Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo

The Night Safari is one of the most unique zoos in the world. Opening in 1994 as the world’s first nocturnal zoo it took a different approach towards nocturnal exhibits. Rather than reversing the day-night cycles of the animals the zoo is only open at night.

A leopard resting at Night Safari

It houses over 1040 animals of 120 different species including Indian rhinoceros, tarsiers, leopards and tigers. Nearly 30% of species at the zoo are considered endangered species.

There are two different ways to see the animals: you can walk one of the zoo’s four trails or you can take a 40-minute tram ride around the zoo.

Right next door to the Night Safari is the Singapore Zoo. It has everything from tigers to elephants, monkeys to bears. There are a total of 315 species of animals from around the world!

If you show up in the morning you can even eat breakfast with an orangutan, elephant and a few other guests.

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

There are many boardwalks to explore

Situated in the northwestern area of Singapore, the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve has been well preserved making it a great place to see a large variety wildlife native to Singapore including mudskippers, mollusks, Smooth Otters and Bitterns.

There are two routes that you can take and they both feature boardwalks, observation posts rest stops. Admission is only $1 for adults and $0.50 for children.

Pulau Ubin

The Dugong feeding trail at Chek Jawa

Paulau Ubin or translated “Granite Island” is one of the last rural areas left in Singapore. As the name hints, the island is known for its granite. The Island is only 3.9 miles squared but with only 100 or so villagers there is lots of greenery and wilderness to explore.

One of the main highlights of Pulau Ubin is Chek Jawa, which used to be a coral reef 5000 years ago. Today it remains virtually untouched and is alive with marine life such as sea hares, cuttle fish, octopuses and more.

To reach the island you must take a bumboat ,which will cost you a few dollars. Once you arrive, you can rent a bike to get around.

Jurong Bird Park

Flamingos at the Jurong Bird Park

Jurong Bird Park is home to thousands of birds and a dozen exhibitions. The largest exhibition is the African Waterfall Aviary. It has over 1500 free flying birds and the world’s tallest man made waterfall, which measures 100 feet tall. Other exhibits include the Pelican Cove featuring 7 species of pelicans and the Penguin Coast. If you want to get closer to the birds you can feed the birds or take the Panorail (monorail) through the exhibits.

Don’t forget to download the mTrip Singapore Travel Guide to help you navigate both the natural and urban sides of Singapore!

images by: Michael McDonough, cryptor3, bibicall, wildsingapore and linkway88

1. Shopping

Shopping is serious business in Singapore. Once a year, the city hosts the Great Singapore Sale, and visitors flock from around the world to seek out bargains. Most people recommend starting any shopping trip on Orchard Road, and branching out into various local neighborhoods.

2. Food stalls

In Singapore food is a major event. Unlike many cities, food stalls in Singapore are hygienic and carefully monitored for food safety. Wander around the Maxwell Road Hawker Center and be amazed at the variety of food on offer.

3. Chinatown

Chinatown is the historical center of the Chinese population in Singapore. Listen to the sounds of cantonese while discovering traditional shophouses and eating exotic chinese delicacies. Stop into a tea house after visiting the exhibits at the Chinese Heritage Center. If you are up late, pick up some traditional chinese handicrafts at the Chinatown Night Market on Pagoda Street.

4. Little India

Bright colors and spices fill the streets of Little India. It is easy to walk down Serangoon Road and forget that you have not been transported to India. Soak up the atmosphere, and duck into an Indian restaurant for an enjoyable meal. Vegetarians will be especially well served in Little India. Visit the Sri Veerama Kaliamman Temple for its sculptures and colorful Hindu ceremonies. You might want to stop into the Mustafa Center for some shopping. The mega-mall is known for being the place where you can buy almost anything.

5. A Night Safari

Open only at night, the Night Safari is the worlds first open-air, nocturnal zoo. The Night Safari is located next to the regular Singapore zoo on 40 hectares of rainforest. Over a thousand animals are housed in the zoo and many of them are rare and threatened species. The animals are not caged. Instead, they are separated from visitors by natural barriers such as moats. Families and animal lovers will certainly enjoy the experience.

6. The Singapore Sling

The iconic Singapore Sling was invented sometime near the beginning of the twentieth century by a bartender at the Long Bar in the Raffles Hotel. The historical Raffles Hotel along with the Long Bar are still in operation today. Step into the renovated hotel and enjoy a cool Singapore Sling after a long day of exploring.

7.The Spa

Take a break from the city and heat by treating yourself to some pampering at the spa. Most high-end hotels offer excellent treatments and there are also spa resorts such as the Sentosa Spa.

