For Mystic

Beautiful orchids for mystic


Dedicated to Mystic, co-contributor of this blog "Places". Hopefully she would like it?

National Orchid Garden, Singapore

Finally, I have made my visit to the Botanic Gardens this afternoon. I visited the National Orchid Garden. I have not been there before today, so it is something new for me.

According to the write-up, there are over 1000 species and 2000 hybrids of orchids found in the Garden's collection.

I am no avid orchid lover, but I am happy to have spent a morning walking through the National Orchid Garden. It feels nice to be near nature. Furthermore, the sun this morning is just right for a stroll around the Garden.

White Fairy

Vanda Miss Joaquim

Vanda Miss Joaquim was chosen to be the National Flower of Singapore in 1981. It is an exquisite orchid created by Miss Agnes Joaquim in her garden in 1893.  


Glamour shot 

Tan Hoon Siang Mist House

This mist house is a host of rare orchids. 

Unusual Plants

Unusual plants from Central and South America housed in the Yuen-Peng McNiece Bromeliad Collection. 

Girl with a Shell

I quite like this sculpture. Rather innocent looking. Found in the Yuen Peng McNeice Bromeliad Collection, of the National Orchid Garden. 

Waterfall

Waterfall. National Orchid Garden, Singapore. 

In love with the Singapore River

I am in love with the Singapore River. I think I am. It has been a source of comfort to me most of the times when I travelled along this very river. Walking along it is feels as if I am walking around with the company of a good friend who is patient and understanding.

Tonight I shall post a few photos that I had taken along the Singapore River. May you find comfort in looking at them.

Merlion Park in the evening. 

Memorial

Memorial. For those who fought and died during the WWI. (If I have not gotten my facts wrong.) 

Esplanade

Another view of Esplanade. Taken when I was walking along the Esplanade Bridge. 

The River

Tranquil evening.  

Navigating: Penang

I have put up a number of posts related to my trip to Penang in early November 2004. For your convenience, here is an attempt to provide a slight ease in navigating through these various posts. Click on the links below and you shall be directed to some of the related pages:

• Back from Penang
• Accounts of My Vacation in Penang
• Some of the photographs taken in Penang
• My November's posts (Scroll right down, and read from bottom up.)

Gurney Drive Foodstalls

Hawker stalls at Gurney Drive.

Penang is famous for its food and the hawker centre beside the waterfront at Gurney Drive is a food haven that one should check out. The place comes alive from evening time till wee hours, if I have gotten it correctly.


These hawkers operate their business on mobile kitchens. Look harder, they prepare their food on vans.

According to this website (http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/section.cfm?id=36), here are some of the food at Gurney Drive that one should check out:

Cendol, See Kor Th'ng, Sotong Bakar, Laksa, Lobak, Nyonya Dishes, Char Koay Teow, Curry Mee, Hokkien Mee, Wan Tan Mee, Mee Goreng and Mee Rebus, Pasembur

Gurney Drive in the evening.

City Hall, Georgetown

Dewan Bandaran (City Hall), Georgetown, Penang. I am somehow quite atttracted by its colonial architecture. 

Complimentary Bus Shuttle Service

The people of Penang are very hospitable. For the convenience of tourists and locals who wish to catch the sights in Georgetown, there is a free bus service courtesy of the Penang State Government in Georgetown. This free bus service indeed helps tourist save time and money touring George Town's heritage and commercial attraction.


One of the bus stops to take the free bus shuttle service.

I did not have a chance to take this transport service when I was Penang. It is partly because I had preferred to travel on foot for short distances, so I end up walking when I was travelling around Georgetown. Furthermore, the hotel that I stayed in was quite close to several major heritage attractions that I had wanted to go to, so I could easily travel on foot.

Anyway, for the benefit of those who wanted to use this service, here are some more information:

The service runs at regular 12-minute intervals from 7:00am to 7:00pm on Mondays to Fridays and 7:00am to 2:00pm on Saturdays. There is no service on Sundays and public holidays.

The bus service starts at the Jetty, Weld Quay and passes by Komtar, Penang Road, before returning to its point of origin.

http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/page.cfm?name=ap02d

Please click on the link below for the bus routes and pick up points:
http://www.tourismpenang.gov.my/images/exoticpenang/custom%20pages/ap02d_01.htm

Clock Tower

Clock Tower. One of the landmarks of Georgetown, Penang.

Fort Cornwallis (4) 

Gunpowder Magazine

Fort Cornwallis. Constructed in 1814, this was used to store explosive. It was designed to minimise the damages caused by an explosion.

Harbour Light and Flagstaff

Harbour Light & Flagstaff. Fort Cornwallis, Penang.

Seri Rambai cannon

This is the most famous among the cannons at Fort Cornwallis. This cannon was presented to the Sultan of Johore by the Dutch. However, it was later given to Acheh, and installed at Kuala Selangor. Finally this cannon was seized by the British and installed at the Fort Cornwallis in 1871.

The lengendary Seri Rambai cannon is believed to have special power to grant fertility to barren women who place flowers on its barrel.

Cannons

The cannons along the perimeter of Fort Cornwallis.

Fort Cornwallis (3)

To the right, you will see the cells. These cells were built in 1811. They were formerly used as barracks to house a company of European artillery, and were later converted to cell rooms.