It Never Rains All Day in Singapore at This Time of Year....Really

Are you sure about that rain statement??

The next morning we try to sleep in a bit since we're still tired from our late arrival and yesterday's busy day. We get going later in the morning to visit the renown Singapore Botanic Gardens. It's free, except for the orchid section -  it's $5 to enter, but well worth it. 

It's over $1000 USD for eating or drinking!  No wonder it's so clean.

We hop on the MRT and enjoy the uncrowded ride to one of the Garden entrances.  They are really serious here - in Japan, people generally don't eat or drink on the subway, but it's not a rule.  It is in Singapore, with prominent signs not only telling you what NOT to do, but also the cost of the accompanying fines.  No fine for carrying a durian (the smelly fruit we finally tried in Thailand) but people would probably throw you off the subway if you have it.

Color coded to help you find your seat!

I guess they're trying to be nice (or they haven't figured out how to fine an entire car of people), but the seats for handicapped, elderly, etc have little characters encouraging you, like this one, "Stand Up Stacey."  When we use the MRT we're always able to find a seat, but we don't travel during rush hours.

Once we arrive at the station (appropriately named Botanic Garden) it's easy to follow the signs to the entrance.  There are multiple gates into the Garden, but this one is most convenient for the subway.  There's an employee there waiting to distribute paper maps, and he also recommends a general pathway to follow so you see everything, along with directions on catching public transportation from the other side of the Garden (about 1.6 miles from our entrance).

They even make the walls pretty with flower vines.

tropical plant selfie

The Botanic Gardens were established in the 1820's and is the only tropical garden listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site (only three gardens are included on the list).  We stroll around some of the specialty areas, like the Healing Garden (plants and herbs used for medicinal purposes) and the Fragrant Garden (self explanatory, but better to visit at dusk - they aren't very fragrant when we're there).  It's very hot and humid and we're already halfway through the water we brought with us.

I love these little waterfalls at the base of the plants/trees!

After we've been there for about an hour it starts to rain just as we reach one of the visitor center pavilions. Perfect timing! We browse the gift shop then find a bench in the covered area to wait. It's good to rest our feet!  While sitting I edit some of my photos and Steve is working, while also texting his friend who now lives in Singapore.  He mentions to Steve that the downpour will end soon (because at this time of year it's only quick thunderstorms).

See the downpour behind us?

After about 30 minutes of torrential showers we decide to eat lunch, and enjoy pizza (Steve) and a Singapore specialty, laska (Sheila).  Laksa is a spicy noodle soup with shrimp and various veggies.  It's good, but not great - I'm sure every business/family has their own recipe (like ramen in Japan or gumbo in Louisiana).

Steve doing his Japan pose behind the waterfall.

It's slowing to a sprinkle, so we decide to use our umbrellas and continue to walk around.  (It's been coming down now for over an hour.  The Garden is practically empty of visitors.)  We're able to visit the rainforest section while it's actually raining - very authentic.  We walk over to the Ginger Garden and enjoy the waterfall that's been created as part of the landscape.  There's even a "cave" you can enter behind it.  On a hot day it's probably a nice cool spot, but with the storm the temperature has cooled down to the 70s.  I'd rather have the precipitation than the heat and humidity we were in earlier!

Can Steve do this in our backyard?

pretty birds of paradise

My favorite ground cover plants - but I could never find the sign with its name.

Next we enter the Orchid Garden, which is just breathtaking.

See the raindrops on the petals?

orchid selfie

There are large pathways lined with tropical trees, plants and of course, orchids!  Because of the continuous drizzle and deluges (it alternates, but never completely stops) we practically have the whole place to ourselves.  We enjoy strolling through the different sections and practicing our photography skills.

It's like Spanish moss.

We find the Mist House, which has an array of different hybrids in unique displays.

I love these plants!  The ruffled leaves are beautiful.

The sign says this is a picture taking spot...so we do!

There's a couple of frangipani flowers out.

It never does stop raining!  Luckily, we're prepared with umbrellas and ponchos...because we need both!  After six hours of wandering in the monsoon (Are you sure it's not the season?), we decide we've seen enough.  My feet squish with every step!  As we depart, we stroll through the frangipani, bonsai (a taste of home) and the formal sundial garden on the way out.  I'm a little disappointed about the sundial garden - I thought it would have flowers that would bloom at certain times of the day, but it's a formal garden with a sundial in it.  I have fun seeing all the flowers and plants that have been mentioned in the books I've been reading recently (with settings in Singapore).

I feel like we're back in Japan!

my favorite type of bonsai

We brave figuring out the bus system to get back to the hotel. I only make a little mistake, tapping my card in the wrong spot when I get on. It's a lot easier than Japan - it's all in English.  Once we return to the hotel and dry off we're ready to relax.  We schedule some massages and take advantage of the free snacks and drinks in the executive lounge of the Conrad. It's an early morning tomorrow!