Yet more on Singapore

Here we have the very impressive Marina Bay Sands Resort  by night. On the right the newest Singapore Museum, the Marina Bay Arts and Science Museum, designed by Moshe Safdie, an architect from Haifa. The museum is currently hosting a Dali exhibition and a Van Gogh

This is the morning view from the Marina bay Sands, The infinity pools looks over the Fullerton Bay. Singapore River and City Centre. Safdie also designed this building.

Amazing Singapore - the old and the new, some Art too!

Singapore continues to amaze with its ever changing modern skyline.

This is a view from the new Sands Hotel and resort where I spend a night in December 2010









However the Singapore that I really love was created long ago, these hidden gems can be found in China town, Little India and scattered around Orchard area.

Another aspect of Singapore, often neglected -  it's Art-  I  love this Botero close to Boat Quay and with its back to the Fullerton Hotel

Guilin and Yangshou in China

In the 80's I visited Guilin and the beautiful river Li. I returned this year and was not disappointed

In spite of the january cold it was haunting

This time I stayed near the very acceptable town of Yangshou where one can sip Yunnan coffee in a local cafe

This time it was too cold to take the river trip

However I did discover the wonderful Li River Retreat hotel overlooking the Li river and with great views of beautiful karsts

The Li River retreat is a faboulous escape, 15 mins walk from Yangshou along the river Li . Apart from its great location, all their food is cooked freshly and sourced locally and you get an eco alarm clock in the form of a local cockrel

Henley Royal Regatta , Facebook and the Winklevoss Twins

The Henley Regatta is held in the village of Henley England on the 1st weekend in July.

We stumbled on it, totally unplanned  in July 2010.

The photo below looks very much like a clip from the wonderful new movie about Facebook - Social Network,  in that movie, the Winklevoss twins, Harvard students at the time, compete at Henley. These are the guys who sued Mark Zuckerberg, the Facebook founder and I discovered later that both Cameron Winklevoss and Armie Hammer who played him in the movie were there at Henley this year

Its a lovely town with great restaurants along the main drag

A walk along the river is very calming and beautiful

You can seek out the beautiful English summer flora

Galway, Ireland, Travelling by Rail from Dublin

If you stay in Dublin you could plan a few days trip to Galway on the West Coast of Ireland. The rail journey is painless and though not exciting from a scenic point of view people watching can be fun - journey about 2 hours 30 mins.

I spent a scorching June weekend there summer 2010 with D.

 Eyre Square, Galway's city center was busting , a backdrop of music, drinking, suntanning and chat.

Strolling around will present you with stunning vistas

The beautiful and colourful quai is where you might encounter a Galway Hooker, otherwise known as  pucans in irish, its a traditional wooden sailing boat! 

The open top bus takes you past the beach area

And the Corrib River

Later wander the back streets, this is what you will see.

he Irish Times - Friday, November 5, 2010 Ireland fifth best place to live

Here are a few reasons why that might be.........

You can walk along the east coast, south of Dublin starting at Bray and you might arrive in Greystones an hour later where you will be sure of getting a scrumptious lunch

These are some of the sights so it may take longer if you linger!

However if you are a townie why not try St Stephens Green, the park in the centre of  Dublin , probably one of the most beautiful in the world!

Choose your colour

Bye Bye Singapore , Hello Ireland

This is the begining of a lovely time in Ireland, a day in Howth with M.

Howth is a delightful fishing village reached very easily by Dublin transport - the DART (Dublin Area Rapid transport)

You can spend a wonderful day mooching around the streets watching the boats which have off loaded their catch.

The cafes, shops and restarants are full of delicious treats

 New friends call for your attention- they are extremely curious and the bay has a large seal population

The views are stunning

Then its time to return home to beautiful Dalkey