Our friend Marie Louise came to stay with me this week.  Randal was off to the Philippines and Marie Louise and I were off to explore Singapore. 

Marie Louise in front of the “Swiss Cheese” plant at the Singapore Botanical Garden.   www.sbg.org.sg/

http://www.sailblogs.com/member/dessertfirst/   Marie Louise’s blog.  The name of her sailboat is Dessert First.
“I was born in Switzerland where I grew up, went to school, then travelled through Europe, returned and attended school of social work. In 1954 I emigrated to the San Francisco, California. Here I learned to sail and love it and made the decision to retire on a boat.
I then worked as a social worker and administrator for programs for immigrants, families and finally the frail elderly. I retired at 65 in 1993, moved onto my boat Dessert First and started cruising. First down the coast through the Panama Canal to the Caribbean where I stayed for seven years. Then onward and back through the Canal to the Pacific and finally SE Asia where I am now.”

We met Marie Louise in Sebana Cove, Malaysia.  Among other things, Marie Louise and I share the trials and tribulations of trying to paint watercolor.

Rainy day on Pagoda Street, Chinatown.  Marie Louise and Singapore artist James Koh. Singapore Mint chose him to design their gold and silver medallions to mark the Year of the Pig in 1995. He had been the manager of a huge pig breeding facility as well as being an artist.  The facility was closed down and Mr Koh became an artist full time.  He painted very few images of pigs, but one was chosen by the Singapore Mint for their medallion.  He was quite impressed that Marie Louise speaks Mandarin.  She also speaks Swiss German and French and English of course. 

Marie Louise buying a wide-angle/macro lens that is held onto her camera with a magnet.  This guy was a great salesman, funny and reminded me of an Asian Jerry Seinfield. I managed to resist any new anything.

Then it was off to try out the camera.  We were on our way to the Asian Civilization Museum.  We made two visits and could have gone back for more.  Our first trip we looked at some of the permanent collection.  Our second visit was for the opening of the major 2009 exhibit, The Kangxi Emperor:Treasures from the Forbidden City.  Had Marie Louise not come to visit, I don’t think I would have visited the museum and it is one of the best I’ve see in a very long time.  Unfortunately, no photos were allowed at the special exhibit.  http://www.acm.org.sg

Crossing the Cavanaugh Bridge over the Singapore River to the Museum

Dessert After.  We worked up an appetite after all of that looking and learning and walking.  I finally had to tell Marie Louise that if she didn’t hurry up and take the photo, she would take the photo of a half eaten dessert.

Ricciotti located on The Riverwalk at Clarke Quay.  http://www.ricciotti.com.sg/riverwalk/index.html   This was the best!  “PANNA COTTA – S$7.80  smooth vanilla pudding in chocolate shell with sabayon and chocolate jelly”  TIRAMISU – S$7.80 mascarpone cheese cake with ladyfinger biscuits, coffee and cocoa.    Ricciotti is a small Italian bistro with real gelato and wonderful desserts.  My panna cotta  was just perfect and not too sweet.  There was even a strawberry tomato on top.  (They grew in our back yard in New Bedford.  It’s a tiny fruit with a covering that looked like a tiny Japanese lantern. ) The crust was chocolate with something that tasted like cannoli flavored custard filling and wonderful raspberries.  My coffee came with foamed milk on the side.  Just perfect.  And they were having a special so coffee or tea came with all of the desserts! 

Saturday we went off to the Botanical Gardens off Orchard Road.

At the Singapore Botanical Garden.  I probably would have missed it too if Marie Louise hadn’t suggested going.    The orchid garden is one of Marie Louise’s favorite places in Singapore.  What amazed me was how many of the same plants I had seen growing wild in Sebana Cove!

Marie Louise and Marie Louise.

This Kapok Tree was planted in 1933 (when Marie Louise was 5) making it 76 years old.  It has been designated as a Heritage Tree. 

www.blueplanetbiomes.org/kapok.htm “It can grow to a height of 150 feet or more, towering over other trees in the rainforest. Originally a native to South America it now has spread to the primary rainforests of West Africa, and the Southeast Asian rainforests of the Malay Peninsula, and the Indonesian archipelago. The straight trunks are cylindrical, smooth and gray in color, and can reach a diameter of 9 feet. Large spines protrude from the trunk to discourage damage to the trunk. Thin, plank type buttresses stabilize the giant and can extend to 30 feet”

  This might give you a better idea of the tree’s size.  I was fascinated.

I took about a gazillion photos at the gardens and also along Boat Quay on the way to the Asian Civilization Museum.  There are lots of bronze statues to tell Singapore history.  l’ll do a few more Singapore emails.  We’re leaving this week to return to Sebana Cove. It has been a wonderful visit.