The Final Blog From Singapore
You may recall that on our third and final day in Singapore, we visited the TK Pottery Jungle, where I had the honor of lighting the enormous dragon kiln. We then toured the organic gardens at Bollywood Veggies and met the energetic owner, Poison Ivy. Our next stop was a pet shop that our pet expert, Marc Morrone, told us about. I can’t seem to get enough of birds, birds, and more birds! Then it was off to the Capella Hotel, where we stayed during our time in Singapore, to shoot another television segment. Open since March of 2009, Capella combines the masterful restoration of two colonial buildings dating from 1880 with a brand new wing, bringing in touches of Asian and Western flair. The design is amazingly beautiful and I had the pleasure of meeting Wei-Lin Kwee, whose family owns Capella. Wei-Lin worked closely on the design of Capella and she kindly discussed with me the unique architecture and amazing landscape of this fabulous resort. I certainly hope you have enjoyed this travelogue of our exciting adventures in Southeast Asia.
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- This is the outside of Capella hotel and resort. This portion is part of Tanah Merah and was built in the 1880’s to host military galas.
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- This newest part of Capella, which opened in 2009, features similar architectural designs.
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- The design of Capella was a global collaboration, whose goal was to seamlessly integrate architectural elements with the island’s natural topography, allowing the new structures to follow the contours of the terrain and ensure a balance with nature.
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- Capella is located on Sentosa Island – ‘Sentosa’ in Malay means ‘peace and tranquility.’
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- The surroundings are so lush and verdant!
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- There are lovely beaches nearby.
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- Swimming and beach games are very popular here.
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- With cameras rolling, here I am talking with Wei-Lin Kwee, whose family owns Capella. Wei-Lin was a key member in conceptualizing the resort and worked closely with architect Lord Norman Foster on the design.
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- We strolled around the tranquil pools.
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- Here I am with Wei-Ling and Sophie and our incredible TV crew.
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- Sophie and the Rolls
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- I made friends with a lovely black Cockatoo.
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- I really love birds of all sizes.
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- Sophie posing with two lovely cockatoos
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- The owner proudly showed us the inside of the shop – so many wonderful products!
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- This striking Amazon parrot perched on Sophie’s shoulder is not for sale. His owners, who live near the pet shop, bring him for regular play dates with the birds there.
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- After the shoot, we got ready for a final dinner at Guy Savoy in Marina Bay Sands. Gary met us in our hotel villa beforehand.
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- Marina Bay Sands is bustling at night!
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- Antony Gormley’s sculpture, ‘Drift,’ looks incredible at night.
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- This beautiful chandelier was designed by Sharon Marston.
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- A most sophisticated lounge
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- The ceiling was spectacular!
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- Here I am with Memrie and Thomas Arasi – President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marina Bay Sands building.
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- We ate dinner at Guy Savoy, one of France’s most celebrated chefs.
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- The menu – The reflection in the glass is the enormous Marina Bay Sands casino. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to photograph it.
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- A neat and orderly space
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- A lobster appetizer
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- A really delicious sea bass
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- A stellar cheese cart
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- A chocolate cup filled with passion fruit
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- We visited the spacious kitchen. Here I am with famed head chef Eric Bost.
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- A tender loin of lamb wrapped with asparagus ribbons
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- A madeline and meringue confection
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- A chocolate and caramel dessert
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- More sweets on a cart
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- It was a lovely presentation.
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- The next morning, it was an early departure for the airport.
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- Capella insisted on chauffeuring us in their Rolls Royce. Who were we to protest?
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- This is the check in area.
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- The Singapore Changi Airport is stunning. This is the entrance for departures.
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- The Green Wall spans 980-feet and is made up of 25 species of climbing plants.
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- Here I am with Memrie and Mary Ann from TV.
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- It’s a very colorful space with many shops and restaurants.
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- We loved this little post office on wheels!
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- Sophie had a foot, leg, and shoulder massage all at once.
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- Why stop at that? I opted for a full body treatment.
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- We were very curious about this wonderful health gadget shop.
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- Feeling relaxed, we wandered towards our gate.
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- We boarded a very speedy shuttle from the main terminal to our gate.
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- This airport is so calm and pristine!
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- It was one of the most comfortable flights! It’s the longest direct flight in the world – almost 18 hours. There are only 100 business class seats, each becoming a very nice bed.
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- The airline crew was fabulous and very well dressed.
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- We made it back to New York City in no time. GK, Francesca, and Sharkey met us at the airport and we went to Sant Ambroeus in Greenwich Village for cappuccinos. http://www.santambroeus.com/new/frameset.php
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- Remember this fancy taxi we saw after out trip to Bollywood Veggies?
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- Well, we didn’t get to visit the Bird Park, but went to an area with many pet shops.
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- This little shopping center, is tucked away in an apartment complex. Our pet expert, Marc Morrone, suggested we go.
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- And then a white cockatoo joined us.
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- The owner was thrilled that we could come. Marc does bird business with this shop.
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- I love the red beak on this gray parrot.
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- A pretty young pink cockatoo
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- This macaw really took a liking to Sophie’s camera.
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- Adorable canaries
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- On our way back to the hotel, Capella, we passed this Durian store. Durian is a very strong-smelling fruit and perhaps ‘lingers’ in the name refers to its pungent scent!
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