National Orchid Garden inside the Singapore Botanic Garden

The Singapore Botanic Garden is one of the foremost natural attractions of Singapore, and is very old, having been in existence in some form or the other since 1822, but was open in the current form in 1859. It is highly rated, is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and also rated at the top in terms of parks in Asia. The garden is located near Orchard Road shopping district. Because of its sheer size and diversity, it plays a key role in defining Singapore as a garden city. The garden is spread over an area of 82 hectares, and receives around 4.5 million visitors daily. There is no admission fees for the Singapore Botanic garden, although the National Orchid Garden inside the Botanic garden charges an admission fee of Singapore $5.
The National Orchid garden within the Botanic Garden is located over an area of 3 hectares and is dedicated to orchids (you know those astounding beautiful flowers that are difficult to grow in your own kitchen garden but commercial gardens seem to have no difficulty in growing). The Orchid Garden has over 1,000 varieties of orchids.

Cool house inside the National Orchid Garden in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

Some specific species of plants require temperatures that the ambient weather conditions will not meet; it can be too hot for these plants. So, there is a temperature controlled section of the garden that houses plants that need a cooler environment to survive and thrive. Be prepared that it will be colder than the surroundings, but is not a very big place.

Pitcher plant inside the National Orchid Garden in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

There are a set of more exotic plants that depend on small animals and insects for their nutrition, such as this pitcher plant. These are called carnivorous plants, with another example being the Venus Fly trap. If an insect gets inside the pitcher, it cannot get outside again, and slowly dissolves in the liquid at the bottom of the pitcher, with the nutrients of the insect being used by the plant as food.

Birds at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Singapore draws a large number of tourists for the various attractions it has in the main island, and in the island of Sentosa. Together, they boast of a number of world class tourist attractions such as the Universal Studios Park, many 4D rides, cable cars, river cruise and sea cruises, an incredible aquarium, zoos, night safari, river safari, and a bird park. The bird park is the Jurong Bird Park, covering an area of 49 acres on the slope of the Jurong Hill. It is supposed to be moved to a new location and renamed in 2020, but no more details are clear as of now. The Jurong Bird Park is one of the top tourist destinations in Singapore, drawing a very large number of tourists and with a wide collection of birds. Some of the birds are in closed off exhibits, others are behind fences but not caged, and yet others can be found wandering around people. Then there are shows where people can see some of the trained birds in operation.

Flamingos inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

Flamingos are great looking birds and with the pink tinge to their body, attract a large number of visitors. The flamingo exhibit in the Jurong Bird Park has a large number of flamingos, a seemingly very large number. They are in an open exhibit, beyond a fence and you can spend quite some time in the exhibit, watching the Flamingos do their stuff (however, most of the time you will see them just standing still). At some point, you will see flamingos standing in water, standing on one leg.

Colorful birds on a branch inside the Jurong Bird Park (Print this photo / More photos)

Colorful birds attract a large number of visitors. These are Macaw, made famous in children's movies, shaped like the normal green parrot, but much more colorful. This exhibit is very near the entrance, and you can see them from a pretty close distance (and for some money, you can get your photo taken with the Macaws, however, you are not allowed to touch them).

Splash zone inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Singapore has a large number of tourist attractions, both in the mainland and in the island of Sentosa (Sentosa is actually designed as a tourist destination with a large number of world class tourist attractions such as the Universal Studios Park, an aquarium, and numerous other places that people visit in droves). In the mainland also, there are numerous tourist attractions such as the Zoo, Night Safari, River Safari, Singapore Flyer, cruises on the Singapore River and off the harbor, the laser shows, and multiple such places. One of the top-notch tourist destinations is the Jurong Bird Park, which has a huge varieties of birds present inside in different enclosures along with popular shows.

Splash zone inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

Children get excited about the various bird exhibits (after all, if you show them colorful birds such as the Macaw or the Flamingo, they are likely to be attracted to the show). Another part of the park, specifically meant for children, is the splash zone. Water, and lots of water, make this zone very interesting for children. There are slides and a huge water bucket, all with lots of water everywhere, all with the motif of birds. Great fun.

Hunting for a good fish inside the Jurong Bird park

A fish in an exhibit inside the Jurong Bird Park. The park has a large number of birds, of different varieties, big and small. It is a large park, and draws a large number of visitors. It has a variety of different exhibits, with closed off exhibits where you see the birds from behind a cage to open enclosures where you are separated from the birds by a fence (and the pelican enclosure is one like that where there are a large number of pelicans and another one with a large number of flamingos). Then there are open areas where you walk in places where there are birds walking nearby, not apparently dangerous although some of those birds are such that you would not see them around you normally.

