Travel | Singapore
95
© Angela Richardson
1 Families enjoying a day out at Singapore ’ s Botanic Gardens .
2 Papilionanda Chao Praya Violet , one of the hundreds of orchid strains in the Orchid Gardens .
1
5 Senses – Sight MIST HOUSE
2
To experience the true spectrum the orchid species has to offer , within the Orchid Gardens at Singapore ’ s Botanic Gardens awaits the Mist House . Here , I was blown away by the most remarkable exhibition of orchids I have ever seen , ranging from the classic to the downright dramatic . Even if you ’ re not a fan of these distinctive flowers , you are likely to come away from this greenhouse with a newfound respect for them .
Untuk melihat ragam warna dari spesies anggrek , di dalam Kebun Anggrek di Botanic Gardens ada Mist House . Di sini , saya terpesona menyaksikan pameran anggrek paling luar biasa yang pernah saya lihat , mulai dari yang klasik sampai yang benar-benar dramatis . Walaupun Anda bukan penggemar bunga unik ini , Anda mungkin akan meninggalkan rumah kaca tersebut dengan perasaan kagum .
If , like me , you forgot to pack your own picnic , there are several cafés in the gardens that can replenish you , and Halia Provisions will be able to stock you up with picnic necessities . With a strong local iced black coffee in hand , I sat on a bench and watched park-goers stroll by , the birds swoop overhead , and the leaves in the thousands of trees rustle in the cool afternoon breeze .
The Beach Garden A local ’ s favourite weekend spot – and for good reason – the East Coast Park spans over 15km of scenic coastline , within an area of 185 hectares . I took a trip on a Sunday afternoon and opted for two wheels as my means of transportation , renting a bicycle from the park for S $ 5 . Cruising along the shoreline , I felt so far removed from Singapore ’ s hustle and understood why people come here regularly for a quick escape .
Runners , in-line skaters and other cyclists passed me by as I took my time gliding along the boardwalk , soaking up the gentle afternoon breeze and warm sunshine . Out on the sand and under the coconut trees , scores of families and friends gathered to enjoy an afternoon bite and soak up the relaxing ambience a day at the beach never fails to provide . In the water , people were causing a ruckus on jet-skis , while dozens of tankers busied the horizon – the sole reminder that I was still in Singapore .
The Historic Garden Right in the heart of Singapore , Fort Canning is as steep in history as it is in steps . Sitting at 60m , this hill once served as the headquarters for the Far East Command Centre and the British Army Barracks . Today , the park , which spans 18
Although guided walks are available at most of the parks , the Singaporean government has also prepared a useful feature called DIY Trail Guides ...
hectares , is a history buff ’ s playground , home to sites such as Raffles House , the Fort Gate and the underground bunker known as the Battlebox .
A sally port , a small door leading in and out of the fort which allowed defenders to enter and exit undetected when under siege , still stands within the gardens and is a haunting reminder of the war . Fort Canning stands as a living , breathing outdoor museum in the city , although non-history nerds are just as sure to find something to enjoy such as yoga , exercise boot camps , music festivals and heritage walks .
Although guided walks are available at most of the parks ( typically on weekends ), the Singaporean government has also prepared a useful feature called DIY Trail Guides , which intrepid park-goers can easily download from www . nparks . gov . sg . I myself wasn ’ t done exploring , and was off to see what those cheeky monkeys at MacRitchie Reservoir Park were up to .