8. The Botanical Gardens

In the early morning, most businesses are closed in Singapore. This makes it the perfect time to visit the Botanical Garden, which opens at 5am. The garden is particularly known for its orchid collection.

9. Museums

Enjoy the asian collections at the National Museum, or for a change of pace, consider the Red Dot Design Museum located in the former home of the Singapore traffic police.

10. Universal Studios

The Universal Studios theme park is the only one of its kind in Asia. Families will enjoy a day riding the top-quality attractions and exploring the themed resort.

This article was written by Natasha Tasha, on behalf of Escape Travel, Australia, offering great selection of cheap flights to Singapore.

Try out mTrip’s Singapore Travel Guide

Images: hslo, j0055, Prince Roy, Khalzuri, chooyutshing, w3i_yu, ImipolexG, Trenchfoot, stevec77, cairnlee_cres, Eric Pesik and Deanna Pesik, w3i_yu

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevec77/4574646455/

New Orleans for Jazz & Heritage Festival

From April 29 until May 1 & from May 5 until May 8, the city will be music to your ears, literally! New Orleans just breathes culture and what better way to celebrate their city than with the Jazz & Heritage Festival. Whereas normally you can’t walk down the street in New Orleans without hearing live music, you will hear even more of it during the festivities (if that’s even possible). Artists booked include Bon Jovi, Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean, Cyndi Lauper, and the Neville Brothers.

New York for the Easter Parade

On Easter Sunday (April 24, 2011) paraders, dressed to the extreme wander along the closed streets of Fifth Avenue from 49th to 57th Street. The ideal place to see the parade is the area around St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The Easter Parade and Easter Bonnet Festival runs from 10am to 4pm. While the parade doesn’t have any floats or marching bands, it is still a spectacle; from around the world people come to New York City to participate, with outfits ranging from elegant to outrageous.

New York travel guide

 

Istanbul for the Shopping Festival

Istanbul Shopping Festival (ISF) is an annual event that brings together people of all kinds, making Istanbul the shopping, cultural and entertainment centre of the world. Until April 26, visitors will enjoy the many activities taking place at the 90 indoor shopping malls and many stores, open till late hours. The glamorous spirit of ISF is not to be missed if you are planning on taking a trip there. Don’t forget the tax free shopping for visitors from overseas!

Istanbul travel guide

Munich for Strong Beer Season

Did you miss Oktoberfest? No worries because with spring in Munich also comes Strong Beer Season. This is the insiders alternative to Oktoberfest yet the beer is stronger and the crowds are thinner .The traditional serving of the spring strong beers begin during Lent and lasts about four weeks, this year until April 26th.

Munich travel guide

 

London for the Royal Wedding

The Royal Wedding takes place at Westminster Abbey on April 29 and the city will be abuzz. Locals might flee the city, while travelers might pay a visit for the cities unique buzz. If you want to be part of the celebrations and catch a glimpse of the royal couple, you can stand somewhere along the wedding procession route. The route will include The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Parliament Square.

London travel guide

Amsterdam for Queen’s Day

On April 30, Amsterdam is home to the biggest collection of events and parties in celebration of Queen’s Day aka Koninginnedag. Aside from endless crowds and the colour orange, visitors can expect many outdoor parties with bands and DJs on several squares and parks throughout the city. The biggest outdoor concerts are held by Museumplein and Rembrandtplein. Queen’s Day is also the one day of the year that the streets and sidewalks become one big ‘free market’ (vrijmarkt). Don’t forget about Queen’s Night either – check out one of the many bars and clubs hosting events.

Amsterdam travel guide

Singapore for the International Film Festival (SIFF)

With its dynamic film programming and commitment to development of film culture and local cinema, SIFF has become Singapore’s largest international film festival. In its 23rd edition, SIFF will take place from April 15-24 and will showcase Asian film in various venues like The Singapore Art Museum and The Arts House.

Singapore travel guide

What interesting festivals and events will you be headed to this Spring? Or for Easter? Let us know in the comments!

Singapore is incredibly wealthy, and the city center shows off with unbelievably clean streets and sparkling lights. This is a city that offers all the perks a big city does, it’s just that Singapore does it in a slightly more polished manner. The usual suspects on a city break itinerary are here – the shopping is outstanding, the variety of cuisines is tempting, and there are opportunities to experience local arts and culture in museums and theaters. But Singapore is much more than your average big city in Asia.

