River Safari all about river life around the world

It was my birthday and as a true blue Singaporean, I was all out to enjoy something free. It is a once a year treat that I could actually get into either the Singapore Zoo, Bird Park, or River Safari for free. Since I have yet to go to the River Safari, this was a default decision. I did not do any research on what I would see, for I knew that Singapore would definitely outdo itself to present the most enjoyable experience with this latest addition to the Singapore wildlife reserves.

I took the Singapore Attractions Bus that picked me up from opposite Merchant Court Hotel, Singapore. Apart from the MRT, this is the most convenient option as I did not have to spend a couple of hours making my way up north.

River Safari is a walking loop, with the objective of showing underwater life in rivers from around the world. It is like being in an aquarium, but one with a themed focus of river life while embracing the tropical outdoors. The highlight of the park is actually the pandas, and watching them not give a care in the world while feasting on the leaves is actually quite therapeutic. Another highlight is the Amazon River Quest, which is a boat ride in the River Safari. However, it was not that appealing to me as I was exposed to the noonday sun, and did not see many animals apart from the flamingos as they must have been hiding from the heat as well.

A cute snack to have while at the River Safari is the steam panda bun, so be sure to stop and sample this snack when at the River Safari. Compared to the Singapore Zoo, being at the River Safari makes you want to continue walking to complete the loop, whereas the Zoo has more shaded resting spots to enjoy both nature and the animals.

My way back to civilization is taking the public bus to Ang Mo Kio, which in itself is a nice scenic route. Going to River Safari is like going on a holiday, as it is to me in a remote part of Singapore, where you are surrounded by nature and not city life I am so used to.

Gardens By The Bay bringing nature out of a Singaporean

When Gardens By The Bay first opened in Singapore, it took me a while and some friends to get me there, after all, being a world traveler, what could Singapore offer in terms of nature? When I finally went, I was impressed at the extent and effort done to make Singapore a beautiful and vibrant city to be in, not only with fabulous shopping, limitless dining experiences, and now, nature to enjoy in the comfort of air-conditioning. Of course this does not come free. A visit to the Gardens By The Bay comes at price of $28. If you intend to visit more than once, i.e. perhaps 4 or 5 times a year, then the annual pass is a definite must.

The nearest MRT to Gardens By The Bay is Bayfront, choose to walk through the underpass right to the open gardens, or via Marina Bay Sands (exiting by the side of ArtScience Museum) and walk around the back that will bring you straight to the conservatories. The best time to go is around 4pm when it is less hot, and stay to watch the misting at the Cloud Forest.

Begin with the OCBC Skyway, which is a tree top walk giving you a beautiful view of the park, followed with Flower Dome where you get to see flowers from every region. End the trip with the Cloud Forest, as you see day turn to dusk, where the Cloud Forest will begin to look all mysterious. I spend usually around 3 hours at Gardens By The Bay, enjoying the view of the flowers, and breathing in nature.