I am back again here in Germany and happy that the temperatures are milder once again.Last month, we spent a part of our busy summer days in Singapore, a very hot summer I must say. Well, the truth is, I was totally shocked by the humidity and heat in southeast asia.In Singapore, where it almost lies near the Equator—we basically beat the heat every day.But beating the heat with enormous high- rise beautiful buildings and lush greens all over is actually not a bad thing!

But of course, we appreciated the mall culture and air conditoning from time to time.

So here´s my first impressions of Singapore. Well, first, once your´re out from Changi airport and drive to your hotel, you will notice that Singapore is green, super green and clean! I was sighing at all tropical plants that I am seeing all over the place.How in the world they are growing like crazy here?! I saw the surroundings with lots of palm trees, blooming flowers and those giant monstera plant that grows wildly in the street, I just can´t afford but to be amazed.It´s a dream haven for plant lovers. It´s like a wild jungle and spacious botanical garden.Skycrapers and nature coexists and the results is a green urban city.Everywhere I glanced, tall buildings, multi -storey apartments, classy retails shops and all sorts of modern features is right in front of me.How they´ve ever done that?!

Let´s start from their airport, Changi and the Jewel. I think seeing the Jewel is the best part to start every journey .It is a must to see and you will be surely be in awe once you´ve seen it.We explored Jewel in one separate day because we really wanted to dig into it and my daughter wants to try the slides with the view of the Jewel. I was a bit dissapointed because the attractions are very pricey . It´s also very touristy .

Downtown and outside the metropolis, more surprises awaits us. Our eyes feasted on these giant sdomes, lotus shaped museums and modern structures.We felt like transported into another world.We have seen too much mountains and lakes here in Europe that Singapore made us feel that we still lived in a remote village!

I lost counting just how many towers in the Bay area. Seeing hundreds of tourists flocked near the Merlion ruined our mood so we made a stop in the playground.It was very touristy and crowded. We had an amazing view of the skyline, the harbor and it all seemd surreal. They are like tall, crystal blue mushrooms that sprouts above the ground.The skyline of Singapore is so beautiful. I wonder about the people who worked on top floors of these buildings feel whenever they have this view while working…

On the other side, we definitely loved the metro system in Singapore. It was easy to navigate and it took us by surprise because english is widely spoken and everything is international.Exploring the city was super easy but I must say that it´s an expensive city to explore.The food, the entrance tickets to the sights are quite pricey and restaurants are so all fancy.We managed to find better deals while going through the outskirts.

Major impression: Outside is hot, but the city is green.Renewable energy sources and rainwater harvesting have become standard on all buildings in Singapore, including the the lotus-shaped Art Science museum nearby which filters light into exhibition spaces.The supertrees , also harvest rainwater and solar energy.Basically, these beautiful structure are not just purely aesthetics, but rather functional structures.See the photo below, it´s not a flower, it´s a museum, an art science museum. We´ve been inside and it was an awesome experience!

Our list of sights to see is quite long but we decided to take our time exploring. We were feeling exhausted by the heat so we have AC breaks from time to time.We give more time for playtime and not to be hectic in our schedule. I was really excited to go into the major sights but we decided to plan it well as per location.The streets of Singapore are very clean and clutter-free.I was actually trying to understand why they claimed this a city of superlatives. Probably because even if its so tiny–it offers endless possibilities and a very passionate city.There´s always something happening. It´s like everyday, there´s an event going on and people are always busy, and always on the go. Never in the world I have seen something in compare to the world´s tallest indoor waterfall (115 feet), the largest Orchid garden with more than 60,000 blooming plants, and the very first ever Nocturnal Zoo. It´s all here in Singapore.Oh yes, the Swarovski crystal clouds is also in Singapore and I was really ecstatic to see it again!

Another icon of Singapore aside from the Merlion is the Marina Bay Sands.It looked like a giant ship suspended up on scandalous cantilevered platform connecting with high rise structure. Seeing it for real made me realize just how trendy Singaporeans are.It is an iconic hotel with more than 2,500+ rooms, with enormous Skypark viewing decks and swimming pool on top.It is both a symbol of luxury,massive curated indulgences and futuristic living.They say that living in Singapore makes you a different person just like how Germany changes me. I have met my friend whom I haven´t seen for decades and now lives in Singapore and I can see how this city changes her.

My imagination was pushed to the limits when I´ve seen the Gardens by the Bay. I am a nature lover and seeing how green and lush Singapore is, made this trip quite special to me. But the Gardens by the Bay at night is another thing. Imagine, these giant supertrees which are filled up with thousands of living plants lights up at night. With a concert,and dancing fountain lights in the bay, it was an unforgetabble night. Biodiversity is a major thing.A Garden of wonder, towering trees, and giant buildings surrounding it, I just can´t understand the beauty of Singapore!