Despite being a relatively small city-state confined by its island boundaries, Singapore’s landscape is quite diverse. Within central Singapore there are several big parks and green spaces (many of which are popular with locals for practicing tai chi), not to mention the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari, the bird park or botanical gardens – all within a short distance from one another, especially since Singapore’s public transportation is so fast and efficient.

Further afield, you still don’t have to travel far to get to a quiet residential area on the east coast of the island that enjoys a beautiful beach that stretches for 20km. The area tends to be fairly tourist-free, although it’s close to where Changi Airport is located, because there aren’t “attractions,” per se – but if a leisurely day at the beach is on your agenda, this is a good spot for it. You can also hop over to a small adjacent island to get a glimpse of what all of Singapore used to be like – you can even go camping on the beach in some places.

The hidden secrets of Singapore are plentiful, if you’re willing to look beyond the surface and stay more than a day or two. And hey, if you’re fortunate enough to be arriving via flights on Singapore Airlines – the country’s award-winning and luxurious national carrier – you may just want to fly back and forth a few times for repeat visits.

- by Jessica of BootsnAll

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photo by Goynang

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The Merlion landmark

This sought after luxury, pop-up hotel will consist of a single room, temporarily constructed around the Merlion, a well-known tourist icon and mascot of Singapore. The eight-metre tall fountain sculpture of a lion-cumfish (imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish) sits in a park near the mouth of the Singapore River.

Fully-fitted with a double bed, bathroom, luxury amenities and personalized services such as a dedicated Merlion Hotel butler, acclaimed Japanese designer Tatzu Nishi didn’t skip a beat. Part of the Singapore Biennale 2011, called ‘Open House,’ the exhibition will feature 60 artists from 30 countries spread across four exhibition venues.

While bookings for the Merlion Hotel are only available for one night per couple, if you don’t manage to score a reservation, don’t fret – you can still enter a competition judged by Tatzu, the designer of the Merlion Hotel. The competition includes submitting a hundred-word story explaining why you deserve that special one night stay.

Bookings and the competition can be found at http://www.singaporebiennale.org/ or more information on Singapore Biennale

Looking for a Singapore hotel or info on attractions, restaurants, bars, shopping and more?
Use mTrip’s Singapore travel planner

Here’s my pick of five top sights and experiences not to be missed…

Singapore Flyer

To get your bearings and stunning panoramic views of the Empress Place, Singapore River, Merlion Park, and even the coasts of Malaysia and Indonesia on clear days, climb aboard one of the 28 city-bus-sized air-conditioned capsules on the Singapore Flyer. Situated at the Marina Centre on Marina Bay, it’s the world’s biggest Observation Wheel reaching 165 meters high. During the 30-minute spin on the wheel, you’ll enjoy breathtaking views of the city and when you disembark there are more treats in store. The Singapore Flyer attractions centre also has a selection of fine dining restaurants, shops and a toe-tickling fish ‘foot spa’ where garra rufa fish chew off the hard skin on your feet for a very alternative ‘pedicure’ experience.

Sentosa Island

Take the ferry across to Sentosa, Singapore’s giant theme-park, which covers the entire island. Here, you can simply swim and sunbathe on the beaches and eat your way around the vast number of dining venues or get your thrills and spills in the theme parks. A free bus service runs around the island stopping at all the top attractions, including Universal Studios Singapore, Underwater World, the famous aquarium that’s home to 2,500 sea creatures, the Skyride – an open-air chairlift, and the amusement parks filled with some of the world’s tallest rollercoasters and fabulous waterchutes and rides. You can also stay on the island: take your pick of the luxury resorts, The Sentosa and the Shangri-La Sentosa Resort, check into the hostel or pitch your tent in the camping grounds.

For an added thrill you can also get there by cable car from the World Trade Centre and enjoy a close up view of Mount Faber en route, one of Singapore’s highest peaks.

Chinatown

You don’t come to Singapore’s Chinatown, situated near the city’s financial centre of Shenton Way, just for dim-sum. This heady world of old and new, spread over four main districts – Kreta Ayer, Telok Ayer, Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Pasoh- is packed with traditional bakeries, tea houses, medicine halls, goldsmiths and market stalls. To discover the intriguing history and culture of the Chinese in Singapore, visit the Chinatown Heritage Centre, housed in beautifully restored traditional shophouses on Pagoda Street.

Chinatown’s mix of hundreds of ethnic and modern restaurants and bars also make it the place to be when the sun goes down. You’ll find the best of the nightlife action in the Trengganu and Smith Street area and the chicest bars along Club Street.

