Gardens by the Bay

Ever since the Gardens by the Bay project was announced in 2005, we were ecstatic and anticipative of its opening. We envisioned the project to be somewhat like the Crystal Palace of London, 1851. The Gardens by the Bay felt like the definitive attraction for any botanical enthusiast.

Courtesy of Victorianlondon.org

Fast forwarding to the present, the Gardens by the Bay have exceeded our expectations. The gardens are situated at the south of Singapore, spanning across 101 hectares and resting atop of reclaimed land. It comprises of more than 7 main sectors: 2 of which are the hallmark of the gardens, the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest conservatories.

With high spirits, we set off to the Gardens by the Bay on a sunny morning. Walking from the Bayfront MRT station, we saw the iconic Supertrees in the distance. These Supertree structures are vertical gardens of up to 50 meters in length, comprising mostly of flowering plants and climbers. Apart from being aesthetically pleasing, they are also fitted with solar panels to harvest the sun’s energy as part of its environmental sustainability theme. Honestly, these structures look out of this world, in a great sense.

Along the way to the 2 domes, we covered the Malay, Chinese and Indian Gardens. The gardens did not leave a strong impression on us as it was a really sunny day and we did not stop to observe. Purchasing of tickets for the 2 conservatory domes can be done at the Canopy, which is a stone’s throw away from the 2 domes. If you are a local, be sure to flash your identification card for a significant discount.

The star attractions towered in front of us, seemingly bigger than we ever expected. We decided to head to the Flower Dome first. Surprisingly, the first thing which hit us was that the conservatory domes were relatively cooling! Yes, the domes are fully temperature regulated, and even different areas within the domes have differing temperatures. The Flower Dome emulates the cool-dry climates of the Mediterranean regions. All floras are also local to their regions, and simulating the local climate of the plants aids in the growth and flowering chances. The species of plants are amazingly expansive! Unique baobab trees are easily identified near the entrance, while the dizzying number of succulents is sure to please those cactus enthusiasts.

Special mention goes to the flower fields. With the sun shining through the glass dome and warming your skin, and the coolness of the regulated temperatures, we felt like we were at the flower fields of Holland or Hokkaido. Scoff as you might, but we are not exaggerating. We caught the opportune moment where the sun shined perfectly on the flower fields, and it was breathtaking.

Near the end of the Flower Dome, there are several interactive screens and projections presenting facts and information about the plants and the ecology. These are especially great with the kids, as well as the adults. Our thirst for something hands-on was well satisfied, and we must say it was done right.

With the completion of the Flower Dome, it was natural for us to have higher expectations for the Cloud Forest. The Cloud Forest was made to simulate the biomes 2000 meters above sea-level, as well as 1000 meters at the bottom of ravines.  It encompasses a 35 meter mountain with a waterfall, and its very own lift. The change from the Flower Dome was quite drastic; the Cloud Forest was cooling, yet humid.

The entrance is placed right in front of the mouth of the waterfall and the mountain is immediately visible. Even till now, we grapple at the fact that the dome is large enough to encompass the whole man-made mountain. With a pinch of luck and serendipity, there was a rainbow at the waterfalls! We were unsure whether the rainbow was an intended artifact of the dome, but it was nevertheless stunning.

The plants featured in the Cloud Forest are mostly water-loving shrubs, mosses, orchids and other epiphytes growing on the sides of the mountain. Carnivorous plants, such as the venus flytrap, pitcher jars and liverworts, are spotted at the Lost World level.

It was a whole new experience compared to the Flower Dome, as the trail of the conservatory dome is vertical rather than horizontal. We took a life to the top of the mountain, and slowly made our way down via elevated walkways and tunnels. Along these walkways, you will learn about the characteristics of the biomes and come close with calcium carbonate structures (Crystal Mountain level). People who have a fear of heights might have some trouble with the walkways and we offer a word of advice for the ladies who intend to go: please do not wear skirts.

The basement level of the dome comprises of the Secret Garden. Here, the plants prefer a more cold and shaded environment. There is also a climate video presentation which we could not be bothered to watch. However, the last room was dedicated to explaining the idea of environmental-sustainability and its incorporation into the Gardens by the Bay. We felt disheartened that many people did not stay and watch the whole presentation about sustainability.

The Gardens by the Bay was designed for sustainable cycles of energy and water. These include the shuttling of heat to different areas of the gardens, minimizing solar heat gain, harnessing of solar energy, and even recycling surface runoff generated by the domes. We felt this understanding was necessary to fully appreciate the Gardens by the Bay.

Overall, there was unanimous agreement that the Gardens by the Bay is a spectacle worth paying for. Needless to say, the person who enjoyed it the most was the one who studies environmental biology. We would all definitely head back to cover the rest of the gardens we missed on our pioneering trip! We wholeheartedly recommend the Gardens by the Bay to everyone, young and old!

Getting there

Getting to the Gardens by the Bay seems excessively complicated, especially when there is no direct route from Sentosa. For tourists setting off from Sentosa, taking a cab down to the Gardens would be the most feasible choice. The journey should take no more than 15 minutes, compared to the MRT/bus route of about 50 minutes.

Other means of transport options are available at the Gardens by the Bay website.

Time management

Time management would be of utter importance for those who want to fully explore the Gardens. Going at a leisurely pace, you would require at least 4 hours to cover both conservatory domes, leaving you with 12 smaller gardens/places to complete. The sun sets in Singapore at about 7:00pm, and staying till then allows you to appreciate the Gardens in a soft light setting. It is advisable to start the day early, and cover the domes once more at night.

Do note that you can get your hand stamped at the exit of the domes for re-entry. Therefore, the purchase of a single ticket will enable you to make multiple entries in the same day.

Talk from other blogs

There have been other blogs claiming that Gardens by the Bay is way too artificial, and an overly expensive attraction. We do not feel the same way, as the presentation of several controlled biomes at such a large scale is globally unprecedented. We fully appreciate the amount of work and planning which had made the Gardens possible. Maybe, going with a better understanding of biomes, ecology, and the environment would increase your satisfaction and appreciation by many folds.

Information

18 Marina Gardens Drive
Singapore 018953

Bay South Outdoor Gardens:

• Opens 5:00 AM – 2:00 AM daily

Ticketing Hub:

• Day Pass: 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
• Annual Pass: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM daily

Cooled Conservatories:

• Opens 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
• Last ticket sale at 8:00 PM daily
• Last admission at 8:30 PM daily

Standard and Local resident rates can be seen from the Gardens by the Bay website.

Gardens by the Bay website:
http://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/en/home.html