a new underground train line so we did have to navigate a confusing (and hot) detour. We finally found the bus stop. All the bus stops we have seen so far are really nice. Clean, great information on the bus lines, plenty of seating. The ones on Orchard Road even have TVs showing the news! In this picture, I'm pointing to a stop called Bef Lewis Rd. This is for my Aunt Beth Lewis, apparently nearby.
Here is the equipment used to construct the new line. It was pretty cool to watch all this going on while waiting for our bus.
The girls might be sweaty, but they are patient.
When we first got there, we played in a sandy playground. We worked up a healthy sweat and headed to the sprinklers.
Wyatt preferred the shade to the water.
Just past the sprinklers, there was a small sun shelter and these cool block puzzles.
When the kids saw this maze for them to run through, they sprinted toward it. They were so proud when they found their way through that they kept going again and again.
We found some banana trees. They kind of remind me of Audrey II. Little Shop of Horrors, anyone?
Our favorite spot was the big tree house. There were places for tea parties, lots of place to climb, and slides.
Beyond the tree house, was a giant mushroom garden. Okay so they're not real, but Zoe felt like a fairy.
Off in the "woods" a bit, was a cool little pond with a floating dock.
We made a friend.
Here is the part where I post all the nature close-ups.
These ones are actually pretty cool. They're called Touch-Me Nots. The ferny leaves wilt and enclose when touched. After a minute or so, they uncoil again like nothing happened.
As you can imagine,, the kids were obsessed with them.
And then all of a sudden, just like that, we were given a sign that it was time to go.
Yikes.
On Monday, we took it easy, only going outside to swim and play in the small playground. The kids were tired and needed to catch up on sleep. I needed to relax and read a non-tour-guide book. Yesterday we played outside and then went to an indoor gym for a moms' gathering. Unfortunately, it was mostly for kids Wyatt's age and younger, but they had a ball anyway. They had been hoping to make new friends there, but they bonded pretty well with one another. This morning after I finish typing this, we are heading to the Art Museum where they have an interactive children's exhibit called Art Garden. Here is a link if you are interested: http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg/exhibitions/details.php?id=95
Talk to you soon!
My mom pointed out to me that the sign to leave might not be obvious. If you clck on the picture to enlarge it, you'll see a look of disgust on Wy's face and a scowl like I've rarely seen on Z's. It was time. Like 10 minutes ago time.
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