Tag Archives: Retirement abroad

Finland

Detour adventure to Helsinki Finland

On the last day in Singapore Shelley and I were making our way home from Singapore, with Madrid as our intended destination. Everything was going smoothly until we learned that our flight had been cancelled. Like many other travellers facing disruptions, we suddenly found ourselves searching for alternatives.

Unfortunately, as a result of the war in Iran, there were very few direct flights available into Europe.  After exploring our options, we discovered seats on a flight to Helsinki. It wasn’t where we had planned to go, but it got us into Europe. So rather than rushing to find the quickest connection home, we decided to embrace the unexpected and spend the Easter weekend in Finland’s capital.

Scandic Grand Central Hotel in Helsinki,

We checked into the Scandic Grand Central Hotel in Helsinki, a beautiful spot in a beautifully restored historic building adjacent to the city’s central railway station. It was perfect, the hotel was large and had hundreds of rooms. Our room was at the end of one of the long wings of the hotel and it kind of reminded us of the movie “The Shining.”

Helsinki has some unique architecture and its own vibe. Our first day we explored the city centre and were so impressed.  We began by the central train station and walked towards the water front.

Central Train Station in Helsinki

The iconic statues along both sides of the main entrance are known locally as “The Stone Men.”  Their official name is Lyhdynkantajat.

The Stone Men of Helsinki Central Train Station

The centre city has a blend of historic and contemporary buildings and design. 

Shelley in the city centre area of Helsinki

While walking towards the waterfront, we came across the Helsinki Cathedral Church. It was built in 1852 and has a beautiful white facade. 

We arrived down at the waterfront near the market square which is located on the South Harbour of the city. It is one of the city’s best-known landmarks and a hub for daily commerce.

We came to an area with lots of different tent kiosks selling all kind of goods. We walked along checking out the different art and food on sale.

We came to a kiosk selling Salmon soup and it smelled soooo good, we had to try it.

It was amazing and tasted so good. In fact we came back the next day to have the soup again. After exploring all the kiosks, we went to the enclosed market located in a beautiful older building.

The inside was beautiful with wooden kiosks all the way down both sides of the building.

There were small restaurants, cafe shops and artisan stores selling all kind of goods, from Salmon sandwiches, reindeer meat to Caviar.

Kiosk selling Reindeer pelts, antlers and meats.
Kiosk selling different caviars and fish

 Our first day in Helsinki did not disappoint, it was a very enjoyable day and we loved the atmosphere of the city.  One of the joys of travelling is discovering places that aren’t necessarily in your original plans. Helsinki turned out to be one of those pleasant surprises.

“Embrace the detours” – Kevin Charbonnea

Singapore

A Wonderful Day in Singapore’s Golden Garden

Shelley and I spent a day exploring the beautiful Gardens by the Bay. It is a huge, world-famous nature park and located in Singapore’s Marina Bay area. What an amazing spot with more than 100 hectares.  We spent the afternoon and evening wandering through the park, taking in the unique features and plants. There were themed areas and different things to see at every turn.

Everywhere we looked there were exotic flowers, towering greenery, and designed landscapes.

The Coco-de-Mer palm tree

 Some areas felt like stepping into Jurassic Park. We came to a large palm tree which was a Coco de mer. It is a rare palm tree native to the islands of the Seychelles. It is famous for producing the largest and heaviest seed in the world, which can weigh up to 25 kilograms (55 pounds). The tree grows for hundreds of years, reaching heights of over 30 meters (100 feet). Its unique double-lobed coconut has made it one of the most unusual plants on Earth.

Just a little further down the path we came to a Jurassic Park Gyrosphere which fit perfectly into the environment.

Shelley inside the glass-encased Gyrosphere.

Other areas were themed more like the wild Jungle.

There were even Lions and tigers.


One of the things that impressed us most was the incredible architecture throughout the park. The futuristic buildings blended perfectly with the gardens which enhanced the feeling of being in Jurassic Park.

One of the highlights of the day was simply taking our time and enjoying the atmosphere together.  As evening approached, we made our way toward the famous artificial trees for the light show.

Standing beneath those towering structures was an incredible sight on its own. There was a sky walkway which people could walk in among the trees. 

we wandered around looking at all the different trees and found a spot to settle in below one of the tress and wait for the light show.

At  dusk the music and lights started and the trees came to life.

It was truly an amazing experience with the glowing colours and music filled the air. It created a truly magical experience.


Shelley and I laid at the base of one of the trees enjoying the cool evening and took it all in. The combination of lights, music, and the Singapore skyline made the moment feel unforgettable. It was one of those experiences that reminds us how wonderful travel can be and how special it is to share those moments together.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” – Gustave Flaubert

Singapore

Sunset, Wine & Sky High Views in Singapore

After having sushi and asian food for nearly two weeks, we decided to enjoy a more traditional meal. We made a reservations at LAVO Italian Restaurant & Rooftop Bar, at the top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

View from the grounds of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.

Even getting to dinner felt like part of the adventure. We explored and walk through the hotel area until we reached the Elevator for the restaurant.  The ride up in the elevator was an experience in itself as we soared the 57 stories to the restaurant high above the city. As the doors opened, we were met with breathtaking panoramic views, there were trees and plants in among the space. It made it feel like we were on a floating garden path.

