Tree branches met over the road, filtering the streetlights for the 2 am drive downtown from Singapore’s Changi International Airport along the South China Sea. An orange, waxing moon floated along a haze of humidity as the trees gave way to tall palms and bougainvillea. This stretch of highway can be cleared for airport use as an emergency runway, I later found out. Thus began my first day in Singapore. Chris’ ship was in port and he’d meet me at the hotel in a few hours, after which we’d head out to explore the city, starting with–surprise! The free Singapore Botanic Gardens, crowned by the glorious National Orchid Garden ($5 SGD—SO worth it!) 
When I was maybe 11 someone sent my parents a postcard of a palm tree silhouetted in a fiery tropical sky. I snuck it upstairs and pinned it to the wall next to my pillow. At night I’d stare at it in the light of my rainbow nightlight (yes, I had a nightlight when I was 11) and concoct fantasies of living out my days solving easy problems and entertaining royal suitors as the plumeria-bedecked Princess of the Palms. So I literally gasped when Chris and I entered the Orchid Garden. “This is Little Kid Mari’s fantasy come to life!” I told him. “See, I make your dreams come true!” Chris said, pleased with himself.
Day 19: The Road Goes on Forever
Oolong Rouge
Land of the Rising Son!
I’LL PAY THE RENT!
WOW. Now I want to go to Singapore; specifically, that garden. I doubt my outfit would match the flowers as well as you did, tho. 🙂
What a glorious place!
I like the orange giraffe-orchid best! 🙂
I have to inhale deeply because my breath is totally gone! WOW!! Those orchids are stunning!!
So, when I was in college, I told myself that when I got out, I would get an orchid plant to mark the achievement and take care of it in my fabulous single-working-girl apartment (got the orchid, but no fabulous job or posh apartment) – but they're still my favorite.
And SO cute what Chris said! The more I read, the more he sounds just absolutely perfect for you!
Aw man!!! I was going to comment on how your cute orange and yellow dress matched the orchid, but Mama beat me to it.