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We visited Singapore in 7-15 November 2017, to visit tourist attractions and also catch up with my school friends and family.
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Last day in Singapore! It was raining very heavily, so we decided to take the MRT and visit Orchard Road, the famous shopping district.
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Trick Eye Museum Singapore, is a 3D optical art museum originally from Korea, where one can pose in front of the art and take photos.
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We headed back to Resorts World via the Sentosa Express monorail, to take some photos around the Bull Ring and the Lake of Dreams.
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Little India was originally an enclave designated by the British for Indian immigrants, and the main thoroughfare is Serangoon Road.
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Suntec City is one of Singapore’s largest malls and shopping destination nestled in the heart of the bustling Marina Bay precinct.
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For our family dinner, we went to the Racines restaurant at the brand new Sofitel Singapore City Centre, a French-Asian fusion restaurant.
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The final attraction at Sentosa that we visited was Fort Siloso, built in the late 19th century and stands a historical site today.
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We entered the statue of the Sentosa Merlion, which is a mythical creature with a lion’s head and a fish’s body.
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Sentosa Island was called "Pulau Belakang Mati", fortified during the British occupation, and is now a holiday resort.
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After lunch we took a taxi to Mt Faber to catch the Sentosa Cable Car to Sentosa Island (less busy than the main station).
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We waited for Lyn's parents to arrive, then had a family lunch at the Xperience restaurant at the So Sofitel.
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We woke up early and took a stroll from our hotel to Marina Bay. We walked towards The Promontory, then Clifford Pier towards Merlion Park.
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We spent the evening exploring the Christmas Lights at Orchard Road with Christmas decorations and pop up stores.
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Today we are focused on visiting Universal Studios Singapore, located on Sentosa Island in an area called Resorts Worlds.
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Our final stop in the Flower Dome is the Flower Field - which has many Christmas decorations and displays.
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We explored the Continental gardens including Australian, South African, South American, Mediterranean, Californian and the Olive Grove.
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Flower Dome is supposedly the largest glass greenhouse in the world. It showcases plants and flowers from five continents in nine gardens.
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The final part of the Cloud Forest attraction is the Secret Garden, featuring an underwater pool with stalactites and stalagmites.
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Below the heart of Crystal Mountain in the Cloud Forest, we walked on the Treetop Walk which leads into the Secret Garden.
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Descending the Cloud Walk in the Cloud Forest, we passed through Crystal Mountain where there were many crystals on display.
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From the Lost World in the Cloud Forest, we walked down the Cloud Walk which provided fantastic views around the dome.
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In the Cloud Forest, we took an elevator to the highest point of the mountain, entitled "Lost World," with LEGO sculptures in a pond setting.
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Cloud Forest is a fake mountain enclosed in a glass dome complete with waterfalls and treetop (and mountaintop) boardwalks.
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We took a taxi to our cousin's home and spent a nice morning exploring the Singapore Botanic Gardens, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
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After dinner my cousin and her husband drove us back to the heart of Singapore where we walked around at night taking photos of the various buildings.
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At night my cousin Qui Yin and her husband Gordon picked us up from our hotel and took us to New Ubin Seafood restaurant for dinner.
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We caught up with two friends from school today. I haven't met them in over 30 years so I was excited and nervous.
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In 2012, the 1st LEGOLAND in Asia opened, LEGOLAND Malaysia, taking visitors across Asia on a “brick-tastic” journey of LEGO adventures.
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We explore the base of the observation wheel, which is a rainforest garden occupying the entire central atrium of the main Terminal Building. The "rainforest" contains tropical trees and shrubs, cascading water displays, streams, and rocky outcrops beneath the Flyer wheel.
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Well this is it! Our journey to Singapore after 5 years! We arrived in the afternoon and checked into So Sofitel Hotel.
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I was privileged to be part of Lesley Whyte Photography's #MyAuckland VIP Day Tour on Saturday 30 September 2017.