Hunting for a good fish inside the Jurong Bird park (Print this photo / More photos)

I really like this image. It shows a large bird, just beyond a small fence, standing in shallow water. The water is full of fish, or maybe fish are introduced to the water during feeding time, and the bird was fishing one of these small fish out of the water. It was at this exact point that the bird caught the fish and was ready to pick it out of the water.

Number of Flamingos inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Kids really like birds, especially colorful ones. The sounds the birds make, their flight, their floating in water, all of these are very attractive. One great place to see this in action is the Jurong Bird park in Singapore. The park is one of the attractions in Singapore that offer a great variety of wild life (the other prominent attractions in Singapore are the Zoo, Night Safari and River safari). The Bird Park, as you can imagine from the name, has a large variety of birds, varying from different sizes. Some are in enclosures that are separated by fences, while there are other exhibits where you can walk among the birds, or even get to have the colorful macaws very close to you.

Number of Flamingos inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo /More photos)

There are some very large exhibits in the park as well. 2 of these are the exhibits that hold the Pelicans, and the other one, the one in the image, holds these Flamingos. Flamingos are very beautiful birds, sleek, with a pink tinge to their body. One of their habits that get noticed a lot is the fact that they sometimes stand for long periods on one leg, and they also stay together in large flocks. An exhibit that attracts a large number of children.

Pelicans at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Singapore is a great place for visiting, although it can get hot for some people, because of its tropical climate. This heat can make walking around through the tourist attractions a bit unpleasant, but one can plan ahead for the weather, going when it is more convenient. On the flip side, Singapore is a great tourist destination, with a number of world class tourist attractions for people to visit, and an equally great tourist infrastructure in terms of transport, entry, offers, food, and so on. There are some attractions in Singapore that are meant for the nature lover, such as the Zoo, the Night Safari, the River Safari, and the Jurong Bird Park. The first three are located close to each other, although the Jurong Bird Park is located away from the other tourist destinations, and is a beautiful place to visit on its own.

Pelicans at the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

The Jurong Bird Park is fairly old, having been setup in the year 1971. The park occupies an area of around 70 acres, and is located on the slope of Jurong hill. The park has a large number of birds inside it, with some of the birds in enclosures and fenced off exhibits, and in other parts of the park, you can find yourself walking among birds, with many of them of the type that you would not have seen before. The bird park also has a number of shows which are fun to watch. One of the large exhibits inside the park is that of pelicans, large birds that are fascinating with their large beaks. This is an image of a few of the birds in the Pelican exhibit.

Girl holding a falcon at a show inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore

Singapore has a large number of tourist attractions; in fact if you are look at the country, you see a large number of attractions that are much beyond the small size of the city state, and spread over different parts of the country. In fact, the small island of Sentosa itself has a large number of world-class attractions, headlining with the Universal Studios Park and many other such attractions. And it's not just Sentosa, there are very well visited liked attractions in the other parts of Singapore, such as the Zoo and its other attractions nearby, the Jurong Bird Park. the Singapore Flyer and many tours around the city. One of the leading attractions is the Jurong Bird Park, very well worth a visit.

Girl holding a falcon at a show inside the Jurong Bird Park in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

The Jurong Bird Park is all about birds, large birds, small birds, colorful birds, rare birds, and so on. There are many exhibits, including a superb exhibit that houses a large number of Pelicans; but the star of the Bird Park is the various shows. One of the interesting shows is the Birds of Prey show, which showcases the large predator birds such as hawks, eagles and also birds such as the vulture. These birds are huge, with the show using well trained members who showcase these large birds on their hands (sure seems like a lot of fun, although their sharp talons can be dangerous for the untrained). This is an exhibit from the show, which shows a staff member showing off the hunting abilities of a falcon.

Shri Krishnan hindu temple in Singapore

Singapore is a city state with a diverse cultural background, the most prominent being that of people of Chinese, Malay and Indian origin. One of the significant minorities is the Indian community, and one of their major places of worship (for the Hindu community) is the Shri Krishnan temple located on Waterloo street. It is located next to the Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho temple, and sees a large number of visitors. The exterior structure of the temple is very beautiful, with carved and colorful image of Hindu Gods and Goddesses (the states being at different levels on the outer walls and of different sizes). As the name of the temple suggests, it is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Rukmini. The temple is located close to the Little India area of Singapore, an area that has a higher concentration of Indian shops and other establishments.

