Gardens By The Bay

There are a great many things to do and see in Singapore.  One of the absolute best is visiting the Gardens By The Bay.  While it is often mentioned on lists of things to do in Singapore, it does not get the hype and attention I think it deserves.

The Gardens By The Bay is a fantastic place to spend an entire day.   You will find yourself taking a great many photos at Gardens By The Bay.  Beauty will be everywhere you look.

Bring a good camera with you when you visit the Gardens.  Singapore is beautiful and your entire journey to the Gardens will present to you a near endless amount of photo opportunities. 

If you are staying at the Paradox Hotel in Clarkes Quay then you can either take the long walk along the river to Marina Bay Sands and then around that to the other side where the Gardens are. There are plenty of chances for photos along the river.

Alternatively, taking the train (you should do both on different days), you will arrive fresh and have more energy and time for walking around outside of the main Gardens area.  You can get some great photos of the Marina, the Gardens and also Marina Bay Sands.

I have mentioned elsewhere the Paradox Hotel in Singapore.  This hotel is ideal for so very many things. For the price, location and ease of access to the train system this is easily one of the best places for a visitor to stay.

After having a wonderful buffet breakfast at the hotel, you can exit the hotel, walk about 50 feet and enter a shopping mall.  Inside this mall is a entrance to the train system.  This train is affordable, clean and safe.  

Gardens By The Bay has its own train station stop.  Simply get off and follow the signs to the entrance of the Gardens.

One thing you will see as you walk along to the entrance is that the surrounding park like grounds are filled with people walking along, jogging or riding a bike.  This is a popular area to just pass through.

As you make your way to the Gardens entrance you will see other areas for activities as well.  There is at least one area dedicated to water for kids to play in.

As you walk to the Gardens entrance you can will have plenty opportunity for outside photos of Gardens By The Bay and also the Marina area to include Marina Bay Sands.

There main ways to get to the Gardens. Both ways are very easy.  From the Paradox Hotel (Clarkes Quay), you just walk along the river.  You will eventually get to Marina Bay Sands (the big building with the surf board shaped area on top).

The Gardens By The Bay is located behind the Marina Bay Sands building.  Walk around the big building and you will see the Gardens.  This is a long walk in the heat from Clarkes Quay.  Be prepared for a hike. Bring an extra shirt if you do the walk as you will want to change when you arrive.

Alternatively you can ride the MRT (train) just outside the Paradox Hotel.  It is easy to catch a quick and smooth ride that drops you off at a station right at the Garden.  

One day I did the walk.  One day the train. Both were enjoyable, offering different experiences.

I spent more than half a day at the Gardens By The Bay and it could have spent more time there.  Clearly I will need to return again.

The entire area inside the glass dome is rather quiet and completely air conditioned.  This is a great place to relax, enjoy beauty and get away from the hot sun.

It cost about 30 USD to enter and the Gardens was worth every penny.  One thing to note about Singapore in contract to Thailand is that many places will only accept a credit card.

The Gardens By The Bay and going to to the top of Marina Bay Sands will not accept cash.  Credit card only.

The Cloud Forest is higher but slightly smaller at 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres). It replicates the cool moist conditions found in tropical mountain regions between 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) and 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) above sea level, found in South-East Asia, Central- and South America. It features a 42-metre (138 ft) “Cloud Mountain.” After ascending to the top by an elevator, visitors descend the mountain via a circular path which crosses underneath the 35-metre (115 ft) waterfall multiple times.

The area with the man made waterfall is called Cloud Mountain and is covered with orchids, ferns and other plants.  As you walk along the path to the top of the water fall you pass through different levels with different themes.

These themes are The Lost World, The Cavern, The Waterfall View, The Crystal Mountain, The Cloud Forest Gallery, The Cloud Forest Theatre and The Secret Garden.

I consider this entire area a must see in life, even if you have no interest in plants and flowers.