Gardens By The Bay - Blossom Beats

Gardens By The Bay

Marina, South

March 2016

Cherry blossoms in bloom right here in tropical Singapore - this unexpected sight is what visitors will get to see at Gardens by the Bay’s latest floral display - Blossom Beats. This is the first time that visitors can see such a myriad of cherry blossoms, as well as other blossoms, in the Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay.

The crowds can be overwhelming...



 

But the blossoms were worth any queue...

    

What the same scenes look like - with and without people...

It is still possible to get very good shots, with patience and creativity.
 

Styled after a traditional Japanese garden, “Blossom Beats” will also feature quintessential Japanese elements such as a tori gate, Japanese screens and kimono.


  

More than 20 varieties of cherry blossoms, or sakura, are showcased in the floral display. On display are cultivars such as the Prunus Fujishidare which has pendulous branches, the Prunus Yedoenis Yoshino which stands out with its striking white flowers, and the Prunus Accolade, with its pale pink blooms.
   

 
It was truly a romantic time for couples -
It was heartwarming to see their smiles and loving glances...

In addition to cherry blossoms, peach blossoms are in bloom too. One unusual variety on show is the Prunus Genpei Shidare which has flowers of two different colours - red and white- growing on the same plant.



The trees are still budding... promising many more beautiful blooms to come...

Borrowed scenery (借景; Japanese: shakkei; Chinese: jièjǐng) is the principle of "incorporating background landscape into the composition of a garden" found in traditional East Asian garden design. The term borrowing of scenery ("shakkei") is Chinese in origin, and appears in the 17th century garden treatise Yuanye. When the builder of a Japanese garden takes into consideration nearby or distant landmarks that could be seen from the garden - mountains, cascades, or works of architecture - he is essentially using the concept “borrowed scenery”.

The red bridge was supposed to represent the route blessed to take to salvation. In Zen symbolism red represents life force, preservation, the sacred, and red transforms the delusion of attachment into the wisdom of discernment...

In the Gardens, you have the opportunity to experience a mini "hanafubuki" (flower snow storm), where the falling blossom petals descend upon the ground like drifting snow flakes, coating the ground in a soft pink and white carpet of petals.



There are always the other blossoms and sights at the Gardens that are equally memerizing...

This experimental floral display is expected to run till March 27. Check Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gardensbythebay for updates on the blooming.

|   Sakura Trivia   |

 

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Gardens By The Bay - Sakura Trivia

Gardens By The Bay

Marina, South

March 2016

Fascinated by the "sakura fever", Merlion Wayfarer delves into cyberspace and digs out some essential nuggets about sakura blossoms...

Sakura

Cherry blossom is known as "sakura" in Japanese, and it is the country’s national flower. A symbol of renewal and hope, cherry blossom heralds the arrival of spring each year, and it can be seen in abundance from late March to mid-April.

Sakura Zensen

The Japanese have a television forecast for cherry blossom season, provided by the country’s Meteorological Agency. It is based on the sample trees planted in the different regions of Japan. The blossom moves north in a "sakura zensen", or cherry blossom front, and its progress is keenly tracked.

Cherry Blossom Capital

Surprisingly, the title of "Cherry Blossom Capital of the World" isn’t actually bestowed on a Japanese city. That honour falls to Macon, in Georgia, USA, which is home to an estimated 300,000 sakura trees.

Yoshino Cherry Tree

The Prunus × yedoensis, or Yoshino cherry tree, is the type of cherry blossom tree most often seen in Japan, but did you know that it is a hybrid? Unable to reproduce naturally, they are treated with great care by their cultivators so they produce splendid blossoms year after year. Japan is home to over 200 different varieties of cherry blossom, the most popular being the “Somei Yoshino”. Its white flowers have the merest hint of pink and usually last no more than a week - a reminder of the transient nature of life.

Hanami

During cherry blossom season you’ll often see groups of people having picnics underneath the cherry trees. This is called "hanami", or "flower viewing". The tradition of hanami has been going on for many hundreds of years; according to a text from the 8th century, such festivities have been held since at least the 3rd century.



Yozakura

When hanami takes place at night, it’s known as "yozakura", which means "night sakura". On such occasions, paper lanterns are hung in the trees to light up the night.

   

Cherry Blossom Parties

Hanami festivities are celebrated with gusto, with music, specially prepared dishes of food and sake (rice wine). During cherry blossom season, the parks are alive with the sound of people admiring the flowers and joyfully celebrating.

Cherry blossoms or Peach blossoms?

