We did a ten-mile training loop, starting from the Skyline staging gate (about 5 miles from home), hiking French Trail to the end and returning via Stream Trail. Why training? Ingrid and Daniela are preparing to hike Half Dome in mid September. This loop hike took three hours to cover 9 miles with about 1600 vertical feet.
Sunday, 9 August 2015, marked the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of Singapore's independence. The weekend featured many celebrations. We spent the afternoon walking from our apartment to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, about 6 miles to the northeast. There, we joined many Singaporeans to watch on large screen television the broadcast of the National Day Parade (NDP), which was taking place in the Padang, near Marina Bay.
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| The logo for the 50 year celebration of Singapore's independence. |
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| Strange sculpture of bathing, reading man at an HDB apartment. |
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| Dempsey Hill seems a throwback to colonial times. |
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| Beautiful parrots in an open aviary at Dempsey Hill |
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| Sculpture at the Museum of Contemporary Art (photo: Ingrid) |
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| Arriving at the Botanic Gardens |
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| Monitor lizard greets us near the entrance (photo: Ingrid) |
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| One of many impressive outdoor sculptures |
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| Large crowd enjoying music before the NDP broadcast. |
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| Red is definitely the color of the day! |
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| Cuteness! (Photo: Ingrid) |
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| Our vantage point was far but still effective. |
Always beautiful, it was in even better condition today than we've seen it before, perhaps reflecting its recent recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site or possibly for the commemoration of Singapore's 50th anniversary of independence.
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| Singapore is decorated for upcoming SG50 celebration |
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| Marina Bay Sands is an icon of Singapore! |
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| New sculpture at Gardens by the Bay |
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| Palm pattern, Gardens by the Bay |
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| Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay |
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| Eye level with a Supertre |
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| View from the elevated walkway. |
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| Another look at Gardens by the Bay |
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| At the Singapore Kite Day, Marina Barrage (Ingrid's photo) |
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| Another family at Singapore Kite Day (Ingrid's photo) |
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| Children's Garden at Gardens by the Bay (Ingrid's photo) |
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| Force of Nature (Lorenzo Quinn, Marina Barrage, 2008) |
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| Color coordinated for orchids |
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| What Goes Around Comes Around (Marina Barrage, 2008) |
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| Water Lily Pond, Marina Bay |
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| Huge crowds for the dress rehearsal for SG50. |
