Singapore Zoo

Review

There’s much to do and much to see at the Singapore Zoo. What should not be missed are the white tigers, polar bears, komodo dragons (the largest lizards in the world) and crocodiles - they are a sight to behold.

There was talk earlier that the 16-year old polar bear, Inuka (who, incidentally, was born in Singapore), would be sent to a temperate zoo upon the demise of his mother, 30-year old Sheba. However, the final decision is for Inuka to stay, much to the delight of many of the regular zoo visitors. So enjoy the polar bears whilst they are still here!

Some other animals worth visiting include the lions, giraffes and rhinos at the Wild Africa Zone where you can see them up close. Take a walk through the Treetops Trail as soon as you enter the Zoo and you can see free-ranging primates swinging at the top of the trees - at eye-level!

Walking through the Fragile Forest and seeing lemurs and fruit bats wandering or flying freely and at arm’s length away excites even the least of animal lover. Amazingly, the butterflies actually come to rest on your bag or hat and wouldn't leave whilst you walk around the Fragile Forest!

The stories and simple facts of the animals make each stop interesting and educational for the kids (and adults!). You not only learn more about the species of animal, you also learn to identify the animal and call each one by name. The skeleton displays are also mouth-gapers. Did you know that an elephant only has six molar teeth? The size of one molar is about the size of your open hand!

	The animal feeding times and shows are both informative and fun. You can also have photos taken with the orang utans, the sea lions, the snakes and other animals at a donation of $5. At some enclosures, you get to feed or touch the animals too.

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Tips

From 9 am to 10 am daily and at $18 per adult and $12 per child, you can enjoy a jungle breakfast with some of the animals. The highlight of the "Jungle Breakfast - with Wildlife" programme is the orang-utans.

Things to Bring

Drinking water - drinks are costly here. An umbrella is useful for rain or hot sun. A mosquito repellent for the occasional mozzies.

Opening Times

Opening times: 8:30 am to 6 pm Best time to go: Early morning and mid-afternoon when the animals are awake and active. If you intend to visit Night Safari too, then go in the afternoon, after which you can hop over to the Night Safari next door.

Admission Fees

Entrance is $20 per adult and $13 per child. Tram rides (unlimited) - $5 per adult and $3 per child (3 to 12 years old). Boat rides (unlimited) - $6 per adult and $3.50 per child. There is a Zoo-per Saver for admission, unlimited tram and boat rides: • $27 per adult and $17 per child - all must be used within the day. Free admission on the actual day of your birthday! Just show proof of identification. You'll also get 10% off retail and food & beverage, and a free scoop of ice-cream. There is a Park Hoppers special (entrance only): • $58 per adult and $38 per child -  if you intend to visit the Zoo, Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Zoo. • $32 per adult and $21 per child - if you are visiting the Zoo and Bird Park. The visits to the attractions can be on different days and the Park Hoppers ticket is valid for 1 month from date of purchase. All rates above are from 8 November 2010.

How to Get There

By Taxi - All taxi drivers know the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. This is the fastest and easiest way to get there. By MRT – One approach is to alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station on the North-South line and take the bus service 138 from the Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange. You can't miss the destination stop - you'll see Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

Singapore Botanical Garden

Review

The peace and tranquillity of the Singapore Botanic Gardens will strike you the moment you walk through its gates – it’s hard to believe that there is such a beautiful large garden located so close to Orchard Road.

The Gardens have a wide variety of plants. Started in 1859, some trees are more than 100 years old. These trees are scattered throughout the Gardens and are marked. Our favourite is the distinguished Tembusu tree on Lawn E, close to the Swan Lake - it’s also featured on the Singapore $5 note and postage stamps.

Make sure you visit the National Orchid Garden – it is an orchid paradise with more than 1,000 species and 2,000 hybrids. The Gardens are known for its orchid-breeding programme, adding more hybrids every year. Some hybrids are even named after celebrities and VIPs including the late Princess Diana.