I was sitting there outside and the whole city looked like a giant garden to me. I don´t wanna go home yet…

Then comes the Gardens by the Bay where it celebrated it´s 10th year anniversary this year for being a growing city garden.It is so impressive how the city evolved into something that gives the whole world an inspiration .Speaking of the mall culture in Singapore, the interiors of the Shoppes, the multi -level luxury retail mall of Marina Bay Sands exudes sophistication and a magnet for people whol loves finest things that money can buy. But for us, its a heaven beacuse it has air conditioning!

Another impressive sight is the Helix Bridge which we explore after our visit to the futuristic Art Science Museum.This cool bridge is so pretty that it doesn´t looked like a pedestrian bridge at all. The bridge´s canopies (made of fritted-glass and perforated steel mesh) are incorporated along parts of the inner spiral to provide shade for pedestrians.Singapore is hot and humid and this one is really something that we love. The bridge has four viewing platforms sited at strategic locations which provide views of the Singapore skyline and events taking place within Marina Bay.At night, it is illuminated with fancy colorful lights.

I´ve read that there are almost 9,000 + completed high-rise buildings in Singapore due to its rapid urbanization and the majority are located in the Downtown center.There are 96 skycrapers in downtown itself.I guess Europe is far more behind than Asia but then it would really looked totally different if we see more skycrapers here in Bavaria.The Bavarian charm and the cultural heritage might be lost if the skyline would be dominated with futuristic and modern buildings.

It is all eye candy and fancy things at first glance, but then I could not picture myself living in this place or maybe because its totally different here. On the third day i was already feeling tired and exhausted.Too much modernity for me and I definitely miss riding my bike, hiking in the mountains and enjoying a bit of ” Sonntag Ruhetag”.

Then again, we saw the Cloud Forest.What a place.Singapore just keeps on surprising us.

From the moment we enter, we were greeted with the gushing sound of the rainfalls. The mist, the mountain full of tropical plants, the myriad of walking platforms that allows you to explore the vegetative forest cuddled in a futuristic domical Biodomes.Outside they looked like noodle shell-shape conservatory, inside it´s a paradise.I stand there for a moment and try to absorb all the great energy that this place has. Starting low, we went slowly upwards, greeted with more & more tropical greens. You name all the exotic plants, they are all there insid ethe Cloud Forest. Cloud Forest Dome tells the story of plants that grow in cool tropical cloud forests. It features a ‘mountain’ covered in lush vegetation from which a 35m waterfall drops down.Amazing!

Singapore loves waterfalls as usual! Within the ‘mountain’, exhibition spaces,we explore the impact of incremental changes to the earth’s temperature.Here is like walking through National Geographic site and learning about the sustainable technologies used in the creation of the cooled conservatories.Everything is cool, man-made thing is the thing here in Singapore!Very high-tech, and yet the design concepts are very basic…going back to nature and sustainability.

In the downtown business area I saw more and more high rise buildings, mostly with natural green accent like trees growing on the canopies and viewing decks. There are many buildings with a connecting platform with plants, flowers and more space for gardens.Singaporeans are natural gardeners and plant lovers.

For a fact that it has a land scarcity, this place still thrives to grow plants in every possible way.From the airport to malls to museums and restaurants-plants is the most abundant accessory that I´ve seen.Nurseries, green houses and green spaces are such a fad. I wish Germany could have more indoor green places like these too.

Again, architecture and nature. These two elements are ever present here. There was a nice park along the bay area with a nice playground as well which has a nice view of the harbour.People are exercising, walking their dogs, pushig a stroller and massive tourist crowds as ever.Looks like there´s a good work-life balance lifestyle in Singapore that I´ve seen in this part.

On the other side of the city exudes another contrasting character of the city.The streets are busy with commuters, passers-by and people from all walks in life going on a busy rendez-vous.I noticed that people just cross the streets and not really traffic -obedient.Everyone is busy.

Singapore I think is that it´s a city that you should experience once in your life. For most, it´s an epitome of a city that evolved into something out of nothing. It portrays a great example of great economy, advanced lifestyle and the well being of its residents is a top priority.It is a very safe city and kid-friendly.It is more than it´s fancy lights , enormous fountains and waterfalls, expensive food , F1 -race circuits and luxury brands.

It offers more to life. I am glad I was able to see that during our stay.

Very important, once you have the chance to visit Singapore, be prepared to beat the heat.

If you have more time to kill reading my posts, how about a stroll in a palace Garden in Seoul,South Korea?

Until then, Tschüss!