With our tummy dragons contented by the dishes at Blue Ginger, it was time to go to business. Our first real stop in Singapore is the recently opened cooled conservatories at Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay; the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest.

The two conservatories comprise only a tiny bit of the sprawling garden but even from the outside, one can already see how massive these egg-like structures are.

I was warned about the erratic weather in Singapore during our visit and I can already see the transformation of rain clouds through the gynormous Supertrees that dot the landscapes of the garden. The smallest of these stand at an elevation of no less than 82 feet, while the tallest soars at 160 feet.

The trees themselves are a garden of their own, with an assortment of plant life clinging to its trunk, mimicking the ecosystems of real super trees out in the wild.

Passing under the canopies of these giants, the group proceeded to the Flower Dome. Through a darkened chamber, an introductory colorful visual display of blooming floras gave us a preview of the vista inside the unique domed conservatory.

The compressed chamber soon opened to a massive spiraling dome that can take anyone’s breath away. I commend the technique of suppressing space and light and suddenly opening everything up to a scale grander than imagination.

From the humid weather outside, the temperature suddenly dropped to a very comfortable level; and the Flower Garden is not air-conditioned. The green technology employed by these conservatories is just plain amazing. Using cold water running through pipes embedded on the floor, and vents letting out warm air on the ceiling, the temperature is kept at a refreshing and comfortable range.

As the name of the place suggests, this is a tree-hugger’s heaven. Featuring a literal jungle of floras from arid locations in Australia, Africa, the Mediterranean, Chile and the USA; the range of the plant-life showcased is astounding.

Among the species featured in the Flower Dome, the most interesting for me are the Baobabs. I have read about this strange tree from The Little Prince and how it tried to consume his asteroid-planet. I never thought that I would actually see these bulbous bizarre-looking creatures in person. And I saw not only one, but a whole gang of them!

Singapore’s Flower Dome is truly a feast for the senses. Nature lovers would totally dig this place; it’s a real live plant museum! A quick view would definitely not do this place any justice. The way to do it is to slow down, and as they say, smell the roses. Don’t rush through one area to the next, take in the details instead. Walk slowly and stop frequently.

Gardens by the Bay’s Flower Dome
Address: 97 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore
Telephone: (+65) 6420 6848 | (+65) 6420 6841
E-mail: feedback@gardensbythebay.com.sg
Open Hours: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Daily
Rates: Click Here

GPS Coordinates: 1.283941,103.865991
View Location on Google Maps: Click Here

THIS SINGAPORE TRIP IS MADE POSSIBLE BY:
AIRASIA PHILIPPINES – NOW FLYING DIRECTLY TO SINGAPORE
HOTEL AND TRAVEL PACKAGE BY AIRASIAGO
SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD

       THREE DAYS IN SINGAPORE TRIP ITINERARY & SUMMARY
       MANILA – CLARK – SINGAPORE | PERANAKAN LUNCH AT BLUE GINGER RESTAURANT | THE FLOWER DOME AT GARDENS BY THE BAY
       ABOVE AND BELOW GARDENS BY THE BAY’S CLOUD FOREST | FLYING HIGH AT THE SINGAPORE FLYER
       A NOCTURNAL RIDE AT THE NIGHT SAFARI | NIGHTS AT THE ROYAL PLAZA ON SCOTTS HOTEL
       AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE RIVER SAFARI’S GIANT PANDAS | LUNCH AT SENTOSA’S TASTES OF ASIA
       AN EVENING WALK AT THE ORCHARD ROAD | ELECTRIC NIGHTS AT THE MARINA BAY | HAWKERS HUNT FOR A FREEZING BOWL OF CHENDOL
       STARBUCKS GLOBAL ICON CITY MUG PLUS A FEW MORE | SINGAPORE – CLARK