From tea to Supertree

Emerging from the Aquarium, we only just made it back to Vivo City before the heavens opened.  Not wishing to ruin our appetites for high tea this afternoon, we only granted ourselves a light snack at lunchtime before heading back to the hotel to smarten up.

At 4pm we walked into the spectacular lobby of the Shangri-La Hotel and made our way upstairs to the Rose Veranda.  The tea menu was overwhelming with 164 different varieties to choose from but we eventually decided, and then it was time to tackle the buffet.  Although not as extensive as the teas on offer, there was still a wide selection of food from sushi to finger sandwiches, dim sum to salads, hot meals, and of course desserts.  I sampled some nonya sweets and revisited my childhood with a delicious scoop of yam ice cream.  

High tea at the Shangri-La

Bundling our bulging stomachs out of our chairs after tea, we caught a taxi to the Marina Bay Sands Hotel thinking we might kill some time by drifting around its neighbourhood shops.  The gleaming mall featured wall to wall luxury brands and big name labels of every description known to man.  It held very little interest for us though so we ascended a dizzying array of escalators to the very top of the mall and strolled across the rooftop walkway to Gardens by the Bay.  Fortunately the rain had stopped and the sky cleared to deliver a very pleasant evening.

The architecturally unique Marina Bay Sands Hotel

Back in the Supertree Grove below the OCBC Skyway

Having missed out on the Skyway a few days ago, we joined the queue to access the bridge suspended 22m above the ground.  Dusk was falling and the supertrees and city lights combined to create a surreal fantasy world.

The Supertrees turn on the lights

Cityscape viewed from the Skywalk

Atop the Skywalk

The time crept closer to 7:45pm but we were kept moving along the Skywalk and so had to return to ground level before the start of the Garden Rhapsody light show.  

Crowds gather in the Supertree Grove for the light show

And a spectacular show it was too with lights and music illuminating the Supertrees in all sorts of crazy colours.  Benign substrate for epiphytes during the day but at night, the Supertrees come alive.

Shades of Supertree

Returning to the hotel after what was a very long day, we bumped into the butler as we approached our room.  Having not seen him since our arrival, Ross set him the task of sourcing a mango for our fruit basket.  

And I guess that's the Raffles difference.  Not only was the mango quickly delivered to our room but it was all nicely diced and served up ready to eat!

The Raffles difference