The Tan Hoon Siang Mist House in the National Orchid Garden has a collection of beautiful rare orchids. It also houses fragrant-smelling orchids whilst the Cool House replicates a highland tropical forest with cool air and mist, set in a natural surrounding. Spot the carnivorous plants growing on the rocks.

Wandering through the Singapore Botanic Gardens, there is much to see. The Ginger Garden is a refreshing, picturesque corner with a waterfall. Enjoy the leaves of the ginger plant family members that are so beautifully patterned. And if you’ll never venture into a tropical rain forest, you must walk through the paved Rain Forest to get a feel of it.

If you like garden sculptures, there are three enchanting figurative bronze sculptures found near the Bandstand (another well-known feature of the Gardens).  Also nearby, the Swiss Ball Fountain will not fail to delight. A gift from the Swiss Community in Singapore, the 700kg granite ball being kept afloat and spinning constantly keeps little ones entertained.

Children are certainly not forgotten here - the Jacobs Ballas Children’s Garden is the latest addition dedicated to children to give them a learning and experiential encounter with plants.

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Tips

Dress for warm weather - it can get a little humid and warm at times. Make time to sit and rest and enjoy the various plants and flowers.

Things to Bring

Drinking water, mosquito repellant and an umbrella is useful for rain or hot sun.

Opening Times

Opening times: 5 am to 12 midnight. For National Orchid Garden: 8:30 am to 7 pm (last ticket sale is at 6 pm) For Jacob Ballas Children's Garden: 8 am to 7 pm (last admission at 6:30 pm). Closed on Mondays (except when it falls on a designated public holiday). Best time to go: Early morning or late afternoon.

Admission Fees

• Free. • For National Orchid Garden: Adults - $5, Students/Senior Citizens (60 yrs and over) - $1, Children (12 yrs and under) – free.

How to Get There

By Taxi – Alight either at the Tanglin Gate entrance (which is at the junction of Holland Road/Napier Road and Cluny Road) or at the Visitor Centre. By Public Bus – Take bus nos. 7, 75, 77, 105, 106, 123 or 174 and alight along Holland Road (ask the bus-driver to tell you when to alight). Enter the Gardens through the Tanglin Gate entrance. By MRT – Botanic Gardens MRT Station is currently under construction.

Pulau Ubin

Review

Pulau Ubin (Granite Island) is a small island east of Singapore. A nature-lover’s haunt, it is laid-back and a reflection of the yester-year of mainland Singapore. You will experience this even on the boat-ride across. Do look out for floating fish farms just as you arrive on Pulau Ubin.

On the island, you can walk, rent a bicycle or hire a local taxi-cum-guide to go round the island. There are not many roads on Pulau Ubin - three main routes with two of them heading north before one branches out to the northeast whilst the last one heads west. The best is to cycle so you can cover more ground and enjoy the nature at the same time.

Kids love the cycling through rubber plantations and gentle dirt tracks. The roads are generally safe as there are not many cars on the island though you should always keep to the side when you stop to rest. There are also shelters and drink-stops scattered throughout the island to take a break.

A must-see is the inter-tidal flat with plenty of wildlife, Chek Jawa, which consists of six different eco-systems in one small area: coastal hill forest, mangroves, rocky shore and sand bar, seagrass lagoon, and coral rubble area. Leave your bike at the Punai Hut and take a short walk to the Visitor Centre. From there, you can walk around the coast and through the mangrove quite comfortably on the boardwalk without hurting the fragile eco-systems.

Formerly a major granite quarrying location, there are relics of old quarries found around the island. Scenic as they may be, they are dangerous with unstable rock terrains and deep waters and should most definitely be avoided. Most are fenced up but you can still enjoy the view from behind the fence.