Cherry Blossoms

• Cherry blossoms have five petals and a small characteristic V-shaped notch at the end of each petal. Even when the flowers are hybrids, they still have that characteristic v-notch centered on the edge.

• The bark of the cherry tree often has small horizontal lines on it.

• More than one cherry will come out of a cherry bud.

• The leaves of cherry trees are green and unfolding.



Plum Blossoms

• Plum blossoms don’t have any split at the end of the petals.  
     
• There is only one plum blossom coming out of the bud.
      
• Although some varieties of white plum blossoms will have small green leaves, plum blossoms have small purple leaves that are unrolling.
      
• Plum blossoms have a very fragrant smell (they smell “flowery”).
      
• The bark on a plum tree is darker and does not have distinctive horizontal lines on it.

This experimental floral display is expected to run till March 27. Check Gardens by the Bay’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/gardensbythebay for updates on the blooming.



|   Blossom Beats   | 

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Guzman Y Gomez - Mexican Flavours, Friendly Staff

Founded in 2006, Guzman y Gomez (GYG) was named to honour old friends and created to introduce Mexican food and Latin culture to the world. With their third outlet in Star Vista, Buona Vista, and a menu built on traditional Mexican flavours and made from only the highest quality ingredients, the GYG experience is about all things Latin, the food, the deco, and the fun and spontaneous personality of the friendly staff.

 The lean open kitchen visible to all diners - so that you know what you can is the real thing with no added ingredients and frozen food...

Colourful tiles and cool deco in cosy corners while you await your orders...

Starting off the meal with a drink -
Somersby Apple Cider (alcoholic) on the left, and Jarritos (non-alcoholic)...

Jarritos is a popular brand of soft drink in Mexico, founded in 1950 by Joseph Lopez "El Güero". The word jarrito means "little jug" in Spanish and refers to the Mexican tradition of drinking water and other drinks in clay pottery jugs. Popular flavours include here Mango & Guava.

Never mind if you are a "food idiot" when it comes to Mexican food. The upbeat and friendly staff here will patiently explain to you what these two to four-syllabled words - "nachos", "tacos", "burritos", and "quesadillas" refer to.

Nachos

Nachos are a Tex-Mex dish from northern Mexico. The dish is rooted in the Tejano culture (Texans of Spanish or Mexican heritage who lived in Texas before it became a republic) and also Mexican immigrants who hailed largely from Northern Mexico. Composed of tortilla chips covered with cheese or cheese-based sauce, it is often served as a snack. 

Instead of the cheese-laden version many of us are used to, the version here has vegetarian black beans, Pico de Gallo salsa, and gaucamole. This order here has tender pulled pork, seared and hand rubbed with Chipotle Adobo.

Quesadillas

Quesadillas are grilled soft corn tortillas, filled with melted Jack Cheese and healthy salsa. The Steak Chip is made from hand cut Aussie Flank steak, marinated with an aromatic sauce and fire grilled before serving. The Vegetarian option contains sautéed, mildly seasoned capsicum, onion and mushroom, served with Guacamole. The grilled cheese at the edges of tortilla adds a crispy fragrance to the snack.

A choice of condiments and sauces to enhance your meal,
served on environmentally-friendly paper containers...

Burritos

A burrito is a wheat flour tortilla wrapped or folded into a cylindrical shape to completely enclose the filling. The word burrito means "little donkey" in Spanish, as a diminutive form of burro, or "donkey". The name burrito as applied to the dish possibly derives from the appearance of bedrolls and packs that donkeys carried.

The Spicy Grilled Chicken order here is filled with marinated, succulent fillets char-grilled and ramped up with spicy Mexican chillies. Much like a local popiah, the burrito skin is much thicker, and makes for a complete carbo meal.

For those preferring a gluten-free version there are Burrito Bowl options made with long-grained rice for the required carbo load. Each is served with a healthy ladle of avocado guacamole...

Tacos

Tacos are a traditional Mexican dish composed of a corn or wheat tortilla folded or rolled around a filling. Generally eaten without utensils, they are often accompanied by garnishes such as salsa, chili pepper, guacamole, cilantro (coriander), tomatoes, onions and lettuce.

The Beef version here is seasoned with Mexican spices and slow cooked until meltingly tender, while the Fish version contains pan-seared Barramundi fillets in a mildly seasoned garlic and lime sauce. The slice of lime at the side adds a touch of optional zest.

 

Churros

Top off the meal with an order of cinnamon Churros, a fried-dough pastry. A complimentary chocolate sauce is provided with the order for that rich, cocoa dip.

Thank you for the wonderful spread, Guzman y Gomez...

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