SINGAPORE GARDEN FESTIVAL 2016

This is the Singapore Garden Festival on 25 July 2016. I had planned to release a video but no time for that so please enjoy the numerous photos below! I went with my mom and we had anticipated this for months.

The weather was good, it wasn't hot! It was drizzling a bit and the floor was damp from earlier rain but I'd rather take that than the scorching sun. The drizzle stopped shortly but the sky remained cloudy so that was nice too since you can't view the outdoor displays if it was pouring. It was held at Gardens by the Bay at Bayfront Marina Bay again. It was half outdoors and half indoors, and ever since they held the event here, it is getting bigger and bigger, compared to previous years when it was at Suntec City Convention Centre.

Here are my old posts from the previous years, I didn't blog about the 2010 one:
- 2014
- 2012
- 2008

Hanging terrariums. Terrariums are all the rage now in Sg. You can put them in your office or flat where you can't get full sunlight, nor do they require green fingers, you can also decorate them with (bootleg) Totoro miniatures everyone is selling now!

 The terrarium dome is nice and chilly, and misty. Smells a bit funky though. Nice concept.

A section full of hanging ferns, orchids, nepenthes pitcher plants! It got crowded towards the late afternoon so I got real lucky for this early people-less photo after several visitors went through the door and out of my shot lol.

Best of show. That is the hugest winter melon, I never knew we could grow such fancy pumpkins or melons in our urban landscape.

 Florist competition.

 Bonsai section.

I think this is the Fantasy section. This area was dark and some had nice lighting and fountains and video is the best way to showcase its movement and atmosphere.

 Cute outdoor display with lots of blooms. See in Sg we can't grow most of the pretty flowers due to the tropical climate (they don't bloom), only greens like grass, ferns, shrubs and trees. And maybe orchids.

 Lots of sunflowers and lots of (real) dragonflies. You can see that one that looks like a helicopter in the sky.  I'm afraid of dragonflies lol.

 Outdoor landscaping design section.

 You cannot go into any of these... They are barricaded and for display only.

 Except for this small sugar cane maze with mirrors.

 Might be nice for a local resort.

Bright morning glories, though it wasn't morning but late afternoon. Hmm called Ipomoea if I recall right.

 Glass dragonflies.

Secret Garden section.

The ground was covered with wood chips and damp, so it was squishy and muddy.

 It was crowded and due to it being enclosed, the atmosphere felt muggy.

 We took a long walk to the Flower Dome for the Orchid Show, which was outside the main festival area. The ticket allows us free admission into the Flower Dome, which is a permanent attraction.

I like this place, it's air conditioned and smells nice at times.

Getting dark and trying to view the dizzying varieties of orchids. I don't really fancy orchids but my mother does.

 Now that leftmost orchid is CRAZY stunning. See its many awards?

Ooh good idea, a durian house! It reminds me of a durian hat kid I drew back in 2004.

Thanks for reading! I may update with a video if I have some time.

DIGI STAMP CUTE LOLLIPOP GIRL WITH DOG

New digi stamp: lollipop girl with a shaggy puppy! I plan to release another two similarly themed images but autumn and halloween is approaching so there will be a few monsters coming up first!

'Lollipop' is 6.4 inches height in jpg and png formats for your crafting needs.

She and doggie is available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/458762452/

DIGI STAMPS BASEBALL GIRL AND BOY

Just released a digi stamp pack titled 'Baseball Teamies'. This pack includes the girl and boy in separate graphics in jpg and png formats, so you will receive a total of 6 graphics per set. The girl is 7 inches and the boy is 8 inches. I actually drew the girl some time back during the WOW event lol. It took this long because I was too lazy to check if I got the uniform and bat right. Then I decide to add a boy version for more versatility.

Hope you like it!

'Baseball Teamies' is available here: 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/457182768/

DIGI STAMP FAIRY WITH BUNNY

New digi stamp release - 'Fairy with Bunny'. The idea was based on a 1980s resin brooch I had, which was an angel kneeling holding a dove. In the end I thought it looked too creepily similiar and unoriginal, so I changed the entire thing including her short hair, the animal, the clothes, the wings, removed the headband... well that means pretty much the whole thing then.

Hope you like it!

8 inches height, 300dpi jpg and png format.

She is available here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/456810430/

CHANGI BEACH

This was the first time I've ever been to Changi Beach! It was a lovely day and the temperature was good for once. It was Sunday 17 July, and there was a thunderstorm during the afternoon so we almost called it off. But at around 4pm, the rain clouds drifted away and the sun was out again.

Maybe due to the earlier rain, it was not crowded for the weekend. Compared to East Coast Park which has a sizeable buzz all the time, Changi Beach was rather idyllic. Also it wasn't hot that day, although I got quite a bit of sun still, with bearable mugginess.

There are bicycle rentals but we were looking for the multi-seater covered cart types that are always snapped up at East Coast Park; these are not available at Changi yet.

There are no hawker centres here but a bistro, and drink vending machines. If you'd like to have a meal, Changi Village - about 2 min drive, is the closest bet. Open-air showers are available.

I don't know why I haven't been here before, maybe it was the stigma that this place was soiled with a bloody massacre during the Japanese Occupation, and some people believe it is haunted at night. Maybe there is nothing for me to eat or do here except swim in the sea (no thanks) or cycle (don't know how).

On a side note, Punggol Beach had massacres but many people are unaware of this. Short history lesson: my grandpa almost became a victim because he was a teacher, we credit nothing less than God's grace because they ran out of space on the registration truck and he was the only one left who didn't get on. It turned out the truck was bringing them to the beach to be killed!

Anyhow, we decided to check it out of curiosity, and since my mom wanted to pick seashells. I had a feeling I wouldn't find much beach glass... Well my hunch was right.

There are tons of seashells but almost no beach glass! The only glass I found were new beer bottle shards littered by the beachgoeres, not the pretty sand & sea-tumbled ones from ships! Large ships don't travel on this side of the island.

Our stash. Yes there are that two pieces of beach glass but I should have just thrown them back since they are too new. I don't know why I picked up that porcelain shard either?

The beach is located near Changi Airport so activities are restricted to swimming (if you are not afraid of jellyfish), exercise and fishing. If you want to fly kites, you need to head to other beaches. I heard it is a good spot for viewing sunrises and sunsets, and if you like looking at planes taking off and landing.

It is also a popular spot for walking dogs. There are picnic goers, bbq pits for rent and you can also pitch a tent for fun! It is a quiet, rustic alternative should you prefer to stay away from the overcrowded bike lanes at East Coast Park.