Up close in the Sigapore Botanical Gardens

Hello, thanks for visiting my blog. This issue is the result of further attempts at macro photography. But this time with my own lens. My very good friend (and cousin) Ian kindly went shopping for me in Hong Kong and I now have a
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm F2.8G IF-ED lens

This was my first trip out with the lens to the Botanical gardens last weekend. So much to learn, but that's exciting! If any experts view these photos and have advice, I'd love to hear it.

Fancy a banana before we start?

Alan
















The Plumeria, or Frangipani is one of my
favourite flowers.
















The scent is emits is gorgeous. The common
name Frangipani comes from an Italian noble
family. A 16th century marquess of the family
invented a plumeria scented perfume
















Shadows on a rock in the Evolution Garden
















The Evolution Garden has many plants I
had never seen before
















I am not a butterfly expert. If anyone can tell
me what species this one, and the one in the
two photos below is, I'd be grateful.
















I had never seen this butterfly before.

















It's very striking






















Hibiscus, another favourite of mine.
It always reminds me of my first trip to
a tropical country, which was to Fiji.






















I never realised the flower has so many uses.
It's even a delicacy in Mexico. And is used in
the Philippines to make bubble blowing liquid!


















I think probably all macro photographers take
shots of dragonflies when they start.















The reason being that they are very obliging.
They love basking in early morning sun. So
they oblige by staying still.
















Even if they fly away they often come back to
the same place after a quick stretch of their wings.


















Dragonflies have 6 legs, but they can't walk!
















Waterlily in one of the lakes of the gardens
The American Indians made waterlily pancakes!


















In Indonesia dragonflies are fried and considered
a delicacy.

Southern Ridges Walk Singapore

Hello. I am now back in Singapore. My Dad is still very ill in hospital. We keep praying and hoping.

This posting shows you photos of a walk that we did on Daniela's birthday in January. Last year works were completed on linking three parks to gether; Kent Ridge, Telok Blangah Hill and Mount Faber. You can walk for about 9km across the parks. There are tree top walks and bridges of architectural interest. You can see the map above. We started in Kent Ridge Park on the left side of the map.

I hope you enjoy the walk.

Thanks for coming and take care.

Alan















The start of the walk in Kent Ridge Park.
This is a view off the southwest coast of Singapore
















A section of the canopy walk that connects
Kent Ridge to Telok Blangah Hill Park






















The Flower pot man. Is it Bill
or is it Ben? And where is
Little Weed? Sorry, regressing
to my childhood!






















This doesn't look like Little Weed.
Maybe Mrs Scarecrow?
















This is Daniela getting up close to a dinosaur.
The colour of the dinosaur seems a bit strange...















This part of Telok Blangah Hill park.
It is a huge Garden centre and is called
Hort Park























Daniela, the birthday girl!






















An interesting stairwell
















This is Alexandra Arch It links you from
Hort Park to the Forest walk, which is the
beginning of Mount Faber Park
















On the bridge
















From the other end
















It would be nice to live here. Though I hear
that since the walk has been completed, walkers
knock on the doors of nearby houses asking
for a drink etc.......
















The Forest Walk
















These red flowers are attractive. I don't know
what they are called. Any ideas anyone?
















A bird's eye view
















Beautiful display of leaves
















Henderson Waves, at a height of 36 m, is
Singapore's highest pedestrian bridge.
















A wave-shaped, steel-and-timber structure,
it spans 274 metres across Henderson Road.
















The wave
















View of Singapore. The buildings are mostly
Government built flats. 70% of Singaporeans live
in housing developed by the Government.






















No use waiting for a bus here....


















Now what was this little fellah called?
















The wave from the other side
















It could almost be a skytrain. like the one
in Bangkok
















The bridge from the road. And we are tired,
hoping the bus will come soon to take us home.

See you next time, thanks for coming.