Evidences of other past industries such as the rubber plantations, prawn farms and fruit orchards can also be found around island. Some farms are still lived-in though only at a subsistence level. One such farm, that is also a drink-stop, is found close to Mamam Beach. You'll get to see and feel the authentic life of the 60s - toilet over the river, fruit and vegetable plantation for livelihood and a wild boar as a pet. Apparently the wild boar responds if called by name!

On return, do stop by the main village, where the bicycle shops are, and have a tasty local seafood meal before taking the boat back to Changi. Try some local fruit too - they would have been grown on the island.

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Tips

Make sure you have sufficient time to visit Pulau Ubin. The boat will only run when there are 12 passengers. On weekends, there are plenty of visitors coming and going. However, on weekdays, the wait is a little longer. Alternatively, you can choose to charter the entire boat by paying the equivalent fare for 12 passengers. Make the NParks Information kiosk near the jetty your first stop to pick up a map of the island. If you decide to hire the local taxi/van drivers, make sure you negotiate the price, the number of places he's taking you and the flexibility to stop at places to walk around. By the way, taxis on Pulau Ubin are mainly mini-vans, and are not as grand as those in mainland Singapore. There a number of bicycle rental shops - take your time to check them out. Make sure you choose a bike with good brakes and gears as the terrain can be a little hilly. If you visiting Chek Jawa for the marine wildlife, check the times for low tide before coming. You will get to see more at low spring tides.

Things to Bring

If you want to stop for a dip in the sea, bring swim-wear and a towel. There are public toilets at Noordin Beach and Mamam Beach (both up north). Food is only available at the main village. So if you want to spend more time exploring the island, you should bring some food with you. However, with Singapore's hot weather, you should only pack dry snacks or food that won't spoil in the heat. You can buy cold can drinks or fresh coconuts at some of the scattered houses or wooden shelters, though it is useful to bring along drinking water. Bring along a mosquito repellant as certain spots do tend to have mosquitoes, especially after a rainfall.

Opening Times

Opening times: Bumboats operate from sunrise to sunset. The NParks Information kiosk is open from 8:30 am to 5 pm. Best time to go: Morning - when the air is fresh and cool.

Admission Fees

Free

How to Get There

• You have to get to Changi Village first: By Taxi - All taxi drivers know Changi Village. This is the fastest and easiest way to get there. Tell them to let you alight at the jetty for Pulau Ubin. By MRT - Alight at Tanah Merah MRT Station on the East-West line. Take SBS bus 2 to Changi Village bus interchange and walk towards the car park. The jetty for Pulau Ubin is next to the car park. Alternatively, alight at Tampines MRT Station on the East-West line. Go to Tampines Interchange and take SBS bus 29 to Changi Village bus interchange. • From Changi Village, it is a 15-minute bumboat ride to Pulau Ubin (cost: $2 per person).

Night Safari

Review

Like the Singapore Zoo, the Night Safari runs on an open concept. Its wonderful design starts with the admission ticket sales counter. There is no counter! The admission tickets are sold at four open reception stands. You'd also hardly noticed when you have actually entered or exited the park proper!

Come early and catch the cultural performances before you enter the Night Safari. The Bornean Tribal Performers are really impressive with their tribal dances, blowpipe and fire-eating performances. The shows are on next to the Bonger Burgers at 7 pm, 8 pm and 9 pm.

The queues to the tram rides are long but fast moving. The ride comes with live commentary. Most of the animals are up and about - you’ll get to see many different deer species, the rhinoceros, the Malayan tigers, the capybara (also known as the water hog) that is the largest living rodent, the giant anteater, etc. On a good night, you’ll also get to hear the hyenas laughing, the golden jackals howling and the lions roaring.

The kids especially enjoy the experience of deer roaming free and almost within reach from the tram. At the Asian Riverine Forest, you’ll also find the black-and-white Malayan Tapir grazing right next to the tram tracks. Beware; you might even get sprayed at by Chawang, the Bull Asian elephant.

