Singapore was a place we'd planned on visiting twice before, though in both instances unforeseen circumstances prevented it. We had to keep our visit short -- we only stayed a week -- but we're ever so glad we went! What a beautiful and amazing city! And a visit in February was ideal; we had lovely weather, clear, sunny, and relatively cool for Singapore.

It's astounding how Singapore, in 6 decades, has evolved from a poor, underdeveloped country to a global economic powerhouse. The Marina Bay is a sparkling introduction to the country's beauty and prosperity.

It looks even better at night!

The Marina Bay Sands Hotel is a global icon.

The city is eminently walkable. Multiple bridges span the Singapore River . . .

. . . which winds through the city.

Hawker centers are community meccas, where several floors of hawker stands offer any kind of food you can imagine at very reasonable prices. They're a fun, affordable alternative to the very fine but much more expensive dining establishments in the city.

The Gardens by the Bay dominate the city skyline around Marina Bay.

It's one enormous park, with tons of greenery and pleasant walking paths.

And enchanting sculptures.

The Gardens cover 260 acres, with the Supertrees towering over everything.

There are walkways and observation areas at the tops of the Supertrees, offering sweeping vistas of the Park and the city.

The park contains the Flower Dome -- the world's largest greenhouse -- with multiple biomes represented within. The Lion Door offers one entrance to the area.

The city has a vibrant and extensive China Town area.

The Sri Mariamman Temple, Singapore's oldest Hindu temple, was founded in 1827 and serves the large Hindu and Tamil population in the country.

Elaborae displays adorn many of the shops within the winding streets.

And we arrived at an opportune time, with Chinese New Year displays and celebrations all over the area!