Big, Bold, Beautiful Botero Exhibition at Opera Gallery in Ion Shopping Mall, Orchard Road, the centre of Singapore

 

Botero exhibition poster on a pillar in Ion shopping mall. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

An ad on a Pillar at level 2 in Ion attracted me. I had already seen three large, imposing, amusing statues by Botero in Singapore. 

An impressive, huge, horse stands near the entrance escalators to Buona Vista station in Singapore.

Botero's horse statue near Buona Vista MRT underground railway entrance, in Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright. 

The Botero statue of a plump bird is by the Singapore river waterfront. The bird is a peace dove. It stands on a plinth by the UOB Plaza by UOB building.

Picture by Dudva in Wikimedia.

Botero's big Bird statue in Singapore.

Adam and Eve, statues by Fernando Botero in Hotel Michael, near Crockfords Tower, Resorts Sentosa, in Singapore.

Is Botero, creator of oversize sculptures, an outsize man? Here he is.

n	Fernando Botero - portrait made during his stay in The Hague Botero
Date	7 December 2006, 13:25:32
Source	Flickr
Author	Roel Wijnants

If you are shopping for a museum, a hotel, a city planning department, or a collector with a large budget, you might want to visit and go on the Opera Gallery mailing list. They can also negotiate with artists for you.

Free Visits and Frequent Visits

Opera gallery have several galleries worldwide, where you can visit for free, and take your hosts or guests on holidays and business trips. The exhibitions change regularly, so you can go back. You might see one or two examples of your favourites from a previous exhibition plus a lot of new ones.

Singapore's Opera Gallery Exhibition on 20th and 21st century icons - until 30th October 2022

Opera Gallery entrance in Ion shopping mall, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Circus Band by Fernando Botero. Opera Gallery in October, 2022.

The gallery in Singapore doesn't sell postcards or small gifts, unlike museum shops. If you are inspired by your visit to the gallery, love the statues, but have a smaller budget and want a small desktop statue by Botero, on ebay you can find a supplier of a small statue for yourself or a gift, at about three hundred or four hundred plus US dollars (add tax, shipping etc).

https://www.ebay.com/str/europeanbronzegoddess (For a small repro of, for example, a Botero cat.)

Opera Gallery is worldwide, in

USA

New York, Miami, Miami Bal Harbour, Aspen, 

UK

London, England 

MONACO

Monaco

SWITZERLAND

Geneva

THE MIDDLE EAST

UAE

Dubai 

LEBANON

Beirut 

ASIA

CHINA

Hong Kong  

KOREA  

Seoul

SINGAPORE

Art & Exhibitions in Singapore

On a sunny day, you can combine a visit to Opera Gallery with a tour of the Botero outdoor sculptures. If it's overcast, you can also visit a free art exhibition on level 4 of ION in Singapore at the ION Art Gallery. Or the exhibition of Barbie Dolls mentioned in my other post.

Botero Statues In South America

If you go to South America, many more sculptures by Botero are in Plaza Botero, Medellin, Colombia. Medellin is the second largest city in Colombia, after the capital, Bogota. Colombia is next door to Venezuela with a northern coast and can be reached by airlines or cruise ships. Add it to your wishlist. 

Botero statues are also in: 

Champs Elysee, Paris, France; 

Venice, Italy; 

Chicago, USA; 

Broadgate Circus behind Liverpool Street Station, London ECA, England;

I saw this Botero sculpture of the lady, near Liverpool Street Station in London, from the outdoor staircase above, where it was dwarfed by skyscrapers alongside, so it did not look as large and impressive as standing at the foot of the horse in Singapore.

Opera Gallery has an indoor gallery in Bond Street, London.

Also in Berlin, Germany; Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.

Man on Horse, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel.

Meanwhile, back in safe and sunny Singapore, even during a brief rainy afternoon shower, you have a free indoor art gallery to visit at Ion shopping mall, the Opera Gallery.

Opera Gallery, 2 Orchard Turn #02-16, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801

tel: +65 6735 2618

Email: spore@operagallery.com

Useful Websites

ARTIST & SCULPTOR BOTERO  WORLDWIDE

Video of Venus in London, England.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIBdV-0Xz44

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Botero

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Fernando_Botero

BOTERO In COLOMBIA SOUTH AMERICA

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Botero_Square

OPERA GALLERY IN ION, SINGAPORE

https://www.operagallery.com/event/fernando-botero-singapore

https://www.operagallery.com/

ION IN SINGAPORE

https://www.ionorchard.com/deal/883-tourist-exclusive-unlock-your-retail-dreams-2022

https://www.ionorchard.com/ion-art

The Botero exhibition is in Opera Gallery, Singapore, until October 30th 2022, every day 11 am to 8 pm.