Science Center

If you’re travelling with kids or are a bit of a science buff yourself, the vast and internationally celebrated Singapore Science Center offers a dazzling choice of mind boggling experiences. Here you’ll find over 850 exhibits, including interactive explorations of the wonders of space, the workings of the human body and the impact of climate change. Another highlight is the Aviation Gallery, which demonstrates the principles of flight, and tells the story of man’s first attempts to take to the skies. Or why not sit back and watch a movie? The onsite OmniMax Theatre shows are variety of thrilling scientific films in 3-D which will transport you to other worlds including the pyramids of Egypt. There’s so much to see that it’s impossible to tour the entire center in just one day.

Cocktails at Raffles

Sipping a Singapore Sling in the famous bar of the luxurious Raffles Hotel has long been a must-have ‘Sing-sperience’. And you’ll be in good company. An illustrious roll call of international celebrities, writers and royalty has checked into the elegant guest rooms. Named in honor of the founder of modern Singapore, Sir Stamford Raffles, the original hotel, which opened as a simple lodging in a bungalow in 1887, has since grown to become one of the world’s grandest hotels with 103 suites, 18 restaurants and its own posh shopping arcade with more than 40 designer boutiques. Even if you can’t afford the room rates, you can still hang out in the famous Long Bar and sip a Singapore Sling or two – the hotel’s famous cocktail.

This post was written by Natalie Walsh, a travel writer with a love for Singapore holidays.

Check out mTrip’s Singapore travel guide if you plan to travel soon!

Singapore cuisine

The food! Where to begin? In Singapore, visiting a certain neighbourhood depends on what type of food you’re craving, each with their own specialties and cultural flare. You can choose to visit Little India, China Town, Arab Street or any of their famous hawker stalls, which are food court style where you can mix and match between different restaurants. The food is cheap, delicious and can be found anywhere! But if you feel like treating yourself with a cold glass of white wine head down to Clark Quay at Happy Hour where high end restaurants and bars along the quay offer great deals between 3-7pm. Around 10pm Clark Quay is buzzing with excitement, as people dress to impress, walking down the pedestrian only streets checking out all the patios and drink specials.

ION Orchard

Taking a stroll down Nathan Rd., which is blocks and blocks of shopping malls, is one of the most overwhelmingly chaotic yet orderly experiences ever. The sidewalks are extremely wide and the harsh laws against jay walking prevent anyone from getting into traffic. Singapore is also one of the only cities in Asia that carries stores like Zara, H & M, MAC and Top Shop, and at lower prices than in Canada. There isn’t any lack of shopping centres no matter what you are into, Indian, Chinese or western styles.

Singapore's Night Safari

The Singapore Zoo and Night Safari are two of the most authentic zoos in the world and must not be missed while in Singapore. The animals seem cared for and happy maybe because of their large area to run around in. Instead of being caged up behind a wire fence they’re kept in behind a moat, creek or ditch filled with water and other animals. Every evening after the Zoo is closed, the Night Safari opens it’s gates to the most eager and anticipated guests. Since 70% of all jungle animals are nocturnal, this is the time to see the wild cats roam and birds fly with just a soft light shining down on them, which resembles the moon.

After backpacking throughout Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia and Borneo, Singapore was a wonderful way to end a very chaotic trip. I loved Singapore and would head back over there if I ever get the chance!

Post contributed by travel enthusiast, Aleyna Golinsky

Suggestions while in Singapore

Food – Long Beach at the East Coast Seafood Center for delicious chilli crab (Singapore’s specialty) and salt & pepper calamari, Komala Villas for cheap Indian vegetarian food, and curries served on banana leaves, Cafe le Caire on Haji Lane for Middle Eastern Food and falafel – great for a relaxed meal after shopping. Newton Circus Hawker Stall for cheap Asian cuisine, Sri Kamala Vilas Restaurants, Northern Thai Restaurant, Wine Garage, Indochine Waterfront Restaurant, Absinthe, The Line

Shopping – Haji Lane for boutiques and independent shops with one-off pieces from small brands (including Soon Lee and Victoria Jomo), DFS Galleria, ION Orchard, Paragon, Palais Renaissance, Ngee Ann City, Orchard Road for beautiful shops, Chinatown for cheap trinkets

Zoo – Zoo & Night Safari

More sights – Raffles hotel. Treat yourself to an original Singapore Sling or go on a tour of the establishment.

Do you have more suggestions? Leave them in the comments.

Image sources: Aleyna Golinsky, josh.ev9 at http://www.flickr.com/photos/jevnin/ and Nate Robert at http://www.flickr.com/photos/naterobert/

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