Gardens by the Bay

Adventure #1,245...Gardens by the Bay. Gardens by the Bay is a park adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. There are three different gardens, and all are waterfront. This park transforms Singapore from a city a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". Filled with exotic flora and fauna, Gardens by the Bay is the perfect locale to view the beautiful skyline of Singapore. Within the park, there are various exhibits one can explore. The Flower Dome and the Cloud Dome are two of the "hot spots".

Upon entering the Cloud Dome, a huge waterfall greets visitors. The closer you get to the base of it, the wetter one becomes. 

The Cloud Dome is filled with beautiful flora and fauna.

In efforts to recreate a Cloud Forest, mist floats around the entire dome. Making the experience somewhat spooky but also unique! Above was my favorite part of the dome; a beautiful lake with old, intricately carved canoes made a tranquil lake.

Peek-a-boo

I stole this photo off the internet. This shows what the domes look like from the outside.

It is beginning to look a lot like Chinese New Year. Giving oranges and red envelopes filled with money is an ancient tradition that is said to bring good luck and prosperity. Orange trees are everywhere; although, given that we are in Singapore, we would probably be fined if we took an orange from the tree.

Super trees! These trees are all over the gardens. Beautiful crafted, they help create more of a modern garden environment. 

Such vibrant colors!

Mr. Merlion and me!

A traditional Chinese gazebo

At night, the super trees are lit up as is the rest of Singapore.

Marina Bay Sands is the famous hotel in Singapore. Made up of three base towers, a boat sits at the top with an infinity pool. We just so happen to be at the right place at the right time to catch the light show. The lights are so bright and so high that we can see parts of the light show from our house.

Marina Bay Sands

Part of the Singapore experience is seeing the car parks (what they call parking garages). Clean enough to eat off the floors, Singaporean car parks are organized and well lit.

Only in Singapore...

High Tea at Raffles Hotel

Girls just wanna have fun! Even big girls! And what do big girls do to have fun, you may ask? They go to High Tea at the Raffles Hotel. The Raffles Hotel is the oldest hotel in Singapore. Named after Sir Stamford Raffles, a British sailor who founded Singapore, this colonial-style hotel is the oldest in Singapore. The Raffles is supposedly where the sole surviving wild tiger in Singapore was shot and made extinct, and the hotel is where the famous cocktail the Singapore Sling was invented. 

Please note the extended pinky.

Outside the hotel by an orange tree.

Take a look at that! Our yummie treats.

A look at Marina Bay Sands.

Christ is my helper

School has begun and life has resumed to "normal". It has taken awhile to get back into the routine of things - getting up early, being on my feet all day, talking to eighteen children, and so on. Some days are easier than others, but Christ gives me the strength I need for each day.

I am blessed to have two new students join my class. Two more boys, one from Korea and one from California, bring the grand total to eighteen. Eighteen kids who bring energy, excitement, frustration, and love to my days. As Christmas vacation came to a close, the separation from my students began to get to me. I never knew how much I would miss them; what am I going to do when we say good-bye for the summer?! 

Since kindergarten, I have wanted to be a teacher; mostly, because I loved telling others what to do and I loved writing on the white board. In high school I began to realize the power teachers have - for the good and for the bad. College taught me how to teach. Now finally, I have my own classroom full of my own students. Half way through my first year it finally feels real. No longer does it feel like I am playing school like I did so many days as a kid. I use to dream of standing in front of a class and filling their brains with knowledge; I use to dream of using those colorful markers to write on that smooth white surface; I use to dream of being an influence in children's lives. Now that the day has come that all my dreams are coming true, it is...different. I am tired, I always feel like I am one step away from being sick, I have a new found love for being alone, I have decided that chocolate is indeed a food group and a crucial one to my sanity, I find myself referring to myself as "Miss Jorgenson" in random conversations, the list could go on. The reality is, teaching is hard and being a grown up is even harder. How did my parents make it look so easy?! I have only been a grown up for about seven months (I am counting from college graduation), so maybe I should give myself a bit of a break? Much of what we learn is through simply living and experiencing. 

No matter, Psalm 46 tells us "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help." This truth is one I am clinging to. There is no way I can do all God has called me to without the His strength. As each day passes, God amazes me at his generosity and his sustaining power. Whether it was a lesson going very well or it was a hug from one of my kids, God never fails to help me. Help me in my job, help me see how much I am loved, see how much He loves me, or just help me see Him. God never fails! 

Miscellaneous sights and sounds of Australia

Not sure what this is, but saw it everywhere. Some sort of fuzzy, upside down blossom.

Uggs, boots that were first manufactured and sold in Australia, are sold everywhere. The store I took this picture in also sold souvenirs, Pringles, pop, gum, etc.

Even the public transportation could not deny that it was Christmas.

Jamie, a uniclycing street performer, who happened to be from Minnesota.

Our ferry stop

TARGET! How I have missed you!! We went out of our way to find this store and do some shopping.

Pancakes on the Rocks. 

A famous pancake restaurant in Sydney.

Yum. Yum. Yum.

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville 

Santa was on every lamp post.

The Rocks 

The more historic part of Sydney. The streets were lined with vendors selling products varying from soap to scarves to baby blankets.

Luna Park, an amusement park. Not that exciting, but fun to explore.

I found Leonardo DiCaprio in Sydney!! I quickly ran up and got our picture taken. 

A beautiful lighthouse I discovered on a walk.

And that is Sydney. 

I had an absolutely wonderful time in Australia. It was relaxing, fun, and full of sight-seeing. What more could I have asked for?

Thanks be to God.

Australia, the beautiful contrasting country

Australia truly is a contrasting country. On one continent there are mountains, beaches, forests, and the desert outback. It was great being in Sydney and seeing all the sights, but it was so good to get out of the city and explore the mountains. 

When out on the water you are surrounded by beautiful pieces of land, jutting out into the water.

We spent two afternoons at Manly Beach. It was only a thirty minute ferry ride. The white sandy beach, the cool, refreshing water, and the roar of the waves created a truly relaxing afternoon.

In the southern hemisphere, everything is opposite. The sink drains the opposite way and the needles on pine trees point up. I am not actually sure if that is true, but it sounds true :)

View of Manly Beach. The first afternoon it seemed like we had the beach to ourselves. The second afternoon (which was also a Sunday) was much more crowded. 

A seagull posing for his picture.

I am LOVING Australia!

B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L

After spending a week in Sydney, we packed up and headed for the mountains. After about a two hour drive we were in the mountains. Leaving the hustle and bustle of Sydney...and of Singapore...I embraced the seclusion and slow pace of the mountains.

The mountains not only provided seclusion from the world, no internet, no responsibilities and no sense of time, it also provided separation from a tropical climate. It was a blessing to wear jeans and sweatshirts again and snuggle under blankets while sitting next to a fire place.

The Blue Mountains, on the border of New South Whales and Queensland. This mountain range gets its name from the mist that gives an illusion of blue.

Echo Point, home of the Three Sisters. It a very dreary day but the fog lifted just enough for me to snap this photo.

A new day! Mr. Sun has come out to play. A beautiful view of one of God's masterpieces.

A beautiful waterfall found during a hike in the Blue Mountains.

Katoomba Falls

It was lush and green everywhere.  

Photos truly cannot do justice to what God has created.