May 20, 2026

Sunday, May 17th in Singapore was the last day for Tulip Mania at the Flower Dome in Gardens by the Bay. Sheri joined me in passion for flowers and we headed over to explore on our last port day here.

The Flower Dome is the smaller one above, the Cloud Forest is in the larger dome. The 18 supertrees in Gardens by the Bay are about 16 stories high and each is a vertical garden containing about 10,000 plants with over 200 species between them. They also collect solar energy and rain water and serve as air intakes and exhaust for the 2 domes. Beautiful Engineering Marvels!

Tulip Mania

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The exhibit was all about blending art and tulips to showcase the most iconic elements of Holland. Their most famous art works, delft pottery,  windmills and tulips abound. The Fritillaria Rubra Tulip used in Van Gogh's Vase of Sunflowers was stunning and unlike any tulip we had ever seen before.

My favorites were the frangrances of Hyacints, the Van Gogh Starry Night with the sky done in flowers and the amazing views outside  the dome framed with the gorgeous flowers from within the dome!

There were also plenty of wood sculptures and lots of Hydrangeas in blooms I had not seen before.

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SINGAPORE - DINING IN THE DARK

By Pat Patrick • May 19, 2026
I have wanted to try the Dining in the Dark experience for years! Bosco had done once before back in San Francisco, but was game to do again. I was so excited when I found the listing in the Seeking Sophie website , looking for unique experiences in Singapore .

SINGAPORE - SRI MARIAMMAN TEMPLE

By Pat Patrick • May 19, 2026
The Sri Mariamman Temple is Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, built in 1827. It is built in the Dravidian style and is located in the downtown Chinatown district and classified as a National Monument.The founder Naraina Pillai was a government clerk from Penang who arrived in Singapore with Sir Stamford Raffles in 1819. Pillai set up the islands first construction company and also entered the textile trade. He rapidly established himself and was identified as the leader of the Indian Community.

SINGAPORE - CHINA TOWN

By Pat Patrick • May 19, 2026
Singapore’s ethnic makeup is officially classified under the CMIO (Chinese, Malay, Indian, and Others) model. The citizen population consists of Chinese (76.2%), Malays (15.0%), Indians (7.4%), and Others (1.4%). The Chinatown area is the historic heart of the city, blending centuries old culture with modern energy. It has bustling pedestrian streets, historic temples and famous hawker centers.