Friday 6 December 2013

Singapore



My youngest daughter and I have just spent a wonderful week in tropical Singapore. I particularly loved the lush tropical vegetation. When we returned home to Perth everything looked browner and drier than ever in comparison. But it is summer here of course.

I loved the Singapore Botanic Gardens which are home to the Orchid Gardens.






The above orchids were at the front entrance of our hotel near Orchard Road.


We couldn't go to Singapore without visiting the Raffles Hotel for high tea.




We had breakfast with the Orangutans at the Singapore Zoo




Above is a scene from China Town




Now I need to get myself back into painting and writing mode!!


40 comments:

  1. How lucky are you!
    The photos are so beautiful, Wendy ( :

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  2. Looks as though you had a fantastic time Wendy. I bet all that vegetation will inspire lots of paintings. Thanks for sharing your piccies.

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    1. Thanks Laura, I haven't gone through them yet with an eye for what I would like to paint from, but I'm sure I'll find one at least from the 650 photos I took!

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  3. Hi Wendy!! Welcome back! The photo's are amazing. I'm glad you and your daughter had a fantastic time. I think the photo's are indeed very inspirational for your paintings. Good luck with your writing and painting! :)

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    1. Thanks Hilje, It was special having time together in an exotic location. Not sure when I'll get back to my painting what with the lead up to Christmas and all. Having more luck getting back into the writing. It takes a lot less effort to do an hour of writing than to set up to paint for just one hour - if that's all the time I have to spare.

      I hope your painting is going well!

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  4. The photos are really beautiful , make me dream of exotic places !

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    1. Thanks Jane! where you live is a very exotic place to me! But you are right, Singapore certainly feels exotic compared to our everyday environments.

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  5. What welcoming photos! So beautiful and all the color ensures me of the season changes (we are under 7 inches of snow and freezing rain.) It is always kinda hard to settle back in after traveling, but I'm sure your pics will inspire you to re-create some of those memories with your daughter - what a treat!

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    1. Thanks so much Debi! It did take me a while to settle back in - even after only being away for 8 days. It's amazing how long 8 days feels when you are somewhere totally different to home.

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  6. How exotic your photos look. It's so wonderful to travel and also come home. Of course winter is beginning here and I'm so jealous!

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    1. Your photos of Paris looked pretty exotic too Robin! I hope you enjoy the snow.

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  7. I'm envious! High tea at the Raffles Hotel?! Thank You for sharing these great photos of your holiday. I look forward to seeing your new work!

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    1. For a tea lover such as yourself Laura, you must put high tea at the Raffles on your bucket list! You won't be disappointed.
      I'm glad you liked the photos!

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  8. Wow Wendy, what a treat to see your beautiful holiday photos!!! The orchids are simply scrumptious!!! You must have lots of amazing memories to inspire your paintings now! I love tropical foliage and botanical delights too. Dave and I have been enjoying watching a wonderful bbc series called 'around the world in 80 Gardens' and it is a treat

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    1. Hi Sally, that series sounds like just the sort of thing I'd love to watch. Is is a recent production?

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    2. yes, it is currently playing every Monday night, so it is a fairly new bbc series. the person who gives each garden tour and narrates is a fellow called Monty Don.

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  9. Welcome home Wendy!
    Singapore! The word itself is so exotic! Good for you! Great memories for you and your daughter! Love these photos! So much green beauty! Looks like it is so different than your lovely place on the planet! I am sure you will have many great inspirational ideas for painting! Good luck with your writing and your painting! Thanks for posting your photos! Traveling is so good for the soul!
    Enjoy!
    Michael

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    1. Hi Michael, I'm glad you liked the photos.
      It was such a treat to enjoy the lush tropical vegetation. It's nice to have a change of scene now and then. I imagine your local scene couldn't be more different to both Singapore and Perth - are you getting a lot of snow?
      You are right, travelling is certainly very good for the soul and it is something I love to do. It's so much easier to live in the moment as everything is new and exciting.
      I haven't had any motivation to paint since my return as I have a cold and my back is still sore. I've done a bit of writing but hopefully I'll be painting again soon.
      I hope you are enjoying winter - I know you are a great fan of all the seasons!
      Your painting cobber,
      Wendy

