Where in Singapore?

Where in Singapore is there free parking after 5pm inside the Central Business District, where you can wait for time to pass surrounded by greenery and not be bothered by the traffic congestion and the homebound multitude leaving their offices? I was there, half and hour to spare in between my commitments, playing around with the zoom lens.

The ION

A monument of high-class shopping, the ION is the latest icon along Orchard Road. If you have money and owning branded goods is an ordinary existence then this place is your paradise. If you have no money or have no inclination to buy, then just stop by to admire the facade and to step into a space where crowds thin because of the immense spaciousness.

Pulau Ubin Island

In this slideshow you will see photos of our 4-hour visit to the island of Pulau Ubin which is a short (about 10 mins) boat ride from Singapore. I've been to Pulau Ubin many times over the years with my children and other friends and their families. We used to spend an entire day there cycling around the island along the main treks. Now, we take things easier as our kids would rather hit the city than come with us. We did not hire any bicycles nor did we plan to see everthing there was to see. The segments in this slideshow are as follows:

• Changi Village and the boat ride to Ubin
• The 'town' where you can rent bicycles, have a meal or a drink
• A short walk to a quarry where we saw some migratory birds
• Returning to the town for a refreshing coconut drink
• Exploring the area in the opposite direction
• Saw birds and fruit trees in a Garden built for the visually impaired
• Returning to the jetty area
• Going home

We also see some lovely flowers here.