Shri Krishnan hindu temple in Singapore (Print this photo / More photos)

The temple, like many temples that grew up over the decades and centuries, started as a simple shrine under a banyan site, and over the period of time, it has grown to a much larger structure, with a large prayer hall, the whole structure being located in a 1008 sq. meter complex. Seeing that the Indian community here has more South Indians, the temple is constructed in the South Indian style.

Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho Chinese temple in Singapore

Singapore is a city of many religions, what with the mix of Chinese, Malay and Indians living in the city. One of the prominent temples is the Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho Chinese temple in Singapore, located on Waterloo Street in Singapore. It is a very prominent site for the Chinese in Singapore, and as you can see, the front of the temple is very colorful indeed. The temple has been there for a long time, from 1884, and was reconstructed in 1895. The prominent deity in the temple is Avalokiteśvara, a buddhist bodhisattva, also known as Kuan Yin. The temple has other religious places in the vicinity, such as the Sri Krishnan temple located right next door, the Church of Saints Peter and Paul at Queen Street, Maghain Aboth synagogue and the Malabar mosque.

Kwan Im Tong Hood Cho Chinese temple in Singapore (Print this photo /  More photos)

In 1982, the temple was reconstructed due to a large number of visitors, with the multiple deities in the temple placed on a single altar, with the Sakyamuni Buddha located behind Kuan Yin. The temple is a prominent temple, and sees thousands of visitors. During the Chinese New Year celebrations, people try to visit on the first or the fifteenth day.

Entrance gate for the Night Safari in Singapore

Singapore has a large number of tourist attractions. It is a fairly small city (or city state to be accurate), but has tried to make itself as a very attractive tourist attraction. The city is very attractive for tourists, with the infrastructure geared for the same. There is excellent public transport, taxis are well regulated and not very expensive; there are tourist circuits geared for people who want to see multiple tourist attractions and so on. As a part of that, there is the need to prepare tourist attractions throughout the day; after all, you want people to also enjoy during the evening and night. So, for the night, you have some incredible laser shows in multiple parts of the city, you have the night life at Clarke Quay, and then you have the Night Safari.

Entrance gate for the Night Safari in Singapore (Prints/ More photos)

The Night Safari is a superb experience. It is like watching a zoo in low light. The Night Safari is actually located pretty close to the Singapore Zoo; what happens is that there are animals in their habitats, disguised perfectly so that it seems that they are in the open although the dangerous ones are located behind different safety mechanism. The interesting part of the Night Safari is that there are battery operated long train kind of vehicles operating on the trails, which take you to see the different animals that are inside the Night Safari. In fact, some of the more safer animals actually come pretty close to the vehicle and can be watched from very close. And there are trails where one can actually walk through the Night Safari rather than taking the vehicle.

Amphibious vehicle used for ducktour in Singapore

In any large city, there are many different types of tours available. The most common are guided tours as well as hop-on-hop-off tours (basically buses that travel on tourist circuits, where you can get off at a tourist stop, see it, and then take the first next bus that comes), Some of these buses offer more attractions, such as double decker buses, half open top buses and so on. However, in Singapore (and in many other cities as well), there are additional tour options. One of these is these vehicles, looking not too much like a tourist attraction. However, they come with an additional attraction, being amphibian and can be very interesting. The moment when the vehicle leaves the land and jumps into the water is an interesting moment, there is a big splash and you hope that this is not the moment when the vehicle develops a leak.

Amphibious vehicle used for ducktour in Singapore (More photos / Prints)

These are supposed to be surplus military amphibian vehicles, although given the number of cities around the world that these vehicles operate in, there must be more such vehicles being made than there are military surplus available.
This vehicle is part of a tour that starts at Suntec City in Singapore, takes one around for a quick tour of the city streets and then enters the water for a total trip of 60 hours. You get to see some of the major landmarks such as the Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, and Singapore Flyer from the water, and it is a wonderful trip. 60 minutes is just right, because more than that might make one to start feeling bored.

Entrance gate for Sentosa island in Singapore

Sentosa is a tourist pleasure, meant to be an island of fun and leisure. Just off the Central region of Singapore, it is designed to be a place full of thrills, rides, water parks, aquariums, and other such stuff. For visitors from outside Singapore, and even for Singapore residents, it is a fun place. Sentosa is accessible through road (taxis or buses), walking (on a short boardwalk), a small train, or a cable car (am not sure whether you can arrive there by helicopter though; but if you are important enough, then maybe you can also get there by helicopter). Many of these transport methods are also attractions by itself, with the cable car and the elevated train called Sentosa Express being the prime attractions. Entry to Sentosa is not free, with a charge being levied no matter whatever method you employ to get there, but once there, internal transportation is all free.