Opera Gallery exhibition in October 2022. Artist Anthony James. Repose.

https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17888361200642798/

ANGELA'S OTHER POSTS

http://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/10/horse-sculpture-by-fernando.html

Please share links to your favourite blog posts

Green Beer Day In the USA and Green Theme Decor, Drinks and Food

Green beer, USA.

I was looking for photos of green beer, when  discovered that in Miami, Ohio, USA, they have had a green beer day. Yes, it was inspired by St Patrick's Day. With the Spring break dates and St Patrick's Day moving around so that they no longer coincided, somebody came up with the idea of having a green beer day during the spring break. So then, you had two green beer days, St Patrick's Day and the Green Beer day.  

My friend in Singapore enthused about green beer. However, when I read that it turned your tongue green, I went off the idea.

What about the American Green Beer Day. It sounded like innocent fun. Plus a commercial opportunity for selling green clothes. Plus, of course, beer. However, starting at 5 am, under age driving, and an alcohol related death. No way. No wonder there was official concern and interference.

Meanwhile, if you want to wear green and try out green beer at home, on St Patrick's Day, or Green beer day, or as a practice in advance any day, with food as well as drink so you don't drive or get drunk, why not.

By the way, the event started in Miami university, which is not in Florida, but in Oxford, Ohio. (Yes, not Miami, Florida, and not Oxford, England.)

One bar was selling for one US dollar a shot (small drink or addition to a drink or cocktail) of green jello (generic US term for jelly, from the brand Jello) which turns any drink green. 

The US bars seem to have a plentiful supply of food options. What was green?

Bread and Cereals

Rice with green rice (dyed green).

Marbled green bread. 

Vegetables: 

Avocados. Avocado dip. Brussel sprouts. Celery. Cress. Cucumber salad. Pickled cucumber. Cucumber sandwiches. Lettuce. Mange tout. Mint. Green beans. Green olives. Green Pepper. Parsley. Peas. Petits Pois. Spring onions. Wasabi. Watercress.

Fruit: 

Apples. Limes. Pears. Pineapples.

Desserts and Sweets

Green cheesecake. Green macaroons. Green marzipan. Mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Decoration: White Tee shirts with the name of the bar printed in green. (North End bar, Athens, Ohio, USA.)

 Green frosting on the rim of drinking glasses. Mint leaves. Green paper umbrellas decorating cocktails.

Cocktail Ingredients:

Crown Royal Apple Canadian whisky has a green label.

Midori, a Japanese drink, is green.

Captain Morgan Apple Smash.

Melon liqueur. (Midori Melon liqueur.

Pineapple Juice.

Rhinegeist beer from Cincinatti.

Casamigos Tequila.

I have saved several recipes to my Pinterest page. on food and drink.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Beer_Day

https://www.thepostathens.cosgom/article/2022/03/green-beer-day-local-bar-owners-athens-ohio

https://www.instagram.com/northendathens/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midori_(liqueur)

Hard Rock Cafes and Hotels in Asia, in Malaysia, and Bikers' Day Out

Hard Rock Hotel, Desaru, Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Trevor Sharot.

Bikers and Their Bikes

The bike far left is a Ducatti monster.  Next is a

Suzuki GSXR -R750 (the range is called Gixxer by the bikers; the engine size is the second half of the name.)

The Moto Guzzi is, 'the oldest European manufacturer in continuous production,' their website says. Off the picture is a large bike, which was too big for one of the others to ride. 

After you've done your duty as a traveller and seen all the local stuff, it's sometimes good to relax somewhere familiar and internationally known.

Hard Rock Cafe in Melaka
In Malaysia we visited hired a car in Singapore and took two foreign visitors to Melaka, the tourist hotspot on the west coast. The Hard Rock cafe has pride of place on the central bridge to the main square.

After dinner a couple of us went to the Hard Rock Cafe for a drink. (The other couple shook their heads and raised their eyebrows.)

Desaru
A month later our biker and three friends went for a day's ride up the East Coast. They stopped for a photo at the new Hard Rock hotel at Desaru resort area, all hotels. The Hard Rock Hotel has a swimming pool and breakfast included in the room price.

Other attractions are the sandy beach, a waterpark, golf courses, and trips to the Kota Tinggi waterfall.

Alcohol
Of course, if you are driving a car or riding a bike, you won't want to drink a cocktail. But you might appreciate the food and non-alcoholic drinks and toilets.

Can you drink in Malaysia, although it is a Muslim country? If you are a Westerner, yes. the Chinese restaurants serve beer. Hotels serve alcohol to foreign visitors.

Useful Websites

Flag of Malaysia.

Hard Rock Worldwide
Singapore has a hard Rock hotel on the island of Sentosa.
Since 1979 they have expanded all over the world and plan yet more sites. Currently in 2020 they have 29 hotels, 12 casinos, 184 cafes and 241 rock shops.