Alight at the only mid-way stop and walk the Leopard Trail where you can get a closer look at the Malayan Civet, the porcupine, the leopards and the big-eyed tarsiers. You can board the tram after the walk and continue the rest of the ride. The other 2 walking trails, the Fishing Cat Trail and the Forest Giants Trail, can be reached from the main tram station. At the Fishing Cat Trail, you’ll get to see the mousedeer, the otters and even catch the Fishing Cat… fishing!

The Creatures of the Night Show is worth watching – it’s great entertainment. And if you sit in the first four rows, it promises to be an experience you will not forget.

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Tips

Take the tram ride. It lasts about 45 min but you'll get to see animals you wouldn't otherwise have seen on foot. Tram rides start at 7:30 pm. There's only one animal show with 3 show times at 7:30 pm, 8:30 pm and 9:30 pm (weather permitting). Check for the show times when you arrive. As seating is on a first-come-first-serve basis, do queue up about half-hour before the show time. Photography-buffs, sorry, it's difficult to take pictures as flash photography is not allowed.

Things to Bring

Drinking water - drinks are costly here. An umbrella is useful in case of rain. A mosquito repellent for the occasional mozzies.

Opening Times

Opening times: 7:30 pm to 12 midnight (last admission is at 11 pm). Restaurants and shops open at 6 pm. Best time to go: From 6:30 pm when the cultural performances are on.

Admission Fees

Entrance is $22 per adult and $15 per child (3 to 12 years old). Tram ride (one round only) is $10 per adult and $6 per child. Free admission on the actual day of your birthday! Just show proof of identification. You'll also get 10% off retail and food & beverage, and a free scoop of ice-cream. There is a Park Hoppers special (entrance only) - rates are from 8 November 2010: • $58 per adult and $38 per child -  if you intend to visit the Zoo, Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Zoo. • $32 per adult and $21 per child - if you are visiting the Zoo and Bird Park. The visits to the attractions can be on different days and the Park Hoppers ticket is valid for 1 month from date of purchase.

How to Get There

By Taxi - All taxi drivers know the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari. This is the fastest and easiest way to get there. By MRT - One approach is to alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT Station on the North-South line and take the bus service 138 from the Ang Mo Kio Bus Interchange. You can't miss the destination stop - you'll see Singapore Zoo and Night Safari.

Jurong Birdpark

Review

Be prepared to be captivated by some of the most beautiful birds found in the BirdPark including the flamingos, scarlet ibises, birds of paradise, the hornbills and toucans, etc., all of whom can be seen up close.

As soon as you enter into the BirdPark, the Penguin Expedition catches your attention straight away. Set in the style of a ship, you can observe the King Penguins and other penguin species on land and underwater, swimming in all gracefulness.

Walk along the Fuji Hawk Walk towards the Birds of Prey Show and you will find a close-up display of eagles, vultures and owls. The Birds of Prey Show leaves you awestruck as the magnificent predators swoop over you, almost touching your hair. Who would have thought that these kings of the skies could be trained to entertain! It is certainly one of the more memorable and interesting shows.

If you enjoy interacting with the birds, head for the Lory Loft and feed the colourful, friendly Lories. The Lory Loft is the fourth walk-in aviary of the BirdPark and the world’s largest Lory flight aviary. With an elevated boardwalk and suspension bridges, it’s also good enough just to wander around without feeding the Lories. And you can stop for a snack or a cup of coffee and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

Once at the BirdPark, a must-visit is the Waterfall Aviary. It is the world’s largest walk-in aviary and has the highest man-made waterfall that is over 30 metres high. Experience the cooling effect of the waterfall; and look for the starlings and bee-eaters nesting, feeding and bathing. If you’ve not been into a tropical rainforest, you can get a taste of it at the Waterfall Aviary.

If you have kids, do make some time for the Splash N Slide Station – a playground that has dry and wet zones without a wade pool.