Entrance gate for Sentosa island in Singapore (More photos / Print) 

Sentosa has a number of tourist attractions that draw visitors around the year, although times such as the Chinese New Year and Christmas being more important; and as you would expect, weekends are much more busy than weekdays, so if you can schedule your trip, try to make it on weekdays rather than on weekends. One of the prime attractions inside Sentosa is the Universal Studios Park, which is a full day activity with plenty of rides, shows, and other such stuff. You may not find gigantic roller coasters such as in some amusement parks such as in the US, but the roller coasters here are also fun. Besides Universal Studios, you have a water park, you have a sky tower that provides a high view of the city, there is a replica of the Merlion that allows you to climb inside, there is an excellent laser show in the evening, 4d rides, an aquarium, and so on.

Enjoying the skyride in Sentosa in Singapore

Sentosa is the island off the coast of the Central region, Singapore. It was planned to become a major tourist destination, and seems to have achieved that goal, although there are constant changes happening over there. When any tourist plans a trip to Singapore, a part of that trip has to be dedicated to Sentosa, given the number of attractions it has. It has beaches, aquariums, thrills in the forms of a water park and the ever popular Universal Studios Park (which atleast takes up a huge chunk of time, especially on weekends when it can get very busy), and many hotels and restaurant areas. There is in fact an entry fee to get into Sentosa, a small one though, no matter which method you use to get into the island.

Enjoying the skyride in Sentosa in Singapore (More photos / Prints)

One of the attractions inside Sentosa is the Luge / Skyride. This is a dual purpose ride, which provides some great overhead views. For those who want to take a luge ride, they can get a helmet and use the skyride to get to an inbetween location from where they can use a luge to come downhill. For those who do not want to do the luge ride, they can use the skyride to go further, sitting on these chairs at treetop level and getting a great view of the hill below (with roads and vehicles below). It is a great fun, although if somebody is afraid of heights, it can get tricky.

View of cable car and skyline from the Tiger Sky tower in Sentos

Sentosa is the island off the coast of the Central region, Singapore. It was planned to become a major tourist destination, and seems to have achieved that goal, although there are constant changes happening over there. When any tourist plans a trip to Singapore, a part of that trip has to be dedicated to Sentosa, given the number of attractions it has. It has beaches, aquariums, thrills in the forms of a water park and the ever popular Universal Studios Park (which atleast takes up a huge chunk of time, especially on weekends when it can get very busy), and many hotels and restaurant areas. There is in fact an entry fee to get into Sentosa, a small one though, no matter which method you use to get into the island.

View of cable car and skyline from the Tiger Sky tower in Sentosa (More photos / Prints)

This is one of the ways to get entry into the island of Sentosa, and it is a pretty spectacular method. There is a cable car that takes from entry stations in the Central region of Singapore and into the heart of Sentosa. The cable car provides a spectacular view of many parts of Sentosa, and the coastal part of Singapore that is closest to it. Right in front is one of the towers, part of the infrastructure on which the cable car runs. Below is the shipping lane, which can get pretty busy and with a number of passenger and other ships in the water.

Waterfall at the swimming pool at the Siloso Beach Resort

Sentosa is that part of Singapore that is devoted to fun and leisure. There is the large and time consuming (and lots of fun) Universal Studios Park, there are large water parks (that also allow you to watch dolphins and swim with sharks), there is the huge aquarium, and there are numerous other pleasures, rides and activities you can do. Traveling within Sentosa on the bus and other means of transportation is free, but there is a small fee for entry into Sentosa (we went to Sentosa on the cable car, and it was fun). A number of people spend 2 days in Sentosa, and some stay in Singapore and travel both days, coming back in the evening. Others like to stay in Sentosa, so that travel time is reduced.

Waterfall at the swimming pool at the Siloso Beach Resort (More Photos / Prints)

One of the options for staying in Sentosa is the Siloso Beach Resort, very close to the Siloso Beach, and on the tram line. When I stayed there, we had a nice spacious room, and really enjoyed the pool. The pool cascades down different levels, starting from this waterfall and with slides for people to enjoy going from one level to another. One could spend a lot of time in the pool, but when you are in Sentosa, you also try to enjoy the different attractions in the area, and hence do not spend too much time in the pool.