Hard Rock Online
If you want to buy online there are tee-shirts in assorted colours with the name of your favourite location such as Amsterdam, Detroit, London. They also sell magnets, mugs, pins, socks, guitars, backpacks, bottle openers, clothes, hats, and jewellery such as ear rings with handing guitar picks.

Other destinations include in the USA, Daytona Beach, Las Vegas, Orlando, Miami and San Diego.
If you want to travel further, there's a choice including Europe, Asia and The Maldives.

Useful Websites
https://www.agoda.com/en-gb/resorts-world-sentosa-hard-rock-hotel/hotel/singapore-sg
https://shop.hardrock.com/en-us/0885575699428/womens-pigment-dye-logo-scoop-tee
https://www.malaysia.travel/en/sg
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Desaru
Singapore Airlines
singaporeair.com

About The Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

New Underwater restaurant in Norway and Underwater Views Everywhere

Under is the name of the new underwater restaurant in NORWAY.  In Norwegian under means under and wonder.  It's Norway so in Europe it is relatively nearby. Depending where you are in Europe.
the largest in the world.

Underwater sightseeing is not new.

VIEWING UNDERWATER
AQUARIUMS


Underwater Aquarium - Australia
I took a bus from Sydney to Manly to enjoy the beach, but round myself by the aquarium. I walked through the underwater tunnel seeing fish and other sea creatures nad wafting plants overhead, beside me and all around in Manly Bay, Sydney, Australia. I was impressed by the size of the great white shark swimming towards me. I just hoped it would not bang on the glass and break it, showing me with water. I have a vivid imagination.



UK
A popular day out from London is to the seaside south at Brighton. The main attraction is the exotic The Royal Pavilion. However, for families the Aquarium is another attraction.
Another underwater tunnel is in the UK in Bristol Aquarium.

BY BOAT
Boats
You can see underwater in glass bottomed boats. In the USA they are in California , Texas and Miami.



Underwater Views - Israel
Go down to a viewing platform underwater in Israel - yes it's real.

EAT AND SLEEP WATCHING FISH OR SWIMMERS
Lunch beside a glass panel - USA
Sit having lunch in an underwater restaurant in Disney, Florida.

Description	English: Inside Ithaa restaurant
Date	1 July 2007 (original upload date)
Source	Taken by Alexey Potov - Noblige
Author	Alexey Potov - Noblige

Underwater Hotel On An Island - the Maldives
Sleep in an underwater restaurant on an island beginning with M, the Maldives. Watch others creatures dive whilst you dive into your food on the Maldives

Underwater Hotel Planned - Dubai
Another, first underwater hotel, Hydropolis, has been planned for Dubai, (See Wikipedia.)

Just in case you get muddled up, as I do, between the Maldives, Mozambique which just (sun 28 April 2019) got in the news because of bad weather, and Madagasgar, here is a quick guide to what is where.
MALDIVES - underwater restaurants
The place with the underwater restaurants is the Maldives, in the Indian Ocean, south of India.
MOZAMBIQUE - E Africa
Mozambique, hit by bad weather, is on the East coast of Africa, down south, far south of the Maldives.
MADAGASCAR
A big island of the coast, offshore from Mozambique, again, far south of the Maldives.

The Maldives, food features fish, see Wikivoyage. Great if you like eating fish and coconuts. Yummy. Ideal destination if you are Muslim or against alcohol and eating pork. To be sure of complying with local laws and being up to date on safety, check out the descriptions of what you can and cannot do in Wikitravel and Wikivoyage and your country's foreign office travel advice.

WATCHING HUMANS SWIMMING

JAPAN'S FAKE POOL
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3393808/Don-t-worry-not-drowning-fake-swimming-pool-creates-illusion-visitors-submersed-nine-feet-water.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Pool,_Houston

See also infinity pools.

Useful Websites
NORWAY Under Underwater Restaurant
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_(restaurant)
www.under.no
In websites the ending no stands for Norway.
https://www.visitnorway.com/

AUSTRALIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manly_Sea_Life_Sanctuary
australia.com

UK
https://www.bristolaquarium.co.uk/displays/amazing-underwater-tunnel/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Aquaria_in_England
http://www.brightontourist.com/Brighton_Sea_Life.html
visitbritain.com

USA
https://www.aquariumrestaurants.com/aquariumNashville/dining
visittheusea.co.uk

MALDIVES
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Maldives
https://wikitravel.org/en/Maldives

DUBAI
Al Mahera underwater restaurant, Burj Al Arab hotel complex, Dubai, UAE.

Dubai's Projected Hydropolis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydropolis

Reviews and Roundups
mentalfloss.com/article92880/9/-amazing-underwater

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer author and speaker. Please save, bookmark, and send links to favourite posts to your favourite friends, family and colleagues.