Next up is the Flower Dome, which is organized into different country gardens, all featuring the Mediterranean and subtropical regions of the world. This dome is not quite as spectacular as the Cloud Forest, but it is still amazing to see all these different plants and flowers under one huge roof.
We just meander about, through different gardens – African, European, etc. – getting ideas for our garden at home – if any of these flowers and shrubs will live in harsh winter conditions that is. Gives us a to do list of research we will need to do once we get home.
Here too there are orchids, but there are also these amazing rose plants that are just astonishing and beautiful. Have no idea how they will grow, but they are on our list as well to research when we return.
At the end of our walk we get to the “normal” plants, the little daisy-like flowers, creeping begonias and of course the hyacinths. Its just like taking a picture in our own home garden!
We make short work of the Flower Dome, because while beautiful and lovely to see, the Cloud Forest was much more captivating and interesting. Walking out through the gift shop (of course, don’t all tours lead to the gift shop?) we actually find an incredible wood layered orchid, framed in beautiful wood that we both immediately love. Hmmmmm….it will look fantastic on our walls….this is turning out to be an expensive do nothing day! But, what the heck. If you see it, and you love it – you better buy it or you will regret it (yes, that’s definitely a Mom rule).
We’re done here, and decide not to bother with the sky walk. It’s hot, there are black clouds on the horizon and we’re ready for lunch by now – so back to the MRT we go, taking a different route through the interior of the park, passing the flower clock, the Indian Garden with its elephant sculptures and the Chinese Garden with its cool Fung Shui rock carvings.
We actually find the dragonfly bridge this time, with its fabulous views down the lake toward the Eye…
…and cross back over to the other side of the park, to the MRT station. A quick stop at a miniature 7-11 (we swear, it was a closet! The smallest 7-11 we have ever seen) to grab a bottle of wine, and we are back on our personal MRT train without delay. Seriously – personal train – we were the only people on a 7 or 8 car train!
Back at the pier, we have to go through Immigration once again – and once again Ed has to go through the special “no fingerprint” line – but finally we are aboard, lunched and lounged throughout the day until we sail (we didn’t even need to go to the muster drill this time because we were back-to-back – we’ve never been able to do that on any other ship – bonus!). There are some beautiful city scenes as we sail…
…and just like that, we are off and headed to Kota Kinabalu, Mayalsia.
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