Globe at Universal Studios park in Sentosa in Singapore

Adventure parks are a magnet for people the world over; with their set of attractions including rides, shows, and thrills, they draw in a huge number of visitors. One of these adventure parks is Universal Studios, which has adventure parks spread over the world, in 4 locations. One of these is in Singapore, in the island of Sentosa. Sentosa by itself has a number of tourist attractions such as water parks, adventure rides, a sky tower, and so on, and Universal Studios is one of the bigger attractions in the place.

Globe at Universal Studios park in Sentosa in Singapore (More photos / Prints)

Right at the entry of the park, there is this big spinning globe, the symbol of Universal Studios, and a lot of visitors take their photos taken with the globe. The globe spins slowly, in a water enclosure and with mist emerging from the base, and it does look beautiful. And of course, it is just the precursor; the fun you get when you enter and start the rides is immense. I loved the Transformers ride, the Egypt ride (which is a sort of roller coaster in a closed dark environment), the Dinosaur water ride, and so on. All, lots of fun. Some of the shows were also good to watch. 

Roller coaster rides inside the Universal Studio Park in Sentosa

Sentosa is an island just off the coast of the main island in Singapore, a place that is devoted to fun and leisure. In fact, you have to pay an entry fee to get into Sentosa (a small sum though), and it is well worth it. One of the prime attractions of Sentosa is the Universal Studios Park, which promises a lot of fun, atleast a full day's fun and adventure - but it can be more than that, depending on how many rides you want to take, and also how busy are the days on which you go (the queues on weekends can drastically increase the overall time taken in the park).

Roller coaster rides inside the Universal Studio Park in Sentosa (More Photos / Prints)

One of the towering attractions inside the Park are the dual roller-coasters inside the park. These are 2 rides rather than one - one is fun, while the other one can turn you upside down (you have to decide whether going upside down is even more fun). The straight roller coaster, where you would be seated, is called the Human coaster; the other one where you would be inverted is called Cylon. One of the features of the coasters is that before you get in, you have to take off everything that you are having in your pockets and put into a locker, and you will be checked before you step inside the coaster.

Swimming turtle inside the Singapore Botanic Garden

A turtle in a small water body inside the Singapore Botanic Garden. The turtle was an instant magnet for children, with the enclosure fence surrounded by children (some on the shoulders of their parents, when they were to small to see over the fence). People had to drag their children away after 5 minutes or so, so that they go and see the other parts of the Botanic Garden, and there are a lot of items to see in the Garden (Orchid Garden, Cool House, Rain Forest, and many other such attractions, all waiting for people to come and see).

Swimming turtle inside the Singapore Botanic Garden (More Photos / Prints)

The Singapore Botanic Garden is one of the famous landmarks and tourist attractions of Singapore, and is also a great attempt to showcase nature and diversity. The garden is a large place, covering a space of 82 hectares. The garden was originally setup in 1822, was closed in 1829, and then re-opened in 1859. Entry to the garden is free for visitors, although entry to the National Orchid Garden inside the Botanic Garden does cost Singapore $5 for entry. Inside the Botanic Garden, you can also see a number of families who come there to relax and sit down, a sort of picnic. The garden is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The garden has around 10,000 species of flora within its precints.

Path through Rainforest inside the Singapore Botanic Garden

The Singapore Botanic Garden is a wonderful place, full of greenery and a beautiful place to visit. It has been there for a long time, having been open for almost 2 centuries, open from 1822, closed again in 1829, and then re-opened again in 1859. It is a fairly large place, being a total of 74 hectares. Such a place provides a green lung for the city, and also provides a fabulous place to attract tourists to the place.

Path through Rainforest inside the Singapore Botanic Garden (More photos / Print)

Inside the Botanic Garden, there is an attempt to showcase a rainforest. A rainforest is something that is not found in urban areas (and Singapore is basically a city state, with real estate being at a premium - try purchasing an apartment even at these depressed realty times!). The idea was to preserve a section of the original rain forest of Singapore; it is good for conservation and also provides people with a chance to see how a rain forest original was like. 

Here is a description of the Rain Forest at the Botanical Garden website (link to site):

Few patches of Singapore’s primary rainforests remain, one of which is the 6 hectare primary rainforest within the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Some 314 species of plants can be found in the Rain Forest, forming a multi-layered ecosystem of herbs and ferns, climbers, shrubs, and trees. The Rain Forest has been preserved since the Gardens was established in 1859, and was designated as a Nature Area in 2003.

Some of the most important trees in the rainforest are represented by only one or two individuals, which reinforces the need for a long-term plant replacement strategy to be in place at the Gardens. There have been ongoing measures to conserve the Rain Forest such as with the provision of raised boardwalks to minimise the impact of visitors walking through the forest.