Janz & i: Going East (China, Japan)

by JanizB

The West Gate welcomes us!-by mmc

February 8, 2012 - China and Japan in just one day. Yes, believe it or not, I and May wandered through these places in just 6 hours.

First destination was the Chinese garden. Upon entering this garden, the seven-storey pagoda will catch everyone’s attention. We also took this opportunity to climb this pagoda and feel the cold breeze upstairs.

WARMING UP! This 7-storey pagoda really squeezed out our sweats and breath. Accordingly, the odd number of floors symbolize continuity.  -by janz

A SHORT CUT PLEASE! This is inside the pagoda. Like a shell, huh... -by janz

MULAN. Nearby the 7-storey pagoda are China's heroes. -by janz

The background is the Stoneboat which is a replica of a stone boat at the Summer Palace in Beijing. -by cam

 A little bit of walk and we reached the twin pagoda. A twin of three-storey pagodas facing a body of water….

YES, JANZ, YOUR TWIN SIS IS....THERE. - by mmc

WHITE IS...the cloud, pagoda, building, me (err my shirt & shoes). -by janz

 

A place that really attracted May's eyes was the abundance garden. We were wondering why it was called such. Then upon entering, we finally realized that all the animal statues are by pairs – hmmm, abundance!

HMM, VERY ABUNDAT, hihi... -by mmc

NOW, this is getting to abundance, heha... -by janz

 

There was also a turtle museum in which we have encountered more than a hundred varied turtles/tortoises from different countries. A Chinese businessman (sorry, forgot the name) collected and organized this endeavor. Take note, this is the largest collection in the world of turtles/tortoises as confirmed by Guinness World Book of Records.

JANZ and the owner -by mmc

Oops, traffic jam. No pushing please... -by janz

SMILE! Some turtles are left to roam around freely so one needs to be mindful of his steps.   -by mmc

Cool! They're vegetarians, heha... -by mmc/janz

 Across the Chinese Garden is the Japanese Garden. An awesome bridge connects these two.

The Bridge of Double Beauty connects the Chinese and Japanese gardens. -by mmc

 

There, we saw the stone lanterns artistically distributed at a vale.

Accordingly, the Japanese Garden (also called Seiwaen) may not be as visually stimulating as the Chinese Garden but it evokes feelings...ahemmm... -by mmc

Stone lanterns are important icons of Japanese gardens. -by mmc

 Hills are covered with bountiful green grasses and flowers that are really blooming and beautiful.

This is a kusari doi, a creative Japanese rain chain (which i think, we can adopt in every household, recycling plastic bottles). -by janz

 

The journey ended at about 6 o'clock in the evening and we’re back to reality that we’re still in Singapore.

Having fun with the BUnDDHAts^^ -by mmc