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On my last day in Auckland (Day 3), I wandered around High St and Queen St. Sad to be flying back later in the day!
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Auckland at night is a strange city at night full of wondrous visions that I never encounter during the day.
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Sunset over the volcanic peak of Mt Wellington, overlooking the suburb of Stonefields built on the site of an old quarry.
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Mission Bay is a seaside suburb on Tamaki Drive with a nice fountain and some shops. Nearby is Bastion Point.
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Located just to the west of Viaduct Harbour, Wynyard Quarter has been progressively converted for residential apartments.
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Devonport is a harbourside suburb on the North Shore of Auckland, and hosts the Naval Base. It has great views of the harbour into the city.
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Had lunch at a place called The Landing at Riverhead, where Lesley spent her childhood. Best steak I have ever eaten - perfectly cooked.
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Muriwai Beach featuring black sand and a gannet colony on a large rock. We were there at low tide and the weather was overcast and rainy.
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From Albert Park, I explored Auckland City, starting from Khartoum Place where there is a memorial to the Women's Suffrage movement.
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Auckland University is located next to Albert Park. It is the largest, most comprehensive and highest-ranked university in New Zealand.
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Landed in Auckland last night. I had the morning to myself, so decided to explore Albert Park and the Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki.
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We returned to Japan in 2017 and visited Tokyo, then headed down south to Okayama and Hiroshima, returning via Osaka and Kyoto.
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We arrived at Haneda airport, and wandered around the airport shopping area. There were lots of fake cherry blossom trees.
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We spend the rest of evening walking back from the Tokyo Metropolitan Goverment building along the subways and streets of Shinjuku.
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The Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (東京都庁舎) is the tallest city hall in the world, with observation decks proving amazing views.
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Shinjuku (新宿区) has been a major secondary center of Tokyo and a commercial hub full of skyscrapers and retail shops.
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Shinjuku Gyoen (新宿御苑) is a large park and garden. It was originally a residence of the Naitō family, then became an Imperial Park.
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Character Street is a row of shops selling toys based on various character themes, located underground in Tokyo Station.
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The Imperial Palace East Gardens encompasses the former Honmaru and Ninomaru areas of Edo Castle and the Imperial Tokagakudo Music Hall.
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We walked back to Kyoto station as buses were full, crossed the bridge at Shichijo and saw a lovely sunset.
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Otowa-san Kiyomizu-dera (音羽山清水寺), is a Buddhist temple and part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO World Heritage site.
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We walked along the stone-paved roads in Higashiyama (Ninenzaka and Sannenzaka) that lead up to the Kiyomizu Temple.
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Chion-in is a Pure Land Buddhism temple consisting of a colossal main gate (Sanmon), a huge temple building and Japan’s largest temple bell.
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Otani Sobyo Mausoleum is the grave of Shinran, the founder of the Shinshu sect Otani school (Higashi Hongan-ji Temple).
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Yasaka Shrine (八坂神社), once called Gion Shrine (祇園神社), is a Shinto shrine in the Gion District of Kyoto, with bright red gates.
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Honen-in ((法然院)) is a nice quiet reflective temple on Kyoto's Philosopher's Path. There is an amazing statue of Buddha here.
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Ginkaku-ji (銀閣寺), or Temple of the Silver Pavilion, is officially named Jishō-ji (慈照寺) and built for a Shogun who became a Buddhist monk.
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Today we traveled from Osaka to Kyoto and arrived in the morning. Along the way we passed through some interesting sculpture street art.
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Today we visited Universal Studios Japan (or USJ as its more popularly known as). We are excited to see the new Harry Potter attractions!
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We travelled from Hiroshima to Osaka and arrived around 3pm. We checked into the Ritz Carlton and spent the afternoon exploring the area.
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On the way back to Fukuyama station, I saw a rose trellis in honour of Hugh Jackman - I took a picture there.
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Tomonoura is a small fishing village famous as the location for several films: notably Miyazaki's Ponyo and Wolverine.