Shelley and Ray in the viewing area of the Marina Sands Hotel

There was a viewing area before entering the restaurant that people could enjoy if they did not have a restaurant reservation.  We were fortunate to have someone take our photo for us. It overlooked the bay and we could see all the ships in the bay and the Gardens by the Bay Park.

We were greeted by the maitre d’ and we were brought to our table which was on the outside in a stunning exterior section of the restaurant. The views were spectacular and photos do not do them justice. The city skyline stretched across the bay.

The atmosphere was perfect, it was not too hot and very relaxed with soft music in the background.  We ordered our meal and a bottle of Italian wine and took in the moment. It felt somewhat surreal and incredible.  The meal was delicious with fresh pasta, pesto and Italian flavours. A welcome change from so much sushi during our travels through Japan.

The service staff were very friendly and did not make us feel rushed at all. Instead they encouraged us to stay and watch the sunset and water and light show. So we slowly enjoyed our wine throughout the evening, watching the sky change colours as the sun began to set.

The setting itself was unforgettable and it made the entire night feel magical. 

Glow of the sunset from the rooftop of the Marina Bay Sands

Shortly after the sunset, there was a water and light show directly below us in the bay. We watched from the railing as they did an amazing lazer light with music and co-ordinated water fountain  show. It lasted about twenty minutes and was beautiful to watch.

Water and lazer light show

Marina Bay Sands is truly a piece of art. Standing there, surrounded by its incredible architecture and sweeping views,  it was one of those “pinch yourself” moments.  Without question, it was one of the highlights of our travels to Singapore and a memory we will treasure for years to come.

Sometimes travel is about discovering the unfamiliar, and sometimes it is about finding comfort and joy in something timeless and delicious.

”Life is short and the world is wide” – Simon Raven

Singapore

Singapore Temple and Chinatown

We went to Singapore to explore this modern city. We began our adventure by exploring Chinatown.

Every street had something interesting to discover. The colourful buildings gave the area so much character, with bright shutters, lanterns hanging overhead, and murals tucked into alleyways.

We explored the small shops that lined the streets, they were selling everything from souvenirs and silk scarves to herbal medicines. 

There was even some odd looking ducks and chickens for sale. 

The food stalls were interesting and there were all kinds of different foods, dishes and snacks.  

Of course, no visit to Singapore would be complete without trying durian, the famous fruit known for its incredibly strong smell.

People either love it or hate it, and after finally working up the courage to try some, Shelley did not care for it at all and I quickly discovered we were definitely in the “hate it” category.

 

The smell alone was enough to make us hesitate, and the taste did not win us over either. It was an experience and we have no plans to try it again anytime soon. 

While walking through the markets, we came across a large laughing Buddha statue that locals said brings good luck if you rub its belly. Of course, Shelley and I could not resist giving it a try.

While wandering through Chinatown, we came across the Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore’s oldest Hindu temple.

The temple immediately caught our attention with its colourful entrance tower covered in detailed statues of Hindu gods and mythical figures.

The details were impressive and quite interesting to see all the different statues within the tower.

Built in 1827, the temple has an important place of worship for Singapore’s Hindu community. 

All along the walls surrounding the temple there were different Hindu gods. We took off our shoes and headed into the temple, inside was ornate and decorated with carvings and other decorations.

The intricate carvings and decorations were beautiful to see up close.


We had a full first day exploring Chinatown and of course the temperature and humidity was quite high. 32 degrees Celsius and humidity was around 85 to 90 percent. 

We stopped along the way to enjoy some refreshments and just to take it all in. We had a great day and it was a great start to our adventures in Singapore. 

“Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.”

Japan

Visiting Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō and The Great Temple

We went to visit the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō at Tōdai ji which was quite something to see. The day was a bit wet with on and off light rain  showers.

Shelley at the front of the Kondo Hakkaku Tōrō bronze Lantern
The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō

The Kondo Hakkaku Kondo Tōrō is located in front of the Great Buddha Hall.  The ancient octagonal bronze lantern dates back to the 8th century, making it over 1,250 years old. It was created during the founding era of Tōdai-ji, around the same time  as the temple.

Ray and Shelley in front of the Buddha Temple

We went inside the temple and the Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),  loomed in front of us. It is one of the largest bronze Buddha statues in the world.

The Great Buddha of Nara (Daibutsu),

The Buddha rises about 15 meters (49 feet) tall, weighs roughly 500 tons, and sits within the huge Great Buddha Hall. 

 

The photos don’t reflect the scale. The Buddha’s sheer size of the statue makes you feel small. 

We walked around the temple looking at the Buddha and other buddha idols from different angles. 

Outside of the temple is a small wooden Buddha and it was being touched by some of the visitors. We went over to check it out. 

Wooden buddha

The wooden buddha is called the Pindola and he was one of the disciples of Buddha. It is believed in Japan that when you rub a part of wooden Pindola and then rub the same part on you. That injured or troubled area of your own body will bring healing. So of course Ray had to try it.

Ray’s knee has never felt better since.

時は矢のごとく過ぎ去る。