cloud forest, gardens by the bay

after a walk through the flower dome to view tulipmania, we went on to the cloud forest conservatory and were greeted with a tall streaming waterfall, and high humidity amidst cool air air-conditioning.

if you do go, I think you will notice a discernible difference between the two conservatories – the flower dome is a veritable cacophony of color, and the cloud dome a more muted (almost bleak) landscape. the roof garden holds a bit more colour – most of which these photos are of – but it’s pretty cool how they hold to their names.

tulipmania, gardens by the bay (take two)

tulipmania was really a mini garden of imported tulip flowers within the larger garden that was the flower dome conservatory – strips of color delineated by tulip petals, as well as the distinction between buds and blooms. it was a gorgeous display – these flowers very obviously aren’t native to our sweltering, tropical climate, but the wonders of air conditioning and glass-domestruction meant I had the chance to share these beauties with grandma.

mel’s drive-in, sentosa

pretty decent american theme-park style offerings at this retroesque diner in universal studios singapore, somewhere along the hollywood strip. this place is just adorable beyond words – the decoration of the place, the little stage outside for apron-donning waitress-pretending performers to dance, the whole thing reminded me of a scene out of my childhood hanna-barbera cartoons. I like kitsch – and I think the whole disney/universal do a great job at transporting this across the world in their perfectly manicured playscapes (probably been watching too much sandra lee).

universal studios singapore, sentosa

this is a photo post, so I’ll refrain from disturbing your perusal – suffice to say that I felt like a kid again, going on the battlestar galactica rides, shutting my eyes and praying for sweet life. it’s a glorious place for photos.