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Tips

Contribute at least $2 at the Lory Loft and feed the Lories with nectar – they’ll land on your hands to feed! If you are more adventurous, age 12 years or older; and have $120 to spare, you can be a falconer interacting with the birds of prey! Up to 6 persons allowed each time and booking is required.

Things to Bring

Drinking water - drinks can be costly here. An umbrella is useful for rain or hot sun. A mosquito repellent for the occasional mozzies. For kids – a change of clothes if you are taking them to the Splash N Slide Station.

Opening Times

Opening times: 8:30 am to 6 pm Best time to go: Early morning and mid-afternoon to catch the Birds of Prey Show and the Birds 'n Buddies Show at 10 am and 11 am, repeated at 3 pm and 4 pm.

Admission Fees

Entrance is $18 per adult and $12 per child (3 to 12 years old). Panorail ride is $5 per adult and $3 per child. There is an Egg-cellent Saver for admission, panorail rides and Lory Loft Bird Feeding: • $23 per adult and $15 per child Free admission on the actual day of your birthday! Just show proof of identification. You'll also get 10% off retail and food & beverage, and a free scoop of ice-cream. There is a Park Hoppers special (entrance only) - rates are from 8 November 2010: • $58 per adult and $38 per child -  if you intend to visit the Zoo, Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Bird Park. • $42 per adult and $28 per child - if you are visiting the Night Safari and Zoo. • $32 per adult and $21 per child - if you are visiting the Zoo and Bird Park. The visits to all 3 attractions can be on different days and the Park Hoppers ticket is valid for 1 month from date of purchase.

How to Get There

By Taxi - All taxi drivers know the Jurong BirdPark. This is the fastest and easiest way to get there. By MRT – Alight at Boon Lay Station (East-West Line) and take bus number 194 or 251 at the Boon Lay Bus Interchange.

Japanese Garden

Review

One of two Gardens, the Chinese and Japanese Gardens, the Japanese Garden is the simpler of the two. Also known as Seiwaen, it is joined to the Chinese Garden by the Bridge of Double Beauty.

The gardening techniques used are based on those used in Japan in the Muromachi period (1392 – 1568) to the Momoyama period (1568 – 1615). The stone lanterns, rocks and arched bridges give the same feel to the Garden as that of the traditional gardens in Japan.

There are shelters and park benches around the Garden. A good spot to stop and rest at the shelter is near the pond where you can enjoy the migratory birds that stop by. Another good spot to stop is near the traditional house where the stone lanterns around the second pond with a small waterfall provide a tranquil and serene setting.

Don't miss the sundial on the other side of the traditional house - it is one of ten sundial structures installed around Singapore in April 2007 in support of Singapore Science Centre's initiative to increase interest in Science. Under this initiative "Our Solar System", the sundial at the Japanese Garden represents Venus whilst the one at the Chinese Garden represents Earth.

The relative distances between the sundials, including the one at the Science Centre which represents the sun, represent the distances of each planet from the Sun.

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Tips

Enjoy the walk.

Things to Bring

A good pair of walking shoes. Drinking water - there are few places within the Garden to get a drink. An umbrella is useful for rain or hot sun.

Opening Times

Opening times: 6 am to 10 pm for the Main Gardens. Best time to go: Early morning or later afternoon when it is cooler.

Admission Fees

It's free!

How to Get There

By Taxi - This is the easiest and most convenient way of getting there. Ask the taxi driver to drop you at the entrance of the Japanese Garden. Alternatively, you can alight at the Chinese Garden entrance and cross over the Bridge of Double Beauty to the Japanese Garden. By MRT - Alight at Chinese Garden Station on the East-West line. It's a 5 to 10-minute walk to the Chinese Garden. You can then cross over the Bridge of Double Beauty, which is just a short distance from the entrance, to the Japanese Garden. By Bus - Take SMRT bus number 180 or SBS bus numbers 154 & 335 and ask the bus driver to tell you where to alight for the Chinese and Japanese Gardens.