World of Pots: Gardens by the Bay

Recently, we made a trip to Gardens by the Bay in Marina South of Singapore to explore Singapore's latest national gardens where a diverse range of plant life from every continent of the world except Antarctica can be found. We took a MRT train from where we lived and alighted at Bayfront station. We walked past the casino at Marina Bay Sands towards the Gardens at the Bay at the other side of the hotel. As we walked under the hot sun, our eyes were treated with view of the city skyline of tall buildings and busy traffic. From afar, the Marina Bay Sands Hotel stands aloof with the sky garden at the top of the twin buildings of the hotel. Most people come here because of the casinos. Fortunately we came here to admire nature; or else we would be in deep trouble.

Marina Bay Sands Hotel

The Gardens by the Bay consist of a few attractions such as the Flower Dome, Cloud Forest Dome, the Supertrees (concrete structures that shaped like trees) and heritage gardens. Tourists can buy tickets to enter the Flower Dome and the Cloud Forest Dome to explore this latest national gardens of Singapore. After getting our tickets, we chose to enter the Cloud Forest Dome first. The whole dome was air-conditioned with a cool-moist feeling once we were inside.

The Singapore Big Wheel in far ground

We knew that a mysterious world veiled in mist was awaiting our adventure. Inside this Dome constructed by panels and panels of glass with intertwining metal rods, there was a 35-metre tall mountain covered in lush vegetation shrouding the world’s tallest indoor waterfall. The dome showcases plant life from tropical highlands up to 2,000-metres above sea level. We ascended to the mountain top in comfort by lift before descending via two walkways in the clouds for an aerial view of the canopy and mountainside below. We also learned about the unique biodiversity and geology of cloud forests and the environmental threats they face within the nine unique zones in this cool-moist Conservatory. There were exhibits at each level of the interior of the mountain and the exterior of the mountain was filled with all types of ferns and plants.

The interior of the mountain is hollow

Exhibits inside the mountain

Walkway through the mountain

The supertrees

After exploring the Cloud Forest, we went to the Flower Dome nearby. Again the dome was constructed with panels and panels of glass with intertwining metal frame. Once inside, we were amazed by so many beautiful flowers the dome houses, we were indeed standing in awe of nature. Spectacular and innovative in design, the Flower Dome is one of the icons of Gardens by the Bay. It replicates the cool-dry climate of Mediterranean regions like South Africa, California and parts of Spain and Italy. This place is also home to a collection of plants from deserts all over the world, it showcases the adaptations of plants to arid environments. Confronted by so many beautiful flowers, we couldn't helped but stopped at every flowering plant to smell the flowers and take pictures.

Besides admiring the flowers and the ambient surrounding, we enjoyed a cooling and leisurely stroll through the Flower Dome. Being an icon of Singapore, many locals (especially students) and foreigners like to come here to spend time with their family members. Tourists can immerse themselves in the spectacular view of the Marina reservoir skyline, as they embark on their journey through the Mediterranean Basin, South West Australia, South Africa, Central Chile and California. They can also discover amazing plants and flowers from different corners of the globe, and they will be amazed by how different parts of the trees are used in daily lives across different cultures.

We were glad we made the trip to visit the national gardens of our very own and experienced the good things that nature offered us here in Singapore. If you have not been to the Gardens by the Bay, you don't know what you have missed. Take a day off and spend time with your family members, this is the best way to relax and stress-relieve.