I just spent a wonderful week in Singapore with my friend Nancy. It’s an amazing place and of course, being the photographer I took over 500 photos. The architecture is a photographer’s dream and I tried to capture the essence of the place and its warm and friendly people. I will also be posting photos on Fine Art America.

 

We stayed at the Marina Bay Sands Hotel.  What can I say?  The white building that looks like a lotus flower is the ArtScience Museum and definitely worth seeing.  Info on Singapore  

There's an infinity pool at the very top.  You'll see it later.

 

As I said in my email, the architecture is incredible all throughout the city.  This is the inside of our hotel.

 

This is the famous Orchard Street on Easter Sunday looking a lot like NYC.  It was fun to browse the area and be with the people.  Nancy and I took lots of breaks because of the heat and humidity.  My skin loved it!!!

 

A tree inside a mall area with messages to Lee Kuan Yew first prime minister of Singapore who recently died.  We always got great info from taxi drivers.

                                                                      

He's on the bridge connecting to our hotel/mall selling water and other goodies.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of these boys.  It was almost dusk and I'm not sure what they were looking at--I guess whatever fascinates little boys:)

 

I love this shot of this flower just starting to open up under the ArtScience Museum.

 

Flowers and water are everywhere. 

  

It started to rain so we ducked into a restaurant that connected to this long alleyway.

 

Yes, we had the famous Singapore Sling and tea at the very famous Raffles Hotel.  It was fun and something I've always wanted to do!

 

Night shots in Singapore are so amazing with different colors in the water, buildings and sky.

 

We stayed in Tower 3.

 

When someone told me to go to the Gardens by the Bay I thought I would see some pretty flowers, but nothing like what we saw.  In the distance is the Supertree Grove which lights up at night.

 

Okay, yes we went to the top and walked the same walk.  A feat for someone with vertigo!!!

 

 

We're inside the flower dome.  There were lots of student field trips and I love this shot because the trees look like they might become alive taking on human qualities.  It's my imagination!

 

Inside the cloud forest when it was raining outside and yes, we also walked way up there!

 

 

An amazing light show!

 

I took so many photos of flowers which I'll be posting on FAA.

 

We made it to the top of our hotel for a delicious dinner and incredible view as it got dark.

After dinner we went to the other side and you can see the cargo ships in the harbor.  No, I didn't look down!

 

This is the infinity pool at the top and I'm told that yes, there's a ledge and some kind of fence, but this photo still leaves me breathless!!!

We took a cable car to Sentosa Island and walked along the beach.

 

 

 

We had lunch at this hotel and watched the kids swim in the pool.

 

On our last day we visited several museums and walked along the waterway having lunch, enjoying the sights and eventually having tea at the Fullerton Hotel.  You can see the "tip" of our hotel in the distance.

 

Lake Khuvsgul

My article about traveling to Lake Khuvsgul has been published by Venus Adventures, an adventure travel company for women.  Right now it’s on their Facebook page (see below).  They’ll see how many hits it gets and then decide what to do next.

Venus Adventures

Tsagaan Sar Celebration

Mongolians just finished celebrating Tsagaan Sar, the Lunar New Year, one of their most important holidays.  Most public places are closed for several days including our school which was closed for four days.  Families prepare by cooking traditional Mongolian food, dressing in their national costumes, visiting family and friends and exchanging gifts.  In honor of this important event our school hosted an International Day celebrating not only Mongolians, but countries represented at the school.  For more information on this holiday, please go to Tsagaan Sar.

My class.  Aren't they adorable?

My student, Danielle and her dad.

Yes, that's me in my traditional Mongolian costume.  When I was here before, I had this made for my son's wedding.  With me is my wonderful PA, Muugii.

Anar and

Khulan, students in my class.

The Americans and Canadians were on the first floor--a friendly rivalry.

Mongolians were on the third floor with artifacts and delicious food!

When I was here before these girls were in my 1st grade class, now they're 5th graders!

My girls--Haina, Soni, Bebi and Tselmuun.

Lots of fun and

lots of food!

Many of the parents participated.  This mom is representing Korea and wearing the traditional clothing.

And more food!

I love this photo!  She's from Russia.

 

I was very fortunate to be invited to Boogii's (my former PA) home.  This is her adorable son, Huchit and his grandmother.  We all know how important grandmas are:)

Winter Scenes

This is the Tuul River in Ulaanbaatar.  Right now it's frozen and people drive their cars up and down this river.  I've heard it's a great way to avoid the congestion on "regular" streets.  Now I'm from So. CA so I don't know if this is typical in snow/ice climates.

Looking out towards downtown.

They were having a great time!

More with my camera....

Peaceful winter scene with ice skating rink at Sukhbaatar Square.

I love this photo!  We just had Crazy Hat Day.  Look at the little boy in the foreground.  He only has eyes for the camera.  To get the full effect, click on the image to make it larger.

I love photographing children.  I was at this art museum/gallery and stumbled across this class for young people.  The art teacher is on the left.  See the boy in the background--his hand is moving as he watches the girl draw.

Welcome to 2015 and Diane's new camera!

Well, I'm back in Mongolia (the temperatures are unusually "high") after spending a wonderful holiday season back home...and I gave myself a Christmas gift...a Canon camera with two super lenses for all the photography I love to do!  Below are a few photos of my students...the camera is amazing!!!