It’s been four months since we left, it’s a good time to take a breath of fresh air. That’s good, Singapore is right on our way. It is known to be one of the greenest and liveliest cities in the world. The icing on the cake, a couple of French friends will also be there, Charlotte and Charlie. So let’s see that!
Don’t expect to see pictures of their faces, we noticed on our departure that we had not taken the time to immortalize our reunion. The big dummies…
During these almost three days here, we discover the city by foot while strolling along the brooks and bodies of water. Panoramas are totally different from what we had discovered so far. Audrey has already come a few years ago on a business trip and had kept an excellent memory of the city. Between the skyscrapers with varied architectures, the city reveals a grid of wide tree-lined avenues always ending up on a garden or a park. The least we can say is that we don’t feel the suffocation from big cities that we visited until today. The buildings emerging behind the trees don’t obstruct the view, rather the opposite. Their vertical lines pointing the sky cause a sensation of smallness for pedestrians that we are (some mean people among you will say that we are not that tall anyway, we know you). For the first time in four months, a city offers us a relaxing break. Even the blue sky dotted with clouds is photogenic. No pollution’s halo on the horizon. The city is bordered by the sea, and although it is hot and a little humid, you breathe here.
While Charlie is working the day (well, that’s what he says), Charlotte and we visit one of the main attractions in the city, “Gardens by the Bay”. An incredible complex combining outdoor parks and botanical gardens under greenhouses. But, we are not talking about greenhouse to grow strawberries and tomatoes at your organic friendly cousin’s place living in the countryside. In case this was not clear in the beginning of the article, the city is very rich, and nothing denotes anywhere. The greenhouse we visit (there are two in total, plus other things here and there, but we had to limit ourselves with our budget) is called “Cloud Forest”. This is an artificial dome of 40 meters, with an internal elevator. The vegetation is lush. The humid atmosphere of the tropical forests found between 1000 meters and 3000 meters is simulated. Honestly, it’s quite amazing!
After a very good dinner with Charlie and his colleagues (the food is good at Singap’, the chickens also travel for that!) we say goodbye to our friends and go rest a few hours before taking our morning plane. Next destination, the Philippines and new reunion. But that’s for the next post of chickens.
See you soon,
Audrey & Ben