After MsC's Doctor's appointment, we decided to take a stroll through the Botanic Gardens. The entrance is just across the street from Glen Eagle Hospital.

We started out by taking a photo with a lamp post. It reminded MsC of her favorite books, "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" series by C.S. Lewis.

We quickly got off the main wide path and followed a narrow windy way around a pond. The pond was filled with lily pads and burgundy coloured dragonflies. I think the dragonflies were "Common Parasols". Their wings are burgundy too, not transparent like other dragonflies I've seen. The Parasols looks more like a flower, than a bug sitting on then end of a leaf.  

Back on the Main Path, we found ourselves at Swan Lake. I though perhaps the pond was named after the statue in it's midst, but then we saw the real swans. Watching a swan glide back and forth, with the soft music drifting over from the Tai Chi class was quite surreal.

We were somewhere near the middle of the Botanic Garden at this point, so MsC decided that we should follow the sign that pointed to the MRT. I knew that entrance was on the other side of the park, but was happy to let MsC lead me through the beautiful gardens for a while.

We found a sunny area with lots of double sided metal swings. Someone else had the lovely idea to quietly read a book in one of the swings. I found a mother hen and her little chicks three crossing the path here while MsC used the swing.

At this point we were really thirsty. We hadn't been planning on a walk, so we didn't bring water bottles to the doctor's. We came out eventually at the Orchid Garden that we'd visited with my Mom last December. You have to pay a $5 entrance fee here so we bought ourselves water and popsicles from a stand, and skipped the actual orchid garden. There are a few orchids outside the gardens to see here too.

As we were finding a seat, MsC noticed that the clock outside the Orchid Garden had a different time on each side: Singapore, Tokyo, London and Vancouver. Surprised that it was only 7 pm in Vancouver, she immediately video-called her Granny to show her where we were.

MsC decided to roll down the hill once she finished her popsicle. As I was watching I noticed that I was there was a pretty substantial Water Monitor Lizard across the path from her. It seemed to be ignoring her, but I walked over anyhow. Once I pointed him out to MsC, someone pointed out to us that there was actually a baby water monitor there also. I've been wondering what they look like as infants. It was about 1 foot long and the baby's scales were much less defined, reminding us more of an alligator, than the adult.

Thinking we'd seen enough of the Water Monitors Lizards we headed off. Walking down the path trying to identify Ginger plants, I wasn't looking where I was going, when MsC suddenly yelled, "Mom! You're going to step on it!!!!"

I looked down, jumped straight into the air, shrieking. I had almost stepped right on a Water Monitor Lizard who was lying right across the path sunning itself. Head to tail it was definitely less than 3 feet long, but Water Monitor Lizards have a nasty bite and it freaked me out. I made MsC take my picture with it once I was sure it wasn't going to go after me, but I made sure not to get too close to it.

Not much farther down the path, we saw this monster below. I'm really glad I didn't almost step on that one. There were a few people taking pictures of it, but no one got close to this old guy. He looked fierce and grumpy. I think he was over 4 feet long, and the largest Water Monitor Lizard I've seen.

4 Water Monitor Lizards in one day, is by far, the most of these guys we've seen at once.

We never did make it to the MRT, eventually we found ourselves near a car pickup/drop off point and caught a Grab home.