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    2. Wendy!
      Sorry so late in responding!
      I am sorry about your cold. Even sorrier about your back! I have had chronic back pain for over forty years! Arggghhh! So, I hope you are pain free real soon. Even sooner than that!
      Yes, we have had snow. Three storms so far. One very small. The other two medium size. I love all three. Love, love, love the snow! It is beginning to melt with today's warmer weather, 40 F, 4.5 C?
      Now, you, my "painting cobber" has to get back to painting! Please. No pressure but ....okay a little pressure. I am glad you are writing! Now do some painting! Oops! I already mentioned that? So, thank you. I am enjoying winter! I do love all the seasons. So hard to have a favorite. Hard for me to have a favorite of anything I guess! Take care. Get well. Paint! Paint! Paint!
      Your Waiting For A Wendy Barrett Creation Posted Soon!
      Michael Cobber

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    3. Sorry to hear that you have had such long term back pain - how horrendous! I'm glad to hear that you enjoy winter so much but sorry to hear the snow is melting as Christmas approaches.
      Thanks for your encouragement to paint - I hope to get back to it soon!
      Wendy Cobber

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  10. I'm so happy for you and your daughter Wendy! What fun to run off together to an exotic location. Your photos are beautiful, thank you for sharing them! I am sure you have come back recharged and ready to write and to paint.

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    1. Thanks Celia, yes it was a very special time. It would have been great if my older daughter could have come too, but she was too busy swanning around Japan and couldn't join us. She returns home next week.
      I had come back all recharged but unfortunately have gone down with a cold. I'm still having trouble with my back which is causing pain and dulling my creativity. I've done a bit of writing though.
      I hope you are enjoying the lead up to Christmas!

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  11. Hi Wendy,

    Great photo's! You guys sure had a wonderful time so to see. It's always important to take some time off to really get inspired. So I'm looking forward to see some of your new paintings. Excellent!

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    1. Hi Dave, thanks so much! I'm looking forward to seeing them too - I just don't know when it will be!
      I love your cartoons!!

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  12. A long stay over at Singapore Airport ifluenced my love of orchids. There were orchid gardens all the way through it with many amazing varieties. Loved your photos and they showed your artist eye and heart.

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    1. Thanks so much Julie! Yes I feel that orchids are synonymous with Singapore. They didn't seem to be so thick on the ground on this visit as they had been when I was there a decade ago, but the orchid gardens were to die for! I could have spent the entire day there!

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  13. Great photos! ......thanks for sharing them!
    I hope I have inspired you to try some notan work. Thank you for your comments! :-D

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    1. Thanks Helen! Yes you have definitely inspired me - I just don't know when the inspiration will come to fruition. Your Notan paintings are AMAZING!

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  14. Oh wow, that all looks like so much fun. And very inspirational from an artist's eye!

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  15. Thanks Katherine! Yes it was a lot of fun, I got very carried away and took sooo many photos, so hopefully at least a few paintings will come of it.

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    1. Yes! I'd love to use some of those flowers for drawings! If you do use these photos in your work, be sure to remind us that they came from your Singapore trip!

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  16. It has been a long time since we visited Singapore and long before I took up painting but I remember the beautiful hanging orchids in the botanic gardens

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    1. Thanks for visiting Lorraine! Yes, the orchids are unforgettable.

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  17. Love your photos, there is some great inspiration for you! The orchids are beautiful! It must have been a special time with your daughter, you will have wonderful memories:)

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    1. Thanks Karen, yes it was a very special time together.

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  18. Just popped in again to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. See you in 2014. xx

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    1. Thanks so much Laura! I hope you and your family also have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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  19. Hi Wendy,
    So happy you visited my blog & left a sweet comment!
    I would have loved this trip to Singapore. Now you have to paint orchids!
    PS: I'm your newest follower

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  20. Thanks so much Carol for your comments and for the visit!
    Yes, I must do some paintings from this trip - thanks for reminding me!

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